Brew jan2015

Contemplate. Create. Live.

LIFESTYLE & ENTERTAINMENT

Jan 2015 40

Malvika Iyer & Moushimkka Rengenathan Two relentless women, two spectacular stories

Life in the circusA photostory by award winning

photographer Achuthanand Ravi

Hell bent on leatherChoose a leather jacket

to suit your physique

Bringing Ireland to India

Executive Chef Ganesh Vellasamy, Hablis gives

us his most sought-after recipes

A taste of BaliThe travel memoir

Having carved a niche for itself in the arena of cinema, art and music- Brew is known to appeal to readers with fine taste. With this revamp, it will continue to do so however, with a slightly broader variety of stories. Reflecting on people from different walks of life who have aspired in art, film, music, dance, travel, culture, food, fashion, the real world or business- Brew Lifestyle and Entertainment will now give it’s readers a glimpse into the creative minds of many great people. Getting them to contemplate to begin with, to create and lastly, to live.

- Publisher and CEO, Sameer Bharat Ram

4| JANUARY 2015 | BREW

Art, lifestyle and business have slowly but surely evolved to blend entirely with each other. They are no longer independent entities. With this note, Brew Entertainment too is remoulding itself to become Brew Lifestyle and Entertainment. We bring to you stories of Malvika Iyer and Moushimkka Renganathan, the women on the cover, each with a top-notch story that is sure to get you thinking. With that we have a beautiful photostory depicting the lives of those involved in a typical Indian circus. Also, we voice out the stories of a few creators from the field of music, dance and art. Towards the end, you can indulge in some lifestyle stories as we have written on everything right from travel memoirs to food recipes. At heart, we want our readers not just to flip through our magazine but also to contemplate, to create and to live. So in the days to come, Brew Lifestyle and Entertainment will do just that- aspire its readers to contemplate, cre-ate and live.

- Editor, Vilani Senthamil

Thota Tharani

Thota Tharani is an Indian film art director and production designer who has worked in Tamil cinema, Telugu cinema, Malayalam cinema and Bollywood. As of 2013, he has won two National Film Awards, two Filmfare Awards South and four Tamil Nadu State Film Awards. His work consists of paintings, mu-

rals, paper collages, wooden montages, and installations and so on.

Venket Ram

Venket Ram is a leading Indian celebrity & fashion photographer, who has shot principal photography stills for several notable films as well as portfolios. He quit his engineering studies to work with cinematographers for a while, then joined a course in Visual Com-munication at Loyola College. After that, he worked with photographer Sharad Haksar and in 1993, started his own studio. He recently released the first two editions of his an-nual calendars in 2011 and 2012 with an overwhelming response.

Mallika Sarabhai

Educated as an economist and a business manager, Mallika Sarabhai is one of India’s best known Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancers. She has taken her work and her com-pany Darpana to not only over 90 countries around the world, but also to the farthest parts of India.

Neeru Nanda

A graduate from Delhi University. Passionate about writing, she freelanced as a feature writ-er for ten years before switching to publishing. Author of a collection of short stories titled “IF” (Rupa & Co), Neeru is now working on two nov-els and a series of books for children.

Ashok Verghese

Is one of the youngest education entrepre-

neurs who is making a great difference in

this field in the country. He is the Direc-

tor of the Hindustan group of Institutions,

again one of the pioneering educational

groups in the country. He supports the

cause of promoting young talent in art and

music.

Veejay Sai

An award-winning writer, editor and a cul-ture critic. He has written and published ex-tensively on Indian classical music, fashion,

theatre, food and art, and loves traveling, researching literary and cultural history. He

is an editorial consultant with over 40 brands and designers in and outside India and is on

the jury for several prestigious awards in the arts across the country.

Contributors and Advisory board

Internal team : Vijay Singh Nathawat, Designer Raaki Parthepan, Inhouse Photographer

Seeman Elumalai, Circulation Head

Photography : G Venket Ram

Make-Up : Naturals

COVER CREDITS

BRAND PARTNERS

ContentsContemplateAcross seven seas and further

Malvika Iyer, the Global Shaper

Life in the circus- A photostoryAnhudanand Ravi

Bringing light to the darkMoushimkka Renganathan, founder of ‘Bhojan Atews’

CreateIn the air tonight

Hudstin Fernandez, the drummer

Dancing her way to gloryAnwesha Das, the ‘Nadanamamani’

Art in BusinessVincent Adaikal Raj, the entrepreuner

LiveHell bent on leather

Leather jackets to suit your physique

Skin tonesAakriti Sachdev, on prepping up your face

Bringing Ireland to IndiaGanesh Vellasamy, Executive Chef of Moon and Six Pence gives

his most sought after recipes

The Foodie CalendarA recipe for each month says Vikram Cotah, Managing Director

of GRT Hotels and Resorts

A taste of BaliThe travel memoir

Madras- Nothing but the truthBy Joshua Jacob Samuel, winning best blog of the month

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Across seven seas and furtherHard work, persistence and fortitude are three qualities that are very hard to come by. Malvika Iyer, however, is an amalgamation of all the three. She lost both her hands in a freak accident, in spite of which the young woman plunged ahead and achieved recognition beyond the wildest of dreams.

