CHENNAI’S LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
May’10
Volume 2 | Issue 1
tete-à-tete with
Priyamani Devil D’loads Online music piracy Trash the Ash Say No to Tobacco
Kingfisher Queen:
Himarsha Venkatsamy
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2 TAXI May 2010
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Publishing Services
Volume 2 | Issue 1 | May ‘10 LENIN PAUL FOUNDER
VIJETHA RANGABASHYAM EDITOR IN CHIEF
AYESHA NIZAM EDITOR
KARTHIK.R CREATIVE AND DESIGN HEAD
NANDITA THOMAS MARKETING
REBECCA FERNANDEZ PUBLIC RELATIONS
JERALD W. ADMIN
SIMRAN NICHANI | RIBA HAROON | JINAL PATEL AKSHATA G.J EDITORIAL DESK
ASHOK RAJ C.U PHOTOGRAPHY
SRIKALS GRAPHICS PVT LIMITED, CHENNAI PHONE: 044 2225 3092-94 PRINTING
EMAIL: marketing@thetaximag.com URL: www.thetaximag.com PHONE: 044 4308 4448 FOR ADVERTISING
IRON QUILL PUBLISHING SERVICES PRODUCTION 6 TAXI May 2010
Letter Editor-in-Chief ’s
Taxi is a milestone in ever so many ways. A fledgling venture, it has been brave enough to constantly UHLQYHQW DQG H[SHULPHQW 1RZ ZHÂśYH FRPH WR D PXFK DZDLWHG MXQFWXUH ă 7KH )LUVW $QQLYHUVDU\ Issue. We ploughed on and charged forward like a bunch of angry bulls and churned out Taxi every month to give you the best possible magazine in every aspect. We never looked back. We just kept going and before we knew it, a year had gone by. Twelve months, twelve issues and here we are. In a nutshell, Taxi has lived up to its promise by completing its very first anniversary issue. In the last twelve months, we’ve showcased the multiple facets of Indian fashion and lifestyle. Taxi has also featured some of Chennai’s ace photographers who have captured this city’s aura in the best possible way. There isn’t a modicum of doubt in the fact that Taxi has become a trendsetter by itself. It makes me proud to say that TAXI has grown so much from where it was. The flood of emails, texts, verbal and vocal comments about the magazine was overwhelming. It has made us realise the potential, this magazine has in Chennai. And that was all it took to keep the carnival going and work towards the furtherance of TAXI. This magazine has worked with an array of luxury brands. Be it a clothing line for a high fashion shoot or a high end apartment review, Taxi’s objective has been to enlighten people with the city’s happenings in an exceptional manner. Taxi has also brought to light the existence of umpteen number of hangouts, getaways, personalities, entertainment and more. Coming back to this anniversary issue, you might bump into several changes while flipping through the pages. We’ve managed to put together a variety of content to keep you glued to the magazine. I wouldn’t be exaggerating a bit if I said that the entire design of this issue, starting from the first page till the last, is simply poetic. There are many people I want to thank for the phenomenal growth of this magazine. One of whom, is you, the avid Taxi reader. We definitely owe the biggest debt of gratitude to you. At the end of the day it is you who matters the most to us. You are the ultimate recipient of our magazine and therefore the central barometer of how good or bad we are. Your resounding acceptance of our magazine is explicit through the collective comments we’ve received over the last one year. I’m more than honoured to present you an all new Taxi, which has unprecedented ideas showcased through great words, supreme design and brilliant photography. I hope you revel in it as much as we did when we were creating it for you. Happy Birthday Taxi! I’d ask you to make a wish, but it already came true.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CAN BE SENT TO vijetha@thetaximag.com Vijetha Rangabashyam Editor in Chief
7+( %(67 )(('%$&. 23,1,21 :,// %( )($785(' ,1 285 )257+&20,1* ,668( May 2010 TAXI 7
16 8 TAXI May 2010
20
26
40
Contents The Leading Lady
16
Kicking the butt
20
Peppy @ Page 3
32
Mom and I
40
American Charm
44
Heavenly Abode
46
Just Fabulous
50
Devil downloads
56
JUNK IN THE TRUNK Gadgets this season
58
CHENNAI’S LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
May’10
Volume 2 | Issue 1
COVER: Venue: The Rowing Centre, Koovathur Photography: Sunder Ramu Hair & Make-up: Page 3 Model: Himarsha Venkatasamy Stylist: Vira Shah Costume & Jewellery: Amethyst
tete-à-tete with
Priyamani Devil D’loads Online music piracy Trash the Ash Say No to Tobacco
Kingfisher Queen:
Himarsha Venkatsamy
FIR
ST
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SA
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May 2010 TAXI 9
Happy Birthday TAXI 9$5$/$.6+0, 6$5$7+.80$5 Both the photo shoots were a lot of fun as I had to work with spanners and other such equipment! I am a regular follower of the magazine and I am very happy to see the magazine come such a long way. The covers keep getting better every month! Keep up the good job guys and I hope you have many more anniversaries to come!
BINDYA DEVI Congratulations to the entire team. I’m proud to be a part of this magazine and better yet on the cover of the launch issue. I wish you guys all the very best and hope you have many more successful years ahead. $32259$ 9,6+:$1$7+$1
SAROJINI
Taxi has been one of the easiest groups to work with and the experience was great! The shoot was modern, different and a lot of fun with amazing outfits and make up. Hoping to work in more shoots like that and wishing you guys many more anniversaries to come! Love, Apoorva.
It was a lot of fun workin g with TAXI because the team is young and ideas are so innovative. Stay young, keep rocking and hearty congrats on your 1st anniversary!!
35,<$ 1$<$. Congratulations on your first anniversary! I think Taxi is an extremely fashionable magazine with great potential and interesting news. I really enjoyed working with the team. Everyone was extremely sweet and friendly. I am really glad to be a part of Taxi and I look forward to working with you guys again!
CHENNAI’S LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
OCTOBER 09 | VOL 1 ISSUE 6
Boutique Review:
Amethyst
35,<$ $1$1' Park Here
I‘d like to congratulate Taxi on their anniversary and I am excited that I was a part of it.Taxi was my first cover ever as an actress so it will always remain special to me! Go Taxi! 10 TAXI May 2010
Havana
Road Trip
Green Meadows
CHENNAI’S LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
CHENNAI’S LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
1(+$5,.$ 1$*
DECEMBER 09 | VOL 1 ISSUE 8
NOVEMBER 09 | VOL 1 ISSUE 7
Wardrobe fever
Park yourself at
Charmed Sophisticate
Sheraton The trail of a saint
Boutique Review:
Nalli Next
a Workin g with the tea m of TAXI was ld fun and a pleasant experience. I wou sary iver like to con gratulate Taxi on its ann and wish them all the best in the upcoming years. The covers of Taxi are stunning and just keep getting better.
St.Thomas
Killing civilians made fun??
Park Here
Dublin
Modern Warfare 2
The other side to
Hemang Badani
Hotel Review
The Residency
CHENNAI’S LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
JANUARY 10 | VOL 1 ISSUE 9
ADITI SHAH Con grats on one year! Workin g with Sunder and the Taxi tea m was a wonderful experience. All the best for the future!
CHENNAI’S LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
n o s t a r g n Co turning
1
FEBRUARY 10 | VOL 1 ISSUE 10
Fashionistas’ Paradise
CIFW ‘09 Who is
Chef Willi?
Love bites
Do us part
Aphrodisiacs
Lunch with
What was, is and will be
Chetan Bhagat
Here’s 2010
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Shootin g with TAXI was a great exp
Shooting for TAXI happened very unexpectedly. All said and done, it was a brilliant experience. Keep the good work going Taxi! Happy one year anniversary!
erience.
So fun filled!!! So innovative!! h time!! Like Wine, Taxi is getting awesome wit Happy Birthda y to you! GO TAXI !!
Sparkling in
Diamonds Romancing
RED Style Statement
Rus in Urbe
35$'+$<,1, 6$5927+$0$1 CHENNAI’S LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
CHENNAI’S LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
APRIL 10 | VOL 1 ISSUE 12
MARCH 10 | VOL 1 ISSUE 11
$18-$ ,<(5 Being my first cover page shoot for a fashion magazine, TAXI will always be close to my heart. Like a first love, first kiss, first award and the first snowdrop, the first anniversary is extremely special and is a moment to cherish. Here’s wishing the entire team at TAXI a very happy first anniversary, and many more successful ones to come.
100 ways to fall Discover the Emerald isle:
Sri Lanka
Gotcha Time!
