PUNE, MAY 28, 2016 | www.thegoldensparrow.com
Breaking barriers,
ONE STEP AT A TIME Alandi is changing the face of women wrestling in the state. Young girls training here find support and recognition for their talent while aiming to reach for the stars
TGS LIFE
MAY 28, 2016 PUNE
Binkamache Sanvad
This is what they do best
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FEATURES Natak Company’s play Binkamache Sanvad draws inspiration from ‘philosopher’ Gandish Garbochov’s works. Make time for this out-of-thebox production By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
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dream sequence and a thoughtprovoking concept, there are many ways to describe Binkamache Sanvad. With a little bit of satire and a pinch of intensity the play, directed by Alok Rajwade, talks about the void between the euphoria of ‘Achhe Din’ and the silence and nervousness on the other end of the spectrum. As individuals, the play questions whether it is difficult for us to differentiate between the good and bad, especially when we are bombarded with information and drawing from his personal experiences this is exactly what Alok has tried to stage. Talking about playwright Dharmakirti Sumant, the young director says, “He has the perfect sense of the current social state and captures the correct essence, blending sociology, emotions, and the deep inner conflicts one faces.” The understanding of the current scenario seemed very sharp and insightful in this play. When the protagonist of the play Bhosanka chooses to buy a new phone and lands up with an iPhone 6, he is surrounded by a fantasy world. It begins with his old college friend Abeka and features several characters along the way.
The journey from here on is full of satire, has a dramatic air and humour. Every character, be it Abeka, Loly Loly the porn star, the Modi-loving middle class man or Oot, the right-wing youth, plays their part with utmost ease, taking a dig now and then on things that should matter but are often ignored by society. As he becomes an expert at using the smartphone, Bhoskana starts talking about everything that comes to his mind, be it about the current society, the origin of the world, humankind, or even dreams. Those who land up saying just what they feel even though they don’t intend to
will relate to the play the most. As far as direction is concerned, Alok says that his projects aren’t meant to please the audience, no matter what the play. As long as the script satisfies the actor and director within him, he gives his 100 per cent. Talking about the rehearsals for the play, he adds that they were as professional as they could be. “Obviously, we are all friends and hangout sometimes but when we are rehearsing, that is our priority and there can be no distractions. For this play, we went along with everyone’s natural behaviour and instincts for the characters that
Are you sick of the party? Sandeep and Sanjeev Vyas are all set to release their new single based on youngsters’ obsession with parties By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
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mong the few musicians who mix rock music with electronica Sandeep and Sanjeev Vyas have been gathering a steady momentum over the years. Sandeep is known for his songs in the movie Kidnap and has managed to make space for himself in the live music scene. His songs range from Bollywood, Indie Pop, Bhangra, Latino and Classic tunes. Their debut album Deewanapan topped charts in India and abroad. From playing with a number of bands as a vocalist to meriting a debut album, the musician has had an interesting career graph. Now, he is set to release his new single Sick Of The Party. The musicians have garnered a small fan base loves the post-Rock genre in India. Their
new song is their take on all party songs that sound and look similar. “Everyone is talking about parties these days and many are lost in their booze trip. There are a lot of ways to have fun than just partying,” says Sandeep,
who is a fitness enthusiast and his idea of fun is working out, practising yoga and spending time with his loved ones. “The video shows how, after attending a lot of parties, I get sick of it. There is more to life than this,” he adds.
they were playing till we got a flow,” he tells us. The script always evolves along the way but after a certain point you have to have a definite flow so that you can rehearse and get better by the day, Alok adds. The cast of the play includes, Abhay Mahajan, Omkar Govardhan, Suvrat Joshi , Pushkaraj Chirputkar, Dhanraj Narayankar, Laxmi Birajdar, Veera Saxena, Tushar Tengale, Siddhesh Purkar and Akshaya Deodhar. When: May 27, 9.30 pm Where: Bharat Natya Mandir, Sadashiv Peth salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com The song will have listeners thinking in a mostly philosophical way, as they present the idea of youngsters who live in an unrealistic world. Sandeep has varied musical inspirations like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Megadeth, Queen, Aerosmith and any music that has a lot of layers and a wide spectrum of sounds. After so many years into their career, it’s evident from their music that they believe in quality over quantity. “It was not an overnight success for me. In college, I did a part-time job at a hotel and sung for a band. Coming from a middle-class family it was not easy to fund our passion for music,” he adds. A major setback for him was when he signed the movie 7 Days In Paris and recorded six songs but the project got shelved. All their songs are now owned by the producer. Also, last year he had to undergo a surgery as there was a major problem with his vocal chords. “After the surgery, I spent a lot of time getting back to normal. The doctor was not sure if I would be able to sing once the surgery was performed. But with hard work and persistence, I am singing better than before. So it has been a roller coaster ride for me,” he adds. He has three more singles in the pipeline, which will include an Organic Rock track, apart from elements of Hip-Hop and Dance music. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com
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TGS LIFE
From RJ to popular indie artist,
Tejas Menon’s rise to fame By Rashmeet Taluja @rashmeet_taluja
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eatured among the top 20 young indie musicians and songwriters in India, 26-year-old Tejas Menon has been riding high on fame in the independent music scene in the country. His first release in 2014, Small Victories, and his latest singles have struck an instant chord with the youth considering all his live shows see a full house. Tejas is trending all over the internet with his rendition of the popular Power Puff girls cover. What’s also trending is a unique video of a car jamming session featuring his band. When they were holed up in a car in the Mumbai rains just before a show, they decided to record Wine and the song went viral on social media in a matter of hours. The artiste talks exclusively with TGS about his college years in Pune, his foray into music and what lies ahead. With his husky voice, an ear for spirited melodies and an eclectic musical mix of acoustic Pop Rock, Folk, Symphony and the Blues Tejas has a huge fan following among the youth in major cities. The ladies of course can’t stop gushing about his impressive skills on the guitar, his boyish charm and his quick wit. His songs have meaningful lyrics that revolve around love, being a unit of the community apart from other abstractions of life. Born and brought up in Dubai, Tejas came to Pune for higher studies. “I never really liked the idea of going to college, although I would write music and play the guitar since I was quite young but I simply thought of it as my hobby. I was still uncertain about what I wanted to do with my life but I graduated in Economics anyway. I would bunk all my lectures when I was in college and just sit for the exams. When I was 19, I interned with Radio One music station in Pune. I would take care of production, do a bit of content writing, and marketing. It was unprecedented at the time but they saw some potential in me and gave me my own English night show. This is when I found out more about the independent music scene in the country, I interacted with musicians and song writers like Raghu Dixit, Nikhil D’Souza and Gowri,” recalls Tejas. When he saw the artistes perform at the very first NH7 Weekender in Pune, he thought it was a phenomenal platform for indie artists. Inspired, he decided to give music a shot too. The stint in radio had given him an insight into advertising, the world of musicians as well as made him very comfortable with the mic and connecting with large audiences. With a dream of
MAY 28, 2016 PUNE
ENTERTAINMENT
sharing his music he began performing at small gigs in the city and received a warm response. After pursuing a post-graduation in Media Studies from Pune, Tejas wanted to take up video production so he moved to Mumbai to work in an advertising company in 2013. While he continued to perform on the side and recorded his first album, he later quit his job and co-founded a record company with his colleague from advertising. Life came a full circle when he performed at NH7 for the second time last year but this time with his own band called Tejas. The platform that was the impetus to start his own musical journey made him feel ecstatic. “Playing with my band members is the best feeling. We are all a family and I love touring around the country. It feels like being on a vacation. I love meeting new people,” he says with childlike enthusiasm. About the varying tastes of audiences across cities, he says, “The audience in Pune keeps getting younger and younger. The audience seems to be loyal to the night hubs. They frequent these places irrespective of the music or artists playing, which shows they are open to exploring new music and artists. It works positively to create a new fan base at every gig in the city. On the contrary, Mumbai has more venues for independent music and people follow their favourite artists closely,” he says. His recent tour in Chandigarh was a pleasant surprise as he found the audience singing along, which he insists is the best feeling for a musician. Tejas enjoys playing solo as well as with his band. “They accentuate my songs, everything sounds better with so many instruments blending together. They are all extremely talented musicians. I value them and what they bring to the table. Sometimes, small intimate gigs are also better. It also gives me the freedom to do whatever, whenever, during the set. I haven’t stuck to one format. I often collaborate on duets and I’ve done trio shows too. I try to present a good variety for music aficionados.” Tejas believes every aspiring musician should have certain qualities to make a mark. “Singularity, it is vital to sustain in the long haul. It is also important to shrewdly market your own music online, have the ability to package it well, and stay completely committed to your music,” he shares. Look out for his podcasts from Geekfruit – a project he started with his friends. Geekfruit is dedicated to cartoons, pop culture and the geeks in India. Also on the list is a new song You Want that he has recorded for VH1 Diaries with his band and his new album Make It Happen, which will be released by August-end. mail.rashmeet@gmail.com
The changing face of EDM By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
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teve Angello has been around in the dance music scene for over a decade now. Currently, he is busy basking in the success of his first solo album Wild Youth after moving away from his partnership with Axwell and Sebastian Ingrosso as Swedish House Mafia. His album is the perfect blend of modern Pop, French Disco, and Heavy music. “My sound is something I consider a journey into my music. I can play anything from Minimal to almost Trance, and really Groovy Techno to Deep House. I think there’s a lot of amazing music out there and I just want to be doing what I believe,” says Steve who is all set to perform at ‘Don’t Let Daddy Know, one of the biggest biggest dance music jams to be held in Mumbai. Music has been his passion and has shaped his sensibilities over the years. Steve grew up in a musically-inclined family and always wanted to tell his story through music. “When I started out, dance music was
so raw with great scope for experimentation. It wasn’t commercial. I wanted to be part of a musical revolution of sorts and leave behind a legacy really,” he says. Steve believes that the current state of EDM is terribly repetitive. He points out that there is a need for more space between music and the visual content. People today consume music differently than a couple of years ago so each of his songs tells a story. “It has become more out-of-the-mould music. Artistes have started copying what is popular. So it’s hard enough to penetrate the masses of information coming through on a daily basis. My choice was simple – let’s give it more time, let’s tell the story the way it was meant to be told,” he says. He grew up listening to Gang Starr, Pink Floyd, Nas, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Daft Punk. Their sound inspired him to take up music. He has been working on a live set for quite some time now and is soon to announce a project. “I want to collaborate with various artists because that helps better dance music. For Wild Youth too, I collaborated with Dan from Imagine Dragons, Dougy from Temper Trap,” he adds.
