TGS Life 21/05/2016

PUNE, MAY 21, 2016 | www.thegoldensparrow.com

Conquering new roads, Gone are the days when a conversation about a bike’s mileage would involve only men. TGS catches up with five bikernis, who have conquered crazy roads on their mean machines

& HOW!

Get ready for a mad evening

TGS LIFE

MAY 21, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

Liven up your weekend with an outstanding performance by Pune’s best request band The Mad Hatters

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

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‘Dance is not a short time wonder, but a

life-long commitment’ Bragha Besselle found herself back in the realm of Indian classical dancing, when she was invited to teach Abhinaya at a Chennai establishment and there has been no looking back since

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

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ot many people get a second chance in life, be it to pursue their passion, their dreams or a life-changing opportunity. Bragha Beselle is one of the lucky ones.

A Bharatanatyam danseuse renowned for her Abhinaya, she had quit performing when she got married and moved to Dubai. But then she was made an offer she could not refuse by Leela Samson, to teach at Kalakshetra Foundation in Chennai. Her husband and family supported her whole-heartedly in her new assignment. Bragha has been invited to conduct a workshop on the different layers of Abhinaya, by the Nritya Yatri Art Movement Foundation, the brainchild of Meghana Sabade who is a Bharatnatyam dancer herself, a non profit organisation that provides dance education through workshops, demonstrations and performances to aspirants. The event will also feature a Laya and Nattuvangam workshop by dancer and choreographer Sheejith Krishna.

Bragha spoke to TGS ahead of her visit, on what the Pune audience can expect at the workshop, as well as tips and advice for dance aspirants.

“My advice to anyone pursuing dance, irrespective of the

genre, is to not take short cuts. If you want to pursue it seriously, you must understand that it is not a short time wonder, but is a life-long commitment. Hard work is the only path to stability and success,” she says.

Her gurus are her greatest inspiration. They not only taught her how to dance, but also the artistic way of life. If every single artist, if you can live your life the way your guru taught you to, it would be the best gurudakshina any student can ever give.

When asked about how age affects her dancing she tells us, “Pure dance is very demanding on the body. You do a lot of nrittya numbers when you are young, but as you grow older, they are compensated for by shorter nrittya portions and richer and more complex Abhinaya, which is a vast ocean, and it takes time and effort to understand all its nuances and different characterisations to develop the skill of communication.”

She is looking forward to meeting students and everyone interested in learning the art form. Her experience of teaching at Pune University a few years ago, was thoroughly enjoyable.

Bragha has spent 13 years out of the spotlight, working as an assistant teacher at a British-American school, thought she kept coming to India twice a year for her lessons with Kalanidhi Narayanan.

The fusion of Indian and Western, or traditional and contemporary forms of dance, are a part of evolution and inevitable, she feels. She still derives immense joy from her ability and proficiency in dance that she has worked on over the years. She has performed across the globe, and keeps her focus on the quality of her performances.

When: May 21 to 25, 9.30 am to 4.30 pm Where: Karnatak High School Auditorium, Erandwane Get in touch: 9881148850 | 9850043356

f you are looking for a fresh sound, then you must check out The Mad Hatter’s, who usually play country, reggae and soul music among other genres.

The two piece acoustic band consists of Jude Eagen and Zane Rodrigues who plays diverse and unique covers of popular songs from a wide-range of genres.

Jude is a techie by profession, and a musician at heart.

He taps out some great beats on the cajon, djembe, congas, bongos and many other acoustic percussion. Zane is a singer, songwriter and a professional musician who has been in love with country, blues and rock ‘n’ roll for as long as his memories stretch. “We play a wide range of cover. We believe music doesn’t have boundaries, so from country music to Britney Spears if we like the song we change it, spice it up in our own way, and make it sound different,” says Zane. He also plays the rhythm guitar and harmonica while providing lead vocals for band.

The duo met randomly at a gig, and bonded over their

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love for country music. After a couple of meetings they decided to form a band. “We always wore hats and are fans of Alice in Wonderland. So we decided to call our band Mad Hatters,” he adds. The interesting bit about the band is that they play original tracks too. Their powerful vocals and soothing harmonies is what makes them stand out. Since both the members are equally passionate about their music, their sound and the vibes on stage keeps the audiences gripping and singing out loud with them. “We generally take song requests from the audience, which gets them grooving. They like to listen to songs that they already have heard of,” says Zane, adding that the scope for original country music in the city is very less. He grew up listening to music from 1920s and that music now has lost its audience. “It’s not mainstream enough. Most venues want us to play more of commercial music, and people who do attend the events aren’t always there for the music,” he tells us.

They derive inspiration from musicians like John Mayer, Shaggy, Jack Johnson, Joshua Radin, Damien Rice, Eric Clapton and many more. The aim is to first build a fanbase, and steadily move towards releasing their originals.

When: May 21 Where: The Beer Cafe, Koregaon Park zainab.kantawala @goldensparrow.com

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Indian short film wins top award at Nice, en route to Cannes

TGS LIFE

MAY 21, 2016 PUNE

ENTERTAINMENT

‘An Untold Story Of Paperboats’ by an Indian film-maker has won the best foreign language short film award at the Nice International Film Festival

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

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riter and director Amit Khanna’s thought-provoking narration and script intrigued and fascinated Neeru Khera, who then used the resources of the Creative Gypsy team to bring An Untold Story Of Paperboats to life. This is the story about a school boy lured by the Naxals to fight in the jungles of West Bengal. It was a challenging prospect to bring to cinematic life the story of jungle warfare, and it was necessary to film scenes in the jungle for authenticity.

“The members of the Creative Gypsy team are immensely proud that our film is going to be screened at Cannes this week. An Untold Story Of Paperboats is the tale of a school boy from West Bengal, who falls into the trap of the Naxalites, which changes his and people’s lives around him.

There are many children living in Naxal camps, but it seems to be a taboo subject. We thought it was time to bring the reality into the forefront through this short film,” said Neeru.

The making of the film was a daunting prospect for the film crew, who had to work with around 200 village children. The kids had no experience of camera or shooting action sequences. The script was complex, and to make matters worse, there was a constant deluge of rain

which made the whole process physically and mentally exhausting for everyone. The film has been shot in Bahadurgarh village close to Delhi

and it took three days to complete the shooting.

Child actor Darshan Gurjar of Gunday fame (played the young Ranveer Singh) features in the lead role. The remaining cast was from the village itself. Neeru says that most films made in India tend to show extreme poverty and portray India in a dim light, or go overboard with the glitter and glamour. But she wanted to do something which was Indian in its concept. “I don’t think everybody around the world is interested in what’s happening in a small village in India. Moulding the story according to the contemporary scenario - not related to just Hindu-Muslim relations but of any religion, is what I feel the audience in today’s times is more interested in.”

Neeru’s earlier project Aadha Chand Tum Rakhlo was about the friendship of two kids from different religions, while the current one is about child soldiers, which is pertinent in almost every part of the world. She feels the actual happenings keep an audience interested in the content, which decides the fates of the films globally.

An Untold Story Of Paperboats won the best foreign language short film award at the Nice International Film Festival at Nice, South France on May 13. Nice had received a record number of entries this year and the film competed with thousands of films from across the world.

“The film evoked an amazing response which left us overwhelmed. Every person present at the event was very receptive as well as curious about us. The award at Nice is another feather to our cap, which I am sure will impress buyers. We are super excited over the screening at Cannes this week, and we’re looking forward to great associations across the globe in the future,” she said.

Neeru feels that digitalisation is a perfect means to reach out to younger audiences. She says that the youth today is very tech savvy and prefer to spend less time on TV as more and more good content is available easily to them on the internet.

It saves them time, money and many controversial topics can be seen and discussed in privacy. As they are the ones who shape the future, it makes sense to target them. They also feel very strongly about issues and are ready to stand up for them.

“Another important aspect is that there is no censorship on the internet yet. This makes a lot of difference as there are no boundaries and the possibilities are endless in terms of topics as well as their treatment. A lot of good work can be done without spending exorbitantly. You can get your message across without being tied down by parameters of censorship, funds, controversies and so on,” she said.