Celebrities
speak: Summer Getaway
in love with Summer Style Garage
Denim&Demin
Who I am:
Gita Arjun Cooking for ‘idli’ Brains Slaying
Sixers Colour me
Blind
TAXI: The only way to discover new people, places, products and pretty things in the city without paying a penny! Happy Birthday Taxi, keep driving.
May 2010 TAXI 11
TEAM
Behind every venture is a successful driver. Whether it’s up the wall or towards success, our Founder Lenin Paul is the key force in driving the Team to where it stands today! He truly believes that the sky is not the limit and targets on making Taxi one of the finest publications in the country.
Lenin Paul Founder Nandita Thomas, the smart chirpy 20-something, is more passionate about lifestyle than she is given credit for. An ardent music lover, who keeps us amused with her animated ways, our Marketing Head is very dynamic in working hard towards building the magazine.
Nandita Thomas Marketing Head What really goes on in the mind of a writer? With Vijetha Rangabashyam, we don’t think we’ll ever know! With the imagination of a true dreamer, our Editor-in-Chief is a bundle of nerves, but is lovable all the same. She has a way with words, and would sell her soul to stay doing what she does best.
Vijetha Rangabashyam Editor in Chief Karthik R. Chief Designer He may look small and quiet, but don’t underestimate Karthik R.’s power of design! Passionate and committed, he combines thought and process to come up with something of substance. Our energetic Designer also shares a love for music, and can get quite competitive at foosball!
Ashok Raj C.U Photographer There is never a dull moment with Ashok Raj C.U. around! Our enthusiastic and entertaining Photographer keeps us on our toes with his crazy stories and is famous for his awful jokes! His passion for photography is immeasurable, and his work steals the limelight every time. 12 TAXI May 2010
TAXI
A poser by habit, and a talented singer, our very own Rebecca Fernandez is fun-loving and crazy. Vivacious and bubbly with an eye for detail, she is the perfect candidate for the job. Her affable attitude towards anything and everything makes it hard not to love her!
Rebecca Fernandez Public Relations This Pretty Young Thing takes Taxi’s style quotient to an entirely new level. Charismatic, amiable and surprisingly camera shy, Vira Shah is dedicated, proactive and redefines the word chic! As Taxi’s Stylist, she has proved to be anything but ordinary.
Vira Shah Stylist
First impressions aren’t ever enough! Jerald Wesley is full of surprises. A dedicated member of the team, Jerald works hard and puts up with the temper tantrums of us all! A sports fanatic at heart, he spends most of his free time on the field.
Jerald Wesley Admin Wasantha Make-Up Artist The transformation of the oh-so-plain girl-next-door to the glamour queen is a walk in the park for Wasantha. Our Hair and Make-Up Artist can be quite the perfectionist! Bright and charming, Wasantha surprises us every time with dedication and finesse.
Ayesha Nizam Editor What do you get with a mind of an engineer and the soul of a writer? The perfect fusion of technical and creative writing – that’s Ayesha Nizam for you in a nutshell. Inspired by song-writing and driven by her imagination, the work of our new Editor is something to check out. May 2010 TAXI 13
The TAXI crew on the other side of the lens for the first time! Photography takes a different form with Sunder Ramu. Our Cover Photographer is a riot on the set and even off it, with his crazy humour that makes even the most camera-shy person comfortable. His conceptualization is out of this world, and to top it off heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a truckload of fun!
14 TAXI May 2010
The
Lady
eading
16 TAXI May 2010
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he’s amicable. She can talk all day. Her voice is no less expressive than her eyes. Acting comes to her so naturally and she’s got several awards to her credit. She’s known for working with some of the stalwarts in the Indian film industry. Actress Priyamani converses with Vijetha Rangabashyam about her current projects, the Indian film industry, her life and more. Vijetha Rangabashyam: Priya, How are you?
Hi
National Award. I still remember my dad waking me up at 6:30 in the morning and the manner in which he woke me up, believe you me, I thought something had happened to my grand mom. Then he goes “you won the National Award!” and gives me a big hug. I just said okay and tried going back to sleep. My eyes were shut but it was impossible for me to go back to sleep again. People from all over India were calling me and I couldn’t get rid of the phone for the next three days. VR: Do you think you are born to do this? PM: I don’t know actually. When I started out, I didn’t get many offers. I sat at home for six whole months doing nothing.
Priyamani: I’ve been good, thank you. Vijetha Rangabashyam: shall we start our chit chat?
So,
Priyamani: Absolutely. VR: Tell us a little about your ongoing projects. PM: I finished a Telugu movie ‘Goli Mar’ directed by Puri Jaganathan. It‘s the first time I gave my own voice for the character in the Telugu industry. Of course, I am thoroughly excited about Mani sir’s ‘Raavan’, which is due this June. Again, I’ve entirely dubbed for my character both in Hindi and Tamil. I have two projects at hand right now. Ram Gopal Varma’s ‘Rakta Charitra’, which I am proud to be a part of, considering it’s a trilingual movie and I’m working with a few legendary actors from the Indian film fraternity. I also have a Kanada project in the pipeline, ‘Yedo Ondara’, which is basically a remake of Kushi in Tamil. VR: Wow, you sure have your hands full. Priya, I can’t not ask you about the National Award winning experience. PM: (Long pause) What can I say? To be honest, at times, I still can’t believe that I won a
0DQL VLU LV DQ institution on his own. I would love to work with him again Yes, I used to undertake a few modeling projects and ads now and then but nothing else. I even used to wonder if I was cut out for this. And then Paruthiveeran happened (smiles). VR: The inevitable question; how was it working with Maniratnam and the ‘star couple’? PM: I don’t share any scene with Aishwarya. In fact, I haven’t seen her on the sets either. But I did work with Abhishek and oh my god, he is a fab actor! From the minute the cameraman says action till the end, he transforms into the character and post that he is a different person all together. It is a pleasure watching him act. In the sets, he is so chilled out and talks to everyone.
There was never a dull moment with him on the sets. I feel very fortunate to have worked with Mani sir. You can’t deny the fact that every actor wants to work with him at some point. His on the spot corrections, narrations and unbelievable precision when it comes to what the character exactly entails of, are unmatchable. He is an institution on his own and I would love to work with him again. VR: I know I won’t get much, but I’m trying my luck here. Could you give me a little sneak peak about your role in Raavan? PM: (giggles) I can’t give you a sneak peak either. It is really for the audience to watch and revel in. All I can say is that it is a brilliant character and a performance based role. VR: You’ve worked with Bharathiraja, Balu Mahendra, and Maniratnam; the three living legends of Tamil film industry. How different are they from one another? PM: Bharathiraja sir is my guru who introduced me to the film industry. He in fact was the one who taught me how to act. He used to enact the scenes and all we had to was emulate him. Balu sir is another mentor. He is more like a father figure to me as he always called me his daughter. He won’t enact the scenes but he will read it out in such a way that you’ll know the scene at the back of your hand. With Mani sir, he gives you plenty of room for improvisation. He just lets you be. It makes your character and the scene fantastic! VR: Let’s deviate a little bit. What can I find Priya wearing most of the times? PM: I’m very comfortable in shorts or tracks with a t-shirt. If I’m out with friends then I’m always in a pair of Jeans with a nice casual top. May 2010 TAXI 17
VR: I heard Vidya Balan is your cousin. Are you guys close? PM: Yes, she is my second cousin. I haven’t spoken to her till date, although, I’m in touch with her dad. My grand mom is the oldest living person of that generation and he calls to check on her. When I was in Bombay working for Ram Gopal Varma, I called him and asked him to drop by. But Vidya and I haven’t been in touch. VR: If Tamil Cinema lacks one thing that Bollywood doesn’t and vice versa, what would it be? PM: What Tamil cinema lacks is probably the market and the budget. Movies like “My Name is Khan”, have been shot abroad extensively, focusing on a wide range of audience. But down here, if the movie is shot abroad with a few English dialogues, only the A segment relates to the movie. In Bollywood, shoots are a lot more relaxed and laid back. Here, work starts early, which is a good thing. This is the one thing I realized after working with Maniratnam and Ram Gopal Varma. VR: You like dancing? Any particular dance form you love? PM: I love dancing. Any form for that matter. From dapankuthu to salsa, any beat you give me I’d love dancing for it. VR: Are you a foodie? PM: Yes, I love to eat. From South Indian to Chat, I am always ready to try something new, but I keep a watch on what I eat. VR: One thing you like about yourself PM: I think it’s my friendly nature. I’m an extrovert. I love to talk and make friends. VR: Would you like to say anything to Taxi on its completion of one year? PM: You guys are doing a great job! Keep the good work going and I wish you many more anniversaries ahead. 18 TAXI May 2010
Photography Srinivasan Karthik www.hungrytiger.in
May 2010 TAXI 19
- Ayesha Nizam
Picture this: There was chaos everywhere, nurses running back and forth, X- rays scattered randomly, someone dying in a corner and some baby being born in an OR. Ravi sat dumbstruck like a frozen rock in front of the doctorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s table. Though he knew all about the horrible side effects of smoking (just like you and me), he could not give it up as he enjoyed it so much. He was too optimistic. He always thought cancer and impotency were diseases too big for him. And he was right. Though he smoked at least a dozen cigarettes every day, he was not the one who got affected. However, it was his baby who was born deformed.