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TGS LIFE
Strolling through a performance
MAY 28, 2016 PUNE
FEATURES By Rashmeet Taluja @rashmeet_taluja
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nique on-site performances are taking the audience through an experiential walk across the city’s creative spaces. They do not have to sit in a proscenium, confined to their seats the entire evening, any longer. Now, the audience is an important part of the performances itself with constant movement and not a dull moment to spare. Makarand Pitre, a 36 year-old dance artist and co-founder of kriya studios has introduced the unconventional art form to the city. After creating a rich legacy of fifteen years’ worth of experiences in diverse dance forms, like Jazz, Ballet, Latin American, and Contemporary, he has now choreographed an on-site performance called Promenade. The French word stands for a space that is most suitable for ‘a leisurely walk, especially one taken in a public place as a social activity.’ “The dance performance explores walking as a theme, its different qualities and textures, its characteristics, its purposefulness and its applicability as a mode of moving, growing and evolving. Right from an amphibian, a reptile and the transition from a four legged animal into an ape – we explore the evolution of the spine,” he explains. The performance will see Makarand perform along with three other dancers Pooja Vora, 28, the founder of Kriya Studios and a versatile dancer herself. Sharing the platform with them will be Kamakshi Saxena, 30, also
By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
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he extraordinarily talented paper-cut artist creates detailed works of paper art that are cut entirely by hand. Rishikesh Potdar cuts each of his original designs out of a single piece of paper. His artwork revolves around highly intricate renditions of folk art, landscapes, portrait or floral themes. He is so passionate about the art that he quit his engineering job to pursue the hobby. “Initially, I did this only as a pastime, but the inspiration from my close friends made me consider it as a profession. After engineering, I grew inclined towards the art form,” says Rishikesh. He was inclined towards the Japanese art of Kirigami after he watched a few videos on YouTube. He believes that just like paper cutting, life is connected and one story leads to another. He could relate to the art. Hence, he decided to take this up full time. “Kirigami is similar to origami. The major difference is that in origami, you fold paper whereas in
“We want it to be an intimate experience trained in Jazz, Contemporary and Ballet from Alvin Ailey Dance School in USA and Abhilash hence only 25 people can be a part of the audience, we move to four different locations Phule, 27, who is also trained in Jazz. The four performers have been rehearsing in the same creative space. The highlight of dedicatedly for several this dance performance is months. They form a that it is not static. Every solid team with their segment is exciting and strong dance backgrounds engaging for the audience. and simply the love for There are funny segments performing live before an that entertain and a few audience. To function as poignant parts which an agile team that is in sync display the struggle every with one another, especially organism undergoes. There since the nature of their is no artificial lighting but performance is such that we use sound effects that they are communicating accentuate the flow of our - MAKARAND PITRE with no dialogue and just performance. The audience their body movements, it won’t be given a narration, requires an innate mutual understanding, trust there is a parallel thought to this performance, and supportive spirit among themselves. it is open to interpretation, they are scattered
“The dance performance explores walking as a theme, its different qualities and textures”
musings and imageries,” adds Makarand. He has meticulously researched and choreographed the performance with a lot of heart, sweat and toil on his part and hopes the audience goes back home with the feeling of having witnessed something novel while being appreciative of the touch of finesse that they aim to add to every performance. Makarand thinks that earlier there was only space for classical dance performances in Pune. It is only recently that he sees things are changing and newer, off beat, more palpable concepts are seeping into the evolving artistic sensibilities of the audience. As a choreographer, he hopes to continue experimenting with new concepts in the future. When: June 3, 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm Where: Kalachhaya Cultural Centre, off S B road Patrakar Nagar rashmeet.taluja@goldensparrow.com
The right cut Pune’s Rishikesh Potdar creates intricate paper art from single sheets of paper in just three minutes
kirigami, you fold and cut paper,” he explains. His artworks are based on everyday aspects of life. “The thing with paper cuts is that one doesn’t
know the final output until the end. I have a picture in mind of what it might look like. It is the curiosity of finding out if I have got it that keeps me going,” he says. His hard work was much appreciated on the sets of
India’s Got Talent, where he made Kirron Kher’s portrait in just two minutes. After that, he has been a regular on TV shows. He uses sharp blades to make paper cuts. The cutting process requires enormous skill, concentration and patience. They are made from a single sheet of archivalquality white paper, where the background sheet is black. It is then framed in glass. “The paper-cuts are hand-cut and are not laser-cut, prints
or paintings. I love it when someone’s life comes alive on a piece of paper,” says Rishikesh. Each of his design requires immense planning since the slightest mistake can ruin the entire project. Each cut has to be precise and measured. Over the last two years, he has conducted more than 200 live shows. “The tricky part is to identify the portions to cut out and the portions to retain,” he adds. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com
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TGS LIFE
By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
MAY 28, 2016 PUNE
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musician for the last seven years, Mohit Manuja played the guitar, bass and keyboards for several bands before he moved on to work as a music composerproducer for production houses. A self-taught musician, YouTube has been his most helpful teacher. Jaydeep Behere’s association with music started when he began singing in an orchestra. It was only after five years of being in the orchestra that he started writing his own songs. He too plays the guitar, bass and keyboards. His major inspiration is a band called Alter Bridge and he also has inked their name on his arm. Hailing from a family of music enthusiasts, Chetana Kinger who goes by the stage name Che has been singing for as long as she can remember. Music was one of the constants that she always fell back on, especially when she was studying interior designing and had innumerable submissions on hand. Being selftaught, she can play the harmonica, drums and the keyboard. His love affair with music started simply by hearing interesting creations. Kishore Kumar was Tamir Khan’s major inspiration. Being a part of a band in college gave him the opportunity to write music, compose and play the guitar too. This was when he started enjoying alternative music and was immensely drawn to Sufi music. Like the four, every musician believes that music completes them. No matter what they might choose to do in their personal life, they latch onto music as though their life depended on it and for good reason too. Apart from gigs, live shows and performing covers to grow as musicians, the next step is to release their own single. It involves a lot more hard work, needs the musician to be extremely creative while achieving the perfect balance of lyrics with music. Once the single is released, it also must do well as this might just indicate towards a successful music career for the musician. In today’s time of social media, getting the music out is not very difficult and the response too is pretty quick. We spoke to a few musicians from the city who have not only released their singles but have done well and created a tidy fan base for themselves.