Written and directed by Amit Khanna, ‘An Untold Story Of Paperboats’ has been edited by Rahul Dagli and the music has been composed by Advait Nemlekar. The duration of the film is 22 minutes and the trailer is available on YouTube. heena.grover@goldensparrow.com

This deaf wrestler’s struggle is worth a watch Documentary on disabled athlete that found him a spot in the Rio Olympics, to be screened in Pune

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

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oonga Pehelwan is the title of a National award winning documentary that traces the saga of Virender Singh, a deaf wrestler, who will be the first disabled athlete to represent India at the Rio Olympics 2016.

The film, to be screened at Gyaan Adab this week, is the fascinating account of Virender’s rise to success. Known as ‘Goonga’ in the wrestling community, he has won three medals including two golds at the Deaflympics (Olympics for the deaf), and is a world champion.

Mit Jani is a documentary film-maker, who read an article

about Virender. “There was no information or mention of Virender on Google, which really perked my curiosity. I made it a point to catch up with him. As he narrated his tale of struggles and dreams, I was truly inspired and decided

to make a film,” says Mit. His first documentary was titled Miya Mahadev. He finds the medium of documentaries very exciting, as it allows him to showcase tales of ordinary people who do or achieve extraordinary pinnacles of success.

In this film he brings to light this gifted wrestler and the issue that existed regarding the discrimination Mit Jani amongst ablebodied and disabled athletes.

Goonga Pehelwan traces Virender’s odyssey, from the bylanes of Sasroli village in Haryana, to becoming India’s most successful deaf athlete.

It cast’s focus on aspects of how he earned a living by participating in domestic dangals with wrestlers bigger than him.

But Virender had his mind set on higher goals such as international wrestling championships, and was determined to pursue his ambition.

After visiting the wrestlers home village, Mit got a firsthand glimpse of his records and achievements. He went along with

Virender to his wrestling bouts and practise sessions. “Virender is a lot more than just an individual who has been wronged by the laws of his own country. Through this film and the advocacy for this cause, we want to make sure that he has a place on the wrestling mat in Rio 2016,” Mit tell us.

The young director and his friends Prateek Gupta and Vivek Chaudhary have launched ‘Mission Rio 16’, with the aim to create a system where there are equal opportunities for all athletes, both able-bodied and disabled, to represent themselves at competitions within the country and abroad. “We also want to ensure that the awards and rewards received by winners are the same. There should be no discrimination,” he adds.

When: May 27 Where: Gyaan Adab Centre, Kalyani Nagar zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

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TGS LIFE

films and also does commercial work. In the near future, he wants to start a vlog, separate from Walking With Giants, so his fans can see what he does on a daily basis.

MAY 21, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

I

f you are a web addict, you must have noticed these super impressive and almost unbelievable miniature cooking videos being shared and posted everywhere.

Well, if you have been wondering who’s is the brain behind these videos, we have got you an exclusive peek into his work and life. Think films, photography, painting, music, and now miniature cooking, Jay Baron does it all. He calls himself a creative addict and a story-teller and his different forms of artwork are his medium to reach out to the world. He has a degree in arts, but his greatest lessons have been drawn from his own life experiences rather than from text books. He had a difficult childhood and confesses to his nomadic tendencies, especially during the growing up years that resulted in facing a lot of struggles, both personal as well as professional. And through it all, creating art was his only escape.

INSPIRED BY EVERYDAY LIFE “Being able to tell stories or create content in an expressive way that connects people, no matter where we are from, there’s something so beautiful about that. I guess that’s my inspiration,” says Jay. He is currently working extensively on his YouTube channel, Walking With Giants and feels it’s the greatest platform for anyone to create and express

Miniature cooking

is not child’s play for him This 22-year-old artist from California is making waves in the web space with his miniature cooking videos. TGS talks to Jay Baron about his latest creations, his inspirations and life that revolves around art themselves. About his inspirations, Jay says that he finds them everywhere and all around. That there’s never a dearth of ideas, it’s only the time and funds which he runs out of.

BECOMING A MINIATURIST Originally, miniature cooking was just a way for Jay to get more practice in filming and editing on a weekly basis. He stumbled across these artists who called themselves Miniaturists and started watching people doing miniature scaled things on YouTube, but down the line, he felt that the idea had so much more potential than what was being implemented. “It was such a fun and entertaining idea. So within a span of a few days, I had found a few miniature items, built some miniature furniture, and hence my Walking With Giants set was set up. I began to make the videos under the same name and within three days of

uploading, my first video went viral,” he says. Jay uses a gorilla pod which is basically a very small and flexible tripod to shoot his videos. It makes it a lot easier to get the different angles one sees in the actual videos. He uses a Canon Powershot G7X, a smaller camera that gives him that amazing quality he needs. Dealing with the small set, it really helps using a smaller camera so he can get those difficult, tighter shots. Talking about his food fantasies, Jay says, “I get inspired by different cultures and food origins. My first video, Mini Spaghetti, was inspired by Italy. I take a country and replicate a dish from that region. I have done Crepes from France, Stir Fry from China, Tacos from Mexico, Curry from India, and many more.”

Jay is currently working on his photography and painting projects and loves to constantly update his fans through social media platforms.

During his free time, he writes scripts for feature

WOOED BY INDIAN ART A major part of his artistic impressions has been drawn from India. “Indian art consists of so many different kinds of religions and viewpoints on life that it makes for an extremely diverse and beautiful work. I personally really love ‘Mandalas’ (a circular figure representing the universe in Hindu and Buddhist symbolism) and would like to implement the structures into more forms of artwork I do. I guess the biggest attraction with Indian art for me is the architecture in India, which is absolutely remarkable,” he says.

GETTING MOMENTUM FOR WORK This work has gotten Jay a lot of popularity, especially with his channel. He scored about 11 million views in the past two months on his work through Facebook and YouTube. “I’ve gotten the opportunity of working with some very big companies and made some very useful connections. The recognition and opportunity grows every day,” he says. Creating new artwork takes up a majority of his time. He shares that there have been many instances, when he wakes up out of a dead sleep just to create something he dreamt about. For him, this isn’t just a career, his life revolves around his work.

PERSONAL LIFE Jay met his wife Lesly three years ago while she was working for a theatre company where Jay was working on a scene painting. He confesses that he was actually a homeless music teacher when he met her. On days when Jay wasn’t teaching guitar, he would play on the streets to earn some bucks so he could eat. “I fell in love with her very fast.

I didn’t believe she’d want anything to do with a guy like me and within a week, I don’t know how, we were dating. She didn’t know I was homeless while we were dating, and I didn’t want her to.

She eventually found out. We got married six months later and it’s still an amazing love story in the works,” he says. heena.grover@goldensparrow.com

Time travelling through ‘wishfies’ Know everything about selfies?

Here’s how you can turn them into ‘wishfies’

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he is not a tech enthusiast. In fact, she is someone who likes to stay disconnected from phones, internet and the world, most of the time. Meet Gitanjali Rao, a self-taught animator, film-maker and theatre artist, whose latest visual art projection, ‘Wish fulfilling selfies’, is being raved about and is a rage all over the web.

Gitanjali has stayed away from smartphones all her life, but when she acquired one recently, it wasn’t because she didn’t want to lag behind.

In fact, for her the new phone has become one of the mediums of artistic expression. It was her long-pending wish to go back in time and get photographed with some of the famous personalities from around the world, those who are also long departed. And to make that wish come true, she began taking her own selfies with the help of her new smartphone and then used her editing skills to create these images by replicating the looks of those personalities, which she calls ‘wishfies’. “I enjoy working hands-on and keep my life simple. A smartphone as I have seen, does become something people start depending

heavily on in life. I never wished that to happen to me. And having acquired one so late, the objectivity keeps me independent of it,” says the 43-year-old film-maker, who has won many national and international accolades for her short films.

She doesn’t really remember when exactly she conceptualised the wishfie idea, but the first one was an experiment she did with a picture of her favourite legendary Mexican painter, Frida Kahlo.

“Amrita Shergill and Frida Kahlo were the people I had often imagined meeting or having a conversation with, have shaped my imagination.