20 TAXI May 2010
Y
ou’ve heard all about the diseases caused due to smoking. The heart diseases, cardiovascular diseases, lung diseases, respiratory problems, problems related to kidneys, liver and pancreas and last but not least, cancer. The question is, why do we always talk about the smoker and the effects of smoking on him? Why not about their families and relatives who are, in fact, even more affected by this horrendous habit? Here at Taxi, that’s exactly what we did. We spoke to real life victims who got affected because their partner, son or friend did not kick the butt. The stories are so disturbing that it left usin shock. Our first story is about Nidhi, a 38 year old widow. It was the early morning of February 25th when her only son, Sanjay, passed away as a victim of throat cancer. Nidhi could remember the infinite number of times she stopped Sanjay from chewing tobacco, right from the young age of 12. Aside from his addiction to nicotine, he didn’t drink, he didn’t smoke, he took excellent care of his body, watched his diet, worked out and ran five miles a day, throughout the year. But what started out as an experiment with friends soon became an addiction. By the age of 18, it was very rare to find Sanjay without a dip in his mouth. He would come up with unreasonable excuses each time he was questioned by his mom. In the end, Nidhi simply dropped the subject. It was just one month before Sanjay’s board exams, when Nidhi got the shock of her life. She spotted an ugly sore on her son’s tongue. Being a registered nurse by profession, she could feel her heart sink. She rushed her son to the nearby hospital where the doctor took one glance at the deep red spot, with a hard white core, and declared that it did not look good and a biopsy had to be done immediately. So, on May 16th the surgery was performed and a large amount of Sanjay’s tongue had been removed, even more than he anticipated. But that was not the end. Things got worse when the biopsy results came and Sanjay’s tumor tested positive for cancer. Nidhi, being a single mom, was devastated. She prayed continuously and wept till her eyes began to ache. Arrangements were made for Sanjay to consult a radiation specialist but even before the therapy began, a freshly swollen nymph node was found in Sanjay’s throat. Clearly the cancer was spreading and the next step that had to be taken was a radical neck surgery. Though Nidhi was weak and completely torn apart, she did not give up on Sanjay. She had the heart of a warrior and the agony of a mom. Though knee deep in debt, she took Sanjay to one of the best cancer specialists in the city, who recommended the severest option: removing the lower jaw on the right side, as well as all lymph nodes, muscles and blood vessels except for his artery. There might be some sinking, he explained, but the chin would support the general planes of the face. It was at this point when Nidhi could not take it anymore. The pain was unbearable. Her 18 year old son was going to have a disfigured face, and she was paying a humungous amount for it to be done. By the month of August, with five weeks of healing and radiation therapy behind him, Nidhi smiled at Sanjay, plainly happy that he was alive, trying to ignore the huge scar that ran like a railway track from his earlobe down to his breastbone. The doctors declared that with his superb physical condition, fighting completely against cancer could be possible. After all the endless suffering, Nidhi found a faint ray of hope, but not for long. By the month of October, Sanjay started having frequent headaches. A CAT scan May 2010 TAXI 21
showed twin tentacles of fresh malignancy, one snaking down his back, the other curling under the base of his brain. In November, Sanjay underwent surgery for the third time, which went on for ten hours straight. Nidhi sat outside the operation theatre praying nonstop. After the traumatizing ten hours, Sanjay had four huge drains coming from a foot long crescent wound, a breathing tube sticking out of a hole in his throat, a feeding tube through his nose, and two tubes in his arm veins. It
legacy is in having his story spread and hopefully keeping other kids from dying. Though Sanjay went through a frightful amount of pain and grief before dying, his mom is still suffering the consequences. Apart from being completely in debt, she is painfully lonely, as her only son, the apple of her eye, died an agonizing death because of tobacco chewing.
was the most dreadful sight Nidhi had ever seen. As days passed, Sanjay’s situation kept getting worse. By January, new lumps were discovered on the left side of his cheek. While speaking to the doctor over the phone, Nidhi could already predict the results of the biopsy. The end was nearing, and as it did, so was the awful pain of losing her son. Even on his death bed, Sanjay told his mom that he craved chewing on tobacco. He even told Nidhi that there must be a reason God decided not to save him. On the morning of 25th February, at the age of nineteen, Sanjay exhaled his last breath.
couple who everyone envied. He was the smart looking, tall, dark and handsome kind and she was the doll faced diva. Life was too perfect. The only imperfection was that Deepa was a chain smoker. She started out as a social smoker due to peer pressure in her school hostel, in order to flaunt the “cool” quotient. Days turned into months and months into years and before she even realized it, she was smoking at least a pack per day. Harsh tried his best to make her quit but all efforts went in vain. He loved her way too much and could not let the tiny tobacco rolls ruin what they had. He tried nicotine patches and electronic cigarettes but nothing worked. Luckily, he
Today, Nidhi believes that Sanjay’s 22 TAXI May 2010
Our second story is about Harsh and Deepa who were college sweethearts. They were the perfect
did not get into the lousy habit. Days became merrier when they got married and even more joyous when Deepa announced her pregnancy. Then came the hardest part. Since the pregnancy was not planned, Deepa had no buffer time to quit smoking. It had to be stopped over night which was close to impossible for her. Harsh did not give up. He started talking about the wellness of the baby and tried hypnotizing her by talking about their future as a family. And it worked. For about a month,
Deepa stayed away from smoking as she wanted a healthy baby. But one night, during her second month of pregnancy, she could not take it anymore. Her throat began to hurt and she couldn’t breathe properly because the air felt heavy. With trembling fingers, she reached out to the top shelf of the cupboard, and took out an old pack of cigarettes. She hurried up to the balcony and lit one up for herself, as she peeped through the window to make sure Harsh was asleep. Surprisingly, she did not feel guilty because she considered that cigarette as an award for not smoking for a month. She felt she deserved it. But depressingly, it did not stop with one. She started
Deepa he fell in love with. He looked at the pack of cigarettes in the drawer and started gritting his teeth in anger thinking how easy it was for Deepa to give into temptation and not think of the people she was affecting in return. He was ashamed of her for not having any control on herself and respect for others. The only thing that got him going was his kid in Deepa’s womb. He just wanted the kid to be healthy, and cursed Deepa for not thinking of the seriousness of the situation. Then, on 12th May, his worst nightmare came true. His daughter, Suman, was born extremely underweight and with deformed legs. It was one week after her birth, when the doctors announced that she was going to be handicapped for life. That very moment, Harsh decided that he couldn’t stay with Deepa any longer. He moved out with his one month old daughter and left Deepa alone in her grey world of cigarettes.
But whatever said and done, Suman’s life has completely changed because of her mom. She is a kid who lives in a wheelchair, cursing her mom each and every day, as she watches her friends running along in the playground. As for Harsh, he loves his daughter a lot and is willing to do anything for her. But they have no other choice other than living with the fact that Suman will be stuck to that wheelchair for the rest of her life. Right from our childhood, we’ve always been advised to learn from our mistakes. However, some mistakes have irrepairable repercussions. So, on May 31st - World no tobacco day, let us make an oath to act responsible and not make our loved ones go through the excruciating pain Nidhi, Harsh or Suman are going through. There has to be a way to stop using tobacco. Anything, other than death.
smoking during lunch breaks at office and at home when Harsh was not around. Soon Harsh found out that she had given into her addiction once again. The couple started having ugly fights but the only outcome of each fight was that Deepa ended up smoking an extra cigarette. She was rotting inside. As she took each puff, the words of her well wishers haunted her. Her mom’s threats, her doctor’s advice and the biggest of them all, the promise she made to Harsh. But as days passed by, her guilt began to fade away and she loyally got back to her first love, smoking. Harsh could not control her anymore. The Deepa in front of him was so different from the May 2010 TAXI 23
.LQJILVKHU
Queen Our cover girl this month is the chica from South Africa Himarsha Venkatsamy. Standing tall at 5â&#x20AC;&#x2122;8â&#x20AC;?, she flaunts the complete package of beauty and brains. Not only is she the winner of Kingfisher Calendar Girl Hunt 2010, she is also a physiotherapist by qualification. Taxi managed to have a quick tete a tete with this sizzling diva.