INSPIRED BY THE SMALLEST OF THINGS Composing and creating her first and only single till date Point of Return, Chetana tells us that the song is about wanting a little bit of what is and a whole lot of what was. Point of Return is about nostalgia and a hope of returning to that place in time, when everything feels wonderful. “I write songs to fully comprehend my feelings and attain clarity. The best songs that I have written are those that I finish from start to end in one go. Point of Return was one such song. It was ready within
FEATURES
Jaydeep Behere
Chetana Kinger
Meet theyoung
musicians ON THE BLOCK a few hours,” she recollects. She always ends up starting the guitar work first and the melody and lyrics just follow. She always writes drafts of alternate lyrics and then just sticks with what she likes. About six singles old, Mohit tells us that he is inspired by the people he meets and the happenings in their life. Nature too is another source of his melodies. Lyrics and melodies come naturally to him and he makes it a point to record these random ideas in his phone for future reference. This is where the process starts, he adds. His singles include the romantic track Naina, a soft-rock number called Kitna Wakt, a Mother’s Day ballad Maa and something that he released during the World Cup season this year called Gol Guttam. Apart from this, he has also released
Mohit Manuja
Seedha Prasaran, and Moh & Mayas with his band. Like so many other musicians out there, Jaydeep’s inspiration for his very first song Sajanaji Vaari was a heart break. He remembers sitting down and writing the entire story and it just turned
Tamir Khan
Music was introduced to their lives in different ways but stayed with them because of the sanity that it brought to their hectic schedules and the peace that came along with it
into a song that he recorded it in his bedroom. It made him extremely happy and the process of writing and composing the song itself has been his inspiration since. He has also released, Ik dooje ke liye, Monica Oh my darling, Dosti, Against the current, Le reve jaune and The Distance. He is currently working on a few more singles since he has taken a break from his work for the last five months. One of his upcoming songs is titled Do Parindey, to show his support to the LGBT community. Working for big banners like Tata Tea for their Jaago Re campaign, Tamir has released two albums Talaash and Khuda Tere Bande in UK and Galli Ke Kutte, which was released in India by Crescendo and Universal. “My music, compositions and lyrics are completely inspired by real situations – what I have seen, what I have experienced. As I belong to an army family, I have travelled a lot and that really helps me with my music. My music is a mix of Indian culture,” says the young musician. The thing he loves the most about being a musician is the identity that comes along with it. As an artist, you have your identity which can be liked or disliked by the world. The free mind musicians have no preconceived notions about anything. To have the guts to write about any subject and convey your thoughts to the world, is what keeps me tuned into music, he adds.
A PIECE OF ADVICE FOR NEWBIES Even with just a few releases in his kitty, there has been an overflow of messages and phone calls appreciating the work that Jaydeep has done. “Working on every small detail before taking
your music to the recording studio is imperative. If you are looking to hire a recording artist for your songs, try to learn the process of recording as much as you can so you can be involved in every single step,” he advises. Music for him is a reflection of who he is, since all his songs have a story, a reason or a muse behind them. It’s the kind of music that makes him happy and this is the most important thing about making music, he shares. With his songs featured on various digital platforms, the feeling of success is great, says Mohit. He has about 1,300 subscribers on YouTube with a viewership of 1.7 lakh in total and the numbers are always on the rise too. He advises amateur musicians to ensure that they work with the right team and not rush into anything. “Knowing your music and your audience is important. Your own compositions feel good at first but sing them to other people and understand their response too,” he says. Agreeing with him, Tamir feels that one should always get their track mixed and mastered since it drastically changes the quality. He too has a few more singles and Bollywood projects in the pipeline. Chetana believes that being you is important. Making an honest effort will definitely go a long way, she tells us. Do not overthink and run behind the fancy. Record your work, go all in, don’t compromise on quality, and then put your single out. The right people will find you, she says. She is currently working on another single called Belonging and will follow it up with an animated video. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
VISHAL KALE
TGS LIFE MAY 28, 2016 PUNE
FEATURES By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
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magine if you had to spend all day cooking, thinking about and tasting food. What if it was your job to be around delicious food all the time? Well, it is a perfectly normal thought for professional chefs, as it is a part and parcel of their life. Even if they do taste meals all the time, the hunger pangs need to be sufficiently satisfied. Most chefs say they taste small amounts of food all day long but rarely sit down to a full meal. But they are finding ways around the conundrum and their tricks may inspire you too. They are all eager to dispel the notion that all chefs are foodies and they do paint us a clearer picture of their eating habits. Chef Paul Kinny, culinary director at Bellona Hospitality’s 212 All Day Cafe & Bar, Shizusan and Bar Bar, keeps his diet healthy and simple. Having an illustrious career, spanning over two decades, his main strength is his innovative approach to his work, and maintaining himself while at work. “My career started in 1992 at the iconic Taj Mahal Hotel as a trainee chef. It was my greed to taste great dishes from varied cuisines that inspired me to be a chef. At the time, I thought how else would I get paid to cook and taste great food,” he laughs. From then onwards, he continues to learn. Over the years, Chef Japvir Vohra from The Double Tree by Hilton has made heads turn with his contemporary food creations. He loves to mix and match ingredients from different regional and global cuisines and deconstruct them to create a whole new realm of flavours. Coming from a family of doctors, his culinary journey started when he was young and loved watching his mother cook. “I was al-
Chef Krishna Khetle
Chef Japvir Vohra
What’s on the
CHEF’S PLATTER?
The culinary artists at these esteemed restaurants might spend their day planning the perfect plating but, as the night sets in, they dig into the contents of their refrigerator just like the rest of us ways inclined towards cooking. The kitchen is an active place and it gets me involved artistically,” adds Japvir. So it is possible to remain fit when food is your passion and your profession? For him, it is. He believes in eating healthy and strictly follows a diet that is rich in fibre and vitamins. On the other hand, Chef Ajay Ahuja from Wild Sugar Patisserie and Cafe does not believe in following diets at all. “Diet? What’s that? I am a chef thanks to my love for food,”
he points out. His family has been in the catering business for decades and thus it was the obvious choice for him to get into hotel management. “During my internship in the patisserie department of the Rennaisance Powai Mumbai, I was overwhelmed by the fact that this field has so much creativity and I could put a smile on a person’s face with my creation,” he adds. Like most famous chefs, Krishna Khetle’s culinary adventures start-
Chef Ajay Ahuja
Chef Paul Kinny
ed in his mother’s kitchen where he learned to appreciate spice and flavours. He slowly learned to embrace the moment, people, places, textures, sensation, flavours. He knew he was destined to be a chef. He is a chef at Playboy Beer Garden, and his diet includes nothing but simple Indian staple diet. “On a lighter note, I am on a ‘see’ food diet so when I see food I eat,” he laughs. He further adds, “In all honesty, mine is very simple diet, my morning starts with fruits, juices, oat, and for lunch, dal chawal, and dinner will include roti sabzi,” he says. ON THE DINING TABLE Paul’s day generally starts with a heavy breakfast, which include fruits, eggs and tea. Lunch comprises of a salad and grilled protein rice on most days, and dinner generally is a homecooked meal. “I am not fussy but lately I have started taking better care of what I put into my system. I have started taking some time off to hit the gym whenever possible,” he adds. Another things that he would love to do but doesn’t get the time for is cooking food at home. He gets limited time and he prefers to eat simple home-cooked food whenever he gets a chance. “My wife is a stunning cook and food made by her feels like home to me. When I am at home I eat a lot of local seafood – my wife cooks up an East Indian meal that is so comforting,” says Paul. Another favourite on his list is South East Asian Food and he loves one-bowl dishes like a quick stir fry with rice or noodles. His fridge is loaded with chocolates and Indian desserts. Moreover, there is always a bottle or two of truffle oil that he pre-
fers to sprinkle on salads, pastas, even khichdi. Paul would love to spend more time at the fish market and vegetable market but, with his schedule, his only contribution to shopping for home remains limited to pushing the shopping cart while his wife selects the produce. For Japvir, it’s all about eating the right food at the right time. His daily diet consists of vegetables cooked in olive oil. “We are quite lazy at the same time fussy about what we eat. Even though you are in the kitchen all day and tasting food, you never eat a full meal. You’re not hungry, but you’re not totally satiated either,” he says. Chef Ajay loves experimenting with his cooking when the extended family gets together. He is fond of South Asian cuisine and his guilty pleasure is nothing but a Bacon Vanilla Shake. You’d always find a variety of cheese chocolate bacon and fresh veggies in his fridge. “The lesser you process your fresh ingredients, the healthier the meal gets with enhanced flavours. You should avoid chopping herbs and leaves with a knife. Instead tear them with your fingers,” he suggests. It’s the other way around for Chef Krishna. He loves shopping for groceries and sometimes even cooks food at home. He loves to have roadside spicy chicken chilly and egg fried rice. One would always find a whole lot of proteins and cold milk, eggs, cheese, lot of fruits, pickles, etc. in his fridge. “There are many ways to make meals healthier. Limit fats, sugar, salt, and include plenty of vegetables, fruit, grains, lean meats and low-fat dairy in your cooking. Foods with added fat, sugar or salt are less healthy than food that have these naturally,” he advises. A LITTLE BIT OF ADVICE For Chef Paul, his health mantra is keeping fat to a minimum and eating on time. “Include a lot of leafy greens in your diet, use a minimum of fat in your recipes and using a non-stick pan would help. Include grains like quinoa, nachni and oats in your meals. Most importantly, consume lots of water and avoid late night meals,” he says. Whereas Chef Krishna advises the health conscious to modify or eliminate recipes that include butter or require to deep fry or sauté in animal fat. One should try to cut down on salt too, he says. “Steam, bake, grill, braise, boil or microwave your foods, and avoid added oils and butter; use non-stick cookware instead,” he advises.