Satyajit Ray and Guru Dutt too, when it comes to my film-making. Of course there are so many more people but these seemed to come first to my mind. I had a lot of fun doing the first selfie with Frida, which was followed by Amrita Shergill.

The same day I put it up on Facebook. I often do such things in my free time. They are not too completely thought out as such. More like spontaneous creations,” she says.

Gitanjali downloads the images from the internet, displays it on her computer screen and then tries to create a pose and expression that matches the picture on screen. “I imagine myself with the person beside me and the look comes. Having done a brief stint in theatre helps

I guess. I shoot a series of selfies of the same pose to choose from. These are colour pictures. I take them into Photoshop and recreate the black and white images to match the original photographs.

I also paint and touch up with shadows to make them look convincing,” she says. And she does all this by herself, without any help of a makeup or styling expert. She often doesn’t find the right clothes or jewelry to match the originals so although people think that she is dressed up, it’s mostly painted or Photoshopped. For example, she didn’t have the cigar for the picture with Che Guevara, so she used a marker pen for the photo and Photoshopped it into a cigar.

Gitanjali has never had any of her work going viral, so this was a taste and quite overwhelming at that, she says. The interesting thing was the number of requests with various personalities that her friends started suggesting in a short course of time. Of course it became impossible to do them but Gitanjali realised so many people want

such selfies with their idols, and that inspired her further. The film-maker has recently delved into a new area by illustrating her first graphic novel for an anthology called First Hand Graphic NonFiction. This is a small piece on Begum Akhtar, which will be published sometime this month by Yoda Press. She has also finished scripting her feature animation film Bombay Rose and is now looking to finance it. When someone asks her how she defines her art, Gitanjali says she leaves it upon others to define her.

“As for me, I do things that give me pleasure but also have a role to play in shaping the way we look at art and understand life and the issues of society. The definition is not something I care for.

It comes with your body of work,” she says.

TEJAS GAIKWAD

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Here, modern meets heritage

A perfect blend of contemporary and old world charm, Suresh and Susheela Talera’s home at Koregaon Park spells opulence from every angle

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

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pread across 50,000 sq ft, this sprawling heritage bungalow was originally owned

by Dinshaw Adenwalla, who built it in 1925 as a weekend getaway. The family would come to Pune during monsoons to take part in the races. The bungalow is surrounded by lush trees which are over 80 years old, and the Taleras have beautifully maintained them ever since they acquired the property in 1980.

The driveway leads you towards the two entrances. The front entrance takes you to the old structure which looks absolutely majestic, surrounded by a beautifully-manicured lawn.

This is the entrance of the original structure, which will instantly take you to the British era with its grand architecture – a mix of stone walls, terracotta roof and white walls.

And the other entrance welcomes you to the modern structure which the Taleras extended in 2000. Keeping the original design in mind, Chandrashekar Kanetkar, one of the wellknown architects and interior designers of Pune revamped and constructed a modern extension to the already existing structure.

Suresh Talera says, “We moved into the house

in 1984 and I have many fond memories of the time. Everything I achieved has happened from this house. There used to be just a few bungalows in the vicinity in those days and Koregaon Park used to be a haven of peace and tranquillity. While sitting over a cup of tea with my family in the courtyard or garden, we could see families living in other beautiful bungalows. All that is long gone. Every mansion now has a huge gate which restricts one from seeing what is inside, mostly due to

safety issues.”

The main door of the new wing opens into a lovely porch adorned by a beautiful white sculpture of a woman.

Blending a perfect contrast to the look and feel, are a pair of bronze Buddhist statues welcoming you in. The corridor connects the old and new wing on either side. On the left, is a huge rectangular living room

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FEATURES

with wooden ceilings as high as 16 ft.

Adjacent to this is the dining room and an open sit out on the left and a courtyard on the right that leads you to the original structure.

The spaces have been built in such a way that there’s an abundance of natural light and fresh air all through the day. Keeping up with the times, there’s a lounge inside the living room that works as a private television room with French windows which lets you enjoy the gorgeous greens outside. Every space in the house is perfect for one to unwind.

There’s a fully-functional kitchen with all the modern amenities but the pantry at the back has been kept old style with steel canisters lined neatly where the daily stock of rice, sugar, pulses and spices are stored.

The courtyard at the centre of the house divides the two structures and crossing the two corridors on each side, you can actually time travel into the old house which has an absolutely regal look and feel with a pretty verandah awaiting you. From the walls, ceiling, furniture, artefacts to lamps, chandeliers even tiles, everything is colonial here. “When we acquired the house from Adenwallas, all the furniture, chandeliers and art objects came with it, and we kept everything as it is since there was never a need to do away with them. My wife is a huge collector of artefacts and decor items, so everything that you see in the new wing has been collected by her during our travels around the world, especially from Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore,” says Talera, smiling and pointing at a life-size painting that adorns one of the walls of the house which is a depiction of village life, picked by Susheela.

Going back to the old part of the house, the verandah opens into a massive living room, a wide wooden partition dividing it into two parts. All the furniture here was imported by the Adenwallas from Europe which have been well-kept. “My wife loves doing up the house and gardening. I am a workaholic, but it’s my wife who looks after all the maintenance that this house needs. Sometimes, it gets very difficult even with so many helping hands around as it’s just the two of us who live here.”

The house livens up whenever there’s a get-together during special occasions and festivities when family members, relatives and friends are over, but otherwise, it stays quaint but ever welcoming, just like its owners. heena.grover@goldensparrow.com

A perfect mash up of flavours

TGS LIFE

MAY 21, 2016 PUNE

This new restaurant located at a swanky hotel is sure to tickle your taste buds with its unique offerings

By Heena Grover Menon & Rashmeet Taluja

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n a city that’s teeming with fancy restaurants, Zeera might come across as a rather simple moniker for a fine dining restaurant. But that’s precisely the idea, says Mandar Madav, the executive chef of the new restaurant at Conrad, Pune. The team wanted a basic name that could strike an instant cord with those who know food as well as those who don’t.

No matter how basic the name may sound, the food here definitely packs a punch.

The fine-dining restaurant serves a cuisine inspired by the North Indian and North Western frontier with a twist of flavours that will certainly take you by surprise. Zeera looks like any other fine-dining restaurant you see at a five star hotel. Aesthetically done interiors, cosy seating, soft instrumental music, carefully picked crockery and very prompt staff set the mood just right.

To quench our thirst, the chef suggested their Tandoori Mojito, a desi take on the classic cocktail.

Overall, quite a regular drink but we liked the idea of playing with the tandoori masala. As starters, we were served the Hare Matar ki Shikampuri, Paneer Bukhara Tikka, Galouti Kebabs, Tandoori Kandhaari Murgh and Murgh Bardari Tikka. Instead of keeping the recipe basic, the team of chefs have done a brilliant job by marinating

TEJAS GAIKWAD

FEATURES

the paneer with dill paste and prunes which gives the tikka a very distinct aroma and sweetness. The melt-inthe-mouth Galouti Kebabs are a must-have.

Moving on to the main course, we highly recommend Paneer Lababdar for the vegetarians. It’s a

classic dish but its high point comes with the creamy paneer balls that are prepared to perfection. Purvanchal ka Saag is another interesting dish which the vegetarians will like. The quintessential Dal Makhni, called

Daal-e-Khaas here, will definitely put a smile on your face as it is prepared just the way it should – aromatic, smoky and buttery. If you like lamb, you may want to try their Sasranga Gosht, a Kashmiri style lamb dish that is served with soft khamiri rotis.

Chef Mandar says, “We don’t be-

lieve in short cuts and like to keep everything as authentic as possible.

We only use tender lamb for all our dishes, which is freshly imported and carefully diced and minced by hand.

All our masalas are pound in traditional khalbattas (mortar with pestles) to keep the flavours authentic.”

The food at Zeera is great, but their desserts win your heart. Unlike most restaurants that serve basic items, this place has gone many steps ahead to create some luscious, signature desserts. Since most Indians love to eat paan or drink a cup of freshly brewed filter coffee at the end of their meal, Chef Mandar has created icecreams inspired by the two. To know how the two ice-creams taste, we would suggest you plan a dinner date soon and figure out for yourself.