Across seven seas and further

he was all of 13 staying in Rajasthan, Bikaner when this freak accident happened. “I had just entered the 9th Standard when it happened. Just a

few months before, an ammunition depot had caught fire in Bikaner due to which there were diffused shells all over the place, all of which were said to be inactive. I happened to come across one diffused hand grenade. I simply held it when it blew up. I immediately lost both my hands, but worse than that there was a lot of damage to both my legs too. It became completely disfigured with hypoesthesia and all of that.; I didn’t have sensation in one, in

fact. I was bedridden for two years after that, when multiple surgeries were performed to fix my bones and skin”, she recalls.

The taste of success

She underwent treatment for this in Jaipur and then moved to Chennai. She was then admitted in a bone and joint hospital in Annanagar, for further treatment. “I think it was only after one and a half years that I could even walk. I was completely depressed at the time as my classmates back in Bikaner were preparing to write their tenth standard

S


“I could feel my life slipping away in front of me and I decided to stop that from happening”

board examinations and I was still stuck with the treatment. It was a very traumatic phase altogether, but I did not want to miss out on my academics without even giving it a try. I could feel my life slipping away in front of me and I decided to stop that from happening. Three months before the board exams, I decided to attend a private tuition, a coaching centre in the next street and give the boards a try. It was very difficult because I wasn’t even able to walk without crutches”, she states. She attended all five exams and did her best in all of them. When the results came, to everyone’s astonishment she had scored a score of 97 percent overall. Immediately after that she was flooded with

interviews, awards and recognition. “My results came on 27th May 2004 exactly two years after my accident which had happened on 26th May 2002. A lot of encouragement happened at that phase. I was even invited to meet APJ Abdul Kalam, which felt so surreal to me at that point of time”.

Social work calling

She then joined regular school in Anna Adarsh to complete her high school education. Im-mensely interested in Economics she wanted to get into St. Stephens College that is the best college for pursuing economics. “There was a


“The society has evolved over the years, but even now people stare at me or become uncomfortable when I remove my electronic hands in public- some with concern, some with curiosity, you never know. “

cut-off of a 98 percent for that college, and again I made it through giving it my everything. I studied in Stephens for three years. Eve-rything was fine by the time, I was mingling in just like any other college going girl. That was also the time I had got my electronic hands. But I realised that I was shying away from a lot of people, very closed and keeping to myself”.

Somewhere along the journey she realised that this was not what she was made for. She took up social work for my masters, in the Delhi school of social work where she did a lot of field work, work-ing extensively with differently abled children. Designing modules for them and doing a lot of research work. “After that I came down to Chennai to do my M Phil where I was awarded for the best the-sis project, which was on disability and inclusion as well. It struck me then that this was my calling and I should spend my life doing this”.

Speaking up

Selected to be a global shaper by the World Economic Forum, she has been doing amazing talks all across the nation and the world. So when did she begun speaking to the public? “In 2012, Ted Ex Youth invited me over to speak onstage. This was the time people started noticed the work I was doing, my work on disability and inclusion. Ever since then, I have been travelling almost every week to give talks. Some NGO, some corporate company or some school from all over India would keep inviting me over to speak. I have become an inspirational speaker right now, and this is something I am and will be in the future too. In my heart I am a social worker though, because I never intended to be a speaker”, she declares.

Inclusion and the society

Something very terrible happened to her, but she was included into the society that pushed her to do better. What about the others who don’t get this opportunity? “If the society hadn’t welcomed me, I may still be submerged in self- doubt and grief. I got the plat-form and I grabbed it. But, I know so many disabled people who are in that phase. The more the society includes disabled people, the better they can strive to be. The only barrier for disabled peo-ple to achieve is the attitude of the society. There are still people who look down upon me, but there are a equal number of other people who accept me as an equal. The society has evolved over the years, but even now people stare at me or become uncom-fortable when I remove my electronic hands in public- some with concern, some with curiosity, you never know. I think the society is divided into halves when it comes to inclusion of people with dis-abilities. That is why I am working on inclusion, to erase that ratio”, she surmises.



Life in the

CircusThere is an entirely different scene happening behind the scenes of a circus, and it’s not all about the show depicts Achuthanand Ravi, with this beautiful photo story. Spending time with people from the circus, having meals with them and attending practice sessions with them, he shows us a glimpse of what he witnessed thereabouts.

Life in the

Circus

Standing high and mighty, the tent has just a carpet for a floor. There aren’t any cots to lie on, or pillows where they can rest their heads on. No blankets to hide behind even, heedless of how low the temperature gets. It’s as hollow as its massive.

They neither go out, nor let anyone in. Tears, dreams and joy come to life and die, within the tent.

Be it injury or be it death, nothing comes to a standstill. After all, it’s just another day at the circus.

The circus is the beginning and the end of them all. Birth, marriage, old age and death, all of it happens in there. For generations past and generations to come.

Oblivious, yet happy.