Bake your way to a YUMMY BREAKFAST
TGS LIFE MAY 28, 2016 PUNE
If you’re tired of the mundane morning meal, here’s an easy solution. Chef Ashley reveals some exotic, baked treats that you can rustle up in your own kitchen By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
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lthough it’s nice to try a new recipe at home, its complexity and the assumption that it will take too long, often comes into play. Let go of your inhibitions just this once and prepare a meal that you cannot have enough of. Follow the recipes to create a guiltfree, healthy snack. Paying attention to the smallest of detail when it comes to preparing and plating any dish, Chef WILD MUSHROOM AND SPINACH QUICHE Ingredients Olive oil 2 tbsp Onion fine chopped 2 tbsp Mushroom 1 ½ cup Fresh spinach 2 bunches Garlic finely chopped 1 tsp Whole eggs 3 Milk 1 cup Black pepper powder 1 pinch Parmesan cheese 3 tbsp Refined flour 1 cup Salt to taste Method: Prepare a basic pie pastry and set aside to rest for 10 minutes. Grease a 9½ inch
OEUFS EN COCOTTE Ingredients Spinach ½ bunch Whole eggs 3 Fresh garlic chopped ½ tsp. Onion chopped ½ tsp. Fresh parsley finely chopped ¼ tsp Olive oil 1 tsp Fresh tomato cubes 1 tbsp Salt as per taste Black pepper powder as per taste Method: Preheat the oven at 180 degree. Chop the spinach. In a skillet heat olive oil and add chopped onions to sauté them and then add spinach, chopped garlic, salt and pepper. Place the sautéed spinach at the bottom of the pot. Crack an egg on top, sprinkle salt and pepper and add fresh tomato cubes. Place the pot in a baking dish and pour SAVOURY BREAD AND BUTTER PUDDING Ingredients Whole eggs 3 Milk 1 cup Vanilla essence 2 drops Bread slices 4 Butter 1 tbsp Sundried tomato ¼ cup Celery chopped ¼ cup Onion chopped ¼ cup Olive oil 1 tsp Salt as per taste Black pepper powder as per taste Method: In a skillet, add olive oil and sauté chopped onions, celery and sundried tomatoes. Keep the mixture aside. Mix whole eggs, milk, vanilla essence, bring it to a boil and set
deep pie pan and pre heat the oven at 180 degrees. Roll the pastry into a 12 inch rectangle between two sheets of butter paper or plastic wrap. Line the pan with pastry dough. Peel off the second sheet, then tuck pastry into
enough luke warm water into the dish so that it rises up to half way up the sides of the pot. Bake for three minutes or until the egg yolk is set to your liking. Finally, garnish with chopped parsley and olive oil. Serve hot.
Ashley Nunes is always at the top of his game. It’s an added pleasure to meet the soft-spoken, courteous and cheerful chef. Specializing in Mediterranean cuisine, he is currently the chef de cuisine at the all-day-dining restaurant Coriander Kitchen at Conrad and has been a part of the pre-opening culinary team there. Innovation is his secret weapon and cooking is both his passion and profession. Here are four recipes by him that you must absolutely try.
pan without stretching it while pinching over hang into an even edge. Chill for 15 minutes. When it gets set, fi ll it with dried beans. Bake for 10 minutes, remove the tray from oven and the beans and keep it aside to cool. To make fi lling: In a skillet, sauté chopped onions, followed by sliced mushrooms. Cook the mushrooms until all the water evaporates. Stir in chopped spinach and garlic and cook well. Add salt and pepper. Lightly whisk eggs in a mixing bowl and add milk and grated cheese. Fold in the mushroom and spinach mixture. Spread the vegetable mixture in a pastry shell. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool for 15 minutes.
INDULGE
MANGO YOGHURT Ingredients Fresh Cream 100 gm Curd 100 gm Condensed milk 100 gm Fresh mango 2 Method: Mix fresh cream, curd and condensed milk together. Preheat the oven at 160 degree. Pour the mixture into a bowl and set them to bake in a tray filled with ¾ water. Next, bake it in the preheated oven at 160 degree for 12 minutes. Remove and cool down. De-skin the fresh mango and slice them. Arrange the sliced pieces on top of the baked yoghurt and serve cold.
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Visit us on: www.saicafekatta.com aside. Mix the two mixtures. Place the bread slices in a baking tray and pour the mixture over it. Put some butter cubes on the top and place it on a tray fi lled with ¾ water and bake it in an oven at 180 degree for 20 minutes. Remove and serve warm. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
BRANCHES BALAJI NAGAR l ANANDNAGAR l SINHGAD COLLEGE l KHARADI l LAXMI ROAD l NEAR EON IT PARK l KARVE ROAD l VADGAON SHERI
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TGS LIFE MAY 28, 2016 PUNE
FEATURES Alandi is changing the face of women wrestling in the state. Young girls training here find support and recognition for their talent while aiming to reach for the stars
Breaking barriers,
ONE STEP AT A TIME
By Ashish Phadnis @phadnis_ashish
M
aharashtra is famous for its rich tradition of wrestling. However, the conventional form of mud wrestling, or akhara, is being replaced by modern mat wrestling thus allowing women to showcase their skills in the male-dominated sport. Women wrestlers from the state have not just seized the opportunity but they have done a wonderful job by winning several medals at an international level. Many of them have been honoured on state and national platforms, while others have bagged jobs with the state police and the government. Their achievements have helped change the mindsets of parents, who no longer restrict their daughters from getting bruised and battered while engaging in such ‘manly’ activities. If anything, they are being supportive and ready to sacrifice for their daughter’s success. Alandi-based Jog Maharaj Vyayamshala has played a key role in this transition. International wrestling referee Dinesh Gund left his job as a teacher at a private school to train his daughter Ankita. His effort to provide the best training facilities for his daughter has led to the creation of the state’s only women’s residential wrestling centre. The centre has produced several international medalwinners over the years and is currently home to over 40 wrestlers in training. Yet, Gund points out that there is a long way to go. “States like Haryana have more wrestlers for their district championships than our state-level tournaments. Though the situation is changing, we want more and more girls to turn towards wrestling,” says Gund. Gone are the days when women’s wrestling faced severe criticism from society. Now, the Maharashtra government has taken some encouraging steps and offers a good stipend to talented youngsters. “Ankita and Reshma Mane from Kolhapur have received Rs 8 lakh in the last few years under different scholarships. Moreover, under the Pune Gold Mission scheme, state champions
Wrestlers spend hours working out
get Rs 2,200 per month, while runners-up receive Rs 1,800 per month. As compared to other sports, it’s not a hefty amount but it’s a beginning,” Gund adds. Apart from scholarships, wrestlers at the centre have secured jobs too. Almost 20 wrestlers from Jog Akhara have been selected in police departments, some have even undergone special commando training. Moreover, thanks to their prowess in wrestling they’re able to secure jobs in sports quota even if they do not crack a great score in the Maharashtra Public Service Commission exam. Wrestlers from Sangli, Kolhapur, Thane as well drought-hit districts of Marathwada and Vidarbha converge at the centre. Interestingly, youngsters from Pune don’t seem to have shown much interest in the sport and Gund is trying his best to convince parents from the city. “The girls now have a well-equipped training centre, financial aid, job security and a bright future ahead, once they get a chance to represent India. I think, this is the ideal ground for them,” Gund explains. The centre’s reputation has helped bring in financial aid from different sources. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has adopted 19 wrestlers from the centre, who
receive a monthly stipend and a kit. SAI has also provided toparound Rs 10 lakh. The Pune Dist also provided fitness equipment a
ALL IN A DAY’S WORK The wrestlers begin their day earl a warm-up and a 3 km to 4 km in endurance training. The mat with senior wresters displaying d skills. The session is more of a l beginners, as they observe closely moves during their sessions. Th is is followed by a mix t includes swimming, gymnasium other exercises. After a healthy breakfast, the schools or colleges. At 4.30 pm, w conclude, the girls once again gat practice. The coach trains every w observes her performance in vario After a physically tiring day
NO MOBILES, NO SOCIAL MEDIA
Before the wrestling session begins, a workout is a must
The centre is akin to a second home for the wrestlers but it has its own rules and regulations. No wrestler is allowed to use mobile phones or spend time on social networking sites. They don’t even roam around the town and, except family members, no visitors are allowed. Although Gund takes the girls to outings or for a movie every now and then, most of their days are spent training and sweating it out.