YOUR CHOW AROUND TOWN Summer Coolers

Executive lunch

Beat the heat as you gulp down some special summer coolers curated by the skilful bartenders at Fishbowl. Indulge in delicious thirst quenching alcohol and beer-based beverages made with exotic fruits and vegetables.

You can sip on to delicious concoctions like the Kahlua White Leprechaun, Orange Mojitos and Lime and Coconut Spritzer with Rum to name a few.

When: May 31 Where: The Fishbowl, Hyatt Pune, Nagar Road

Come try out the specially designed lunch deal at Savya Rasa. A set lunch that starts with a welcome drink, followed by two starters, mains, bread, rice of the day and dessert. The options of three set menu are available - vegetarian, non-vegetarian and seafood. There will be a course by course serving of their star dishes.

When: Ongoing Where - Savya Rasa, Koregaon Park

Grills Festival. The Italian grill is a simple method to cook meats, which preserves the flavours. Known as a family gathering event, this popular way of cooking in Italy has long spread in the best restaurants and worldwide. The handcrafted menu by Chef Christian Huber will offer a variety of grilled preparations such as Lamb Chops, Buffalo Tenderloin, and Beer Chicken. You can choose your favorite meat from the grill and pair it with any of the sides and the sauces.

When: Till May 28 Where: Alto Vino, JW Marriott, SB Road

Chettinad Food Festival Gorge on some delicious Chettinad cuisine at Southindies that focusses on the flavours from Karaikudi. The festival offers undiluted and 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 more. Also on offer are interactive live stations serving as Kothu

Parota counter, Pall Paniyaram and a variety of other starters.

When: Till May 25 Where: Southindies, Ganeshkhind Road

Italian Grills Enjoy hot Italian grills such as lamb and succulent delicacies like Aragosta or Salmone at Alto Vino at the ongoing Italian

Happiness in a jar

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

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perfect gifting item, a fancy breakfast/snack time option and a wonderful dessert for your midnight cravings, jar cakes are the latest to join the popularity quotient among the many foods we love to savour. Sanaya Musani of Ganache

by Sanaya shows TGS how to put together these pretty little jars of happiness. So, read, learn and devour...

DECADENT CHOCOLATE JAR Chocolate sponge cake Ingredients 100 gm

Flour (maida) 120 gm

Powdered sugar 80 gm

Butter 2

Eggs 1/4 tsp

Baking powder 20 gm Cocoa powder 50 ml

Milk 5 ml

Vanilla essence Chocolate Ganache Ingredients 400 gm Dark chocolate (any brand of your choice) 200 ml Fresh cream Method Preheat oven to 170 degrees. Line a 9” x 11” Swiss roll tin. Sieve the flour, baking powder and cocoa powder. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat eggs and vanilla essence till stiff. Add eggs to the butter and sugar mixture, mixing well. Fold in the flour alternatively with the milk. Pour the batter in lined tin and bake in preheated oven for 10-15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

For the ganache Chop the chocolate into small pieces and place in a bowl.

In another bowl, bring the cream to a boil. Pour the boiled cream over the chocolate and let it sit for a few minutes.

Mix well and cover the bowl with cling film. Let this mixture rest for couple of hours till it reaches a firm consistency.

Pour this in a icing cone and keep aside.

To make the jar cake You need a clean medium size mason jar. On a working platform, cut the sponge cake using a mould according to the size of the jar. You need to round slices - one smaller than the other so you can place them at the bottom and middle along with the ganache. To create the base, first place some pieces of the cake and press them at the bottom of the jar using a spoon. Now top it with a generous layer of choco ganache starting from the edges reaching the centre.

Now make two equal slices of the roundel you cut out of the cake and place on top of the icing and repeat the process till the jar is full. Top it with vanilla chocolate chips or a few slices of your favourite fruit and refrigerate. Relish this sinful chocolate dessert with cold or hot coffee, any time of the day!

MAY 21, 2016 PUNE

INDULGE

VISHAL KALE

Pretty, delicious, and packed with flavour, these easy-tomake jar cakes are the new favourite baked delights you must know how to make

TGS LIFE

MANGO & WHIPPED CREAM JAR Vanilla Sponge Cake Ingredients 120 gm

Flour 1/4 tsp

Baking powder 1/4 tsp

Salt 70 gm Butter 120 gm

Powdered sugar 2

Eggs 5 ml

Vanilla essence 50 ml Milk 50 ml Whipped cream A bowl full of fresh Alphonso mango cubes Method Preheat oven to 170 degrees. Line a 9” x 11” Swiss roll tin. Sieve the flour, baking powder and salt. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat eggs and vanilla essence till stiff. Add eggs to the butter and sugar mixture, mixing well. Fold in the flour alternatively with the milk. Pour the batter in lined tin and bake in preheated oven for 10-15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. In a separate bowl, pour the cream, not exceeding 20 per cent of the bowl capacity. Beat cream till firm consistency.

To make the jar cake Take the mason jar and place the cake crumbs first, top it with whipped cream, followed by a layer of mango cubes. Repeat the process and top the jar with as much mango cubes as you desire. The fresh fruit jar can be made suing any seasonal fruit of your choice, such as kiwi, orange, pineapple and so on. This is a refreshing snack time dessert you can carry along at work.

Just make sure you refrigerate the jar as soon as your reach office. And make your friends drool after the meal.

RED VELVET & CREAM CHEESE JAR Red velvet cake Ingredients 150 gm Flour 2 gm Baking powder 2.5 gm

Baking soda 10 gm Cocoa powder 60 gm

Butter 65 ml Buttermilk 150 gm Powdered sugar 5 ml Vanilla essence 2.5 ml Vinegar Food colour as required Cream cheese frosting Ingredients 225 gm Cream cheese (available at

select dairies and gourmet stores) 200 gm Whipped cream 60 gm Powdered sugar 5 ml Vanilla essence Method Preheat oven to 170 degrees. Line a 9” x 11” Swiss roll tin. Sieve flour, cocoa powder and baking powder. Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs. Add vanilla essence. In another bowl mix buttermilk, food colour, vinegar and baking soda. Add the flour mixture alternatively with the buttermilk mixture. Pour the mixture in the lined tin and bake for 10-12 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

For the cream cheese frosting Beat the cream in a bowl and keep aside. In another bowl beat the cheese and sugar. Mix the cheese and sugar mixture along with the whipped cream and fill the icing cone with the frosting and keep aside.

To make the jar cake Repeat the same process as the other jar cakes and garnish the cake with any edible colour or glitter of your choice. Rejoice this melt-in-themouth velvet jar cake with... er… you actually don’t need anything else. Just the cake is enough!

BANANA WALNUT WITH CHERRIES AND BRAN FLAKES JAR Banana Walnut cake Ingredients 190 gm Flour 3 Ripe bananas (mashed) 60 ml Milk 115 gm Butter 300 gm Powdered sugar 2 Eggs 110 gm Walnuts (chopped) 5 gm Baking soda 5 ml Vanilla essence A bowl of canned cherries A bowl of mildly crushed bran flakes Method Preheat oven to 175 degrees. Grease and line a 9” round baking tin. Separate the eggs and keep aside. Stir the baking soda in the milk. Cream butter and sugar together. Add the egg yolks and vanilla, mixing well.

Add the flour mixture alternatively with mashed bananas. Mix well.

Stir in the milk mixture. Add the walnuts to the mixture and mix well. Beat the egg whites till stiff peaks. Fold the egg whites into the cake mixture. Pour into lined tin and bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

To make the jar cake Line the jar with crushed cake and pour the cherries over followed by bran flakes. Add the roundel of cake slice and repeat the process. Top it with more flakes and dry fruits of your choice. Serve this as a quick and healthy breakfast item. You can pour some cold milk over to make it moist and enjoy this fuss-free and super crunchy breakfast meal.

TIP If you want to make these cakes as quickly as possible, all you have to do is keep the base and frostings ready in the refrigerator. And every time you crave for a sweet something, just assemble them all in desirable portions, sit back and relish.