Bringing lightto the dark

A young girl all of 21 years, Mowshimkka Renganathan has an institution of her own called the ‘Bhojan Atews’ to educate children living in orphanages and empower them for the better. She opens up about the work she has been doing and the aspirations she has for her children.

here is no big story; really”, she begins, ever so modest. “I was studying engineering and I had no

interest in it whatsoever, so I decided I had to do something else. But I never thought I would be doing what I am doing right now. I went to work in an orphanage with a few friends of mine and on spending time with the kids, I realized I wanted to pursue it seriously. Initially it was just me and two other friends of mine. After a year we formed a team of seven people. We formed a foundation called the ‘Bhojan Atews’ foundation. Even

now, though all seven of us are in different localities pursuing different careers we are still actively engaging with kids to educate them”, she says. “For two years we were concentrating on only two orphanages that we were teaching. Visiting and teaching the children there every weekend. Teaching them supplementary education, basically. After a point we realized that following the normal syllabus wasn’t working at all. So we began teaching using activities so that they can grasp everything better. Activity based education, to specify”, she adds. The good work that they were doing began reaching many others by

“T


“So we began teaching using activities so that they can grasp everything better. Activity based education, to specify”

word-of-mouth, and other orphanages invited them to teach as well. We began travelling to government schools across the state to do workshops in the weekend”.

More than just academics

On visiting various orphanages in their mission, they noticed that children lacked awareness of humanitarian values and basic hygiene. “We realized that most children did not even know that they have wear underclothes. They lacked the basic life skills because of both reasons, their parents themselves lacked awareness and the education provided to them did not teach

them any such thing. We decided to take up the initiative by providing them with underclothes that we arranged from a factory in Tirupur and more importantly, teaching them activity based life skills”. In an orphanage where 25 to 30 kids had to sleep together in one room, teaching hygiene is not a very easy task. They decided to frame a new syllabus altogether. Getting together, they brainstormed and formed an ideal one called the ‘Atews’ teaching method.

Adapting to the child

In a scenario where children are forced to adapt to the syllabus, instead of it being vice versa,

26| JANUARY 2015 | BREW 27| JANUARY 2015 | BREW

“We realized that most children did not even know that they have to wear underclothes”

learning never takes place. Thus, the Bhojan Atews team began adapting themselves to the children to help them learn. “We initially play a lot with the children. We spend a few days simply playing because they have a common mindset that we are outsiders and we will leave in a short while. We have to break that barrier first, before expecting them to learn. Most teachers try to break that barrier by physical abuse, which makes everything all the more worse for the children”, she explains. Instead of teaching them values, the Atews team worked to make the children decide for themselves as to what is right and what is wrong. “We figured that was better in the long run. For instance, we showed them two pictures: one of a teenage girl getting married and the other of her attending college and asked them to choose which they thought

was best for the girl. They would then choose the one where the girl is career-oriented” she beams.

Aiming for the stars

Apart from schooling them, she is also keen on empowering them so they can lead a good life. “Most of the children from the orphanages and government schools have very low self-esteem. After graduating, they are happy to get a job paying a bare minimum of five to ten thousand. We teach and treat them in such a way that they aim not for the sky, but for the stars. This is the most difficult thing to pass on”, she claims. “Girls especially, do not see a life beyond getting married. They are so used to trying to survive, that they don’t realize they have to live”, she explains.



contrary to what most people think. I would love to form a band of my own someday, I’m waiting for the right people and the right time, I guess.”

On the music scenario

He is now an active participant in the film industry, working as an Assistant Art Director with Rajivan apart from associating himself with popular music directors like AR Rahman and Harris Jayaraj. He says, “The harsh reality is that independent artists like me do not have a platform as yet to showcase their skills. This is because people steer towards film music, they have not yet opened their minds to listen to other kinds of music that they might even like better. This is why independent artists like myself get involved with films simply to make a living. My primary source of income is from my online design business and the films I’m involved in. Of course I do gigs now and then, even if it doesn’t really pay me much. I would love to make music my full time career, if only it

hink about the last concert that you attended. Maybe you were taken by the lead singer’s crooning or perhaps you were tapping your feet to a heated solo by the lead guitarist. No one remembers the drummer, the band’s

unsung hero. The artist who makes it count. Hudstin is one such leading drummer. He is now working with leading film music directors, performing occasional gigs and also runs an online design business involving product packaging. Asking him how he set out, he opens up “I was a part of a band called ‘Junkyard Groove’ for one and a half years, where we did quite a number of gigs. However, the team fell apart due to some personal differences. Forming a band and making it happen is a lot of work,

In The Air TonightHudstin Fernandez, the self taught drummer is all set to make it big. Juggling films, music and design simultaneously, he proves art is as serious as a profession can be. By Vilani Senthamil

T


In The Air Tonight

gets the place it deserves”. Does he think there is a chance of this happening? “There are so many people releasing albums every month that no one knows about. Local bands produce music in English, Hindi and Tamil too. There is so much beauty in regional music that these bands bring out, but people just stop with Bol-lywood or Kollywood songs. I’m positive that this will change, but it will be a slow process”.