Wrestlers have a light moment with their coa
an international quality -quality mats that cost trict Sports Council has and indoor cycles.
ly in the morning. After m-long run, they engage practice starts at 7 am different techniques and learning experience for y and try to imitate the
training session, which m, rope climbing and
girls head towards their when the school sessions ther at the main hall for wrestler individually and ous friendly bouts. y, the girls enjoy brain
ach Dinesh Gund
MEET THE PLAYERS RUPALI MAHAJAN Rupali comes from a farmer family in Jalgaon. Her father Ramesh was an amateur wrestler when he was young and he always wanted his daughter to carry on the legacy. Apart from training at the centre, she also helps with household duties, daily chores and cooking. “He trained me on hard ground, as girls weren’t allowed to enter the akhara. The boys would chase me away if I even lingered nearby. But my father was determined and told me that he would sell a piece of his land to pay the expenses of the training. When I came to Alandi in 2012, I saw the wrestling mat for the first time in my life. The same year, I participated in school nationals. Though, I have won several medals at the state and district level, I haven’t been able to win at the national level. That’s my aim now.”
SELECTION CRITERIA Except for the fact that the girls should be aged between 7 to 16 years, there isn’t any other criteria for admission to the centre. Having a wrestling or sports background is always considered beneficial but the centre encourages even those who lack physical training. “Girls from rural area are stronger and they can pick up the game comfortably, while city girls find it hard initially. They undergo rigorous training and transform themselves completely before they actually start technique training on the mat. It takes around 3-4 months for a beginner to develop strength and agility. ashish.phadnis@goldensparrow.com
MAY 28, 2016 PUNE
FEATURES
YASHODHARA SHERKAR An FYBA student of Wadia College, Yashodhara has an interesting story to tell. While living in Dhanori, she started cycling as a passion and soon won accolades for her competence. Recently, she won two gold medals and an individual junior championship in MTB Nationals held in Pune. However, she was fascinated with wrestling after watching Pro Wrestling League and decided to change her focus. In fact, the Rio Olumpic qualifier Vinesh Phogat is now her idol. “Wrestling is not a difficult sport, but the workout is the challenging part. I am a beginner here and I’m currently in the learning phase. Within a few months, I would be able to participate in some tournaments.”
Major part of the day is spent in sharpening their skills through such friendly bouts
teasers, mind games, computer learning sessions before hitting the bed. The schedule is followed round the year. The girls are at the centre for most of the year since a big break would affect their training schedule. While, international wrestlers like Ankita and Manisha Diwekar attend national camps, others remain focused on earning the Indian colours.
TGS LIFE
MANALI JADHAV Manali, who also hails from Bhivandi, joined the centre along with her friend Ashwini. She has participated in six national tournaments and has won national bronze medal in the 67kg category in Gujarat this year. Manali lost her father at an early age but her mother Bharati always remain supportive of her career. Initially a khokho player, Manali shifted her focus to wrestling when after she realised that her physique is more suitable for the sport. After completing graduation, she plans to appear for the MPSC exam. “I still don’t understand how my mother manages to pay for my training. It must be an uphill task for her to make ends meet. Fortunately, I have been selected for a scholarship programme and it will ease off the pressure on her. My younger sister has also shown interest in the sport and I wish both of us could do well like Ankita.” ASHWINI MADHAVI The 17-year-old wrestler from Bhivandi started training here in 2014. This year, she has won the silver medal in the 63kg weight category and is busy preparing for the upcoming international tournaments. “I had come here for a tournament and I was so impressed with the faculty that I decided to enrol right then. I had participated in a few tournaments at interschool level, but I wasn’t aware that the sport involves such intensive training.” SONALI TODKAR A 55kg wrestler from Beed, Sonali has participated in seven national-level competitions so far. The silver medal at Aurangabad in 2014 has been her best performance. Sonali was inspired by Gund’s daughter Ankita and decided to train hard to be like her. “I have no wrestling background. My parents are farmers but they supported my passion and I know what it takes to become a quality wrestler. I don’t want to miss training for a single day, so even if I visit my village once in a while, I try to be come back here as early as possible.”
TGS LIFE MAY 28, 2016 PUNE
PICS BY VISHAL KALE
THRILL OF DRIVING
Maruti has always offered value. With the Vitara Brezza, it’s aiming to offer a little more By Tushar Burman @tburman
I
f you have more than a passing interest in automobiles, chances are you’ve been asked by friends, relatives or random passers-by about when Maruti’s SUV is coming out. These days, the answer is already on the streets, in increasing numbers. The Brezza has garnered popularity rapidly, to the point that Maruti has had to cut back on production of other models to increase capacity for the compact SUV This isn’t Maruti’s first foray into SUVs, however. There was the previous, extremely niche and expensive Grand Vitara, and there is the still-sold Gypsy. However, times have changed and people want SUVs that come with two ORVMs and a roof as standard equipment. Maruti has played to its own strengths by keeping value high and price low. This is not a Nexa-exclusive car (Nexa is Maruti’s premium car showroom brand) and is sold by regular Maruti dealers. It is well put together and though out, to the point that it feels slightly out of place amongst the swarm of its hatchback siblings. Prices start at Rs 6.99 lac and go up to Rs 9.54 lac, ex-Delhi. For the money, you get a sub-4 metre SUV with decent ground clearance, modern chassis, suspension and equipment. It must be noted that the Brezza is possibly one of the best sub-4 metre designs we’ve seen in a while that is not a hatchback. Look at any sedan or crossover that has been constrained within 4000mm and you’ll see compromises. Often, awkward ones. There’s no such awkwardness on display with the Brezza, which comes off looking handsome and well-proportioned. It’s got a European vibe going, with shades of the
THE WIND HAS
CHANGED
Skoda Fabia when viewed side-on. The floating roof design is attractive, and you can order it on a two-tone colour scheme with a white roof. Our test model came in a sober silver-grey which, to our eyes, looked more grown-up and elegant. Interior room is good, with generous width for three passengers sitting abreast in the rear seat. There’s no third row, which is just as well. In it’s place, we have a 328 litre boot and 60:40 split seats that fold completely flat to liberate quite a lot of cargo space. Up front, ergonomics also feel well considered. Things fall to hand easily and despite offering audio, phone and cruise controls on the steering wheels, the driver is never overwhelmed by things to fiddle with. The infotainment unit is unfortunately touchscreen-only, but makes up for it with Apple CarPlay compatibility. If you’re an iPhone user, the experience is seamless and makes the touchscreen tolerable. Maruti’s microphone is of particularly good quality. Calls made through a Bluetooth or CarPlay connection are clear and voice recognition is also excellent, no matter what phone one uses. Our test car came with navigation, but the experience is clunky. You’re better off using the phone. Interior storage and cubbies are also well done. There’s a one-litre bottle space for each door, a
Verdict
+ Package, details, design - Noisy engine
centre armrest with storage up front and one with two cup holders at the TGS rating rear. There are two glove boxes, one ;;;;2 of which is cooled by an internal AC vent, allowing you to keep beverages cool. We’re approaching the monsoon, which well to take notice. means we’re currently experiencing the brutal Highway manners are pleasant, with a firm tail-end of the summer across the country. Pune but comfortable ride. Body roll is minimal and temperatures are regularly in the forties, and the handling inspires confidence. We tried the car Mumbai humidity make one feel below sea level. with four passengers and some luggage, and heard The Brezza’s air conditioning is brilliant in these no complaints about comfort. This is not an offconditions. Climate control works very quickly roader, so there’s no point testing it in mud. We did and brings that cabin to a comfortable temperature take it onto some farm roads, however, and were with surprising alacrity. One is again reminded of pleased wit’s ride quality on gravel and stone trails. European cars with the minimal functionality of It is still only front-wheel drive, so we’d advise the HVAC controls. against getting adventurous. The Vitara Brezza uses Maruti’s time-tested Maruti has always offered more meat than 1.3-litre DDiS engine, in an 89hp/200Nm flavour. masala in its cars, to the point of feeling a bit Performance is adequate, with a big kick when ordinary in the face of increasingly high value the boost comes on after 2000rpm. Below this competition. Their attempts at premium cars mark, you tend to be waiting around wishing you’d have not been wildly successful either. The Vitara chosen a lower gear. The engine is well-matched Brezza feels like they’ve turned a page. It’s not in for the car’s size. The 1.3 diesel has always been their “premium” lineup, but it feels much nicer considered a class-leader, but in the Brezza, it’s than anything else in their regular range. We hope unusually noisy. Combined with the road noise there are lessons here that they apply to their future that seeps into the cabin at highway speeds, models, particularly in terms of the engine, which one needs to raise one’s voice slightly to have a is getting a bit long in the tooth now. In this price normal conversation inside the car. This is unusual range, your choices span expensive hatchbacks to because the same engine in a lower state of tune cheap executive sedans. For the SUV buyer or one in other Maruti models is more refined. Other that is undecided on format, the Brezza is worth manufacturers have begun catching up in terms of a look. tushar@goldensparrow.com performance and refinement, so Maruti would do
Keep calm, but don’t breathe Kshitij Mittal and his friends have introduced underwater hockey in order to keep the divers fit and improve their ability to move and breathe efficiently By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
