TGS Life 03/09/2016

PUNE, SEPTEMBER 3-9, 2016 | www.thegoldensparrow.com

THEY KNOW JUST HOW TO GET THE PARTY STARTED PG 12-13

When a festival brings the streets alive COMFORTABLE

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TGS LIFE SEPTEMBER 3-9, 2016 PUNE

One-of-a-kind pianist

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STAGE Being among the very few lefthanded pianists in the world, this much celebrated musician will play some soothing and soulful compositions in the city this weekend

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

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usic, and more importantly playing the piano, is not only his profession but also his passion. For Maxime Zecchini, it is a hard job with a fabulous reward and he cannot imagine a life without it. His life as a musician has been very intense – full of travel, concerts, competitions and of course studying the art form too. It was when he was five years old that he saw someone play the piano on the television and this was when he discovered the instrument for the very first time. He then asked his parents to enrol him in a piano class and he fell in love with it, with the very first chord. His first piano teacher was responsible for getting him hooked to the instrument and making him the musician he is today. Catching up with this excellent musician from France, before he lands in Pune for his piano concert, TGS asked him what you could expect at the event, what inspires his compositions and much more.

When in the city, Maxime will play compositions that mix works for the left and the right-handed pianists and ones that work for both too. They are only two or three pianists in the world who play pieces for the left hand, so his compositions are as original and unique as it can get. “As a child, practicing the piano each day was more important than playing football or video games. My

Michal Krajci, aka Bboy Big Mike, has travelled all the way from Slovakia to share some hip hop moves

holidays were shorter and I watched minimal television but spending time on the piano was not something that ever felt like a burden or compulsion,” he recollects.

Since he started playing at a very young age, he heard a lot of different music growing up. Being an eclectic musician, he loves film music, electronic and popular songs too. All this put together influences his music and compositions. Pianists like Horowitz or Sokolov are his inspirations but so are musicians like Michel Legrand, Barbra Streisand or Jean-Michel Jarre, he tells us.

As an artist his biggest challenge is to constantly perform at concerts. He says, “It’s necessary to find new projects, new concepts, record original compositions and to have

good reviews in the press and on the radio.

The most important thing to achieve as an entertainer is the opinion of the audience on your work as it is what helps an artist grow.”

The travel that accompanies his profession and allows him to discover new cultures, cities and languages is what keeps him going.

The feeling of playing live on stage in front of an audience is also exhilarating, he adds.

The fact that he wanted to be the best at playing the piano since he began learning it, has not allowed him to pick up another instrument. Each of his concerts is different and his biggest pleasure is to feel a positive vibe from the audience at the end of the concert. This is the most important thing for him, he believes. Having played world-over he

He’s breaking it!

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

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ip hop is one of the most popular dance styles amongst youngsters today all thanks to its appealing beats, rhythm and energetic steps. The dance form, that was once associated with just funky haircuts, hoodies and metal jewellery, has now become a passion, with many youngsters enrolling into classes and hoping to make it a career option. The StreetBeats Crew, which is one of the foremost hip hop dance groups in the city, is organising a Breaking workshop by Slovakian artist Michal Krajci, aka Bboy Big Mike.

Big Mike has been breaking since 2005 and has been representing

Made in West. He has conducted battles in countries like Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Netherlands, USA and India. He is here in Pune to teach and showcase

breaking techniques, improvise moves, create many new steps and develop their character.

“The workshop is good for every bboy, bgirl and other dancers who

feels that each country has its own peculiarity but the happiness that music brings is always the same.

Punekars who attend the concert will have the pleasure of discovering a new repertory. Along with classical music, the concert will end with a small tribute to the Indian audience which is a surprise that Maxime was not ready to give up. The repertory for the left hand has 600 pieces.

The most famous are the pieces dedicated to Paul Wittgenstein, an Austrian pianist who had lost his right arm during World War One, but loved playing the piano.

When: September 4, 6:30 pm onwards Where: Mazda Hall, Camp salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

want to work on themselves. It will not be about a teacher showing what to do but explaining how to do so with related exercises. We will be having some drills which will help dancers master regular steps called foundation,” says Big Mike.

The importance in breaking is given to power moves that comprises of body spins and rotations that give the illusion of defying gravity.

“Bboying was introduced very late in India but now it is picking up very fast. The dance is all about the footwork, freeze, power moves, down rock and floor rock. It is very different from other hip hop styles,” he adds.

Just like many of the hip hop dancers, who have evolved after getting inspired from films like Step Up, Mike’s inspiration was the song ‘It’s like that’ by Run DMC. “I just saw their video at the local chart show and my reaction was ‘Wow, I want to do this too’. It took me sometime to commit myself to actually attend practice sessions but it was all worth it,” he says. Hip hop has since become

his passion in life.

He started learning the dance at a time when there were not that many videos available online or tutorials to guide him. He knew nothing about the origin of bboying and Hip Hop culture. “I thought break dance is just flips, head-spins and hand stands.

But it is actually dance and art as well. Bboying has a rich culture, foundation and pioneers. I was hungry for the information. I got in touch with the older bboys to educate myself about the culture. Now it is super easy, you can find everything online,” he adds.

For him, the emotional connection is the key to understanding the dance. “The dancers should be able to tell a story through their expressions, gestures, and body movements. Connecting with the audience is the central part of this dance form,” he adds.

When: September 10, 4pm onwards Where: The Dance Floor, Camp zainab.kantawala@ goldensparrow.com

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TGS LIFE

‘MUSIC HAS NO RELIGION’

SEPTEMBER 3-9, 2016 PUNE

ENTERTAINMENT

Model, actor-turned-DJ Zulfi Syed is all set to make you move to his beat this weekend right here in the city

“Pune has a lot of young crowd that is well-educated when it comes to music”

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

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is passion for food and music urged him not only to become a DJ but to also start three restaurants in Goa. The well-known chain of restaurants called the Boom Box Cafe is also his venture. Seen in movies like Mr Hot Mr Kool, Deshdrohi and Dhadkan, Zulfi Syed managed to stay in the limelight for quite some time. His chiselled body and good looks left a lot of girls drooling over him especially once he started appearing in Raymonds and Levi’s commercials. A student of Hotel Management his life took a turn when he won Gladrags Manhunt in 1997, came second in the International Manhunt Competition held in Singapore and won the Kingfisher Bollywood Award in 2004. Showing off his skills as a DJ in the city this weekend, TGS spoke to him about what the Pune crowd can expect, his upcoming Bollywood project and the good and bad aspect of being a DJ. Talking about his performance on

Saturday at The Flying Saucer Skybar at Viman Nagar he says, “Pune reminds me of my hometown Bengaluru. It has a lot of young crowd that is well-educated when it comes to music. The pressure to do well on a Saturday night is huge and I will be playing EDM and

Bollywood.” Zulfi also plays Commercial, Tech House and Techno (Underground). In 2009, he was also part of Bigg Boss and was the fi rst runners-up.

His inspiration to become a musician came from the time when he lived in Goa,

which was for almost three years. He is currently working on a Bollywood project titled Mera India where he will be seen playing the lead role. He also has his own album in the pipeline about which he could not tell us much.

The most difficult thing about being a DJ is that there is no room for error. Every gig you play builds your image and makes you who you are, he feels. “Music has no religion and is something that makes me extremely happy. What I love the most about being in that industry is that it gives me the power to decide what kind of music to influence people with while I am on the console,” he says. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

Music is always on their mind

From playing chess together to composing music, Som and Rahul are almost inseparable. In fact, it’s their USP

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omposers and singers Som Riggs and Rahul Singh have had a journey that is fit for any Bollywood movie.

It was after eight years of struggling in the industry that they got their fi rst break with the fi lm The Legend of Michael Mishra, in the form of the song Nikhattooo. They made 17 versions of the song before the final one was accepted and was something that even they were satisfied with. Different when compared to the rest of the dance numbers, the song did pretty well when the music of the fi lm

Som and Rahul

realised and became quite popular too. Busy in their future projects which include composing music for a festival fi lm, Prince of Bollywood, TGS caught up with the two of them and had a candid conversation. The two told us how they started working together and how music became such an important part of their lives.

Som and Rahul met each other when they were in Mumbai pursuing a course in sound engineering from SAE College. They soon realised that they shared the same interests and started jamming together. Rahul already knew how to play the guitar and Som too had grown up listening to some good numbers.