Support, and then some love

There is always a dearth of good music. Independent artists like Hudstin should not only be welcomed with open arms, but also held on to. He agrees, “I can see a major difference in the music scene in the past ten years. People, even if not in a large scale, are definitely welcoming good music. For instance, NH7 hosts the Weekender Festival in four cities that is becoming a major thing. People attend such gigs, watch them play and then start follow-ing them. This is all that is required. A stage for young talents to stage their skills and then, without further ado, everything else follows. Competitions are a major help in that way, I should say”. It’s a known fact that parents are still closed to the idea that music can be a serious profession too, if pursued with zest. “That’s one side of the story. Many parents are now open to their children pursuing a career in music. A few days back I had visited IIT as a judge for a competition, and I was so happy to see the parents of 3 ten-year-olds cheering their children. They had driven all the way from Bangalore just for this. The kids played Metal, and were really good. Most parents consider playing even Rock as a taboo, so it felt good to see something like that, Music is a very serious profession. I am a self-taught drummer, and I have been playing for twelve years now. But I think formal training is necessary. There are many good schools for this too, the Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music (SAM) is an option to opt for the people close to home. If you work hard at music, there will definitely be light at the end of the tunnel”.

Plans in the pipeline

Asking him what the future holds for him, “I’m working on my skills at the moment. I want to reach a level where if anyone is looking for a Drummer, my name should instantly be the go-to name that comes to mind. I’m also looking at music production. I really love

progressive music but there is a very small market for progres-sive music here. I don’t believe in leaving the country and settling somewhere else where the music scene is brighter. To me, that doesn’t make sense. I want to promote good music here, so I am planning to collaborate with other international artists and release albums here. I want to get people here to listen to every genre of music right from jazz, regional folk to rock and so other new, better styles”, he concludes.

With input from Monisha Samuel

“Forming a band and making it happen is a lot of work, contrary

to what most people think.”

“I want to reach a level where if anyone is looking for a Drummer, my name should in-stantly be the go-to name that comes to mind.”


agging the prestigious Nadanamamani award, Anwesha, a dancer presently based in the US is steadily making her way up to the top. The passion she

has for the art form is evident from how her expressive eyes light up at the very mention of it. Asking her what led her to pursue Baratanatyam full time, she says, “I love the discipline that goes into dance. The sense of commitment you feel when you get involved in it is completely unparalleled. It’s an ancient art form with so many intricacies and nuances all of which are extremely inviting. Dance just gives so much more meaning to my life”.

On awards and titles

Apart from the prestigious ‘Nadanamamani’ award, the organisation Karthik Fine Arts having witnessed Anwesha’s performances right from her childhood has also endorsed her with the ‘Natya Chudar’ title, one that has never been awarded to any other dancer ever. “Receiving this award at such a young age makes me feel so blessed and all the more motivated. I’m happy that their support has continued and helped me grow as a dancer. Awards are a source of sheer motivation for me. For every dancer, I must say. Giving a good performance makes me feel satisfied and awards add merit to that

feeling of satisfaction”, she smiles.

Looking back

Trained in the institution of classical dance ‘Natya Sankalpaa’ from a very young age, by the renowned dancer Urmila Sathyanarayanan, Anwesha has certainly come a long way. She opens up, “I focused on both dance and my academics for most of my life. Having done my MBA and MS in Marketing, I was working in the corporate field for a

while, in companies both in the USA and India. Though I was involved in that too, my passion for dance never dwindled. It was quite the opposite; it just grew until I decided to get involved in this beautiful field full time. Starting from my Guru Urmila Sathyanarayan to other prodigies like Vyjanthimala Bali, everyone is a role model to me in their own way. I’m glad I have so many people to look up to. My husband, my family and my in-laws support me and push me to perform more. They have my back when I have to shuttle back

Dancing her way to gloryDo what you love and love what you do, says Anwesha Das, who had no qualms in quitting her high profile corporate career to follow her heart’s desire, dancing. By Vilani Senthamil

“The quality of Baratanatyam has a set standard to it by itself and I think every dancer who

is passionate about the form is always striving to achieve

that standard”

B


Dancing her way to glory

and forth between India and the USA which is a great relief for me”.

The communication gap

With so many other sources of entertainment offered, the audi-ence that the classical arts used to draw in has of late, reduced. Quizzing her on what her take on this is, she states, “I think Baratanatyam as an art form is as such extremely technical- so it’s a talent to even master it, let alone try to modernise it. The quality of Baratanatyam has a set standard to it by itself and I think every dancer who is passionate about the form is always striving to achieve that standard. Having said that, with comparison to other forms of entertainment, Baratanatyam is definitely more compli-cated to comprehend. I think the more we participate, the more we inspire our kids and the future generation to participate, the more people will be interested in this beautiful art form. Communi-cation is key- the more you spread the word, the more people you get to attend your performances. I think it’s very good that a trend of group programmes and dance dramas is emerging because it’s a lot easier for the common man to understand a group dance. Being colourful with so many dancers onstage at the same time, it is defi-nitely more appealing to the eye. It keeps the younger dancers also interested with a lot happening at the same time. Dance dramas and group dances are like a medium, I feel. A channel to catapult them to watch solo recitals as the essence of Baratanatyam, the real beauty of it lies in a solo recital.”