TGS LIFE MAY 21, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

Conquering new roads, Gone are the days when a conversation about a bike’s mileage would involve only men. TGS catches up with five bikernis, who have conquered crazy roads on their mean machines

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

R

iding is a beautiful blend of freedom, strength and respect, Radhika Paul, who has undertaken numerous trips around the Western Ghats, tells us. She has also been to Himachal and Sikkim and hopes to return there soon. Since she has to travel very often between Pune and Mumbai, she has let go of the Shivneri, and for about a year now, has been riding solo.

Skin-bones-saddle and engine throttling between your legs is all you need to be a rider, adds 35-year-old Trisha Roy. Her father Sohan Roy is a reputed rider and her inspiration to join the bandwagon. She has never regretted the choice one bit.

Arti Navindgikar has been riding for just a year. She loves exploring new places and travelling but she finds cars to be claustrophobic. This was reason enough for her to fulfill her childhood dream of riding a fancy bike geared up in a black leather jacket and the works.

She is only 22 years old but Tanya Nirmal has already been riding for three years and tell us that when on her bike she feels liberated. The subtle hum of the engine, the fresh air, the smooth power and new experiences on every ride make each journey memorable. The night before she has to ride, she is so excited that she often doesn’t sleep at all.

Biking is a way of life for Firdaus Shaikh. It helps her unwind, become more flexible and accepting of various views. The longer the journey, the more time she has to introspect about her life.

Riding her bike has helped her focus on things that matter. She has

travelled to the southern and northern parts of India and adores the mountains. She aims to go back to the mountains every two years.

These five women and many more have fallen in love with the thrill of riding and it has become a major part of their lives now.

It’s not about going on a romantic trip as a pillion rider, it’s about experiencing every inch of the land that they travel, facing the challenges of punctures and breakdowns while crossing the length and breadth of the country by pushing their limits and breaking stereotypes. Riding, for these five and all the other women riders out there, is so much more than just going on a trip.

IT’S NOT A MAN’S WORLD ANYMORE Be it solo trips or with their friends, biking has been associated with men for as long as one can remember. Th is stereotype is, however, changing fast.

Firdaus thanks her mother for igniting her passion of riding. She gifted her toy bikes, cars, airplanes and tanks as birthday gifts and her interest only grew. “For me, anyone who rides a bike is a biker irrespective of their gender. As a woman, the only issue that bothers me on rides is the lack of sanitation. Not always is it easy to find washrooms. Besides, finding acceptance from my family with regards to motorcycles was the only challenge that I faced,” says the 29-year-old. Being a female rider, she is often looked at a little differently, but it isn’t much different from men when on the journey, she assures us. “On some occasions, however, being a woman has its perks as people are sometimes more than helpful in times of need, just because I am a lady,” she adds. Firdaus is the brand manager for

Tanya Nirmal

a motorcycle company and has recently moved to Delhi. Since it is her job to build awareness about the brand, it primarily involves her riding motorcycles and travelling – two things she loves the most. Currently, she owns two motorcycles, a Pulsar 180cc and a Karizma R. The Pulsar is her very fi rst motorcycle, gifted to her by her mom. Besides being a rider, she is also an avid blogger and amateur photographer. She loves to cook and build stuff out of automobile parts.

Always tuck your hair inside your helmet. Do not let it out of the helmet as this attracts unnecessary attention of curious drivers, thereby leading them to come up close to have a better look at you and your bike, says Tanya, when asked how different it is when she is out on the road. “Although biking is a man’s world, being a female rider has its pros and cons,” she explains. The pros being that you get a lot of attention, your fellow riders are kind and offer to help park your bike, ride alongside and keep you in the middle of the group while riding, which keeps unwanted drivers away. Cons, on the other hand, are men driving their egos onto the roads and coming closer to your bike making the rider uncomfortable, she adds. A pastry chef and cake designer by profession, the young girl was never really fond of bikes But a scene in Fast and Furious 5 changed - FIRDAUS SHA her mind for good. She is also a fitness freak and has a black belt in Kyo Kushin Kai karate. She bought her current bike, a Kawasaki z1000, in December last year. Her next trip, she

“Being a w its perks a are someti than helpfu of need, jus I am a

Radhika Paul

SAFETY IS ALWAYS A PRIORITY Each of the riders we spoke with consider safety measures and a willingness to go the extra mile important factors for every bikerni. They believe that a strong will is key to fighting the challenges that you might face along the way.

Knowing your destination well is another very important aspect of any long distance rider.

Believing that you can do it and enjoying the journey is equally important.

So, before you set out for an experience that will last with you forever, plan your trip well, tick all your safety measures, trust your instincts and stay alert, advise the women riders.

& HOW!

TGS LIFE MAY 21, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

Trisha Roy

happily tells us, is to Pondicherry in a few days.

“When you are on the road you are a rider and I don’t think gender has anything to do with this. Mindsets are changing.

People are now more welcoming of a woman rider. In fact, at most places I have experienced love, respect and humanity. You keep your needs basic and the challenges will reduce,” explains Arti, who often travels to Ladakh, Spiti Valley, Zanskar Valley, Aryan Valley and Goa with her husband, who is also a rider. She has met many people on her journey who ask her questions about riding and being on the road. She really likes the fact that she can be an inspiration to young girls. Owning a Royal Enfield Machismo 500, which she bought just a year ago, she loves to explore new places, cultures and meet interesting people. The marketing professional has also co-founded a travel company Tourbugs, along with her husband.

woman has as people imes more ul in times st because lady,”

AIKH

IT’S AN EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER All the bikernis we met feel that biking is a huge part of who they are and will always be. Riding is more than just getting on the bike, packing a bag and going from one place to another.

It’s a feeling of belonging, not only to the road but also to every single person whom they meet along the way.

Short distance rides

are mostly rides where one limits themselves within the city and its hustle bustle. When you go beyond and ride for long distances, you get to be closer to nature and this is something Trisha enjoys. “The freshness and beauty of every destination makes me want to ride more and try a new destination each time. The world keeps becoming larger with each ride,” she tells us. It’s all about being openminded and embracing all the good that comes your way.

Trisha is one of the very few women riders who travel long distances on her non-geared Dio. She has clocked 20,000 kilometre’s so far and assures us that it is just as fun to ride a geared bike. She has recently bought a Bajaj Avenger Street and is still getting used to it. She currently heads the corporate communications department for one the leading preventive healthcare company in India and since writing is her passion, she also is a blogger. Trisha has never felt that being a lady rider has been a hindrance. It’s all in the mind and that is where there are even females riders who have done trips and triumphed over what men haven’t, she add with pride.

Agreeing with Trisha, Radhika feels that riding long distances, makes one grow as a person. “Striking conversations with people from varied backgrounds gives you a first-hand experience of how much more there is outside your own comfort zone. Being a woman rider, trusting your instincts and keeping your gear on is the best way to cover long distances,” says the 30-year-old.

She rides a Royal Enfield Classic 350, which she bought two years ago. She works as a freelance assistant director for ad films and also organises rides.

Her next trip, which is scheduled somewhere around November, is to explore the hills, forests and a bit of the coast in Karnataka and Goa. Her inspiration for riding came from hanging out with friends who were also keen on learning to ride. She eventually gave in to the temptation. Her constant support and motivation to ride is her friend JP Singh who is the owner of Motomonks & Open Road, a company that organises bike tours.

Firdaus Shaikh salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

Arti Navindgikar

TGS LIFE

Facelifted special edition Hyundai Xcent launched

MAY 21, 2016 PUNE

THRILL OF DRIVING

C

elebrating 20 years since its foundation in India, Hyundai has launched a special edition of the Xcent compact sedan.

Two years after launch, the Xcent gets a facelift and few upgraded specs.

The engine remains the same; the petrol variant of the Xcent runs on a 1.2-liter four-cylinder Kappa Dual VTVT petrol engine which produces 82 hp and 114 Nm of torque. The diesel variant runs on a 2nd Gen 1.1L U2 engine producing 71 hp and 180 Nm of torque.