“Music is a part of everyone’s life whether they want it or not. The fact that I did not want a corporate job made choosing this as my profession easier,” tells us Som. To make ends meet, he started off by programming and arranging Bollywood t r a c k s professionally which he does even now.

His list includes numbers for

music directors like Amal Malik, Vivek Kar and Gajendra Verma. He has worked on fi lms like Sanam Re, Meruthiya Gagsters, Direct Ishq and One Night Stand, to name a few.

Even shows like The Buddy Project, Savdhan India, Palak Pe Jhalak and the most recent Meri Awaz Hi Meri Pehchah Hai, is what Som has worked on.

The USP of this partnership, the two believe, is that one is a guitarist and the other a programmer. They learn a lot form each other and that’s what makes their music so unique.

Their inspiration changes with every song and depends a lot on their mood too. “Surviving in this competitive industry means that you have to give it your all every time. Working on multiple projects at a time is a given, but to get these projects you need to show how good you are and this is where it gets challenging,” says Rahul. Hailing from West Bengal, they added a flavour of Baul to Nikhatoo and fused it with some Bhojpuri tunes. They figured out the requirement of the script and worked on it till they were satisfied. Previous to this, they have given background music for television shows like Hum Se Hai Life and Suvreen Guggal. Post these projects, Rahul even toured as a guitarist with singers like Mohit Chauhan and AnkitTiwari.

While finding their niche is the only challenge the two face, the fact that they get paid to do what they love is a huge plus point, they believe. Their inspiration includes music composers like Pritam Chakraborty and Amit Trivedi. They would also love the opportunity to work with them someday. When they aren’t composing music, the two of them are busy playing chess. Not only does it strengthen their bond but it also makes the process of working together easier.

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TGS LIFE SEPTEMBER 3-9, 2016 PUNE

STAGE These college friends will be performing together for the first time this weekend and it is definitely something to look forward to

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

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ake your long weekend count by showing up for a Live Acoustic Night on Saturday as you sway to the soothing and soulful numbers played by Darren D’Souza and Radhika Mohite. Both the budding musicians from Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts will be playing a mix of covers and some originals. Music that you can define as Indie alternate the combination of Darren’s guitar and Radhika’s ukulele coupled with their vocals is worth the drive down to this place no matter which part of the city you live in. Jamming together for about a year now, the chemistry when they perform is

The new musicians on the block something to watch out for.

For both of them, music has been a huge part of their lives growing up. Hailing from a family that absolutely loved to listen to music, when in school Darren was a part of the church choir and this

is when his talent was noticed. A self-taught musician, he can play the guitar and keyboard and can compose melodies that transport listeners to a happy place. “Music for me is all about expression. The fact that it means different things

to different people is what is so good about this art form,” Darren says. When composing or writing lyrics he is often influenced by the experiences he has had and the way they make him feel. Even something as simple as a conversation with a friend can evoke a feeling, which inspires his songs.

Radhika, who has written six songs till date, tells us that three

of them have been inspired by how experiences others have had has affected her. Also hailing from a musical family her father is a huge blue fan and her mother and sister used to sing. From a very young age, she too began singing with her sister and music is something that she would definitely want to pursue as a career. Talking about releasing albums and their future plans, Radhika says, “Both of us would like to wait to get a decent recording done rather than just upload our videos on YouTube. It is important to do it right. The music genre that we play has a very niche audience and it takes some getting used to. So when we decide to perform it is difficult to select songs that everyone will like and this is our only challenge.”

While Darren’s music inspirations include Ed Sheeran, Bon Iver and Novo Amor, Radhika is smitten by musicians like Sufjan Stevens, Blind Pilot, Dubarrys. In their second year at the moment, both of them take out time to jam as music is something that makes them happy, relieving any and every stress.

When: September 3, 7 pm onwards Where: Where Else Cafe, Lunkad Sky Max, Viman Nagar salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

EVENTS AROUND THE TOWN Electrology Saturdays ft. Sartek

Aalap

African Art Workshop

African Art has played a significant role in shaping the culture and history of the world.

The belief that Africa is the cradle of the history of mankind is virtually unshakeable.

Rock Art is centuries old, while shell beads fashioned for a necklace have been recovered in a cave of the southern peninsula of South Africa that are 75,000 years old.

The human figure has always been the primary subject matter for most African art; The workshop by artist Trishna Patnaik will be focussing on tall stick ‘dancing’ figures.

The figures are dynamic and elongate, and the colours are mostly red, white, grey, and black. Many warm tones ranging from red to yellow are also used. Most of the ‘dancing’ figures are decorated with unusual patterns and festive clothing.

When: September 10 Where: Prelocate, Koregaon Park

Set aside an evening for a soulful indulgence, as Sawani Shende brings to you few magical hours of musical melodies that will leave you mesmerized and yearning for more.

Sawani’s mastery in classical rendition and her crystal clear diction takes every performance to a beautiful aesthetic level.

Her rendition of semi-classical genres highlights the emotive and expressive quality of Indian classical music and adds a very important dimension to her performance leaving audiences spellbound. That’s the reason why Sawani’s mehfils are highly acclaimed by both the experts and the general audiences of music.

When: September 3 Where: Smt. Shakuntala Jagannath Shetty Auditorium. Ganesh Nagar

Dualist Inquiry feat.

Kavya Trehan

Brace yourself for a truly epic Saturday night with Dualist Inquiry launching his new album at High Spirits! This new album all set to become a collaborative masterpiece and they bringing down none other than the ethereal Kavya Trehan of Mosko fame take charge with her buzzing stage presence and Seventies Rock-Jazz vocal style to get everyone grooving! Dualist Inquiry is the brainchild and solo project of Sahej Bakshi, a music producer, guitarist. Over the years he has grown to be considered one of the leading producers and live performers of electronic music in India, releasing original music and touring extensively.

When: September 3 Where: High spirits, Koregaon Park

This Saturday party hard with one of India’s fastest rising DJ and producer, Sartek! The man with releases on Hardwell’s label Revealed Recordings and with a recent release on Armada with Vigel, Sartek makes his way to Euriska for another power packed Saturday!

Sartek is one of the most talented dance music producers in India and the only Indian to be signed to Hardwell’s legendary Revealed Recordings, Sartek is a force to reckon with.

Being a Chartered Accountancy finalist, Sartek never thought he would see such a major shift in his career. After his debut track ‘Apocalypse’ gained global fame and was signed by one of the Biggest Dance Music Labels in the world, gig requests started pouring in from across the country. He started his career opening for legends like Rank1, First State, Max Vangelli and soon moved to the bigger stage, being the opening act of choice for dance music stalwarts Hardwell, Armin Van Buuren, Martin Garrix, Axwell, Ingrosso, Nicky Romero and Steve Aoki.

When: September 3 Where: Euriska, Koregaon Park

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By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

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or all the literature lovers in the city, Pune International Literary Festival, is back with more exciting events and book launches. The festival will provide an interesting avenue to avid readers, where they will get an opportunity to hear and interact with acclaimed authors and creative personalities from India and abroad.

‘Children’s Rights’ would be the social theme of PILF this year. Here, an attempt would be made to create awareness about the same though various activities like Street Plays by Save the Children organization. A special exhibition on Enid Blyton is one of the important highlights of this year’s PILF. Enid is a British Author, who is known for her outstanding work in the field of children’s books. Her books have been among best sellers in the world since 1930s.

This year, her 118th death anniversary is being celebrated all over the world. “Though over 70 literary festivals are hosted every year in India across various cities,Pune never had one. So with an intention to give its own literary festival of English literature to the city of Pune we started PILF 3 years ago. The primary objective of the fest is to act as a platform between authors and readers for their direct interaction and thereby contributing towards promoting the book reading culture, which has been losing its sheen due to various reasons,” says Manjiri Prabhu, Founder and Festival Director.

Some of the panel discussions this year will include, The changing trends of Marathi cinema, Relevance in recreation – mythology and Ramayan, Marathi literature in changing time, poetry from heart to heart, Women relationships and law and many more.

They have a series titled ‘Yours Truly’ where the eminent speakers will share their thoughts and experiences about their personal and professional life. The participants will get to hear some of the best minds from various fields including N. R. Narayana Murthy, Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, Shobhaa De, Anupam Kher, Ad-Guru Prasoon Joshi, Archie Comics CEO Nancy Silberkleit to name a few.