26 TAXI May 2010
May 2010 TAXI 27
28 TAXI May 2010
ME: Adventurous, free spirited, fiercely independent, kind and a hopeless romantic! I was born and raised in South Africa. I studied BSc Physiotherapy at WITS medical school and modeling was part time. I have always been involved in arts and fashion and I love to travel. MY FAMILY: Is really hot! We are all dynamic and charismatic individuals, so family functions are always a lot of fun and unpredictable! MY CHILDHOOD DAYS: Where spent getting up to mischief with my brother and sister in the beautiful coastal city of Durban. MY IDOLS: Range from inspirational icons like Nelson Mandela to rock stars like Lady Gaga. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;M PROUD OF: My beautiful life. INDIA TO ME IS: An adventure. May 2010 TAXI 29
FIRST TIME IN THE SHOW BUSINESS: I was 6, in a pink tutu with black stars, dancing on a stage for a school play. I was so super cute back then and I totally choreographed my own dance routines! Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;M LUCKY: Because I have been blessed to have beautiful people who truly love me and are always by my side. MUMBAI IS: Constantly awake, noisy, busy, crazy, unpredictable, delicious and fun! CHENNAI IS: Really hot and has awesome people! I WISH: I could fly! TRAVELING TO ME IS: The most beautiful and enlightening experience that life has to offer.
30 TAXI May 2010
Photography - Ashok Raj C.U
H
ave you ever wanted to be an absolute head turner or a doll faced drama queen? Did you ever feel the pinch in your heart everytime you see your favourite movie star on screen? Well, then it’s time we join our hands and acknowledge the launch of Page 3 salon in Nungambakkam. Page 3, a.k.a “The Luxury Unisex Salon and Makeover Destination”, is Chennai’s latest and most advanced hair and skin makeover studio, which is all set to give the city’s fashion quotient a whole new high. If you have been constantly looking for new and innovative ways to express your attitude through your looks, then this is your final destination. With specially designed interiors crafted by international architects, Page3 represents style in all its glory. Right from topnotch stylists to high-end hair and skin care brands, you name it, they have it! Page3 is Chennai’s first Kerastase Salon, which is a luxury brand from L’Oreal International. Kerastase is distributed to high
32 TAXI May 2010
end hair salons exclusively and is among the market leaders in the professional and luxury hair care segments across the world. And guess what? Page3 is just the third Kerastase Salon in India and the very first salon in South India to feature both Kerastase and Keraskin under one roof! At Page 3, you can spoil yourself with stunning haircuts, professional hair colours, heavenly hair spa treatments, amazing hair texture therapies, world class skin care facilities, a spectacular nail care and nail design studio, a relaxing foot spa, manicures, pedicures, bleaching, threading, waxing, a excellent bridal care studio, a dedicated makeover studio and so much more! SPA MANICURE Unwind. Relax. De-stress. Have these words been on the top of your to-do list lately? Well, here’s a chance to tick it off in style! Treat your hands to the 3R’s of spa culture: Refresh, Rejuvenate and Revitalize, the ultimate results of a spa manicure that will send
you to cloud nine. Why page 3? The ‘X’ factor of exotic aroma oils, fresh fruit and chocolate, which will leave your nails naturally sanitized and healthy. SPA PEDICURE The Spa Pedicure is bound to woo your senses without a doubt. A detailed and effective seven step pedicure using world class foot care products and special salts keeps your foot smooth eternally. Every pair of feet deserves to be treated at page3. After all it’s what keeps us going! HAIR SPARITUAL
EXPERIENCE
It’s time to indulge into some locks-luxury! Pamper your hair with a 5 stage spa treatment, which includes accurate dosages of advanced hair care developed by the L’Oreal expertise. CREATIVE COLORING Play with hues and flaunt it out with a bounce! The hair artists at Page3 will give you the glam look, which will make heads turn! A thorough understanding of your hair is done to get spectacular results. Sober, loud, funky, jazzy
whatever may be the look, you will smile at yourself everytime you look at a mirror. EMINENCE HOT AND COLD SIGNATURE FACIAL FOR LIGHTENING AND SUN DAMAGE Welcoming the summer with shadows and umbrellas as shields? Not anymore! Step out and live it! Greet the sun with your bright face. True to its name, the signature facial is a class apart. It is an organic treatment, with fruit-herb exfoliation , that lends us a dual touch experience of the hot and cold elements making our skin glow from deep within. AGE NEOJEUNESSE Wanna make age just a number? The age neojeunesse using specialized Keraskin Therapy KHOSV LQ UHGHĂŞQLQJ UHGHQVLI\LQJ DQG VPRRWKHQLQJ your skin. The anti ageing, the anti wrinkles and the anti slackening make you go â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am 30 going on 13!â&#x20AC;? SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL Going to hit the dance floor after a long weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work? Dash in and pep yourself up with some Kerastase shampoo, a blow dry and a little make up to thrive and shine and catch up with Saturday night fever! THE COMPLETE MAKEOVER Is it Lady Gaga, Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt? Pick your look, Page3 gives you a complete makeover. Get a brand new look, which complements you
Put in a nutshell, Page3 is the salon you can swear by! Be it your fist date, a crazy beach party or your wedding day, Page3 is the place to be! So get set and groom yourself away. and your personality. Unleash the glam icon within you and you might be surprised to see the outcome. THE PRIMA DONNA BRIDE In order to make your â&#x20AC;&#x153;D-dayâ&#x20AC;? perfect, Page3 offers a session with the top stylists, giving you the look you want and making sure that your groom canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take his eyes off you! From hair and makeup to clothes, they do their best to complete the magical picture. May 2010 TAXI 33
Rise of a new superstar What happens when fashion opens its hands to welcome the film industry? The result: a star studded evening with QDPHV OLNH 6ULNDQWK -HHYD .ULVKQD DQG .DVWXUL RQ WKH IRUHIURQW 7KDWÂśV what happened when fashion gurus $1$06 0$1 KRVWHG D JODPRXU VKRZ to extend a hearty welcome to Cinema JLDQWV 395 &LQHPDV DW 7DM 0RXQW
Colour me Millie 0LOOLFHQW +RZH D FHOHE KDLU VW\OLVW from Australia, whose clientele LQFOXGH $ OLVWHUV OLNH .DWH %ODQFKHWWH -RGLH .LGG DQG $QDEHOOD 6FLRUD PDGH a trip from down under to conduct a ZRUNVKRS IRU WKH %RXQFH DQG .DQ\D hairdressers. Her works of sheer genius were showcased at Cut It Out salon, Besant Nagar in the form of a tantalizing array of hair doâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.
34 TAXI May 2010
IPL dhamaka: )ROORZLQJ WKH QDLO ELWLQJ encounter between the GLIIHUHQW ,3/ 7HDPV WKH PXFK WDONHG DERXW ,3/ SDUWLHV ZHUH KHOG DW 3DUN 6KHUDWRQ *ODPRURXV PRGHOV IURP 0XPEDL ZDONHG WKH UDPS while the nocturnal wildcats let it loose to the beats of Sivamani.
May 2010 TAXI 35
Love and care unlimited: A fund raising event for the benefit of the Love Care Orphanage, .DQFKHHSXUDP ZDV KHOG DW 6DYHUD Hotel along with a spectacular fashion VKRZ KRVWHG DQG SURGXFHG E\ &(06 DQG FKRUHRJUDSKHG E\ .DUXQ 5DPDQ The thrill-seeking road warriors of WKH 0DODEDU 5DPSDJH ZDONHG WKH ramp, all in the name of charity!
â&#x20AC;&#x153;MAXâ&#x20AC;?imum value of fashion: 0D[ WKH RQH VWRS VKRS KDV FRPH WR Chennai promising to redefine your shopping experience. Along with the latest fashion trends, they also offer a great line of clothes, footwear and accessories. This Dubai based brand is out to win its customerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hearts by being pocket friendly and sticking by WKHLU PRWWR /RRN JRRG )HHO JRRG
36 TAXI May 2010
Gymming in style 7KH 6SDUWDQ )LWQHVV &HQWUH launched its brand new wing, which has state of the art strength training and cardio equipments. The cardio wing was launched by actor vikram, who is a fitness fanatic himself.