Taking the plunge

The field of dance, be it classical or otherwise, is as ever in a stage

of evolution and dancers in turn, are not completely sure of their long term plans tied to it. This dancer, however, has her head in the game. “I am looking to perform regularly, especially in the Margazhi season in India. I have always wanted to teach and have begun doing so in the USA to a small bunch of girls. My Guru Ur-mila Sathyanrayanan and I are planning to set up a branch of Natya Sankalpaa in the States, as well. Apart from the Indian citizens, the other citizens there are very interested in the art form too, so there is a lot of scope for Baratanatyam to become popular there. In fact, it’s already almost as popular as it is here today. The colours, the values and the deep culture rooted to it appeals to them. I think fascination of the unknown is what pulls them towards this art, ironically similar to how people here strive to learn western prac-tices like Ballet!” she reveals.

“Dance dramas and group dances are like a medium, I

feel. A channel to catapult them to watch solo recitals, as the

essence of Baratanatyam, the real beauty of it lies in a solo

recital”


ART IN

BUISNESSVincent Adaikal Raj, the executive director of The

Black Thunder Theme Park, Ooty runs multiples

businesses all at once. He runs the art galleries

named ‘Art Houz’ and the national magazine ‘Arts

Illustrated’. He is now getting down to producing

films too!

uizzing him on how he got involved with art to begin, he says “It’s not a very interesting story. I have always loved art, maybe not consciously, but yes. When I had to renovate my hotels or my theme park, I never opted for prints that are comparatively much cheaper. I began buying art in my hotel about ten years back. If you visit my hotels in Coimbatore or my theme park Black Thunder, it will all have beautiful paintings or have an attractive artistic theme to it.”

This passion of his then grew until he decided to do something about it. “The person who sold me art got me into this business that has become an investment now. This slowly evolved finally leading to me starting an art gallery along with a friend of mine, majorly to

promote young, talented artists.” When most people launch businesses to reap profit, one wonders why he launched something that will be a stepping-stone to others. He says, “I have observed that a lot of South Indian artists are being neglected in the national level, so as a South Indian myself I felt that I had to help them achieve recognition in some way. This doesn’t mean I pertain to promoting only South Indian artists; I aid any young talented artist who has the impulse to shine and give them a platform both nationally and internationally”. He is put-ting a whole lot of effort to make these galleries bigger too. “We have 3 galleries all under the same brand called ‘Art Houz’, among which Chennai is the biggest one. We have one in Coimbatore and in Bangalore too. I am planning

Q34| JANUARY 2015 | BREW

to launch in Bombay and Delhi as well. We are even planning to take it forward internationally, in Dubai and Singapore. This is yet in the planning process. This is for the sole reason that we can get the artists to go on a tour and showcase their work on different platforms both nationally and internationally. The more exposure they have, the better it will be for them. Most galleries are located only in one or two places, but we are branching out to many more so our young artists will get more exposure.”

Apart from his art galleries, he owns the magazine ‘Arts Illustrated’ as well which is known in the national level. “I wouldn’t call my magazine a big one, we are still growing and learning”, he adds. Producing the last script of Sathyajit Ray for a Hollywood film back in 1994 turned out to be the biggest landmark in his career. “Directed by his son Sandeep Ray, this just happened. I was initially looking to buy some Hollywood film when this was offered to me. I made my money back, but the team made more money that was never given to me. That was when I backed out from the movie business then.”

After ten years, he is getting back to produce films yet again, news of which will be open to public by the end of this year.

Again, he is doing this to give a platform to first time directors and new talent. “I am doing this just for fun, not to make money. I just want to make movie with a solid plot just for the satisfaction that I will get out of it. I will produce a movie that is commercial yet brings out current issues. Of course, I will want the films I produce to breakeven, if not make profit! It will be a low budget film, where I will promote only new faces including the actors, the crew and the director. Again, I want to give newcomers a chance. I will work with a director who understands how people think and one who is aware of the issues happening in the country. I will want this young director to connect both and produce a solid plot”. He adds, “I will work with a first time director because technically, I am a first time producer too!” laughing.

Has he always been this hardworking? “In school and college, I never studied at all. Only when I turned 24 did I become serious and get down to business. Coming from a business family, I got involved in a lot of businesses then. But my passion was art, so I eventually came back to it. My strength is business and my passion is art, I simple bought both of it together!” he surmises.

“My strength is business and my passion is art, I simply bought both of it together!”


HELL BENT ON LEATHERMaking you look cooler almost instantly and in an offbeat manner at that, leather jackets are simply not just for bikers anymore. Here is why it’s altogether demanding to rein in those leather sheaths to your wardrobe. By Vilani Senthamil

Always in vogue, a smart leather jacket is a separate that adds a stylishly laidback demeanour to an outfit. Every fashion trend out there has its phase at turning heads, but there are very few that are perpetually in the main picture. A leather jacket is one such exception as it is almost always a front-runner, having that infinitesimal edge over other stop-and-go trends. By the same token, it’s not just for the lady. It’s also for the rebellious man. It is that one article of clothing that every man should have in his closet. It transforms a present-day man to look like a rugged rock star from the 60’s. Not in a million years will a leather jacket be labelled a fashion faux pas, nor will any other jacket or overcoat ever supersede it. Let’s see why exactly the leather jacket is by all means, here to stay.

There are many different leather jackets among which you can choose from. Since it’s pivotal to pick the hide that

suits your physique and compliments your persona,

here’s the inside story of every one of the different leather sheaths you could

opt for.