STREET PLAY

WHAT TO EXPECT AT PILF

TGS LIFE

SEPTEMBER 3-9, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

DANCE BALLET

Shatrujeet Nath

WORKSHOP ON EVOLUTION OF EPIC FICTION The workshop will be conducted by eminent speakers like Kavita Kane, Siddhartha Jain, Manjiri Prabhu and Shatrujeet Nath Followed by the launch of Shatrujeet Nath’s book ‘The Conspiracy at Meru’.

Epic fiction is a genre that is either based by its setting in an imaginary world or by the epic stature of its characters, themes, and plot. The speakers will concentrate on epic fantasy in its current form and how it got there. “Epic fiction as a genre didn’t exist in India for a fairly long time. It is authors like Ashok Banker and Amish Tripathi who brought it here and were successful with their book,” says Shatrujeet Nath.

He started as a door-to-door salesman, copywriter, business journalist and assistant editor at of a business newspaper. He debuted with The Karachi Deception

The children from the Save the Children organisation will perform street plays on various child rights related subjects.

The play has been conceptualised entirely by kids including the music, story and dialogues. Around 50 kids from the organisation will participate in the play. “The first play is about the bonded labour and the RTE act. It will show how money lenders in the villages exploit children, and forcefully make them to work in their farms. This play will be conducted by the kids from Junnar taluka,” says Rupali Goswami, the coordinator.

Another play will show kids fighting against child abuse. It will show a child who has been sexually abused by their family friend. The mother too refuses to believe the child when she confesses the act to her. The third play will throw light on the health and sanitation right of every child. “We are outspoken champions for children, ensuring their voices are heard and their issues are given top priority. We believe in working with the children and making them aware of their rights,” she adds.

When: September 3 and 4

in 2013, followed by The Guardians of the Halahala and The Conspiracy at Meru, the first two books in the Vikramaditya series. At present, he is writing volume three of the series.

“The style of writing stories in epic fiction is a lot more action oriented. The treatment given is thriller like to retain the readers attention span. It has an epic setting, but its pacey and contemporary in manner,” he adds. His latest book revolves around Vikramaditya and his Council of Nine who have fought valiantly to repel the hordes from Devaloka and Patala.

Shatrujeet lives in Mumbai, but spends much of his time in the fantasy worlds of his stories.

When: September 3, 1:40 pm

Ishanya Art and Culture Club in association with Artsphere gears up to capture the effervescence of dance, music and poetry together with a ballet titled Urmila – ‘The Forgotten Wife’. The 30-minute programme will show elements of live music, drastic rhythm changes and reverse choreography bringing the concept of ‘time transition through space’ to life. rmila: The Forgotten Wife, conceptualized by NAAD, is an adaptation of Pervin Saket’s celebrated novel Urmila.

The book inspired by the ignored story of Urmila, Laxman’s wife from the Ramayana, the narrative explores her loneliness and rejection on being left behind, rekindling questions of devotion and desire, in modern-day India. The ballad brings together three powerful classical dance forms Bharatanatyam, Odissi and Kathak to represent her story, through a unique collaboration of movement and words.

“Although Urmila was married to one of the most well-known heroes in mythology, she has been side lined. I also know that many women who live in incomplete marriages will relate to her pain,” says Pervin.

When: September 3, 7:40 pm

BODY IMAGE, SEMINAR BY KAVITA DEVGAN

Kavita wears many professional hats. She is an author, health columnist, nutritionist and speaker. Her session is about Body Image, and the the obsession with looking thin that seems to have taken over the youth, and how dangerous that can be. She will also have her recently released book Don’t Diet! 50 Habits of Thin People on sale. She believes that generic and non specific diet plans don’t work, and the focus must move away from ‘diets’ to ‘eating right’, and from following ‘fads’ to changing ‘habits’. “Because the only process that actually delivers lasting weight loss results is changing the way-you- eat. All you need is a change at the basic level – the way the mind thinks and the body reacts. Thin people are thin because they have habits which keep them so. Consciously or subconsciously they make the right choices; most have automated the process,” she says.

Kavita is an acclaimed nutritionist with 20 years of experience. She is a prolific and feted speaker too and has been giving lectures and conducting workshops in hospitals, schools and colleges about the right way of eating and new health and research based trends for a long time now. She is crystal clear about the right eating rules, and her writing has a voice that resonates with everyone. “ This book will help you identify this ‘stay thin’ set of habits - all 50 of them spread across ‘Mind’, ‘Body’ and ‘Lifestyle’ - and give you workable cues to adopt them easily,” she says.

When: September 3, from 2.45 pm Where: Yashada, Baner

TGS LIFE SEPTEMBER 3-9, 2016 PUNE

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A dining experience to remember ZAINAB KANTAWALA

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

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ood is considered to be something that has the potential to brighten up any dull day. True to this if you ever feel that you need a meal that gets your creative juices flowing or one that defines innovation to the T, Zora is the place to head to. Located in the quiet Ishanya Mall in Yerawada, this restaurant is everything that you want it to be and more. While the outdoor seating has a peaceful vibe, with the white benches, tables and greenery that surrounds it, the indoors represent royalty at its best. Greeted with a welcoming and courteous staff, we were truly in for a surprise once the food and drinks started being served.

From the owner of 11 East Street Cafe, Joravar Sachdev and his wife Chef Priyanka, this restaurant is a product of their innumerable travels. Almost every dish on the menu is a fusion of cultures and countries, without compromising on the flavours or plating. Even before you begin your meal you have the option of regular or flavoured water and about nine sodas that they make themselves and bottle. The drinks, most of which are available in the non-alcoholic form too are vibrant in colour and flavours. If you choose alcohol, Pandora’s Box which is vodka and anise with a red chilli twist and a rosella sugar rim is a must try. The Zohrajabi which is another signature cocktail created with spiced rum, cucumber, cumin spice, chaat masala, rock salt and smoked vanilla sticks is worth your money and time as well. It is extremely refreshing and a great drink to wash your palette with and is available in non-alcoholic form too. The 1947 should be on your must order list as well simply because of the play of colours in this drink and the green apple ice that it is served with.

Moving onto food, we tried the Chettinad Chicken with achaari coleslaw which for many can be the best way to make the boring salads drool worthy. The Spicy Okra Salad in aamchoor vinaigrette is also a must try. Every dish that is served out of

Zora’s kitchen is innovative, fun to look at and has the potential to satisfy your cravings. If you love fish, the sweet spicy combination of the Amritsari Bombil with mango chilli chutney is what you have to order. While the soups we were offered is not something we would order again, the Kheema Wanton soup is definitely out-of-thebox.

A lot of the food that we were served were combinations of ingredients you otherwise would not even imagine of combining. The Beetroot Tikkis in Creamy Tomato Gravy with roomali roti squares is one such combination. While the Sukha Tawa Chicken Masala served with buttermilk waffles was one of our

favourites, the Methi Brain Masala with Mini Dosas was close behind.

The responsibility of making any meal memorable lies on the shoulder of the dessert and those served at Zora lived up to our expectations. We tried the Thandai Creme Brulee served with orange iced sorbet and cranberry biscotti, Falooda Panacotta served with gulkand chikki, rose compote and dried fruits and the White Chocolate Blueberry Kulfi with kumquat mousse and strawberry splat. Each of them was better than the previous one and left us wanting more. The one thing that must be kept in mind while visiting Zora is that you must be ready to try new dishes and challenge your taste buds as no dish on the menu tastes like what you might find elsewhere. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

YOUR CHOW AROUND TOWN Thai Food Fest

Explore exotic flavours of the rich and diverse Thai cuisine at The Café with Thai Chef Wimon from Grand Hyatt Mumbai. Gorge on authentic preparations such as Tom Yam, Som Tam, Khao Pad, Panang Gai and more. Chef Wimon Junlawong is the Chef De Partie of the awardwinning multi-cuisine buffet restaurant Fifty Five East at Grand Hyatt Mumbai. With a vast experience of 10 years in various hotels in Thailand and India, he is the master of the Thai cuisines.

When: Till September 14 Where: The Cafe, Hyatt Regency Pune, Viman Nagar

De Thali

Mystic Masala is all set to take you on a special vegetarian journey by hosting De Thali, a Gujarati thali festival. Maharaj

Shravan has especially been invited from Vadodara to mesmerise you with some delectable sweet and spicy delights from Gujarat. The appetising authentic dishes on the thali are Khandvi, Undhiyu, Gujarati Kadi, Bardoli ki Khichdi, Thepla, Handvo, Kachori, Patra and for people with a sweet tooth, there is Shrikhand and Aam Ras Basundi.