CIFW auditions The auditions for the Chennai ,QWHUQDWLRQDO )DVKLRQ :HHN WRRN SODFH DW .LPD\D 0DQ\ H\H candies were spotted as high end models from all over India. The judgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s panel included big names like Sidney S, Rehane and 0HHUD &KRSUD 7KH &,): LV scheduled to happen this July.
May 2010 TAXI 37
Mom I and
- Jinal and Akshata
Mothers. Most of us tend to take them for granted like it’s some kind of a habit. They are the creators, the universal stress busters and they make life almost painfully impossible without their existence. Although celebrating relationships over a single day and a few greeting cards is something we really don’t agree with, we believe that Mother’s Day is a bit different. Let’s just say, they are well deserved.
So Taxi caught up with Dipika Pallikal, the young and dynamic international Squash player and her mom Susan Pallikal. The 18 year old sports icon had just flown into the city after winning her maiden WISPA Indian Challenger Squash Tournament. The mother-daughter duo had a fun chat with Taxi on their relationship, likes, dislikes and more.
What’s the one thing which you hate and love about each other?
Apart from being your mother, is Susan also a good friend to you?
DIPIKA PALLIKAL: I hate the fact that she nitpicks for each and everything. I guess that’s a universal quality mothers from all over the world have. Although, at the end of the say, she gives in and lets me do what I want to do. That’s something I adore about her.
DP: Dad is more of a friend. I share whatever I want with him but with mom, there are a few boundaries that I can’t cross. I can’t confide in her a lot.
SUSAN PALLIKAL: She is too stubborn. She has this tendency to burn the midnight oil before her exams and she never listens to me when I ask her not to do so. I don’t let any of my daughters drive, but Dipika fights with me and the driver and takes the car out. When it comes to life altering decisions, she definitely listens to me and that is something I love about her.
DP: I somehow managed both. When I was with the academy in Chennai, the other kids used to take a whole month off before their exams and I used to be the kid who would still go for practice. I was not a student who strived for a centum. I just wanted to pass and lucky me, my parents aren’t the pushy sort. They always believed in me. My principal was very supportive. She let me skip my annual exams when I had to go to Australia for a tournament.
Photography - Ashok Raj C.U
Has fame affected your relationship with each other? DP: Not at all. They haven‘t treated me any different after I received all the fame. My granny, although, thinks of me as her “star” granddaughter (smiles). SP: However busy she is during the day, she manages to spend time with the family. She is extremely attached to her grandparents and never fails to visit them. Dipika is also spoilt by her sisters; she keeps fighting with them and finally gets her way cleared. 40 TAXI May 2010
Is multi-tasking an issue for you? How did you juggle between studies and sports in school?
On to you Susan. Speaking of being supportive, do you think a working mother can take care of her children as good as a homemaker? SP: I think it is more difficult for a homemaker to bring up a child, as a working mother will know what happens in the actual world. I have traveled a lot and know how the world is. India is a very conservative country and the women here don’t let their children do what they wish to do. I believe that when you actually start controlling your child,
he or she will start doing things behind your back. Instead of saying no to them, we should let them do what they want to up to an extent and then restrict them when it goes overboard. What was wrong to us is not wrong to them anymore. Times have changed. Your daughter is not only recognized as a sports icon, but also as a style icon. Do you think she has taken after you? SP: She is just a replica of me. Every time she comes in the papers, people call me and tell me that she is a miniature of me. When she joined the Squash Academy, she was sponsored by Adidas and her look changed completely and people started seeing her as a style icon. Since she was little, she was always particular that her outfits were stylish and trendy. Why did you choose Squash, when both your parents were cricketers? DP: I never really fancied cricket. Till date, I don’t understand the game. I started watching cricket only during the IPL because all my cousins used to watch it together. One of my best friends was planning to attend this camp during summer and I decided to join the camp too. Squash was really an accident, but once I won a tournament, there was no looking back. If not Squash, what would it have been? Hmmm, I don’t know. If it wasn’t squash it would’ve been some other sport. Probably tennis? What are the similarities between the two of you? SP: As much as I complain about it, she’s got the stubbornness from me. She takes after me when it comes to her undying love for sports. An individual game takes a lot more from you than a team game and Dipika has got it in her to give her fullest and best to whatever she GRHV , DOZD\V KDG WKH êJKWLQJ VSLULW LQ PH DQG VKH LV QR different. What is the best gift you can give your mother this mother’s day? DP: My mother’s birthday also falls in the month of May, so usually we just combine it and give her one gift for both the occasions. My mother is more of a back stage person. She does not even like to pose for photographs. We sisters sit and plan for Father’s Day about two months in advance, whereas for Mother’s Day we maintain something low profile. Maybe it would just be a quiet dinner? She likes it that way. What is the best gift you think your daughter can give you this Mother’s Day? SP: Just a hug would do. Children are so busy and preoccupied these days that getting a hug is quite rare. Moreover, they are embarrassed to give hugs and kisses and I don’t know why. We used to play with our mothers Pallu and sit on their laps even when we were 22 or so. But now just a hug makes a mother more than happy. May 2010 TAXI 41
EMBARRASING MOMENTS: I don’t know of any such particular incident. But we keep teasing her for the fact that she used to play cricket with plaited hair and bell- bottoms. WISH LIST She would just want the whole family to be together in a room, for a few hours. Trust me, it is a rarity. THE MOST DISLIKED STARS: People in my family started doting on Zayed Khan to a great extent that at one point it got to her so much and now she dislikes like him. CHOCOLATES OR RED WINE?: I think she would prefer red wine just to be cool (laughs). DIPIKA’S FIRST BOYFRIEND: Weeping TV soaps:
over
Yes, she cries over everything and anything. She is a very emotional person. answers questions about her superstar daughter:
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3$//,.$/ THE MOST DISLIKED STARS: Whenever she watches a movie, it so happens that I am never around. I don’t know about her dislike for stars but I know she likes Ranbir Kapoor. CHOCOLATES OR RED WINE?: Chocolates, any day! DIPIKA’S FIRST BOYFRIEND: She never discusses her love life with me!
WISH LIST: The obvious; she has to be No.1 in Squash.
EMBARRASING MOMENTS: When she was asked a few questions by the press in Tamil and she couldn’t understand anything! She has lived in chennai all her life and still comes to me for translation.
42 TAXI May 2010
I don’t discuss these things with my mom and she doesn’t either. My parents have not even told me how they met each other.
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3$//,.$/ Weeping over TV soaps: No, she does not cry for anything.
answers questions about her mother:
If you want to vent out your frustrations over nonexistent auto meters,painful traffic,inconsiderate littering and anything and everything, just remember
.com
Send in your complaints to wtf@thetaximag
May 2010 TAXI 43
AMERICAN CHARM Sparkys Diner brings the Yankee feel to Chennai
The American food scene in Chennai isn’t as trendy as the dishes from the Orient or the Old Continent, but Sparky’s Diner down on Spurtank road is silently sparking a revolution of its own. Behind the quaint red doors of this bustling diner lies a little piece of America unexplored. The diner is decked with souvenirs handpicked by the not-so-skinny chef himself, ranging from funky surfboards to macho Harley Davidsons reflecting the true American soul. We had to ask the chef why he named his diner Sparky’s. So we got down to a little chat with Thom Petty, a visionary and chef a la Sparky’s. He says he named the restaurant after his beloved dog. The chef also spilled some insider trade secrets about cooking good 44 TAXI May 2010
old authentic American chow stating his only rule: “Just go with the basics and follow the recipe. Nothing more, and nothing less. After taking in the atmosphere and having a little tete a tete with the light hearted, round bellied chef Thom Petty, the stage was now set for us to binge. The chef, being a very passionate foodie, put his heart and soul into making the menu one of a kind. The menu reads as a map of the food across America. Mexican, Hawaiian, Cajun, you name it they’ve got it. Though it brings you delicacies from across the American continent, the diner doesn’t dab much into your bank account. So after having a look at the never ending menu with its hard to comprehend names, We were overwhelmed with the vast
- Simran Nichani Riba Haroon Photography - Ashok Raj C.U
number of choices before us and asked the friendly chef to take a pick. For all you calorie conscious souls out there, Sparky’s diner also believes in going green with tantalizing salads unlike your regular American diner with dishes only topped with oodles of butter. Not only did we pig out on the chef’s specials but we also enjoyed a side order of his witty American humor. Our onslaught began with the Mexican Tortilla Soup, which has just the right amount of endorphin- pumping ingredients in the form of tortilla chips and cream cheese to satisfy your inner teen and an exotic blend of Mexican veggies for the health watchers. Our next stop in the American food landscape was the Big Kahuna Combo commonly
referred to as a Man’s meal, as it isn’t for the weak hearted. This blended platter comes in three parts: The Texas Hold Em’ BBQ, The General Tsao’s Chicken and The Korean BBQ. Having loosened my belt buckle already, we next moved on to the Burbourn Street Pasta wearily, yet ravaged with the craze for more. This Caribbean dish came with a rather unusual side salad. The chef flirtatiously played with onion, chili, bell peppers and Cajun spices leaving a party in our mouths. The rich pasta was a treat for my eyes as it painted the colors of the Italian flag. The Pasta Fresca, is a unique Italian style pasta, loaded with seasonal vegetables and garlic fresh basil, which is served over penne pasta. This is topped with olives, sun dried tomatoes and parmesan cheese. But the highlight of the day came with the dessert. The creamy New
York style cheese cake was out of the world with its cinnamon based crust and the Blueberry syrup which was literally the cherry on a cake. Though the main course had made our waists grow an inch or two more, the sight of the cheese cake made us forget to count my calories. Our journey ended with the Dessert Nachos, yes Mexican food has now definitely caught our fancy. The Nacho chips were coated with sugar and were dripping with chocolate. The chips had pieces of pineapple scattered and came along with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and with it came the first disappointment of the meal: The ending. After helping ourselves to this lavish menu, we give a big thumbs up to Sparky’s diner. Bottom line: All you foodies and resto-explorers out there leave your measuring tapes aside and rush to Sparky’s for a wholesome American meal.