W
hen you think of hockey, do you imagine chasing a puck in a swimming pool? Yes, underwater hockey is gaining popularity all over the world and Pune is not far behind either. Also known as Octopush, underwater hockey has been around since the early 1950s and city-based scuba diver Kshitij Mittal is responsible for bringing the sport to our neighbourhood. “I went to UK for a couple of months and played the sport there. After returning, I missed playing Octopush and realised the need to bring the sport in India,” he says. Kshitij has always been attracted to water and was first introduced to the world beneath the waves in 2004 when he dived for the first time. Ever since, there has been no looking back for him. He has travelled across the globe and tried many underwater adventures. “Having dived in Maldives, Taiwan, Egypt and Bali, I have always been fascinated by the distinctiveness of each dive site. After becoming an Open Water
In a candid conversation, shutterbug Amit Desai tells us about his latest project, recreating paintings through photographs and what it takes to be a good photographer
Scuba Instructor and experiencing the world beneath the surface, I have now made it my aim to share my passion with everyone around,” he adds. He started Finkick where he trains children and adults every weekend. At present
they have eight regular members in the team. Earlier, Octopush was aimed at keeping scuba divers fit but is now played professionally in European countries. It involves two teams that are challenged to score the goal by pushing
TGS LIFE
MAY 28, 2016 PUNE
FEATURES the heavy weight puck. “There is a strict no contact rule and it requires high energy and stamina,” explains Kshitij. All you need here is a snorkel and fins. It’s a fast-paced sport that requires the player to act quickly and strategize wisely. “It can be played by anyone who knows swimming well and has quick diving abilities,” he adds. Their team includes players who are 10-year-old and some who are above 25 years. If you can swim for more than 15 minutes and hold your breath for long periods then Octopush may be worth a try. For 12-year-old Anmol Agarwal, the competitive spirit of the game that got him hooked. “The two teams have to battle underwater to push and strike a goal. It is a team sport. In fact, it is impossible for a single player to complete the game due to the breathing requirements,” he says. Siddharth Garg points out that the sport is all about stamina, speed and time. It is a must for players to discuss their strategies in advance, and they also have to use certain modes of non-verbal communication to move ahead in the game. “It is the best mode of exercise. We are also in the process of making a team and playing at the competitive level,” he adds. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com
It takes more than a camera to be a photographer
By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
R
ight up to his third year in college, when he absolutely had to decide on a specialization, he had no idea that photography would become his constant companion. Amit Desai is a well-known name in the world of photography and rightly so. Paying attention to the smallest of detail, all his clicks display finesse, detailing and every picture speaks a million words. Art school, he tells us, has been the most important learning turf for him as every project that he did back then has taught him a lot.
His recent campaign for a jewellery brand has brought some major attention his way. Recreating Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings with photographs is not an easy task but the final outcome will surely make you smile. The detailing, the use of light, the postures and even the features of the model, every single aspect of the frame comes together beautifully to make it look nothing short of a painting. “We took about a week to brainstorm how we wanted to work things out after the brief was given to us. Even the model and makeup she has on took some research. Raja Ravi Varma was the first person who came to our mind when we were told that the photographs had to look like paintings,” the 31-year-old photographer tells us. The photo series has the soul of
photography with the beauty of paintings and this is what makes it stick out from the rest of his work. “As an artist, it always interests me to work on projects like this to satisfy my obsession with painting,” he adds. Unlike so many other photographers, Amit likes to keep his personal and professional life separate. Taking a camera with him when he is out with his friends or when he plans to go to relax is something that he never does, since he believes that then he can’t do either of the tasks properly. In addition, he also feels that if you are a good photographer, you don’t need a fancy camera even your phone could do the magic. He says, “You need much more than a camera to be a photographer. Having the basics programmed into you is extremely
necessary and it is what actually builds your road to success. Visualization is like a superpower every photographer has and safeguards with all their might.” A man of few words, Anit has just once piece of advice for amateur photographers and everyone else who pursues photography as a hobby. He explains that a sign of a good photographer is a clear picture. There should be minimal editing and the picture should be able to speak without words or a voice. If these two things are achieved then being a good photographer is a hop, skip and jump away. Amit’s last assignment was with the Pune IPL team and his next is with a well-known builder from the city for their upcoming project. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
TGS LIFE MAY 28, 2016 PUNE
FEATURES
Step out of the virtual world
By Rashmeet Taluja @rashmeet_taluja
T
enacious, self-reliant and outspoken, Mariam Lakdawala is a business developer but, at heart, she has an artistic disposition. She believes that people are stuck in the rut of the digital world, which has left them rather lonely and disconnected from one another. She just wants people to steal away time from their mundane schedules to paint, eat, drink, socialise and relax. Mariam has initiated a series of social painting evenings in the city and she almost cringes at the use of words like class or workshop to describe the social painting gatherings she hosts. She insists on calling them Paint Parties for people to be able to open up their minds and use art as a bonding factor. “I want them to indulge the artist within and to revel in the joy of going home with a finished painting that they can display. They’re creating beautiful tokens of memory, symbolic of time well spent,” she declares with a beaming smile. The 38-year-old carefully chooses outdoor venues and lets people freely move around. Participants relish appetizers and bond over their first paintings over soothing music. The parties almost manage to stop time as well as the chaos of city life. Inclined towards art since a very young age, Mariam would engage in creative endeavours but everything changed two decades
ago when she met with an accident that made her paraplegic below the waist. She visited many doctors but none could help her. It was certainly a difficult time for her family and her but her parents didn’t want to give up so easily and so they started researching about centres abroad that could make her life as easy as possible. They also consulted her friend who was suffering from the same condition, on her advice they sent her to London for an intensive rehabilitation course. She stayed there for four months, learned to be independent, and numerous ways to tackle day-to-day challenges. After returning from London, she worked as a graphic designer with various IT firms for 11 years. In the midst of all this, she was keen on pursuing her Masters in 3D Animation. Later, she approached the Lila Poonawalla Foundation and was awarded a scholarship in the year 2003. She then went on
to attain a Master’s degree in Fine Arts, New Media and Computer Art from the Academy of Art College, San Francisco. “After returning to India, I worked for several years with different companies but I always felt like I was discriminated against perhaps because of my disability. I didn’t get the opportunities to expand my horizons and I felt like I wasn’t growing enough professionally. So I decided to start my own business,” she shares. Mariam now has a six-yearold business development company that helps small and large scale industries with website designing and graphic designing. Since she works from home, she often longs for company and through her project Sundown Sunstroke she gets an opportunity to expand her network and meet different kinds of people. The idea of social painting
dawned upon her one afternoon when she was spending time with her friends Navin Mirpuri (37) and Kavita Vora (40) “We were talking about our desire to initiate something creative that resounds with people across age groups,” she tells us. So they got together in March and had their first-ever social painting evening, which saw a good turnout, as everyone could be a part of it despite absolutely no knowledge about art and technique. “I provide the canvas, brushes, paints and aprons to the guests. We collaborate with many artists since each of them has his or her style. The participants enjoy the variation in art. Sometimes, we completely ditch paint brushes and use sponge or clay. I like playing with themes
and often even surprising attendees with new themes,” adds Mariam. Kavita Save, a hobby artist and interior designer, shares “I love painting and I am happy that I can set aside my hectic schedule to spare time for painting and unwinding socially over drinks and food with interesting people.” As for the future, the social painting trend is still peculiar to people who often refrain from trying new things, but Mariam hopes to see more participants step out to indulge in the recreational evenings, to dip their hands in paint and immerse themselves in learning and appreciating art. Where: Arthur’s Theme, Baner When: June 5, Sunday. 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm mail.rashmeet@gmail.com
Wanna know what car you’ll buy next? Three years ago, Amit Kalantri foretold that a man would buy a BMW and inexplicably the prediction came true. Make time to catch a glimpse of his stunning art of magic and mentalism Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
T
here would be no pigeons, no rabbits, and no lady being sawed into half. For city-based mentalist Amit Kalantri, these are all age old tricks. The engineer, published writer, professional magician and mentalist hopes to widen the scope of illusion. Christopher Nolan’s movie The Prestige, which is based on illusionists, aroused an interest in mentalism.