When: Till September 4 Where: Mystic Masala, Vivanta by Taj Blue Diamond, Koregaon Park

Celebrate with delectable food

To add in to the Ganesh Festival celebrations are the culinary preparations of delicious authentic festive dishes prepared specially at the Crowne Plaza Pune City Centre.

Some of the mouth-watering dishes that will be served include the all-time and everyone’s favorite Ukadiche Modak because no Ganesh festival celebration is complete

without this sweet dish! The all vegetarian menu will consist of over 25 authentic dishes like Masale bhaath, Batate chi bhaji, moong ussal amongst others. In addition to modak, the dessert spread will include nectarous and irresistible Amrakhand, Pista shrikhand and Shevaya kheer.

When: Till September 15 Where: Mosaic, Crowne Plaza Pune City Centre , Bund garden Road

Following in the footsteps of her father

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hen she thinks of food, she thinks of her father.

She is reminded of the innumerable memories that she has made with him cooking food and watching him conjure up the most delectable recipes she has ever tasted. Whenever her father was in town, the two of them would take over the kitchen and he would teach her everything that she could grasp at that young age. Years later, now that she herself is a chef, every meal she prepares has a flavour of him and her childhood memories.

The next time you visit Atmosphere 6 at Viman Nagar be sure to say hello to the newest and youngest member in the kitchen, Sunanda Gupta. Only 25 years old, she is currently an assistant to the head chef and is thrilled about the opportunity and exposure that she is getting. “The entire team, right from the chef to the manager are all very supportive and encouraging.

They know when to scold me and when to appreciate my efforts and

this is what keeps me going every single day,” she tells us. A resident of Pune, she has also spent a considerable amount of time in Dubai, which is where her father was working.

For this young girl, becoming a chef was not only about continuing her father’s dream after he passed away. Making it big in the culinary world will be her way to show him how much and what he means to her, she shares. Remembering her father, she tells us that the chicken curry that he made is something that she is still trying to perfect.

An avid meat lover, chicken is her favourite and she constantly tries to invent dishes that hero this ingredient. While she hasn’t yet come up with a perfect recipe, she hopes that when she does, it is something that she will be always associated with.

“The diversity and culture that is reflected in food is what I love the most. It is also what keeps me hooked onto it. My goal is not only to become someone who is remembered by her dishes but to be able to travel and experience food

A quaint little shop in the busy lanes of Sadashiv Peth offers over 100 varieties of paans, some of which are quick solutions to problems like indigestion and common cold

TEJAS GAIKWAD

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

from world over,” she says with a smile. Even though the Chicken Dalmeat served at Atmosphere 6 is one of her favourites, when at home she only eats food that her mom makes. When she does cook for her mother, she often makes different kinds of salads and paneer kebabs which is what her mother loves.

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INDULGE

Working at Atmosphere 6 for about five months now, she has learned a lot she tells us. Along with her father, the head chef here is someone who she looks up to.

The way he moves around in the kitchen is something that she hopes to pick up while working with him.

A few years down the line she not

only wants to work in Dubai like her father did but also travel and spend time in restaurants all over the globe. With every day that she spends in the kitchen, she only falls more in love with the art of cooking, food and the life that she is glad she has chosen for herself. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

Try a paan for all your ailments

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

W

ould you like to have a Keemam paan or a meetha paan is something that so many of us either ask or hear after a fancy meal. Keeping in tune with the trend of eating healthy, a Kolhapur-based family decided to fuse people’s love for paan with the ingredients used in Ayurvedic medicine. Moving to Pune a while ago Jitendra Mohite is a hotel management student who now runs Rajdhani Karvir Ayurvedic Paan shop in Sadashiv Peth. A quick visit to his shop is enough to spoil you with options for life. Offering over 100 varieties of paans this is the kind of place that you will want to keep coming back to.

Not something that you will fi nd instantly, this paan shop unlike the others has neatly done up interiors and is extremely clean too. “It was my uncle Sachin Vadgave’s idea to start an Ayurvedic paan shop. Once

SEPTEMBER 3-9, 2016

VISHAL KALE

Soft-spoken, fun-loving and passionate about what she does, meet Sunanda Gupta whose only dream is to be known by the food she makes

TGS LIFE

it was decided that this is what we had to do, I spent about a year researching on the different medicines of Ayurveda and their benefit. From over-eating and indigestion to common cold and even to get rid of your stress, we have a paan for everything,” Jitendra tells us. The Bakasur Paan for those who love eating and tend to over-eat and the Kumkaran paan for sound sleep are amongst his best sellers.

Starting from Rs 25, paans at this shop

can go up to Rs 3500. The 27-year-old who runs the shop hopes that when one thinks of paan the fi rst thing that should come to their mind is his venture. He believes in giving everyone who walks into his shop an experience to take back with them and remember it too. Running this shop in Pune he has already got a phenomenal response and plans on opening up three more branches in the city soon.

A hotel management student, he has worked as a supervisor in the hotel earlier so managing the business is not a difficult task. What was cumbersome when he started out was the amount of stuff he had to learn to be able to incorporate Ayurveda into the paans. His research even now is never-ending and he is currently working on introducing a paan which will help tobacco addicts get rid of their addiction. “Since what I do has a lot to do with people’s health I cannot be making false promises. Th is is why it takes a long time for me to actually put a new paan on the menu. Inventing a new flavour is not the problem, the issue lies in making it healthy and healing in nature,” he explains. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

PICS BY RAHUL RAUT AND VISHAL KALE

‘YOUR ST HAVE A P

TGS LIFE SEPTEMBER 3-9, 2016

Sarita Manges shows for the theatre compa two-fold aim w art form. Not it at a lower co and provide an While she her everything fr arranging the plays. This yea at about 15 ma in the Pimpri“The one story must alw they are doing leave with that the festive sea range from su helped, even p As some challenge that in 10 to 15 mi factor as the a challenging th error at all. W the right emot started off as a

PUNE

FEATURES This festive season, when you see artists performing at a Ganpati mandal right around the corner of the streets, stop for a few minutes to appreciate the passion and dedication that they put into it. Meet the live performers who are always on the go

By Akshay Dixit & Salonee Mistry @TGSWeekly

O

ne of the best things about the Ganpati festival, other than the pretty idols and extravagant decorations, are the people performing skits to entertain devotees. These 10-15 minute plays are acted out as if on repeat mode for almost three hours every evening from the second to the ninth day of the festival. All the mandals have their own choice of topics, usually something that is either related to the culture of the city, its history or a script that holds a social message.

Extremely different from the kind of plays you see when seated in an auditorium, the dialogues for the performances are dubbed, often by some other artist and the actor on stage only lip-syncs.

Getting paid by the day, one must really be passionate about acting and being associated with something like this, to keep at it. Just before the festivities begin, TGS spoke to some of the theatre groups that have been performing live shows for years now and finds out what keeps them going.

When a festival brings the streets alive ‘THE LIVE SHOWS AREN’T FOR MONEY’

Right from when he was 12 years old, Sunny Waghmare would accompany his elder sister to her theatre practice and would sit on a bench in a corner for hours till she got done. One day his sister’s teacher asked him to join the performance as well and there has been no stopping him since. Running his own group that goes by the name Krushna Movies he has about 15 artists with him and has been performing live shows since 2000.

This year, he will be performing at two mandals in the city, at Navi Peth and JM Road. He will be staging a play in Marathi language at the former and one on Shivaji Maharaj at the latter. “The live shows aren’t done for money. We do them to satisfy the actor within us and since profits are never even a part of the plan it is almost like doing it for fun. We earn from our corporate and commercial theatre shows to pay for the live ones,” he explains. All of the topics that Sunny has worked on since he started off revolve around either a historic topic or a social cause, like women abuse or equality.

Pointing out the one stark difference that he feels exists in the live shows versus the commercial one’s done in an auditoriums is that of the audience.

With live shows, he feels that even though there is a possibility of the audience strength being quite large, it’s still an intimate performance and one will always find a familiar face right in the front encouraging you on. The members from your own team will wait in the crowd to boost your confidence if there is no one else, he adds. Practice for his team begins about 10 days before the shows. Sunny also feels that this is a medium that allows you to deliver a message to an audience that would never come to the theatre.