Chef ’s Special Mamma Rita’s Lazagna Enchiladas Route 66 Meatloaf Philly Beef Steak Sandwich Mole’ Combo Burrito
HEAVENLY ABODE
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T
here is a colossal cluster of people in Chennai. They are vexed, enervated, bored and more than anything else, in need of a sublime dwelling where they can completely cut loose. I discovered one such place and I want to share the
experience with my fellow stressstricken souls. It is quite a popular getaway and you’ve probably been there quite a few times but read on to see if you’ve missed out on something. For those of you who haven’t been there, I urge you to go there at once. Before you get frustrated of wondering what I’m exactly talking about, don’t worry, I won’t hold you in suspense much longer.
the stunning meandering poolone of Temple Bay’s significant attributes. Some people walk into Temple Bay just to have a look at this pool, which gently rambles through the length of one half of the resort. The room was lavish, with state of the art décor and all the amenities you could possibly think of. We unloaded our bags, fell on to the cozy bed and started to flip channels on the television.
Situated in the archaic world heritage site, Mamallapuram, Radisson Temple Bay is a quaint resort and everyone should pay a visit here at least once in a lifetime. Most of you want to take a break but can’t afford to allocate more than a weekend to unwind, Temple Bay is probably your one stop shop to experience an all encompassing holiday.
8:00 PM: We visited the Wharf, a paradise for seafood buffs. The restaurant overlooks the expansive shore of The Bay of Bengal. Tasting the scintillating seafood while the cool sea breeze wafts across your face is a transcendental experience. We ordered the Moonghpaali Paneer ki Sheekh, Murgh Thazzi Kebab, Anari Macchi Tikka and Pan
Seared Blackened Chicken along with a bottle of wine. The food was exquisite, the Pan Seared Chicken in particular. With contended taste buds and pot bellies we decided to head back to our room. 10:23 PM: We suddenly wondered why not make use of the infinity pool? The cool blue infinity pool against the mystical sea was an incredible experience. We were relaxing inside the pool as the moonlight was pouring over us. A memory to cherish forever. Day 2 9:26 AM: We took a quick dunk in the meandering pool and decided to walk through the stupendous landscape of Temple Bay. As much as it was fun, we were extremely ravenous. Waters Edge restaurant boasts a delicious breakfast buffet
It is located approximately 65 kms from the city and do I need to mention about the breathtaking drive through the ECR? As I landed there with my friends, we were truly awestruck by the picturesque, sprawling structure that stood before us. We weren’t sure if it was the alluring sea, the lush greenery or the tranquil swimming pool, which pulled us in. DAY 1 7:10 PM: We were escorted to our room. Room no 153 was facing May 2010 TAXI 47
spread. From Belgium Waffles to our good old Idiyaapam, just about everything was available at the buffet. Nothing like a hearty breakfast after a vigorous workout. 11:29 AM: We thought we’ll take a little break from the relax-mode and get a little adventurous. We went on a Catamaran ride, which took us around the enthralling sea and the legendary shore temple. We had a chance to get a glimpse of the authentic Mammallapuram. 1:00 PM: Food again! A special lunch was arranged for us at the Waters Edge by the Head Chef himself. The table was neatly decorated with a seafood fare of Grilled Prawns, Fish Fry and Lobster. Following the main course meal, we had a few mouthwatering desserts such as pineapple soufflé and chocolate mousse. 3:00 PM: I have to admit though, the heady adventure spree and the gargantuan portions of food made us a little exhausted. We thought we’d take a quick nap but who would want to miss out on the one of a kind spa boutique standing right in front of us? Serene Spa offers an array of topnotch massages and I picked the Aroma oil back massage, which worked out just fine for me. It was blissful! Temple Bay is also one of the very few places that offers a fish pedicure, though I didn’t have much time in my hands to get to it. 5:30 PM: It was time for us to sing “All my bags are packed, I’m ready to go”. Yes the inexplicably amazing weekend was nearing its end point. It was truly hard to say goodbye to Temple Bay. You want to unwind but you don’t have all the time in the world, there’s no better place other than the Temple Bay to completely unleash and soothe your mind.
48 TAXI May 2010
Just
FABULOUS )LQG \RXU KRPH DW ME TROZ ONE
The title “Just Fabulous” is actually an understatement for The Metrozone. When I came to know that I had to write a review on a new set of apartments recently launched in Anna nagar, I was all prepared to set my eyes on posh apartments built for the upper middle class. But the Metrozone has taken the word “posh” to an entirely new level. The plan consists of 29 towers, each tower accommodating 62 to 63 apartments, which makes each tower sixteen floors tall. So, all I could see is plush greenery and these tall concrete structures sticking out in between, because, 50 TAXI May 2010
believe it or not, the entire plan flaunts 70% open space and just 30% of it adds up to the concrete blocks. Each floor has not more than four apartments, making each flat feel more like an independent house than an apartment. THE TOWERS: There are three basic tower structures. All the three flaunt plush two, three, four and even five bedroom apartments. However, the fifteenth and sixteenth floors of each tower are literally the cherry on the cake as they accommodate luxurious pent houses with a private terrace area. And that’s not all! All the towers
have two levels of basement car parking, giving each flat the leverage to park up to three cars! HOME SWEET HOME: By now I was already so amazed, I almost had an adrenaline rush. But it was only when I entered a model apartment I became completely speechless. I had a look at the three bedroom apartment of 2062 sqft. I was initially confused, as each apartment had two entrances, perpendicular to each other. Weird isn’t it? Actually, it’s not! It turns out that one entrance is a maid’s entrance which leads to the utility room and is completely cut off from the actual house. So
day ahead. This bedroom had a wooden floor giving it a very cozy effect. It had an attached bathroom with a shower cubicle covered in plain glass. Standard, yet classy. Adjacent to the master bedroom was the second bedroom. This one was so cute that I could visualize toddlers and kids running around making a mess. It was smaller than the master bedroom and conveniently placed right next to it, to keep an eye on the adolescents. This room again sports a bathroom, but this bathroom has a playful bathtub. Right next to it was the third bedroom, appropriate for a guestroom, or for the elderly, with an attached bathroom. FACILITIES:
when you have to go out, you don’t have to wait till your maid finishes her chores. All you have to do is lock and leave! Then I entered the apartment through the main entrance and I went completely bonkers. The moment I stepped into the hall cum dining area, the first thing I laid my eyes on was the amazing, huge balcony across the hall. I could already imagine fun packed barbeque parties happening there filled with laughter and happiness. Smiling to myself, I turned and looked at the hall. It was lightly furnished in shades of beige and cream with vibrant colours
suddenly splashing out in the form of a painting or a bright vase. Parallel to the dining area, I found a lovely modular kitchen. The rooms were constructed with such minute detailing, that I did not need the help of a guide to tell me where the fridge or the microwave was supposed to be placed. It was all self explanatory and simply wonderful. Then, I stepped into the master bedroom which was a treat to the0 eyes. I found the second balcony here, which again took me to my dreamland where I imagined a happy family been woken up together with the warm sunlight to welcome the
By now you must be wondering that if so much makes up to just 30% of the plan, what’s happening in the rest 70%. Well, get ready to get amazed. The Metrozone has a supermarket, pharmacy, basement parking for over 6000 cars, 250 car parking slots for visitors, car washing bays, clubhouse of international standards of 62,000 sqft, 5 swimming pools, crèche, Laundromats and ironing services, wi-fi compounds, meditation garden, jogging track, cricket pitch, basketball, tennis, squash, badminton courts, billiards room, table tennis, several play areas for children and multiplex and multi-cuisine food court, to name a few!