The movie inspired him to understand the creativity and intelligence involved in the art of magic and mindreading. “People here don’t know much about mentalism. If you observe people well, their body language tells
you what they are going to do next or what they are thinking of,” says Amit. Once he latched on to the art of observation, there was no looking back for Amit. He researched and read a lot of books on mind-reading. Amit started with the usual number tricks and went on the master high-end illusions like clairvoyance (sixth sense), telepathy (communication of thoughts), Telekinesis (ability to move objects with the mind), divination (fortune telling), memory feats, among others. “Every physical motion we make is based on some kind of thought. We just can’t hold it in and it has to leak out from somewhere. What I do isn’t supernatural,” he explains. Amit’s show next week will comprise of all this and will have him standing three-feet away from the first row to mesmerise you with his mentalism and mind reading skills. The biggest challenge for him is to convince people who feel uncomfortable
around him and those who believe in superstitions. “Some people think I have psychic abilities but it’s not so. Mentalism is related to magic but without the sleight-ofhand,” he adds. His shows are intimate and interactive with a pinch of drama, humour, astonishment, and mentalism. Amit has applied his conjuring tricks while dealing with personal and professional life a numerous times. He claims it helps him make important decisions and negotiate with people in day-to-day life. Having performed over a thousand shows across India, he is now all set to perform in his home city. The highlight of his show will be the Predict Your Future Car session. “In one of the shows, I told a guy that he would buy a BMW in three years. He laughed at that moment but after three years he called me to say that my prediction was right and he wanted to give me a ride in his new car,” he smiles. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com
Art for the common man Street theatre many not provide solutions to the issues raised but it definitely pushes the audience to think deeper. TGS catches up with theatre artists to get an insight into their world
MAY 28, 2016 PUNE
FEATURES
By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
S
treets certainly have no spotlight, stage, or an audience until an actor steps out and initiates his first move. Streets are where people get together, be it a protest or a celebration. But what street theatre can do is a lot more than this. It informs the audience about social evils that plague our society, creates awareness, and talk about the causes that matter. It’s not just about a few men playing their character on the streets in a raised voice, but about sending across a social message and keeping the audience entertained at the same time. It reaches out to people directly without any formal barriers. You could meet them in the most unexpected places, be it in a market, a garden, outside a school or a mall. Their aim is not providing free entertainment but to reach out to as many people as possible and plant the seeds of change. However, over the years, nukkad natak groups in the city have tried their best to keep the art alive and have steadily gained a foothold in the city. “We believe that revolutions are never started in rooms, streets are where the change is made. We perform nautanki with a strong message on the street. We are able to connect with the audience directly, and so I feel it’s a stronger medium to bring about change,” says Swapnil Shirsath, from Swatantra Theatre. He has been a part of over 30 street plays that addressed the issue of HIV, road safety, organ donation, etc. What’s important here is the content, which should include catchy phrases, humour, a crisp script and an actor who can make a long lasting impact on a viewer’s mind. Another artist Sagar Pawar who has done more than 20 plays over the years, believes it to be an
TGS LIFE
Swapnil Shirsath in a play based on the importance of Maharashtra Day
the most challenging aspect of nukkad natak is holding the audience. Besides having a strong content, your enthusiasm and energy level should always be up. The choreography may vary from play to play,” adds Ashish Tripathi, who over a three-year span in the theatre industry, has done more than fifty street plays. His plays have covered subjects like blood donation, save water, human trafficking, fire safety, and so on. He has even done a funny street act ‘Hum Hai Bachchan’ which got him a lot of appreciation from the audience. For actor Sneha Puri, it’s the larger than life script and humour that attracts the audience. “In my last play, we did a little tap dance to gather the crowd. The actor should have a voice that reaches out even to those who aren’t very keen on watching. The audience here includes peddlers, vendors, passers-by, commuters and shopkeepers,” she says. She has done three plays, the last one on Maharashtra day. Be it the scorching heat, spine-chilling
“We believe that revolutions are never started in rooms, streets are where the change is made.” - Swapnil Shirsath
Sagar Pawar and his team use Bollywood tunes and make their own songs
essential tool to ignite the minds of people. “There are many elements that added to a street play. There are songs based on popular catchy tunes to add to its appeal. The script and direction are important too. The actor should be able to reach out to as many people without the aid of a mic,” he says.
There is no set up, no props, and a situation where the audience has not come prepared to watch a play. They may not have the time on hand to wait for the play to unfold. It is the actor who is responsible for drawing the crowd and keeping them engaged. “Everybody on the street is busy and wants to carry on. So
Ashish Tripathi with his team performs at Lavasa
breeze or heavy rainfall, these actors are willing to perform in any kind of weather. Ashish recalls one night when they performed through a continuous drizzle interspersed with heavy showers. “Just last year, we were performing in front of a huge audience at Lavasa and it started to rain heavily. My director asked us to stop, but we were so high on energy that we continued despite getting completely drenched,” he says, adding, “The audience too were so engrossed, that they sat through the play, and later even appreciated our effort.” Although they rehearse their dialogue delivery, the difficult part begins when they are out on the streets. “We practise the diction, body postures and undergo voice modulation. But when we have to actually perform in front of the audience who don’t care to watch and to get their attention is still the difficult part. You have to be spontaneous in your approach,” says Swapnil. What adds to its charm is the lack of formal atmosphere and unplanned setting. It not only enlightens people but also shows them the right path. “The response of people towards street theatre is changing. For each of plays, we have minimum of 200 people in the audiences. They enjoy and appreciate our efforts, and some even talk to us after the play gets over. This is what motivates us further,” says Ashish. These plays can stir up emotions, create awareness and lead the way towards positive change. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com
TEJAS GAIKWAD
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TGS LIFE
MAY 28, 2016 PUNE
GO SKIRT CRAZY
SHOPPING
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Skirts never go out of fashion, if anything they keep getting trendier. Pune girl Vedika Puri picks the best from her wardrobe to show you how
Chic is in This classy black slit skirt can be paired with any subtle plain top. It’s perfect for a night out or a formal evening. Skirt: StalkBuyLove: Rs 700 Top: Miss Bennett: Rs 450
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Simply casual Get ready to beat the heat with this long flowy skirt. Put on some junk jewellery to add spunk to your style. Skirt: MG Road: Rs 200 Top: Koovs: Rs 450
— Compiled by Zainab Kantawala
They sell sugar cane juice, dipped in love TEJAS GAIKWAD
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assers-by at the crossroad in Salisbury Park look forward to seeing the smiling faces of father-son duo Sudha Sukhdev Alhat (72) and Rajendra Sudha Alhat (46) in front of their rickshaw-cum-sugar cane juice cart, under the shade of a huge neem tree during the summers early in the morning. Senior Alhat may have wizened with age, but he credits the values that he learnt in the joint family that he was brought up in the slums in the city. Sudha still wakes up early in the morning and goes to bed at sundown, does not indulge in drinks or play poker like his neighbours and spends maximum time with his family. Despite his frail physique, his hands possess a youthful agility when he shaves the long sugar cane stems. Even as Sudha dresses every bit like a Punekar Puneri and is comfortable flaunting his heritage in his white Puneri topi and white lungi, his son’s attire is western checkered shirts symbolic of everything a new generation vouches for. “We enjoy peak business during
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Nail it!