‘PERFOR MOVING

For the last s Pawar’s life. It and when he doing and did student of Dad know about ac Theatre Group Ganpati festiv absolutely enjo different mand and go by the At Ajan performing a titled Mahara Mitra Manda Pravesh Prakr banes of the i

by Sanjay Nav starts about 12 experience he Sometimes yo Even so, for so audience does Another when you perf the actor’s resp for all the man them take par a commercial Gondal and B

TORY MUST ALWAYS POSITIVE END’

sh has actively been doing live past four years. Running the any Creation Pune she has a when it comes to theatre as an only does she hope to present ost but also wants to promote n opportunity for new artists. rself does not act, she manages rom writing the script to e artists to even directing the ar, her team will be performing Sarita Mangesh andals all of which are located -Chinchwad area and will be tackling social issues. e thing that I have learned along the way is that your ways have a positive end. People stop whatever it is that g and watch you. If you give them a sad ending they at feeling and no one wants to be in a foul mood during ason,” she tells us. The issues that she has worked on uicide prevention to how the grieving farmer could be peer pressure all of which conclude on a happy note. eone who writes and directs these plays, one other t Sarita faces is to try and fit such important topics inutes. As a director the attention to detail is a bigger actor essentially has to lip-sync and this is much more han actually saying the dialogues. There is no room for While doing all of this you must also be able to deliver tions and at the right time too. Like many others, this a hobby for her and later turned into a full-time job.

RMING FOR A CROWD IS VERY DIFFERENT’

seven years, theatre has been a huge part of Abhijit t started off as a hobby while he still had another job went on a break, acting is something that he kept d not even realised when it became his profession. A da Pashalkar, he learned everything that he needed to cting and direction when he was a part of the Mangal p in Pune. He has been doing live shows during the val for the last four years and it’s something that he oys. This year too he will be seen performing at two dals with his team of 15 members who are all friends name Audumbar Pratishthan. nta Mitra Mandal in Hadapsar, his team will be a play that revolves around Maharashtrian culture ashtrachi Sanskriti. On the other hand, at Jai Jawan al also in Hadapsar, they will perform a drama called riya- Ayogya ki Yogya that highlights the boons and internet. The scripts for both plays have been written vgire and Amit Deshmukh. Practice for the live shows 2 days before they take to the stage. Talking about the says, “Performing for a moving crowd is very different. ou will have an audience and sometimes you won’t. omeone who is passionate about acting, the size of the s not matter.” thing that he points out is the challenge that comes form for more than one mandal at a time. It becomes ponsibility to ensure that his performance is balanced ndals so you don’t lose either of the jobs since most of rt in the same competitions, he adds. Abhijit is also theatre artist and has even done various films like Bavre Prem He to name a few.

‘LIVE SHOWS ARE LIKE WORKING IN A CINEMA, WITHOUT A CAMERA’ He was one of the foremost people to bring the concept of live shows to Pune, he tells us.

Not knowing how the crowd will react back then, Santosh Raut obviously was very apprehensive Santosh Raut before starting out and made mistakes from which he learned too. Performing this year with his team of nearly 20 people at Garuda Ganpati, on Laxmi Road he will be staging a play titled Jhansi Chi Rani. For him, the biggest challenge has been managing funds. Sometimes the payments from the mandals come in late or the arrangements exceed the budget and this is when he lands up paying from his own pocket. Even so, this is one of the best times of the year for him and he enjoys every single minute of it even if he is stressed.

He says, “Live shows are like working in a cinema without a camera. You get enough takes to get

TGS LIFE SEPTEMBER 3-9 , 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

better at the same thing but there is no one recording your growth other than a moving audience. To stay focused through all of this can sometimes get stressful.” The monsoon can also be something which is extremely tiresome to deal with, he adds. Santosh starts

prepping for the shows one month in advance and does everything from organising it, to scripting, directing and even acting in it himself. Since most of his plays are historic in nature he can constantly be found researching on one topic or the other. Once someone who

has been working with him for a while gets a hang of how it all works, he hands over a mandal to him and starts training others. The fact that there is a repeat audience on some days only goes to prove that his artists are good at what they do, he feels.

‘SOURCING TALENT FOR LIVE SHOWS IS A HUGE TASK’ A child theatre artist himself, Sudharkar Aughde has been associated with the art form since 1996. Live shows is something that he has been doing for about a decade now and loves every minute that he is involved with it. It is a different kind of satisfaction and a good break from the regular theatre performances too, he tells us. Apart from acting in these plays he even looks after the script, direction and all the logistical requirements like that of putting together a team, the lights, make-up and costumes among other things.

His work begins two months before the live shows start. He firsts talks to the mandals to find out what exactly they want and then works on a script which he then once again finalises with them. Once this is done he then has to put together a team that will fit well with the work at hand and deliver. “Sourcing talent for live shows

Sudharkar Aughde

is a huge task. Since it does not pay well unless you are a well-known artist the younger crowd soon lose interest and move onto something

more stable. Managing a team that will stick with you for years is every organiser’s nightmare,” Sudhakar says. This year, he is working with a group of about 35 artists out of which only about 15 of them have been with him for a long time. The rest have joined in this year with no guarantee of them being around for the next.

His team will be performing at three mandals this year namely Sainath Tarun Mitra Mandal in Camp, Patil Nagar in Chikli and Gandhi Chowk Mitra Mandal also in Chikli.

Apart from building a loyal team, his other challenges include finances and working with new artists who take time to grasp their role.

His topic this year for one of the mandals takes a dig at the way our government functions and the time the authorities take when it comes to tackling rape cases and the second one is on the Maharashtrian culture.

TGS LIFE SEPTEMBER 3-9, 2016 PUNE

THRILL OF DRIVING

AUDI LAUNCHES PETROL VERSION OF A6 SEDAN

1.8-litre petrol engine and 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox, same Matrix headlights

W

hen we drove the A6 Matrix last year, we were particularly impressed by the plush suspension, which held up to even the most extreme conditions.

Back then, we drove the 2.0 TDI model, which allowed adequate performance, but the package of features and components — and particularly comfort — made it a winner in our books. Since then, Dieselgate has happened and the VW group has had some problems with their diesel engines, despite technically complying with regulations. In any case, the A6 avoided this issue as well as Delhi’s brief ban on 2000cc+ diesel vehicles. Now it is joined by a petrol variant — the A6 Matrix 35TFSI. Th is fi lls a hole in the A6 lineup, which just had the loaded diesel vehicle on sale. Those who prefer their turbos in petrol now have an option. The engine is the venerable and fun 1.8 turbo, generating 190hp driving through a seven-speed dual-clutch S Tronic gearbox. There are some small changes in the interior trim and the front bumper compared to the diesel version, but it remains substantially the same vehicle complete with the retractable 20cm MMI screen, gesturebased boot opening, 8 airbags, 14-speaker Bose music system, that exceptional adaptive air suspension and of course, the eponymous ‘Matrix’ LED headlight system.

Th is is not an all-new car though, so if you really like the virtual cockpit system or the new ergos of the new A4, you’ll have to wait a while before the A6 gets those goodies. The Audi A6 Matrix 35TFSI is available now for Rs 52,75,000 exshowroom, Maharashtra.

Jeeps are here, albeit expensive Hardcore fans will be disappointed at the high pricing

NISSAN GTR PRE BOOKINGS NOW OPEN Godzilla can come to your house; you just have to call ahead with Rs 25 lac

N N

o sooner had FCA announced the prices of the Jeep models in India did social media erupt with drama, angst and hilarity. Of the four models announced for India delivery, the cheapest Jeep you can buy starts at Rs 71 lac ex-showroom. At the launch event we attended in Jodhpur, officials played up the formidable heritage and connect to the Indian buyer through the decades, and we were introduced to several vintage models in the stables of former royals.

Jeep will sell the Wrangler Unlimited and Grand Cherokee in India. The Wrangler is only available in one trim, powered by a 200PS, 460Nm 2.8-litre diesel motor. It’s a butch and clever vehicle with some amazing utility features. The doors come off entirely, for instance, as does most of the roof, while a soft-top is included at the back. You can just hose off the interior if it gets mucky, and exceptional 4x4 capabilities are a given. Th is is what you get for Rs 71 lac.

The Grand Cherokee is Jeep’s full-size SUV and

Jeep

FCA

Grand Cherokee SRT INR 1,12,07,825

Wrangler Unlimited INR 71,59,104

Grand Cherokee Summit INR 1,03,39,919

Grand Cherokee Limited INR 93,64,527

All prices - Ex Showroom Delhi

will be available in two diesel versions using a 3.0-litre 240hp motor and a mad 6.4-litre 470hp HEMI V8 petrol version. Considering the relatively minor price differences between the models, it would make sense to buy the full-bore V8 model.