For the gentlemen

The Motocross

Fitting snugly, the Motocross originated from racetracks and has evolved to be the badass jacket among the different styles of leather jackets. It flatters men with a skinny or trim frame, as it skims to the lower waistline hugging the torso. It has minimum detailing on it, and a strap that buttons around the neck. It’s a good bet if you want to look like the hunky guy next-door.

The Fatigue

This loose fitting jacket has that century old air to it. It’s sturdy shoulder reinforcements and dual chest pockets are inspired from army uniforms. The military rig to it works wonders. It goes with anything, you can wear it on a crisp white shirt and a tie, a knit tee-shirt or even a concert tee-shirt, this style will elevate your outfit to a whole new level. The Bomber

This one’s for the bigger guys out there, as it suits the sturdy physique. Lined at the sleeves and waist with ribbed wool, this leather jacket is somewhat thick as it’s made for chilly weather. It works well if you want to keep warm during winters, yet look sharp. Apart from black, dark brown is another shade that works for the Bomber.


Moto jacketAlso called the Biker jacket, this

one has bling zippers, looks sleek and emanates a really cool vibe. Throw in a Moto jacket with an all black outfit- with a bonus of

black leather boots, to knock them senseless.

Trench coat

Jet-black and sleek, a trench coat is forever the classic. Oomph it up with a pair of stilettos, and the figure-hugging trench will make you look like a quintes-

sential character straight out of an English novel. Dark brown and

bright red are the other shades you could go for.

Peplum jacket

The bold peplum leather jacket shows off your curves elegantly.

To boot, get your hands on a floral-embossed one, as it is the

latest fad amongst the all the peplum leather jackets. It’s sexy,

in a sugar coated way.

Sheepskin leather coat

To take things up a notch, you should try the furry sheepskin coat; it looks dressy and is still the same leather jacket you’re

looking for. With its frills and flair, it sure brings in a wee bit of sum-

mer into the dreary winter.

For the ladies


Varsity leather jacket

This sporty old school sheath gives a true to form vintage air to your whole

ensemble. To look ultra hip, wear it with a crop top underneath, crop tops being the rage of late, this ensemble will be the perfect package of old-world chic.

Patent slicker jacket

The ones who want to go all-out should go for the zesty patent slicker leather jacket. With its glossy finish, a patent slicker sheath coupled with printed pants in bright colours will surely make you look like an eye

candy.

Adding more to the ensemble

Denim leather play-offsMatch your jacket casually with

a pair of light denims or even better, torn denims, as that’s a

match that is out-and-out made in heaven. Breezy yet slightly

brazen, this betrothal strikes a perfect chord for the autumn-winter spell. Whilst it’s best for

dudes to stick to their denim pants, members of the gentler

sex could go ahead and pair their leather jackets with denim

skirts and short-shorts other than pants.

The tailor-made jacketWhen it comes to leather

jackets, it’s all about the fit. It might turn out to look sloppy if it doesn’t fit your body frame

just right. Make sure the jacket hugs your shoulders and fits

snugly. In fact, try out one that is a size smaller to your actual size and see if it goes well with your physique. You definitely wouldn’t want to pull a baggy fit for this one. For men, thigh

long fads are a strict no for leather jackets- to get the up-market look, buy a jacket that lines the waist. Keep a check on the sleeves as nothing can be done if the sleeves are too

lengthy.

Scrutinizing the huesWhere a guy dressed in a jet-

black leather jacket fitted like a glove to his frame is a complete

knockout, it is also true that leather jackets manifested in other colours like chocolate brown, dark brown, tan and even butterscotch are well-

favored. Into the bargain, for the ladies who are looking to add a feminine touch to their ensemble leather jackets in

blushing shades of rose should work really well. Opt for floral

turtlenecks or scarves to go with the leather that is sure to make you look as pretty as a

picture.

Nailing the formalsIf you want to look formal and

at the very same time non-chalant, a leather jacket is the essential to look out for. For

gentlemen, there are two ways to pull off the formal look- Ei-ther pair a crisp white shirt, a

thin black tie and casual denims with a black leather jacket, or grey or navy formal suit pants and a contrast tee with a tan leather jacket. For women,

leather jackets of suitable col-ours adorned in an ensemble of a white shirt with high wasted skirts or a pair of formal pants

will look smart for a workplace. Also, formal dresses in shades complimentary to that of the

jacket, will add a sophisticated touch to the outfit.


Skin TONESMost ladies wouldn’t know how to use make up for their skin specific to different occasions, or to be more precise, the nuances of putting it on. Aakriti Sachdev, the upcoming make-up artist has the perfect tips for this, so read on!

Making your face look thin and sculpted

There is a certain kind of powder called the ‘Contouring’ powder, which when applied in the face makes you look instantly thinner. This can be applied in the hairline and on the inner hollows of your cheeks. If you want to make it look even more effective, apply this on the sides of your nose. “Contouring powder is the key to lose three kilos in just five minutes!” she says.

Stepping out for business

“You wouldn’t want people to be distracted by the make-up you are wearing when you want them to listen to you, so it’s best to keep it minimal”, recommends Aakriti. Kajal and eyeliner is a must. If you have fair skin, you can use brown eyeliner. Dusky skin tones can go for black. Soft brown eye shadow can be used as well. “Highlighting the inner cor-ner of both your eyes makes you look really active, so that’s a good idea”, she adds.