The exterior gets new boot lid spoilers, a new side body graphic, front radiator grill chrome and 20-year completion emblem on the back. On the inside, there’s a new 6.2” touchscreen audio-video system. For safety, the Xcent special edition gets driver airbags and ABS as standard from the base variant up.The colours available are pure white and sleek silver. The prices ex-showroom, Delhi are as follows-

Mercedes-Benz GLS 350 d launched in India for Rs 80.40 lac

M

ercedes has launched what it likes to think of as the “S-class of SUVs”, the GLS 350 d in India. The GLS is the new moniker for the GL-class, and if you’re confused by the nomenclature, get in line.

The GL/GLS has been in local production since 2013, and that continues with the 2016 model, no doubt contributing to its competitive price. The GLS 350 d runs on a 3l V6 engine mated to a 9G-tronic transmission. The engine delivers 258 hp and 620 Nm of torque.

On the exterior, the GLS 350 d comes with LED headlights with an intelligent light

system, adaptive high beam assist plus, 4MATIC permanent all-wheel-drive system, Airmatic suspension with Adaptive Dampening System Plus. Inside, we now get smartphone integration with Apple carplay, COMAND online with an 8” high resolution media display and touchpad, memory package for driver and front passenger and parking package with active parking assist and 360° camera. Safety remains a top priority with features like the PRE-SAFE system, brake assist, the electronic all-wheel drive traction system 4ETS, ESP with Curve Dynamic Assist and cruise control. There are two-stage airbags

Xcent

Petrol

Diesel

Special Edition (S) Solid

Rs 625,344

Rs 717,876

Special Edition (S) Metallic

Rs 629,026

Rs 721,607

for the driver and front passenger, side bags for the driver, front passenger and the middle row seats and windowbags across all three seat rows, available as standard. The GLS is also fitted with three-point safety belts on all seven seats.

The GLS 350 d Also allows five driving modes: comfort, sport, slippery, individual and off-road.

The colour options available are: citrine brown metallic, designo diamond white bright, cavansite blue metallic, obsidian black metallic, iridium silver metallic, tenorite grey metallic. The Mercedes-Benz GLS 350 d is priced at Rs 80.40 lac ex-showroom, Pune.

Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 facelift launched, starts at Rs 2.49 lac

A

refreshed version of India’s most sold car was launched on 18th May, the Maruti Suzuki Alto 800. The manufacturer claims that the facelifted Alto 800 is more fuel efficient. The petrol version gets an increase of 9%, resulting in a fuel efficiency of 24.7 Kmpl while the CNG version gets an increase of 10%, delivering 33.44 Km/kg .

There are no major changes in the engine; the 796 cc, F8D, three-cylinder, 12-valve engine churns out 47 hp and 69 Nm of torque in the petrol variant and 40 hp and 60 Nm of torque in the CNG variant. The engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission. The minimum ground clearance is 160 mm.

The exterior of the Alto 800 gets a new bumper and grille, the exterior length of the car

is increased by 35 mm, and there are new front headlamps and fog lamps. The new Alto 800 also gets a remote keyless entry feature. Safety features include driver airbags as an option from the base variant up, passenger side OVRM as a standard and a rear door child lock.

The colour options available are: silky silver, granite grey, blazing red with an inclusion of two new colours cerulean blue and mojito green.

Prices ex-showroom, Delhi are as followsVariant Price

Variant

Price

STD

2,49,000

STD (O)

2,55,000

Alto

LX

2,83,000

LXI (O)

2,89,000

800

LXI

3,09,000

LXI (O)

3,15,000

Model

LXI CNG 3,70,000

LXI CNG (O) 3,76,000

VXI

VXI (O)

3,28,000

3,34,000

Let your voice paint a canvas Wouldn’t it be awesome if your voice could be portrayed in a wall art that syncs with your home décor while preserving your memories?

TGS LIFE

MAY 21, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

W

e live in a world of customization where every gift must be unique.

It’s all about memories and finding ways to preserve it for the longest. Be it your child’s first words or the heartbeat of the one yet to be born, you can get it all transcribed onto a canvas and, just like that, you will have a memory hanging on your wall. Born out of coincidence, Audiowave Art, which is a creation of long-time friends and now husband and wife Varun and Priya Malkhani, the venture is truly something out of the box.

It was while she was looking for a piece of art for her husband’s artist management firm that she stumbled upon the amazing technology of voice printing. “I remember texting my husband at 1 am, we weren’t married then, but I was super excited about what I had found. I explained the concept to him and he absolutely loved the idea and it didn’t take us more than a 15 minute Whatsapp conversation to get started on this project,” recollects Priya. They already had a running software and web-development team to help them get going. With a little bit of knowledge on how to build a website and a passion for art, they began their journey of blending the amazing science of sound to create beautiful art.

Audiowave Art allows you to turn any

audio sampling into a one-of-a-kind piece of art. The idea is to be able to turn your words, the sound of laughter, your favourite song, even your wedding proposal into a beautiful piece of art to treasure forever. You can record just about anything, as long as it makes a sound.

They spent a considerable amount of time and resources developing the design and record tool on the website. It took a lot of effort to make it a user-friendly model thanks to the technical skill involved. Then, they tested every function until it was error free. The pieces of art are priced Rs 499, onwards.

“We’ve known each other for over a decade and we’ve been married for a few months.

The best aspect about working together is that we are from completely different career

backgrounds. This gives us a lot of versatility.

A lot of people are apprehensive about working with their spouse but we manage to make an amazing team as we share the same passion and complement each other well. We help and guide one another with each task and are each other’s biggest motivating factor,” Varun says.

Every voice and sound is unique to its producer, so no two sets of audiowaves are ever identical and this makes every painting unique. All you have to do is log on to the website and select the material and size of your painting. You can also have a personal message written or have an Audio QR code printed on the artwork. The code is linked to your recorded message. All you have to do is download any QR code app reader on your smart phone and scan the code.

A fascination with fusion

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

T

he colours on a painter’s palette, the sounds from a guitar, the intricate steps of a dancer… Jumbish is an Urdu word suggesting vibration or movement and Jumbish is an organisation that promotes art and artists,

The link will open on your device and play the recorded message.

Both of them wanted to ensure that the process was fun and engaging for their customers which explains why the level of customisation is so detailed.

“For us, the most satisfying thing is to hear the emotion behind each recording and create something beautiful from that. We distinctly remember getting our very first recording which was of a baby’s first heartbeat. The parents had lost their child a few years ago and were expecting once again and wanted to capture their little one’s precious moments in an everlasting way. The sentiment behind each piece of art truly makes us love what we do,” adds Priya. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

Jumbish has been set by a like-minded trio, who aim to create fusions of all kinds of art forms

and which believes that art exists in anything, from a kid’s brush strokes on paper, or in tribals dancing to folk tunes.

“Creativity is all around us, so why focus on one art form. We can blend two completely different art forms without either losing their essence. A lion is majestic, just as a tiger is elegant. Then there’s the alluring and mysterious liger. Which one fascinates you more,” says life coach and musician Shankar Mridha, who founded Jumbish along with painter Rahul Chakraborty and self taught graffiti artist Kartikey Sharma.

Jumbish plans to organise monthly events to provide a platform for local, national and international artists. The annual extravaganza of art will see the fusion of art forms across cultural borders.

“In ancient times, kings gave equal importance to all forms of art. We want all art forms to coexist and we aim to promote even little known artists,” said Mridha.

Their debut show ‘Nature Chakra’ presented a story of humans coexisting with nature, conflict and collaboration. It featured a veena player, djembe player, a contemporary dancer, a painter and a storyteller.

The next fusion show called ‘Present, Future and Me’, to be held on May 22, at Dorabjee’s, Camp, will blend mime and painting.

“This is the story of a struggling painter who is waiting for the right opportunity to come his way. The play revolves around the everyday struggle of an artist striving hard for recognition,” said Mridha.

“I thought of the concept last year, as we remembered our days of struggle. We look for a theme and storyline, and then decide what art forms will suit it,” Mridha said. They aim to blend mural art and literature, pottery and dance, cooking and kalamkari, music and bartending, as fusion is what inspires them.

zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

TGS LIFE

MAY 21, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

An eye and ear for the funny side of things

Suraj Sriram

There is more to drawing cartoons than just distorting faces to make them look funny, as a number of city cartoonists reveal the secrets of their trade

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

A

“It sure is more impactful than a written article.