In a nut shell, I haven’t seen such a massive plan even in the outskirts of Chennai. Though it’s an understatement, I just have to state it. The Metrozone is just Fabulous!
May 2010 TAXI 51
A
s the orange glow of the sunrise gradually spreads and the wisps of the mist clear from the steep eucalyptus covered slopes, a spectacular view opens. 52 TAXI May 2010
Rising stark above the streaks of clouds stands the sprawling Hotel Landmark and calling this resort Yelagiriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only legacy will not be an exaggeration. The resort is located at a stunning vantage point on the hill, a stoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s throw away from the much
visited Murugan Temple and the Boathouse. The place boasts three acres of extensive lawn and greenery, which happen to be such a visual delight to the people who drop by. The lawns bear little stone seating areas here and there where you can enjoy
Holiday in the
Hills
Yelagiri might not offer the instant attractions of tourism ad might not rank among the wonders of the world but this little visited corner of Tamil Nadu is well worth a detour to escape the crowds and to see some of the best landscapes of Tamil Nadu. Hotel Landmark is your best option to get an ephemeral break from the monotonous city life.
your tea time during the evenings. Another spectacular feature about this resort is its 300 year old Dhandi tree. Now, all you need is a hammock and a nice book! Coming to the rooms, one can absolutely say that sufficient care has been taken to ensure utmost
comfort and appease the multiple requirements of the guests. The guests can choose from compact rooms, deluxe rooms and suites with sit-outs. The rooms are fully furnished with wardrobes, dining tables, cable TV, refrigerators and all the facilities one can possibly
think of. Every guest likes a spacious bathroom and Hotel Landmark will not disappoint you in that regard. The private balcony in every room is an added advantage for you to simply relax and get engrossed in the picturesque view of the hills. May 2010 TAXI 53
The room services are excellent with other value adds like safe deposit lockers, laundry, travel desk, rental DVDs and on call medical services. If you want to take your company out for a team outing or hold a seminar away from the hustle and the bustle of your city, this place is probably your best option. There is a spacious conference room with state of the art facilities and seating capacity of more than 300 persons. Children would love this place as the hotel is decked with a huge play area and a volley ball court. ON YELAGIRI This hill-station is a 2-hour drive from Chennai and is at an altitude of 920m above sea level. It is one of the quieter hill destinations of Tamil Nadu and is flanked by orchards, rose gardens and greeneries on all sides. The uphill drive with 14 hair-pin bends takes you through some magnificent 54 TAXI May 2010
scenery. Yelagiri is a cluster of villages surrounded by four hills, a peaceful, unexplored area.
PLACES TO SEE
HOW TO GET TO LANDMARK?
Punganoor Artificial
Yelagiri is about 258 km from Chennai. Take the Poonamalee High Road and from Poonamalee, take the Bangalore highway towards Vellore. The distance to Vellore is about 135 km and the route passes through Sriperumbudur, Walajapet and Katpadi. From Vellore continue on to Ambur and Vaniyambadi. On the highway about 45 km from the 3 toll station, watch out for a signboard for “Yelagiri - 22 kms”. Take a left at this exit. Continue on this road till you reach Ponneri junction, which has Thirupathur straight and Yelagiri on the left. Turn left at this junction where there’s a sign board pointing towards Yelagiri.
Lake-cum-Park
Yelagiri might not offer the instant attractions of tourism ad might not rank among the wonders of
Jalagamparai Waterfalls Trekking at Swamimalai Murugan Temple Telescope House the world but this little visited corner of Tamil Nadu is well worth a detour to escape the crowds and to see some of the best landscapes of Tamil Nadu. Hotel Landmark is your best option to get an ephemeral break from the monotonous city life.
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Stealing away a piece of the artist. 50% of 5MB
D EVIL - Ayesha Nizam
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hat do you do when you want to listen to the new Lady Gaga single? Simple log on to Youtube. However, what do you do if you want to listen to it over and over while running on your treadmil? Simpler download it! It all started approximately 4 to 5 years back, when the concept of online music came into existence. Music companies like Saregama HMV, T series and Sony BMG started digitizing music in order to sell them online. Each track could be easily downloaded for about 12 Rs – 15 Rs, making it easier for the user to buy just the selected favorite songs instead of the entire album. But then, there was a catch. When a single song was sold for Rs 10 – 15, and the value of an entire CD was only Rs 100 – Rs 150, the need to legally download a song naturally began to fade away. And when there are sites like raaga.com and musicindiaonline. com where you can download free songs, the need diminished further. This issue started to pave way for piracy and today online music and piracy are almost synonymous to each other. Online music is not “sold” anymore, but is just available for free downloads. Hence, the negative fallout of online music is worth taking note of. India is one of the top countries in the world facing a threat, with the music industry losing between US$600 billion to US$650 billion a year due to piracy. Today, 64% of music which is downloaded is illegal and even though the Indian government is making serious efforts to counter this intellectual property theft, the lack of proper patent laws or more precisely, the enforcement of these laws allow the perpetrators of this crime to get away easily. Due to this rampant piracy, the government is deprived of tax revenues and hence jobs are lost leading to unemployment.
“The internet has got a bad and a good side to it. The good aspect is the vast database of upcoming singers, music directors, new tones and sounds available to musicians and of course the bad aspect is piracy. The entire music market is falling because of it and as far as my opinion is concerned, I think it should be strictly banned.” says singer Krish. Renowned singer Benny Dayal adds, “Free internet downloads are a sham, which eventually becomes a sham. It is so disrespectful when three days of our hard work is ruthlessly downloaded in just three minutes. People need to pay for their entertainment as talent is something that cannot be shared for free.” On the contrary, believe it or not, there are a few people who think the Internet has more good effects on the music industry than the curse of piracy. When I spoke to Sanjeev Thomas, the lead guitarist of A.R.Rahman, I got to see through a completely different perspective. He says, “I believe the Internet definitely has a good effect on the music industry. Though is does affect the music market, it acts as a platform for upcoming musicians and helps us make money indirectly through popularity. Since piracy is something that cannot be stopped, we may as well make use of it!” Singer Chinmayee seemed to be on the same note. “Though music piracy is illegal, it has definitely helped the Indian music industry in gain more popularity, making it
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more acceptable today.” She even adds, “However, It would be better if it was done in a legal manner.” However, Jeffery Thomas, Chief Programming Officer at Chennai live 104.8, has a completely different opinion. He says, “I don’t think the Internet has really affected the music industry. First of all it’s a problem to download songs nowadays and even if you manage to download it for free, the artist gets a commission based on the count of songs downloaded.” Music labels believe that there are only three solutions to stop the downloading demon from taking over the market. First, add a security to your music so that the users can’t share the copies they buy. Yes, sharing is definitely not considered as a good deed in this industry. Second, prosecute file traders and win settlements against them to discourage the practice. So, if you are one of them beware and play square! And finally, restructure your market pricing so that the buyers pay more for popular music and less for back catalog music. Priya Krishnan, marketing head of Think music, Satyam cinemas, says, “Though piracy is spreading over the net like wild fire, I believe that more people have begun conducting online transactions with their credit cards and hope that in the future, they would definitely start paying for music as well.”
language. It has practically diminished all boundaries that limited the proliferation of music be it geographical distances or time lapse between releases. Today, through the web, one can access and consume their choice of music at one’s convenience and through multiple devices. The web has also helped various genres of music (initially restricted by geography or formats) find its audience. For example, our long standing relationship with iTunes and other music portals have really worked. A few years ago the medium of piracy was through a CD. Now it’s also the pirate websites which help people choose the music they want to download illegally. In the long run, the web will play an unparalleled part in the ethically and commercially rightful consumption of music, once the systems for this are in place.” So on that good note, let’s do our part in encouraging our musicians to make better music. Let them know that we like their music by buying it from them. Cause at the end of the day, it’s all about the Ka-ching!