Look stunning at a party

“If you don’t have a golden eyeliner, buying one should be the next thing on your list! Gold eyeliner with some Kajal is perfect if you are attending a function or a party. You can even put on some gold eyeliner on top of the black one, along with some golden eye shadow if you want your eyes to stand out”, she states. Pair your eyes up with pink, red or orange lip colour keeping in mind your skin colour. The deeper your skin tone, the deeper the colour can be.

Quick tips to get a healthy glow

Most people don’t understand that using a moisturizer is a must. Be it dry r oily skin, moisturizer is necessary to keep your skin healthy in the long run. “You can use an oil-free moisturizer if you have oily skin”, she says.

Exfoliating the face at least twice a week prevent pores, black heads and pigmenta-tion. She explains, “This removes the dead cells from the skin that in turn makes your skin look fresh”.

Last but definitely not the least, using sunscreen for the skin irrespective of being indoors or outdoors will do wonders for your skin. “Using sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30 only profits the skin. Otherwise, sun-screen is useless. Make certain you check the SPF before using sunscreen”, she signs off.


Bringing Ireland to

IndiaDesigned in Ireland and later shipped and built in Chennai, this unique venue plays perfect host in bringing family and friends together; and throws an occasion to socialize with other guests. From Monday to Friday, 12 Noon to 3 PM, they serve a complete 3 course meal complemented with a cup of Irish coffee or beer for INR 519, exclusive of taxes. You may also opt for a single course for INR 319. Every Sunday, MASP offers families a venue for relaxation, conversation and bonding with a long Sunday brunch beginning from 11:00 AM till 4:00 PM with an elaborate menu that comprises of 5 course options and 2 beverages (alcoholic and non alcoholic options) for INR 999, exclusive of taxes. To help you enjoy your Sunday afternoons better, they also complement it with a live acoustic performance from talented artists from across India from 12:00 Noon to 3:00 PM. What’s more, entry is free! This is a place of books and great conversations over live gigs rendered by leading musicians from across South India. The cuisines brings alive the authentic European flavours, made with fresh ingredients for your good health. In addition to offerings of refreshing cocktails and mock tails, The Moon and Sixpence also offers the authentic Irish coffee.

The Moon and Sixpence located in Hablis, Guindy, provides an authentic Irish experience taking dining to a whole new

level with its unique cuisine, spacious atmosphere and charming ambience. Ganesh Vellasamy, Executive Chef gives

us his most sought-after recipes

Barley and Vegetable brothPreparation time, 12 minutes

Serving, 1 portion

Diced carrot, 25 gms Celery diced, 15 gms Potato diced, 20 gms

Barley boiled, 30 gms Leeks, 15 gms

Diced Cabbage, 15 gms Vegetable stock, 200 ml

Finely chopped garlic, 10 gms Chopped onion, 15 gms Chopped parley, 10 gms

Oil, 5 ml Salt to taste

Bread to serve

1. Sauté the onion and garlic in olive oil. Add the remaining vegetables.

2. Add the vegetable stock and allow it to sim-mer till the vegetables get cooked.

3. Soak the barley and boil it separately, then add that to the soup.

4.Season the soup and finish with chopped parsley. Serve along with bread.


Steamed Chicken Coin, Plum Tomato Caper Salsa

Preparation time, 15 minutesServing, 1 portion

Chicken Minced, 120 gmsSalt, to tastePepper (crushed), to tasteThyme, 2 gmsCelery (finely chopped), 15 gmsLeeks (finely chopped), 15 gmsOnion (finely chopped), 10 gmsFresh Bread Crumbs, 30 gmsTomato (deseeded), 50 gmsCaper, 15 gmsBaby Potato, 50 gmsParsley (chopped), 5 gms

For Garnish

Mixed Lettuce, 50 gmsBalsamic Glaze, 10 ml

1. Marinate the chicken mince with celery, leeks, garlic, onion, salt and pepper for half hour before preparation.2. Make small patties from the chicken mixture and steam it.3. To prepare Tomato Caper Salsa – blanch the tomatoes and remove the skin. Deseed the tomatoes and chop it finely. Add to this olive oil, salt and capers.4. To prepare the potato – wash and peel the potatoes. Boil the potatoes and chop into one cm cubes. Sauté the potato with garlic, onion and chopped parsley.5. To serve – put a layer of the potato mix, top it with the chicken coin and finish with some of the caper salsa.



Bailey’s cheese cakePreparation time, 15 minutes

Serving, 1 portion

Mascarpone cheese, 250gmWhip cream, 250gm

Gelatine, 15gmsLemon juice, 1 no

Milk, 150 gmsCastor sugar, 150 gms

Egg yolk, 2 nosVanilla essence, 30 ml

Baileys, 60 mlStrawberry, 1 no

Chocolate Cigar, 50 gmCookies, 10 nos

Butter, 50 gms

1.Cook sugar, milk and egg yolk in double boiler allow it to cool down.2.Add gelatine, mascarpone cheese, vanilla essence, whip cream and lemon uice.3.Crush the cookies and mix it with butter and pour the mixture and allow it to set.4.Garnish with strawberry and chocolate cigar.5.Drizzle Baileys on top.