Jeep officials were at pains to explain that this is just the beginning. An exclusive dealer network is coming as are made-in-India models at much more affordable prices in 2017, when their Ranjangaon plant begins production.

issan’s flagship sportscar, the GT-R, is coming to India very soon. So much so that if you have Rs 25 lac in your change bucket, you can book one right now for an end-2016 delivery. Nissan is claiming the most significant changes in the new model since it’s introduction in 2007. It’s been a giant-killer for nine years and we’re pretty sure that reputation will remain intact in India.

Powering the 2017 GT-R is

a 3.8-litre turbo V6 generating a ridiculous 570PS and 637Nm. Not 640, not 630, but 637Nm. Details.

The twist is delivered unmercifully to the road surface by a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission, no doubt helped along by Nissan’s insanely advanced electronics that allow this car to do crazy things its lighter, more expensive peers can’t.

No word of the price, which will be released on the still-to-bedecided launch date. Deliveries will commence soon after. You can have your GT-R in Katsura Orange (new for 2017), Vibrant Red, Pearl Black, Storm White, Daytona Blue, Gun Metallic and Ultimate Silver with matching leather trim inside.

Where erotica and humour go hand in hand

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

O

ne must never write to be famous or to make money since the odds will always be against you, author Apurv Nagpal tells us. Write if you feel there is a story to be told and be prepared for a long journey, he adds.

Always hoping for an early retirement, he quit his corporate job after just a year and almost instantly knew that becoming an author is what he wanted to do. Writing a movie review blog for almost a decade made the plunge easier.

His latest release Eighteen Plus Duets is the second one after Eighteen Plus and is oneof-its-kind. Falling under the mixed genre of erotica and humour, the book is a collection of 18 naughty stories about sensuality and intimacy, narrated through a humorous lens.

He has co-authored the book with 18 women from across the world. Apurv and three of his co-authors, Asha Aggarwal, Bhawana Mohile and Urjita Kulkarni share with TGS what it was like penning down their stories and the challenges they faced.

He wanted to see if he could marry male and female perspectives in Indian stories, which he believes is what the genre lacks at the moment. Some of the women with whom Apurv has collaborated with have been his friends for a while now, while others he has met along the course of his research for the book.

Getting all the women together wasn’t easy and sometimes he felt like it was a revolving door with women committing, then getting cold feet and backing out, he recollects.

“They are all first time writers – some needed reassurance, some hand-holding and some were extremely protective of their work. I

TGS LIFE SEPTEMBER 3-9, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

Eighteen women have come together to share intimate stories about their fantasies and desires in Apurv Nagpal’s latest book

“There were others who took ages to write and some who didn’t like what I added during the re-writes” -Apurv Nagpal

learned new levels of patience with this project.

There were some co-authors who changed their draft several times after showing it to me.

There were others who took ages to write and some who didn’t like what I added during the re-writes,” tells us Apurv, who is also a visiting faculty at IIM-A. For him, the ability to connect with people he doesn’t know and find something with them is what he loves about being an author.

For Asha, on the other hand, having her thoughts and stories come alive on pages and more importantly turn it into something that

others want to read is what she loves about being an author. Entertaining and making people laugh, creating situations and making them sound funny is what attracts Bhawana to writing and Urjita loves that writing allows her to connect with herself. She also loves watching how the characters and words shape up through the process.

Ask him about their future plans and Apurv tells us that someday he might write about his teaching experiences, especially as he can compare it to the time when he himself was a student. His father, he tells us, has

written a very touching account of how it was bringing up his sister, Avani, who suffered from acute cerebral palsy since she was five months old and is now 44 years old, defying all medical predictions. He feels that this story needs to be told and would like to take that up soon. While Bhawana would like to continue with writing humour, Urjita wants to explore both fiction and non-fiction. Naughty by nature, Asha feels that if she ever does write again, she will stick to a mix of erotica and humour. Writing for yourself even if you don’t want to share it is important. There will always be people who won’t like your work, but that doesn’t matter, she feels. Agreeing with her, Urjita believes that writing is not about the name, fame or money. It is about being honest to your thought process and in the end that’s all that counts. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

‘In India, bisexuality is still a taboo’ Author Bhaavna Arora’s third book, Love Bi The Way, is an unconventional love story based on two women

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

T

he author of two bestsellers, The Deliberate Sinner and Mistress of Honour, is back with her third Love Bi The Way. Bhaavna Arora’s tome is a romantic comedy that will tickle your bones while sensitising you to challenges faced by lovers in the Indian society.

The story touches upon bisexuality, a controversial topic, which may ruffle feathers of moral guardians of the society.

Bhaavna belongs to a new breed of Indian women authors writing on topics that are very relevant to today’s society. She believes in bringing out the ideas that are often spoken in hushed tones.

“In India, bisexuality is still a taboo and nobody wants to talk about it openly. The book touches upon bisexuality and is an honest attempt to have a conversation about sexuality in Indian society. I hope the book will serve as a platform for an open dialogue and understanding of issues that concern all of us,” she says.

The story explores the relationship between the female protagonists Rihana and Zara. Both are

financially independent yet have strikingly different personalities.

They fall in love as they are battling their own demons. The two girls travel down the path less trodden as their lives unfurl and take them on several adventures, teaching them a few lessons along the way. The story advances as both of them navigate through their fulfilling careers and try to leave behind troubled pasts. They find solace in each other.

“It has all its elements in the right proportion to give you a soulreplenishing recipe. However, book lovers will enjoy the unusual topic it broaches and the keen wordplay,” she adds. Bhaavna calls herself an avid learner, who attributes her learning to life.

Her unique perspective on life is evident in all her books. Prior to becoming a novelist, Bhaavna was an academician, teaching in a leading business school.

“Quitting my job to get into commercial writing was the most difficult decision I made. It

was the urge to write and enchant others in the same way that I got lost in a parallel dimension while reading that made me take this up,” she says.

Her debut novel The Deliberate Sinner explored themes like infidelity and sexual dissatisfaction among women within a marriage. It was at the top of Amazon’s bestsellers list for several weeks. Her second novel, The Mistress of Honour, is about the armed forces and a woman desire to give birth to a child outside marriage.

Her books reflect her personality and various thoughts as a modern, independent thinker. “It’s about the choices that we as Indians are forced to make. People are afraid of coming out of their closet and accepting that they are bisexual. Their lives are full of struggle, as they can’t make a choice. That motivated me to explore the subject,” she says. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

TGS LIFE SEPTEMBER 3-9, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

THEY KNOW JUST HOW TO GET THE PARTY STARTED

For all those who thought the DJing scene was male-dominated, this list will make sure you think otherwise

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

F

or these pretty women, spinning is a way of life, and no, we are not referring to yarn! When these divas take on the console, they set the dance floor on fire with their music. If you thought that only a few female DJs remained on the scene today, then you are completely wrong. The list is long and still growing. The girls have been setting the club scene on fire all on their own. Their versatility, unique style and knowledge about music makes them stand out in the crowd. People love them for their music and go clubbing to watch them spin the hottest tracks. Indian DJs like Pearl, Angel, Electrovertz, have all worked hard and proven that they are just as talented as their male counterparts.

DJ SONEE Sonee, aka Poised Diva, is one of the finest DJs and producers in our country.

She is the one who surely knows how to organize a thumping party with her own combination and set of music. She perfectly spins the best combination of Hip-Hop, Electro, Progressive, Tech, Commercial and Bollywood music.

“I was fascinated when I saw my male friends take on the console and made crowd dance to their tunes. This got me going. I took it up as a hobby in college, and then it became my profession,” she says.

Known for her unique style, Sonee is one of the busiest and most successful DJ. She believes in redefining the sounds of the Indian electronic scene. Her only motive is to make people dance. It doesn’t matter how many people have attended her gig, if you are present, she makes sure that you are on the dance floor. It is her style, combined with many of her original tracks that have turned clubbers into instant fans.

She took up electronic dance music as it helped her express her emotion without using words. “It goes beyond the barrier of language. It connects everyone in a much deeper way. It’s much more meaningful than someone singing in one language,” she says. Her style of music is mainly influenced by international artist like David Guetta. What sets her apart is her commanding presence on stage, and her way of connecting with the audience. She is fully engaged with the crowd and her music. Her passion behind the console is reflected in her powerful sets filled with heavy sounds and mash ups. “The music I play is very melodious and organic in nature. It is a mix of heavy beats, melodies,” she says.