Besides having an ability to draw, you need to have an analytical mind to give out an opinion about the current news” - SURAJ SRIRAM

picture is worth a thousand words, they say.

And cartoons are just as expressive as a picture, if not more, as it is a medium that can be used eloquently to express one’s opinion about everyday life or more profound matters. Cartooning is an understated art form, which is also one of the most entertaining, and can be a powerful tool of expression to communicate an important message. From outright humour and fun, such as a cat and mouse story, to serious topics like politics or social awareness, cartoons are a versatile means to comment on current affairs, and there is no limit to the subjects to explore.

Prashant Sinha, a citybased artist, uses his cartoons to give expression to his emotions, and a commentary on moments from everyone’s day-to-day life. He was drawn to caricatures from an early age, and started his career with the first project at Malaka Spice restaurant. “Initially, I did a lot of live, on-the-spot sketching at railway stations, bus stands, vegetable markets or any other crowded place.

It required lots of sketching practice to draw a perfect subject,” he says.

After passing out from one of the best fine arts college of India, Prashant too found it difficult to make his mark in this field. The biggest challenge was to change the mindset of people who thought caricature and cartooning was just about distorting people’s faces and making them look odd and funny. “In India where people are so image conscious, I tried to change the definition of caricature from odd to special, because in caricature there is very less margin between ugly and cute, funny and teaser, laughter and anger, so I had to be very careful about these points,” he says. He loves to draw faces with prominent features like a big nose, sharp eyes, thick eyebrows, protruding teeth etc. “My favourite subject has always been girls with long and curly hair, sharp eyes and thin necks. I always tried to make people feel special rather than make ugly

through my cartoons,” he says.

Suraj Sriram, a well-known freelance cartoonist, better known as ‘Eskay’, believes that cartoons are a powerful medium to give out a visual message. “It sure is more impactful than a written article. Besides having an ability to draw, you need to have an analytical mind to give out an opinion about the current news,” he says.

Suraj’s editorial cartoons and illustrations have appeared regularly in most leading newspapers and magazines He left for the US in 1985, where he freelanced as a cartoonist and also taught cartooning at a few schools and design institutions. He is a member of the National Cartoonist Society of America and has received awards for his editorial cartoons from the New England Press Association. Though retired and currently back in India, his editorial cartoons continue to be published weekly and monthly in leading business papers in Boston.

Suraj, who has been in the field for over 40 years, observed that editorial cartoons are no longer given the kind of space they used to get. He believes the political commentary through cartoons that was once something that readers looked forward to, is not so popular anymore. “The cartoons that attract opposition are the ones that see the light of the day and reach a wider audience. In India, I don’t see much of that,” he says. He accepts that Indian and Western media provide different kinds of exposure. “When I started off, in those days, a cartoonist was considered to be someone from a high stature. The status I enjoyed many years back has now disappeared. Newspapers have become more commercial. They would rather give that space to an advertisement than to a cartoon,” he says. The subject that interests him the most is politics. At the same time he feels responsible as it may affect a lot of people. “I love poking fun at politicians. I can’t think of any good words for them. They need to be put in their place, as they let us down every time,” he says. He has also made cartoon on various other topics like social causes, awareness on malnutrition and open defecation.

However Suraj believes that becoming a cartoonist should be one’s passion and not the profession. One needs to have an alternative career parallel to this, till the time one hasn’t established himself. He has penned three books where he has merged the art of cartooning with poetry. “I believe one should have a day job in order to make ends meet. But you can also experiment with

TGS LIFE

MAY 21, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

Prashant Sinha

various other mediums like publishing a book etc. Now you don’t need to run for approval from the publisher, you have sites like Amazon, where you can get you work published for free,” he explains.

Avinash Patil started sketching as a child, drawing pictures of different breeds of dogs because his parents didn’t allow him to have a dog as a pet. Then he started creating

superheroes inspired from different serials, movies and mythology. “After a little while, I became famous for drawing my teachers’ caricatures in school, though it was an underground art. I felt immense pleasure when

I made sketches and everyone looked at them, and I used to dream of doing this all day all my life,” he says. He once tried to copy a Mahatma Gandhi image from a ten rupee note but he ended up making it look like a child. “My mother then explained to me what features in his face made him look his age. After keen observation, I was able to trace him fairly. That was the first lesson in drawing that I had ever received,” he says. Then there was no looking back for him. He was always looking for those peculiar features in one’s face that gave them their character. He recently worked for the MTV Junkyard Project which was an initiative to support the Clean India campaign.

Nikhil Shinde

“I became famous for drawing my teachers’ caricatures in school, though it was an underground art” - AVINASH PATIL

Avinash too faced a lot of challenges when he decided to turn his passion into a profession.

People around him were skeptical when he told them about this profession. What’s necessary in this field he believes is keeping pace with the news and the ability to find humour in political topics. “One needs to maintain the core issue that has been raised and present it with a hint of satire and fun. Being funny is cannot be learnt or taught. It has to come from within,” he says.

His favourite subjects are politics and media, as they are related to everyone’s life in a very direct way. “There is always so much happening in both these fields and the politicians are nothing less of celebrities these days. But there is a difference between the two, the former is a more serious topic as it affects our life in real sense. Cartooning gives me a voice to put up my opinion towards politics,” he says.

Young cartoonist Nikhil Shinde has a different perspective in life. He finds humour in everyday life and in serious situations. He uses the traditional pen and paper and later edits them by using computer software. “I don’t make cartoons keeping any concept in mind.

My favourite subject while creating cartoons are women, I like to draw faces, big eyes etc,” he says. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

SP

14

TGS LIFE

ALL SET TO PARTY

MAY 21, 2016 PUNE

SHOPPING

A student of fashion designing Reesha Shivani pulls out five attires from her wardrobe to show us how to look stunning TEJAS GAIKWAD

Alluring in Stripes Be it an outing with family, friends or a formal gathering this well-fitting stripped balck and white dress is the solution to all your problems. You can pair it with flats or heels and maybe even a jacket depending on the event.

Dress: Urban Outfitters, Rs 2,000

Keeping it casual Your style statement can hardly ever go wrong with a pair of well-fitted ripped jeans and a white top.

You can always add some colour with vibrant shades of footwear and sling bags Jeans: Charlotte Russe, Rs 1,200 Top: Michael Kors, Rs 4,000 Shades: Forever 21 , Rs 10,000

Sexy in Black The strapless sequence crop with a long floral print skirt is the perfect way to make a lasting first impression. The contrasting turqouise neckpiece just takes up the oomph a notch higher. Flats go best with this look. Less is more here.

Crop Top: Charlotte Russe, Rs 1,400 Long Skirt: H&M, Rs 800 Neckpiece: Grey & Osbourne, Rs, 7,000 Watch: Michael Kors, Rs 16,500

Breezy Blue Get the simple and cute girl next door look with this blue floral dress. Its soft material makes it a comftable wear too. Depending on where you are going, pair it with either flats or heels.

Dress: Drama Queen, Rs 1,800

Shine in Silver The silver sequence ankle length pants when paired with a solid coloured top and simple earrings are a great ensemble for a classy party or even for a fun night partying with friends. Don’t forget to add on a pair of high heels.

White top: Banana Republic, Rs 1,300 Sequence Pants:Forever 21, Rs 2,600

— Compiled by Salonee Mistry

‘BE PATIENT WITH YOUR BODY’

By Rashmeet Taluja @rashmeet_taluja

EXPERT SPEAK Atul Kurpe, Director, Focus Five Fitness Club

As per your day plan you have a perfect diet and eating every two hours is the best way to keep yourself fit. You need atleast 3 to 4 litres of water intake as you workout everyday. Also try waking up a bit early as it gives a boost to your day overall.

Expert rating: 8 /10

FITNESS MANTRA A healthy mind is the precursor to a healthy body, one should enjoy their workouts, maybe play some good music to jazz it up. The endorphins released really lift your spirit, I feel a spring in my feet, and I am active and full of joy after workouts.

