ISSUE 6
…Sup?
Editor’s Note Hello, How is it going? How is life? I don’t know, man. How else can one start a candid-ish note? This issue, like everrrrry other issue, is quite special. This one, possibly more than the others, because it’s got interviews with all these really cool musicians and features all these reaaaally cool people. All of them, I’ve been a fan of for a while. It’s quite special for me, at least. I couldn’t really fathom it at first, when they agreed to be a part of this. when you follow someone’s work for a while, they turn very star-like in your eyes. Needless to say, I am insanely star-struck.
As for life, it’s been a hell of a ride. But has it, really? I say this every time and so, naturally, I’m growing quite weary of it. Life is life, man. It’s a series of moments where you meet people who voluntarily prefer not to use correct grammar or punctuation. It’s a tough life. It is, it is.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this issue and forgive me for the lack of high quality journalism. It’s completely on me.
Godspeed, you. Zarah Noorani, Editor-in-Chief, The Open Close Magazine.
contents An interview with Saachi Illustrations by Rohan Zaware Ashby Photographs by Hrithik Mahajan Poetry by Rohan Mehta An interview with Last Minute ‘Treat Yourself’- Aman Nerula
ASHBY 2015, Written/Directed by Tony McNamara. A movie that probably came out for us to watch a moderately long time ago, or perhaps recently. That, of course, holds no significance right now as much as the quality of the film does. Having just watched it on Netflix a few minutes ago, the scenes and their impact is still fresh in my mind. However, something tells me that this film is one that persistently leaves that imprint in you for a long time. Steering a little off topic, but I enjoy watching films particularly for the influence it has on me. I call it the aftermath of a good film. You know how watching a film with absolute concentration can really… change your life? This is one of those. Yeah, those. Ashby is a film about, you guessed it, a man named Ashby. Moreover, an OLD man named Ashby. Come to think about it, the storyline is founded on very generic terms. New kid on the block meets old neighbour with cool stories and eventually learns a thing or two from the man before he, in most cases (also cuz, well, old…), passes away. This one struck out SOLELY because of the little things. Written by Tony McNamara, he truly captures the essence of a desperately avoidable wasted youth, and amends. A lot of fucking amends. In the best way possible, though. When I say that the beauty of this film lies in the little things, I mean those details are so incredibly prominent even to an idiot! I DARE you to miss them. Ashby is a retired CIA-hired assassin. It looks very cool and all from the surface, but the writer takes you within, to see what internal turmoil one faces when they kill, say, 93 people in one lifetime. Also, diagnosed with a terminal illness that leaves him with only 3 months to live. Ed Wallis comes off as that ordinary hormone charged, angst filled, history crazed smart kid. Ed comes from what seems like a very simple, loving home and seems to be doing ok at school as well. One day, for his English assignment, he’s told to write an essay based on an old person’s life. This is where Ashby enters the kid’s world. They talk, he starts driving him around, Ed learns of Ashby’s concealed secret. As he begins to settle in the new school, one that has been deemed the best for its historical importance in the American football world, he decides on trying out for the football team. Once he tries out and gets in, he discovers a whole new side of the clique loving high school experience. He was now the jock that everyone loved. Meanwhile, Eloise catches his fancy. A smart, quick witted, brain fascinated (quite literally) four eyed girl from school. Ashby has a lot of secrets buried, as he should, having lead a life like his. He discovers that one of the 93 people he killed while on the job was innocent and was killed not because he was a threat to national security, but to his fellow assassins’ incomes. Ashby, more than anything, wanted to make amends and right the wrongs. He took it upon himself to avenge the man’s death by killing those who caused it. Due to the illicit killings, word got out that he’s been seen back on the field and eventually has to get executed. During Ashby’s last days, Ed and he grew quite close and Ashby taught Ed lessons that he may never forget. It was his actions, their time together and consequences that really make the ending of the film so hard-hitting. What’s so emotional about a stupid film character getting shot in the head, some may ask. Well, it’s the little things that really do it.
Photographs by Hrithik Mahajan
A special segment, featuring a little recipe for pure goodness. Made by Aman Nerula.
White Chocolate Pineapple Cheesecake Ingredients: For Base: 2 packets of buttered biscuits, coarsely crushed 50gm of Butter, melted 20 gms of Sugar, granulated
For Batter:
200gm Pineapple 200ml Whipped Cream 200gm White Chocolate 200gm Cream cheese
Procedure: Prepare the base by coarsely grinding your biscuits. Add the sugar and butter and mix them together. The desirable consistency is when the mixture holds it's shape when moulded. Add this to the cheesecake mould and press down on all sides using fingers and a spoon. Make sure it's tightly packed. Put this in the freezer for 5-10 minutes.
20gm Sugar, granulated 10ml Milk A pinch or Saffron 5 tsp Gelatine 20 ml Water
Heat the milk and add the Saffron and let it dissolve. Prepare your whipped cream and keep it in the refrigerator. Take the pineapples and chop them into small cubes. If you're using a fresh pineapple, make sure you fully remove the core. You can also use canned pineapple but it's advised to use the fresh ones. Take most of your pineapple and grind them in a food processor or grinder. Keep a few pieces aside for later use. Take your cream cheese and whisk it till it's smooth and airy. Add the pineapple puree to this and the sugar and mix them. Prepare your gelatine by mixing the gelatine granules or powder into cold water. Dissolve the gelatine by heating the mixture in the microwave 15 seconds at a time till you have a clear mixture with the consistency of diluted honey. Add 5 ml more water if the mixture is too thick. Mix this with the gelatine with pineapple cream cheese mixture. Prepare your white chocolate by first melting it in a double boiler, and then letting it come to slightly warmer than room temperature. Gently mix the chocolate, the pineapple mixture and the Saffron milk together. You should get a smooth golden coloured mixture. Fold the whipped cream into this mixture in three parts so as to not lose any fluffiness. Gently pour this mixture into the cheesecake mould. Add the pieces of pineapple retained and mix them in. Smoothen the top and put in the refrigerator for 4-5 hour. Take out the cheesecake and slice with a heated knife. Enjoy!