She has shared the console with rapper Honey Singh, DJ Aqeel, Suketu, Nikhil Chinnapa and many other reputed artists. She is now working on her fifth album Dexterity VOL 5, which is slated to release next month.

DJ ANGEL Angel believes in changing and moulding herself according to the trend. A skilled drummer as well as a DJ, her music portfolio includes mixes from genres including Bollywood, Hip Hop, Club, Electronica, Minimal, Tech, Progressive and UK Punjabi. “I was a drummer in school and never wanted to do a nine-to-five job. Music was my first love, so I decided to make it my profession,” she says. With sheer determination and hard work, she has carved her path all the way to being one of top-most remixers in Bollywood and otherwise. She has officially remixed for Bollywood films like Aashiqui 2, Boss, Bullet Raj, Jai Ho, R’Rajkumar, Shaadi Ke Side Effects, Dedh Ishqiya, Dishki​yaoon, Heropanti, and many more. “Initially, it was not an easy ride for me. It was a male dominated industry then and people thought handling the technically is not something a woman can do. But I worked hard on it and now I can handle any mixer,” she says.

Her remixes are so famous they have been played in countries like Chicago, Toronto, Dubai, Dhaka and in Bahrain. Her style is unique and accessible, and she takes pride on the fact that she can read the audience’s mind and keep them partying all night long. “Female DJs get a great response from the crowd.

People become excited when they see a girl making them groove on the dance floor,” she says. She is now looking to launch her own fashion label, which she says will be a reflection of her music as well as her design sense.

A versatile and dynamic personality, she has her hands on Bollywood, House, Commercial music and blends them with utmost fun and energy. “The most memorable gig has been the one with Honey Singh where I performed in front of 30,000 people. People were jumping to the beats, and that’s what made me happy,” she shares. Angel is now working on her second album Discolits.

TGS LIFE

DJ SMITA Being distinctively drawn towards music since she was 10 years old, she was determined to turn her passion into profession. She is not just an EDM DJ, she specifies, her forte is Bollywood, House, Hip Hop and many other sub genres.

Her successful DJ career has seen her play in some of the most prestigious clubs across India. She has been consistently wowing crowds with her technically brilliant, distinctly unique mixing style and energy behind the decks. “My idol and inspiration Armin Van Burren has significantly changed the course of my life over the last seven years with his music.

Watching him perform live in Mumbai is something that I will always cherish. It left me with jaw pain from smiling and crying at the same time, all night long. I still get goose bumps when I think of that night,” she recalls.

She has an impressive list of remixes she has been producing for more than a year now. She’s also been judging DJ competitions traveling around the globe. “The party season has kicked in for 2016 and you will see me performing in Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Kolkata, Chennai, Dubai, Mauritius and Doha this year. On the production front, you can expect me to release some of my exclusive remixes from the 90s too,” she says.

She has surely been the girl on a mission to make her mark on the music scene that she has covered more ground than many of her peers in a short span of time. Each of her gig is unique, and every gig has been an unparalleled experience for her. “What sets the dance floor ablaze is the uplifting elements and groovy sounds being spun at the right time. I like to blend elements of my sound in a way that people can connect even when they are hearing it for the first time,” she says.

Her sound is a blend of four-on-the-floor beat rhythm with some bouncy grooves, popular vocals, EDM bass line patterns power packed with fun and energy. She is highly inspired by international artists like Armin Van Burren, Dash Berlin, Tiesto and Axwell. “I try to attend as many festivals and concerts as I can and it amazes me how they up their game each time. Their performances exhibit hard work and endless passion. It’s because of them I strongly believe that there is no satisfaction than doing what you absolutely love,” she adds.

DJ RINK Rink loves the energy that her audiences bring on when she’s spinning her tunes. Her console is her love and she is wildly popular during the IPL parties with everyone from the emcee to the cricketers grooving to her mean tracks. Her debut album The Way You Like Me is a smash hit and she’s climbing the popularity charts at a rapid pace. Her genres include everything from Bollywood and Bhangra to House and Hip Hop. “When I started 10 years back, there was no EDM. There were melodious and more vocal based music, and now it’s totally different with the international music genre being blended with the crowd’s demand and likes,” says Rink who is known for mixing electro sounds with her remixes.

She is known to produce her own mixes and has performed at venues across the country. “The best experience was when I played in front of 17,000 people who were dancing with me at a concert held in Mauritius,” she says. She is highly inspired by Indian classical music and Indian instrumental sounds. “They have a powerful sound and my music too is a mix of Indian with Electronic,” she says.

What sets her apart is her commanding presence on stage and her way of connecting with the audience. While on stage she is completely engaged with the crowd and her music. “The crowd gets so energetic sometimes, that I get goose bumps. I believe a good DJ should interact with the crowd and share their personality,” adds Rink.

DJ MARIA ALPHONSO Coming from the land of beaches and clubs, music has always been a part of Maria’s life and passion. She is a complete music enthusiast and a dance music lover. She kicked off her first performance in Pune earning a lot of appreciation and creating a vibe for music enthusiasts.

“I’ve always been a music buff and roisterer. The successful evolution of music festivals such as Sunburn, Supersonic and many more that are held across the country, has not just enlightened my music knowledge but, also increased my love and passion for electronic music,” she says.

Having started her career in the corporate industry, she soon realised that her passion for dance music was much stronger. Listening to the world’s most renowned DJs, she always aspired to be on the other side and bring out the same thrill to the dance floors through her music.

“I have a grand circle of DJ friends who always keep me on the go. We share our music knowledge, learn about various upcoming artists, new techniques and components of dance music,” she adds.

She performs on various styles of music ranging from electronic dance music to deep house, techno, electro

house and amalgamations of progressive styles. When not performing, she spends her time listening to music and enhancing her DJing skills. “I love attending the Above and Beyond concerts. They do not create music, they create moments and memories. I adore these artists and attending their events to see them live is something that I always look forward to,” adds Maria.

She believes music is dynamic and keeps evolving each year. With so much talent in the industry, and so many sub genres getting added to the EDM umbrella, choosing the right set of tracks for the night is something that challenges her. “If your crowd is happy with the music you produce or play, your night is a successful one,” she adds.

For her, it’s all about building a musical journey for her audiences and expressing the energy on the dance floor. “I’ve given myself a good 18 months to understand and learn different styles of music and to understand my audience. My next venture would be to start music production soon, which is in pipeline for 2017,” she shares. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

SEPTEMBER 3-9, 2016 PUNE

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COMFORTABLE & CHIC

TGS LIFE SEPTEMBER 3-9, 2016 PUNE

SHOPPING

Interior Designing student, 22-year-old Priyanka Kar, picks five outfits from her wardrobe to show you how to look chic on your casual day out without compromising on your level of comfort

Ă€ La Mode

Simple to look at but stylish this beige shorts and white loose top combination is a must-have. It goes well with both converse and flats depending on where you are headed.

Top: Forever 21, Rs 1,200 Shorts: Colaba Causeway, Rs 750

Best in blue

This dress is sure to get some attention no matter where you wear it. For a more formal outing you could pair it with a simple watch and stud earrings.

Dress: Lokhandwala, Rs 1,800

PICS BY TEJAS GAIKWAD

Soothing White

This simple white floral crop top and shorts is the perfect way to turn heads. It does not need you to accesorise much and works for any kind of outing Crop Top: Colaba Causeway, Rs 700 Shorts: Zara, Rs 1800

All Black

Skater Dress

Keeping it short and sweet this black floral skater dress spells comfort, style and oomph all wrapped in one.

Pair it with a sling bag and remmeber not to over accesorize Dress: Forever 21, Rs 1,700

— Compiled by Salonee Mistry

Something that will always been in trend, wearing an all black ensemble can never go wrong.

This crop top and skinny jeans is ideal for almost any and every kind of plan Crop Top: Zara, Rs 1,900 Jeans: Zara, Rs 1,500

TGS LIFE

‘I wanted to join the military’

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RAHUL RAUT

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andurang Pawar was in the fourth grade when he had to stop going to school and help financially to run the household.