Mr. Sanujeet Bhujabal, Markeing Director of Sony Music India adds, “Internet is now a universal
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Water resistant walkman QZ] Z VHULHV | SONY
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Sony has launched a new Walkman series, which will grab the interest of anyone with an active and sporty lifestyle. NWZ-W250 is a water resistant walkman. This stylish wire- less gadget can be worn not only during workouts, but also during the rain or in the shower as well! This model has an integrated Zappin feature, which allows the users to create their favourite soundtrack while skipping playlists and folders. A quick 3 minute charge will give the users around 90 minutes of listening time, whereas a fully charged battery will give around 11 hours of music. The player comes along with a charging stand, which works as a USB dock also. This makes the transferring of music into the player a whole lot easier. Available in black, silver, magenta and lime green, it will definately not fail to impress! So what are you waiting for? Go grab yours today!
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T his 3D LCD TV | SAMSUNG Samsung entered a new dimension in TV and Home entertainment by launching the 3D TV. The first brand to launch 3D TVsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in India, Samsung is planning to launch this invention throughout the world soon. The 3D TV has the ability to automatically convert all 2D videos to 3D. Samsung is the first company to manufacture this amazing TV in India, in its Chennai and Noida factories. The TV comes with a DVD of Monsters Vs Aliens, along with two active 3D glasses. Ranging between Rs 1,29,000 to Rs 4,35,000, the TV is available in 40- 65 inches in LED, LCD and Plasma versions.
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Droid | MOTOROLA Motorola Droid is one of the few handsets that have a D-pad on the handset QWERTY. Although a D-pad is a must to enjoy gaming on your handset, the keyboard can also slide downwards for use as a standard numerical keypad and can also slide sideways to be used as QWERTY in landscape mode. Game Gripper puts the D-pad on the right side and also gives you another 8 keys to play with, allowing a decent gaming experience. The game gripper does not actually connect to the phone. Instead, it just presses the right keys on the keypad, not failing to give you the actual feel. It is very well designed with the gamer’s comfort in mind and bright color scheme to attract the eyes. But Google has confirmed that they are aware of the security flaw and are working on releasing its fix soon. It is said that it is the same bug that was seen on the Apple iPhone (firmware version). Till then, just hold on to your Droid!
,3DG | APPLE I was at the hairdressers the other day and I saw this giant Itouch sticking out of the purse of a not so tech savy lady at my side and I thought to myself “Ooooh what’s that?” It was nothing but the latest, futuristic gizmo released by Apple, the Ipad. It’s sleek, eye-catching but on the hind side it may leave a hole in your wallet while not living up to the price. For a tablet PC, the multitasking facilities are next to zero and here’s the shocker-no camera or Ichat abilities. As far as the multimedia junkies go, it’s a big no no as it is not compatible with Adobe Flash Player. Ultimately, the Ipad is pioneering and shaping the emerging tablet PC era.
Light weight net book | FUJITSU Fujitsu introduces new model of its Life book MH330 mini-notebook, which is a new net book model. This Asian launch has some interesting features: It has a thickness of 18.5mm at the front side and 24.5mm at the back side similar to other Life book models earlier marketed by the company. This has a 5-in-1 card reader, with additional features like 1GB of RAM memory, a very strong keyboard, and a weight of just 1.1kg. It also supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Fujitsu has launched this computer without a CD/DVD reader/writer in order to reduce the weight but the system includes software’s to read shared DVD discs, which will use an optical disc drive through wireless connections with other computers. May 2010 TAXI 59
Movies IT’S COMPLICATED Nancy Meyers has done it again with her female centric movie. It’s complicated is a romantic comedy revolving around the life of Jane {Meryl Streep}, a divorcee with three kids, of which the middle one is just about to move out. Living in a large luxurious house set amidst a lot of greenery, she is happily alone until she meets her ex husband, Jake {Alec Baldwin} at their youngest son’s graduation. With the rekindling of the fire, the story revolves around the love lives of the divorced couple, who are involved with other people as well. There is Agness {Lake Bell}, the young new wife of Jake who is as ignorant about their affair as much as Adam {Steve Martin}, the architect hired to remodel Jane’s kitchen, who also has a thing for her. Yet another movie with love triangles, its complicated does not fail to please the audience.
INVICTUS Invictus is based on the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela (Freeman) joined forces with the captain of South Africa’s rugby team (Damon) to help unite their country. In attempt to unify the residents of the country, Mandela places his support behind the Springboks, the national rugby team. The Springboks being an extremely mediocre team were competing in the 1995 Rugby World cup tournament only because South Africa was hosting it. Initially considered as a team of white South Africa, Mandela does all he can to make it a team of all South Africa. With the support of Springboks and its captain, they try to achieve the unrealistic goal of the Springboks winning the World cup, even against rugby giants All-blacks representing New Zealand. With an outstanding performance by Morgan Freeman and an equally impressive enactment by Matt Damon, Invictus should top your to-do list for today!
KICK-ASS Dave Lizewski {Aaron Johnson}, a diehard comic fan wonders why nobody ever tries to become a superhero. When he dons the name Kick Ass, along with a green and yellow suit and sets out in the search of crime with a bat, he realizes why- because it hurts. The eager and determined Dave soon becomes a phenomenon and captures the attention and imagination of the public. The fact that he is simply determined to out stupid the whole world, makes his effort wonderfully and pleasingly charming. On another track is Damon Macready {Nicolas Cage}, an ex- cop, working under the name Big Daddy, who is keen upon teaching a lesson to the good Samaritans, thanks to the efforts made by Kick Ass. This adventure filled comedy movie directed by Matthew Vaughn, does not appeal to others, as much as it does to comic fans. Nothing too “Kick-ass“ about it!
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Books THAT CALCUTTA…THOSE BONGS – DIPANWITA MUKHERJEE This Bengali author takes you down the streets of Calcutta. The book comprises of short stories, which will make you fall in love with Bengalis. Their accent, habits, food and lifestyle among dadas , didas and thakumas , help in binding cultures. The book takes the reader through a ride not only around the streets of the city, but also along its intricate customs and culture in a humorous way. The stories have an amusing sense of humor as well as mild cynicism, which will make you hold your stomach and laugh but can also make you shed tears. The story, being the fourth book of the author, is inspired by real life incidents and memories the author has about Calcutta, where she was born and brought up.
RIGHT FIT WRONG SHOE –VARSHA DIXIT Love, is the one thing which a girl really fantasizes and wishes for deep down, other than shoes and sex. This being the theme of the novel, Right fit Wrong shoe starts where normal love stories end and carries an ode to Bollywood. The story is about a twenty six year old, who falls for her neighbor, Aditya Sarin. Nandini Sharma finds herself head over heels in love with Aditya, her stinking rich neighbor. The author also focuses on the relationship between Nandini and her childhood buddy Sneha, which reflects on the way women bond with each other. If you are having a good day Right Fit Wrong Shoe will make it better, if the day’s bad it won’t get any worse. The book is very crisp with short chapters and inexorably funny with its witty dialogues. This American based author has focused on the art of balancing emotions and molding Women to understand the society she lives in.
Music Albums
JUSTIN BIEBER, “MY WORLD 2.0”
The Huge expectations and the fast recording process could have resulted in a drastic sophomore slump. Instead, all worked in Justin Bieber’s favor in his latest album, “My World 2.0.” The 16-year-old’s sequel album to last November’s “My World” smoothly raises him from a fleeting teen phenomenon into a budding pop artist. The songs “Somebody to Love” and “Eenie Meenie” are hardwired for top 40, while the breezy groove of “Runaway Love” tingles our nostalgia and the track “U Smile” clicks with the older listeners. In the end, Justin Bieber’s fans prove to be the greatest amplifiers in his success story.
RAYMOND V RAYMOND - USHER “There are three sides to every story. There’s one side, there’s the other and then there’s the truth”, Says Usher as he marks his sixth studio album, “Raymond v. Raymond”. Usher surprises us by not singing about his recent heartbreaking divorce like the title suggests. Drawing from a skillful fusion of R&B/hip-hop/pop, Usher addresses the trappings of fame on the up-tempo “Monstar,” shifts into sexy overdrive on “Lil Freak” and “Pro Lover,” pumps up the beat on the infectious club anthem “OMG” and turns introspective on the ballad “Foolin’ Around.” The bottom line here: Don’t count Usher out just yet. He is here to stay!
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