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summers and rest of the year I work as a contract labourer to support my
ust like you ensure that your clothes, hair, shoes and accessories are well matched, chic looking and in style, your nails need some Karishma attention too. Mansata Apart from keeping them in shape and well-polished, nail art has been an emerging trend for a while now. It adds a little bit of quirky STYLE to your look and most definitely makes a style GURU statement too. Karishma Mansata who just launched her new venture Lane Six, which is India’s India’s first blow-out and nail bar for both men and women, stones, crystals, and embellishments. tells you about the must-try nail art Don’t forget to keep it minimum and trends this summer. Her personal stylish. favourites include nudes, shimmer, · If you are truly dedicated to cool sparkle and glitter tips. Here are her designs the ultra long stiletto shape with a flat tip could be the style you suggestions. · Essie is the go to brand for any type looking for. of nail art and shellac in gel polish. · Ballerina nails are very fashionable · French manicure is creeping its as well. Even though ballerina and way back into style this season. stiletto nails aren’t quite practical · Simple minimalist designs without for everyone. The good news is getting to dramatic say a lot without however that short oval nails are too much fuss. really everyone’s favourite now. Go · A matte finish adds to the chic with warm colours like red, orange look and is the hottest trend at the and pink. moment. · Deep rich forest green and kale · Metallic is something that never colours do a good job of getting you goes out of style. Pick a metallic some attention. shade and you are all set to rock any · Pastel geometric designs are totally party. modern but stick to the matted · If you love the look of the nude shapes to keep it looking over the nails but still want to have a polished top. (As told to Salonee Mistry) finish add some sparkle like small
family. I don’t allow my dad to work anymore given his age but cannot
stop him from the sugar cane cart as he loves to prepare and serve the juice and chats with his friends in the area,” says Rajendra. The Alhats set up the sugar cane cart five years and their quality of juice has not dropped a bit. “We add lemon zest and ginger to the juice prepared in hygienic conditions. We get the best sugar cane from the market which comes to Pune from Shivapur. Who can resist a sweet, chilled glass of sugarcane during heat?” says Sudha. The father-son duo’s labour at the sugar cane cart also sends out a positive message. They want the two young girls in the family to receive every opportunity that the son have had privilege to. Unlike the conservative neighbours who have married off their teenage daughters, Rajendra’s elder daughter is a police constable and the other is completing her bachelors in commerce. Rajendra’s wife,
TGS LIFE
MAY 28, 2016 PUNE
FEATURES who works as a housekeeper in several homes, have raised up her children in discipline. She ensures that their cosy flat, a dream home built after two decades of hard labour, is spotless and filled with the fragrance of incense sticks morning to night. The Alhats even deliver sugar cane juice in zip lock pouches to homes in the neighbourhood. They share a warm rapport with all the residents and often when kids come promenading after a long day of galli cricket and having spent all their piggy bank money on candy, Sudha is more than happy to indulge the little children with free sugar cane juice once in a while. The duo insists they are grateful for everything they have earned in life through their hardships and now, just want to live a peaceful life, spreading and receiving love from everyone. (As told to Rashmeet Taluja)
City celeb chat Name: Shweta Raj Profession: Model and Content Development Manager Three words to describe me: Moody, Sexy and Bohemian I love my job because: Modelling is a killer-cocktail of business and creativity. Where else would I get the glamour, shoot and travel -all wrapped up so in one go? Each shoot really leaves a different imprint on you and I love learning from it. Best advice : Somebody very rightly said “Put on your red shoes and dance the blues,” It is such a happy advice and I follow it with the utmost conviction. When buying something, the first thing that catches my eye : Is how well it fits my style. Style along with versatility and I’m sure to buy it. What’s your inner animal? Horse, focused and beautiful. The first thing you notice about an attractive person: A confident voice! I find it extremely alluring. The perfect start to a day is: Having my morning cuppa with the newspaper as the side bar. Your current four-wheeler: Amaze Honda Your fitness regimen: I love my fitness! I practice functional training, 5 days a week,along with Bollywood Dancing and Kickboxing to keep me full of beans! And for the diet part of it,I’m a foodie,so eating everything in moderation is the best I can do. Your food indulgence: I can cross mountains for a perfect cold Mocha with a big chocolate muffin. Heavenly! Books by your bedside: I’m currently reading Robin Cook’s Coma and Namita Jain’s The Four-Week Countdown Diet. The first site you visit when you fire up your comp: As a Content Development Manager, Google is my best friend for new trends. But in my personal time,I’m in a constant haze for my next big discovery of a healthy yet delicious treat. Your favourite city: From my heart,soul and all things me, Pune. Ideal Holiday: Goa, waking up to a beautiful breakfast buffet on the beach with my core squad to keep me company.
(As told to Rashmeet Taluja)
TGS LIFE
MAY 28, 2016 PUNE
BUZZ
Meet the newest angry young man on the block By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
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fter gaining popularity as a contestant on Dance India Dance, acting in ABCD 1 and 2 as well as judging the show Dance+, Dharmesh Yelande is back with another film. Promising us that it only gets bigger and better than the projects he has done earlier, he is super excited for its release and grateful to have such films come along his way. In his next film Banjo, Dharmesh ‘sir’ plays a mechanic living in a chawl and part of a community that plays the banjo. “This is the first time that I am playing an angry young man so getting into the skin of the character was extremely difficult. Working alongside someone like Ritesh Deshmukh made it a tad bit easier as there was so much to learn from him,” he tells us. Since the focus was more on acting than dance as compared to my previous films, the effort was doubled, he adds. The film is a love story, with a tinge of comedy and has an emotional touch too. From being a tea-stall owner’s son to struggling for 20-odd years to make it as a background dancer in Bollywood, Dharmesh has sure-
I wanted to represent India at Cannes red carpet
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onam Kapoor's Cannes appearance won her fashion points from everyone and the actress, known for her impeccable style sense, says she was happy to have mixed Indian elements with her western outfits. The 30-year-old Neerja star stood out on the Cannes red carpet in her Ralph & Russo gowns, one of which she teamed up with big gold jhumkas. “I have always tried mixing Indian elements with my outfits at Cannes because it is an international platform. This year was no different. I wanted to represent my country abroad,” Sonam told PTI. When asked why she stuck to one designer for most of her outings at the festival, the actress said, "They (Michael Russo and Tamara Ralph) are very good friends of mine. I spent New Years with them. I wanted to do something India-inspired and they kind of love India and love me. That's why I did jhumkas and a saree-gown, which I think was incredible." Sonam, who won the best style icon trophy at a recent fashion awards ceremony, said she does not take the tag too seriously. "I think when you go down the unbeaten path, you don't think what others think of you. You think what you want and how you want to see yourself. I am unaffected by the criticism as well as the praise. As far as my work is concerned, it is about me evolving and bettering myself. Nobody can be a harsher critic than I am to myself," she said. One of Sonam's red carpet appearance at Cannes, a saree- inspired long white gown, was
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ollywood star Elizabeth Hurley says she loves the meanness her costar Jake Maskall has brought to his character on their popular American TV series The Royals. Hurley, best known for her role in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, plays Queen Helena on the show. Maskall, meanwhile, portrays the character of King Cyrus on the drama-series. "King Cyrus has a phenomenal part. If you like 'bad', and I love 'bad', his part is fantastic. I mean, he's the meanest king you could ever find," Hurley said in a statement. The 50-year-old actress stars as Queen Helena, a fictional contemporary queen consort of England, along with William Moseley and Alexandra Park as her twin children and Maskall as Helena's brother-in-law and nemesis, the new King Cyrus. The Bedazzled actress is all praise for Mosely's character, Prince Liam. "His (Mosely) part is great. He is like the moral compass of the piece. He's true, he's loyal, he says it as it is, he's somebody who the people really like and who could ultimately be a fantastic king." The Royals currently airs on Colors Infinity.
Wanted to do something in English
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criticised by some on social media but the actress is unfazed by it. Sonam, who found the gown her best outfit, said, "There were just one or two people (who cracked jokes on the dress) but I think it was my most incredible look. I don't believe in taking anything personally. I dress for myself and I felt beautiful." The Khoobsurat actress said internet trolls will not affect celebrities if they handle them with grace and dignity. "You can't let these things affect you. I don't think it (Twitter trolling) is that big. If you handle such things with grace and dignity, they won't matter to you."
ly come a long way. “Irrespective of what I do, I don’t want to limit myself in any way. I will take on whatever project comes my way as long as it is interesting enough. I don’t want to be famous. I want to act to the best of my ability and that is my priority,” he explains. Working with multiple people over the past few years has allowed him to grow as an actor. Initially, he would just get done with his shoot and head home but now he waits back to see others perform and watches them like a hawk, picking up whatever he can. Apart from Banjo, Dharmesh will also be working in ABCD 3 and another film titled Nawabzade, this year. Although finding time to dance is difficult, particularly with such a packed schedule, he makes it a point to dedicate some of his time to the art form that brought him this success. He has also begun to enjoy watching plays and is something he now does quite often. He absolutely adores Prabhu Deva, Remo D’Souza and Govinda when it comes to dance and Nawazuddin Siddiqui when it comes to acting. Someday, he hopes to work with Anurag Kashyap and Imtiaz Ali. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
'Like Jake Maskall's meanness in The Royals'
or the first time, Jacqueline Fernandez is trying her luck in a British film and the actress says the genre of the movie prompted her to take up the project. Definition of Fear, a psychological thriller, stars Jacqueline in the lead role besides Mercedes Papalia, Katherine Barrell and Blythe Hubbard. "I have done two films outside Bollywood -Sri Lankan and British independent film. "That came during a 40 day window which I had in between my Bollywood films. I wanted to take up because I have never done anything in English before. As an actor, I wanted to be a part of the film. It was a physiological thriller, a genre which I have never done before," she told PTI. The Sri Lankan beauty plays the character of a psychological student and for the role he had to work on her accent. "The weirdest part was that I had to cut down on my American and British accent. I was told everytime that I need to change my accent. I have learnt the American accent by watching Hollywood film." However, Jacqueline feels it's a good change that actors are not restricted to Bollywood and trying out films in other languages be it regional and international. "I think we have opened up. Bollywood has globalised. Actors are not limited anymore. Like Akshay, Riteish and others, all of us are doing bunch of other things. It was an amazing experience," she said. Jacqueline will be seen in Housefull 3, which stars Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Lara Dutta and Nargis Fakhri.