Owing to the conditions his family was in, he never got the opportunity to study ahead which is the one thing he had always dreamt of doing. A son of a factory worker turned farmer, his father had to return back to his village near Mulshi when the cloth mill in Mumbai shut down. In 1972 Pandurang moved to Mumbai to learn some skills and joined a class that taught him to work with the sewing machine.

To pay for his class and make ends meet he did innumerable other odd jobs and even worked as a labourer for a while.

SEPTEMBER 3-9, 2016

uneka r

“When I was a kid I wanted to join the military. I would hear people talk about the army men with so much pride that I wanted it for me too. My only regret in life is that I had to drop out of school

and had to give up on the education that would have got me a job in the army,” he tells us. After Mumbai he lived in Lonavala for a while and then moved to Pune. He bought a small sewing machine and sat

City celeb chat

Name: Zoya Afroz Profession: Actor Three words to describe me: Strong, passionate and a go-getter I love my job because: It makes me happy and it’s all I know Best advice I’ve received: Take chances and always be yourself no matter what When buying something, the first thing that catches my eye is: If it’s my style, I buy it immediately What’s your inner animal? Tiger The first thing you notice about an attractive person: Their personality and also their eyes because you can see one’s sincerity in them The perfect start to a day is: Black coffee and work Your current four-wheeler : Swift -it was gifted by my dad when I turned 18 Your fitness regimen: Pilates, dance classes and healthy food.

Your food indulgence: Any chocolate dessert.

Books by your bedside: I love reading books that are encouraging and push you to do the best. In fiction I like The Alchemist, and The Winner Stands Alone by Paulo Coelho The first site you visit when you fire up your comp: YouTube or Facebook as I love connecting with my fans Your favourite city: The one which fulfilled my dream- Mumbai Ideal holiday: I would love to explore Venice, Spain, Greece

As told to Zainab Kantawala

outside a shop on the footpath under an umbrella waiting for someone to give him something to stitch or alter. By now his family had got him married and his wife too did odd jobs to ensure that they both had at

least one meal a day.

His patience and hard-work paid off soon enough as his clientele increased. He earned enough to manage his house and keep aside a little to expand his business. About six years ago in 2010, he opened a shop in Kothrud, called Pawar Tailors. He is happy and contented with his work now. “During tougher times the one thing I made sure to do was educate my two sons. One now works at the General Motors while the other is a civil engineer.

I wanted them to join the army but the rest of my family wasn’t onboard with the idea,” he says. Retirement is a long way in the future for this 52-year-old man. He wants to always continue to work since it makes him happy and has made him what he is today.

— As told to Salonee Mistry

MAKE UP TRICKS FOR EVERY WOMAN TO FOLLOW

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woman’s makeup kit is one of balm, nothing too glossy. her most prized possessions. · You want to create a primed, hydrated But if you’re a beginner it’s lip rather than a slick, too-shiny surface. best to start So it’s good to blot lips with a clean tissue with a simple before you apply lip colour. This way, you lipstick and work start with a great clean base. your way up to · Have you ever wondered if two bright a professional shades go together? You could mix an level. Here are orange with a pink to create a beautiful some suggestions coral lip or take a nude lip and add a pop by make up Bhavika Gundesha of pink to make it a pinky nude. You can professional even apply both lip colours directly to Bhavika Gundesha, who guides us my lips and dab them with the pad to get that perfect look. of my ring finger to blend. · Lipstick shades like Pinks, · When it comes to your STYLE plums, berries, browns, makeup, don’t be afraid burgundies, nudes are a to be an artist and GURU must have in every woman’s experiment. In other words, makeup bags. be brave, be bold. The most fun · First, make sure your lips look their you can have with mixing lipsticks best before you go all crazy with a new is to combine two colours that are very signature colour. Prep lips with a matte different from each other.

TGS LIFE SEPTEMBER 3-9, 2016 PUNE

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BUZZ

PEOPLE FORGET CELEBRITIES ARE ALSO HUMAN BEINGS

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crutiny is the part and parcel of being famous but actress Jacqueline Fernandez says things become ridiculous at times as people sometimes forget that even celebrities are humans.

The Dishoom actress said the stars are expected to be proper always, which is a bit too much as they can also have bad days. "People at times don't realise that even we are human beings," Jacqueline said.

The actress, who came from Sri Lanka to find success in Bollywood, said during her initial days in the industry, the judgments people passed on her would disturb her. "If you allow the scrutiny to take a toll on you," she said.

With A Flying Jatt being her last release of the year, the actress is now busy filming Raj and DK's untitled project with Sidharth Malhotra. She is also doing a Dharma project which stars Sushant Singh Rajput as lead.

FAILURE MORE SPECIAL THAN SUCCESS

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mraan Hashmi has had a string of box office flops lately, but the actor says he values failures much more than the hits because they have made him grow in his career.

The 37-year-old actor said he takes responsibility of all his films that didn't work, but they haven't negatively affected him. "There have been films that have been unsuccessful at the box office but that doesn't deter me. I feel if I go back in

AKIRA CAME AT THE RIGHT TIME OF MY CAREER

time and select the scripts, I would still select those films for reasons that I felt they were good. Sometimes you go wrong. That's what filmmaking is.

You have to take a chance," Emraan said. "I hold my debacles closer to me than my successful films. It helps me grow, I am clearer after doing these films. I would never disown or shun it. At the same time I will take full responsibility of those films."

The Azhar actor feels low career phase is the testing time for any actor and how ones deals with it shows his/ her strength.

"For an actor you have to be able to take the lows more than the highs.

That's the testing time. When you are in those low phases, how you get back and the selection of films..."

Emraan is looking forward to the release of his next, Raaz Reboot, which is the fourth installment of the Raaz franchise. The actor has been part of previous two films of the series. "Raaz is a genre that I understand. I like horror films. I felt Vikram (Bhatt, the director) can handle this genre very well. A lot of people came to me and said they don't watch horror films but they still like Raaz. I felt that the movie goes beyond fear. It has a love story, relationship, music," he said. Also starring Gaurav Arora and debutante Kirti Kharbanda, Raaz Reboot is set to arrive in theatres on September 16.

onakshi Sinha will be seen packing punches and doing hardcore action sequences in her upcoming Akira and the actress says the film came at the right time in her career as she wanted to push her limits as a performer. The action-thriller is directed by A R Murugadoss, who is known for his commercial potboilers, starring leading actors.

The 29-year-old actress says she is overwhelmed that she got a chance to become the Ghajini helmer's first leading lady as he has never made a film with a female protagonist before.

Akira pushed me in lot of ways that I have not been pushed before. It has been very challenging and it has been a fantastic experience. I'm really happy that it came to me at this point of time in my life and career when I was looking to do something like that," Sonakshi told PTI in an interview.

The actress says Murugadoss thought she would fit the role of Akira Sharma during the making of 2014 Akshay Kumar starrer Holiday. n"With Holiday, I got a chance to work with Murugadoss sir, who saw the spark in me to cast in Akira. He is the man who has worked with one of the top action stars of our country. He has never made a film with female protagonist before. He approached me for that and I felt really honoured."

"It has a lot of shades and it was very challenging for me to portray such a character."

When asked if now she is only interested to play female-oriented characters, Sonakshi says it is only by chance that she is getting such roles. "It is happening by chance that I'm doing Akira and then 'Noor'. The audience is opening up to these kinds of films. They like to see something different. I only look at how good the character is and how badly I want to play. So, for me these are really good roles and that is why I have taken

them up." Sonakshi's last release was Tevar which hit theatres in early 2015 and the actress says she may have been absent from the big screen but she was shooting back-to-back films. "I was shooting. I was working for Akira because the shoot went on for a while then I started Force 2 and then Noor happened."

PTI

Being straightforward backfires: Ileana D'Cruz

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ctress Ileana D'Cruz says being straightforward has always landed her in trouble. The 28-year-old Rustom actress said she has been misquoted a lot of times but it's tough for her to fake.

"I have been told that I am too straightforward. But that's me. What you see is what you get with me. All that sweet talk doesn't work. I have been misquoted a lot of times due to my straightforward nature. Being straightforward tends to backfires a lot of times," Ileana said. The actress feels social media is one place where things go berserk, but still she prefers to be her real-self on the platform. "Social media makes things tough a lot of times. People just misunderstand. But I guess that's what social media is for.

I would rather be me and have people misunderstand me than being a plastic.

I am not asking anyone to like me or hate me. I don't disrespect anybody. I would be the last person to pick a fight with someone."

On work front, the actress has signed on to star in Baadshaho and will start filming in November.