Th ings to keep in mind are that becoming fit is a gradual process. Do not expect results in a jiff y, there is no short cut to gaining or dropping weight. Patience is imperative, be patient with your body and don’t strain your muscles by working out more than 45-50 minutes. Say no to junk food, drink healthy juices, stay hydrated and pay a visit to a dietician to determine what kind of a diet suits your body type. mail.rashmeet@gmail.com

Dress cool in this summer heat

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ummer is upon us and guys, its is time to bring out the brighter colours.

The warmer months provide an opportunity to embrace a far more distinctive and experimental colour palette Munira Taher than the darker greys, blues and browns of the winter swing. Fresh pastel hues are at their best in the warmer weather and are comfortable too. When the right shades are matched, they make way for an elegant, distinguished and yet understated look and offer a sense of confidence too. The best pastel colours this season would be baby blue, pastel pink, white, soft brown, cream and ivory. The key to wearing pastels well are to keep things

simple tells us fashion designer Munira Taher. the right choices to make the sock-less feet · Shorts and Shirts: Cut with class, slim leg look good and don’t be afraid to add some openings and an eight and a half inch inseam colour too. so they just fit above your knee are the shorts · Finding the right sunglasses: Not all you must wear this summer. Apart from sunglasses fit your personal summer style. being comfortable ensure that they are’t There is a time for swag and glam and too short to make the perfect style there is a time for the casual summer statement with it. If you want to day. Seperating the two is is a must STYLE wear a shirt in summer and still to get the look right. You can GURU feel cool, find some linen shirts. It is never go wrong with the classics. light comfortable and easy to wear.

The aviators and wayfarers are a must · Keep your feet in style: Flip flops can have in your sunglasses collection.With be comfortable and easy to wear during the these two sunglasses, you can enjoy the day summer , but if you want to be style then whether you are going to work or having fun picking the sock-less trend is the way to go. on the pool side and even when you are out It looks good with a shirt, shorts or jeans. simply grabbing a mid-day coffee.

Loafers, low top sneakers and espadrilles are As told to Salonee Mistry

PUNE

FEATURES

VISHAL KALE

MY DAILY LOG I start my day at 10 am. My day begins with a glass or two of water. Breakfast is typically two eggs and a banana shake.

My meals are planned in a way that I eat every two hours and alternate between big and small meals. I sip coconut water at 12 noon, as it is great for maintaining a cool body temperature.

Lunch is rice with sautéed

MAY 21, 2016

vegetables, any fresh green leafy vegetables or beans. I eat sprouts very often as they are rich in protein.

I often embellish my meal with fresh mushrooms or grilled chicken.

Excessive salt or oil is a big no-no across all my meals.

Evening when the hunger pangs come roaring, I eat a nice sandwich loaded with vegetables and of course opt for multi-grain bread. I experiment with this evening snack by adding spinach, sometimes carrot and ice berg or corn as fi lling.

I head to the gym at 5:30 pm and my workout is typically 45 minutes long. It consists of an intense circuit training regimen. I have a personal trainer who guides me with my regimen and makes sure I don’t over exert myself. After workout, I munch walnuts or almonds on my way back.

Dinner is light. I have a soup with roti and sabzi. Since lunch constitutes of rice, I ditch it at night.

Also, my day consists of lots of water intake, the average is two litres.

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all, dusky and most definitely fashionable, Summer Jacob, 18, is the poster girl for everything athletic. She grew up playing basketball, tennis and badminton, besides being a long-distance runner and even was the captain of her school’s football team.

She has taken a year-long break from her studies and has been honing her talent with a pageant training studio in Pune. Summer declares with a wide grin that her long-term goal is to become a Victoria’s Secret angel. She lays a lot of emphasis on fitness in her daily life, never compromising on her fitness regime, no matter how busy her day. To relax, she revels in the joys of singing, trekking and camping with her friends, travelling to interesting places. She defines herself as a ‘pretty social’ person and loves engaging in conversations with new people every day.

Th is petite beauty has won several titles in 2015, including being crowned campus princess at an inter-college pageant in the city. She even bagged the titles ‘Miss Adventurous’ and ‘Miss Beautiful Legs’ at Miss India Diva 2015, and was the fi rst runner-up at the NDA Ball. She has been modelling for local and Indian brands and insists that her ability to manage work round the clock should be attributed to her good stamina that comes from eating healthy and exercising religiously.

TGS LIFE

SUMMER JACOB Age: 18 Weight: 49 kg Height: 5’ 9”

‘Bollywood is a place where struggles never end’

TGS LIFE

MAY 21, 2016 PUNE

BUZZ

Top make-up man Subhash Shinde has strived to raise the bar higher with every film and push his boundaries further

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

Varun changes workout for Badrinath Ki Dulhania

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ctor Varun Dhawan has started working on his look for Dharma Productions' Badrinath Ki Dulhania.

The 29-year-old ABCD 2 star has changed his gym regime to beef up for the role. He shared a picture of his new bulked up look on Instagram.

"Needed to change my training for the role. Changing training methods keeps gym workouts very interesting," he wrote in the caption of a picture he uploaded.

Varun was also seen donning a tattoo

of 'Badrinath' on his hand at several events he attended in last few days. To be directed

by Shashank Khaitan, the movie stars Alia Bhatt playing the female lead. Varun and Alia appeared together two years ago in Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania. The fi lm is being touted as the next in the "Dulhania" franchise.

The actor will next be seen in action-adventure fi lm Dishoom, directed by his brother Rohit Dhawan. John Abraham and Jacqueline Fernandez are also part of the fi lm.

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ubhash Shinde is the man who has created the spectrum of Aishwarya Rai's looks in Sarbjit, the film in which she is a young woman of 25, as well as a mature woman of 52. Shinde has been involved with the Hindi film industry for 21 years, and in this time he has honed his skills to a fine art, or call it magic. He was just 17 when he worked on his first project, and from Black, Mary Kom and Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ramleela to Sarbjit, Shinde has raised the bar higher with every film, and has also pushed his own boundaries further.

Working and shooting with Aishwarya was quite a challenge, he says. “Aishwarya has always been associated with glamorous roles and making her look the way she does in the film was a challenge. Doing what I do, it is very important for me to get an exact idea of what the director is looking for in the character, and try and get that look through make-up,” he says. If the make-up is done properly, half the job of the actor is done, he says.

Shinde’s advent into the industry as a makeup artist was by coincidence and he is thankful for the way things have turned out. It was while he was assisting as a make-up artist for Black when

the lead make-up artist bailed out because of some problems and he was asked to step in. There has been no looking back.

Every one in the industry, irrespective of what they do or how famous they are, struggle continuously, he says. First they struggle to get work, and then struggle to be appreciated.

“Struggle, while working in Bollywood, never ends. One just gets more famous and known as they climb the success ladder. Even when right at the top, they are still struggling to ensure that their film does well,” he says. Every single film that Shinde has worked on, he has given it his 100 per cent, and that is why it is difficult for him to choose a favourite. He is currently working on a film titled Mom, where he is helping Sridevi look the part. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

I am not perfect:

Anushka Sharma on lip job Actress Anushka Sharma has once again addressed the 2014 controversy surrounding her fuller lips, saying she is "human and not perfect." Anushka's appearance at filmmaker Karan Johar's chat show in 2014 was trolled on Twitter with many speculating that she underwent a lip job.

The Band Baaja Baaraat star issued a statement where she said her fuller lips were the result of "lip enhancing tool" and "make-up techniques" she used for her role in Bombay Velvet.

And in a recent interview to Vogue, Anushka said, "I have nothing to hide.

So when I spoke about my lip job, a lot of people called me brave for coming out.

But I did what I had to (for my role in Bombay Velvet). I'm not going to lie and say I didn't. I had to take ownership. I wanted fans to know that I'm human and not perfect."

After the Twitter controversy two years ago, Anushka had released this statement. "For a short while now I have been using a temporary lip enhancing tool and that along with make up techniques (I have learnt over the years) is the reason why there might be a change in the appearance of my lips. I have by no means gone 'under the knife' or done any kind of 'plastic surgery' or undergone any intrusive procedure.

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