The Foodie Calendar

Having travelled extensively across the globe on multiple food trails, Vikram Cotah the senior Vice President of Radis-son Blu GRT Hotels and Resorts, Chennai is a connoisseur when it comes to different cuisines of food. The various restaurants, banquets and bars of the brand have won many awards over the years. He travels simply to try different types of food, right from researching Thai cuisine to knowing all about food sold on the streets of Sowcarpet!

long with a team of his best chefs, he has put together a foodie calendar, which explains the making of one statement dish for each month. They celebrate certain days with unique food to associate foodies, like the Great Barbecue Day, the Sweet Pongal Day, Vegetarian Day, Masala Dosa Day and what not!

From next month onwards, he will be shar-ing with us some of his most interesting culinary experiences. Furthermore, we will also be publishing the detailed recipe of one dish for each month from the Foodie Calendar. For starters (pun intended), we have the recipe for January- Velvety Choco-late Pudding with Ganache. Flip the page to try making this scrumptious dish at home!

A


Velvety Chocolate Pudding with GanachePudding

Butter, 100 gmsSugar, 100 gmsEgg, 3 nosDark chocolate melted in double boiler, 150 gmsRefined flour, 100 gms

Brandy Snaps

Butter, 25 mRefined flour, 25 gmsLiquid glucose, 50 gmsIcing sugar, 50 gms

Ganache

Dark chocolate roughly chopped, 100 gmsDouble cream, 75 mlCooking butter, 10 gmsVanilla essence, 3 ml

Garnish

Blackberry chocolate stick, 25 gms

Pudding

Pre-heat the oven at 180 degrees C. In a bowl, cream the butter and sugar using a wooden spoon till sugar dissolves and forms a creamy consistency. Add egg one by one and keep mixing. Pour the melted chocolate over the butter mixture and mix well. With the help of a spatula, fold the flour to the mixture slowly and do not over mix. Transfer into the greased mould to three-fourth. Bake the mixture in a double boiler method by pouring water in a tray and placing the mould inside the tray. Make sure the mould is only immersed ¼ in the water; bake for about 30 to 40 minutes or until a cake like top forms.

Pour the ganache in the centre of the serving plate, de-mould the pudding in the centre. Drizzle fresh blackberry and place a crisp of brandy snap to garnish.

Ganache

Boil cream on a slow fire. Add butter to it and pour over chocolate and stir with vanilla essence. Keep warm.

Brandy Snap

Pre-heat the oven to 180 degree C. Mix all the ingredients together. On a silpat or a tray with butter paper pour the mixture with a teaspoon and spread into a thin layer. Bake in pre-heated oven for 20 minutes till it gets a nice golden brown colour. Remove them carefully without breaking the snaps. Using a pizza wheel cut to a desired shape and serve along with hot chocolate pudding.



A taste of

BALIRugged yet lavish

in its own style, Bali, Indonesia is mystical in every form. It provides

not only a tranquil holiday, but also a

very inexpensive one. With sprawling

beaches- some unnerving, some

calm and temples around its every

other corner, this island should be

on every traveller’s wish list.

By Vilani Senthamil


Tanjung Benoa

and Nusa Dua

Indulging in some water sport or the other is a must when you visit an island. Tanjung Benoa is the hub of all water sports in Bali. Be it snorkel-ling, scuba diving, banana boat, flying fish, water skiing or parasailing, name it and it’s there! Nestled between inner curves of the island, this spot is calm with white sand beaches perfect for a peaceful geta-way. Several Chinese temples, Hindu temples and a mosque are also close to the vicinity. To the south of Tanjung Benoa lies Nusa Dua, the name transcrib-ing to ‘two islands’. Nusa Dua is the nucleus of star hotels, premium villas and luxury spas. If you don’t mind spending too much, opt for a stay in one of these resorts, as they are sure to give you a royal treatment.


Driving along the Ubud rice plantations passing by some surreal

views and stopping at coffee plantations to taste different types

of coffee and tea, this package is a must-do indeed. At the coffee

plantations you can taste different types of coffee like the cocoa

coffee, the vanilla coffee, the ginger coffee among many others. The most unique one among this is

the Luwak coffee which involves using the coffee beans from the excreta of the Civet which does

sound rather disgusting, but is in fact, delicious. After all of this, you arrive at the Agung Batur Volcano

that is truly incredible. After all, how often do you get to see a

volcano in real life?

Ubud Plantations and

Mount Batur




This commercial beach rose to fame for its golden sand beach and perfect surf waves. But lately, its known more for its thriving nightlife that starts right after the sun sets and lasts up until four in the morning. It has a good wealth of bars, clubs and sunset chill-out spots. This is the perfect place to party, grab some great food and shop till you drop!

Kuta-Legian


The Tanah Lot and the Ulu Watu stand out to be the most

beautiful of all the temples in Bali. Tanah Lot, located well

into the ocean with the waves smashing all around, it is sure to take your breath away. This

has developed into a perfect tourist spot with a long string

of shops selling local goods all around it. Ulu Watu, perched

high on the edge of a cliff gives a splendid view of the

sprawling Indian Ocean. This temple is known for its Kecak

dance performed everyday during sunset by a good

number of Balinese dancers. If you ever plan a trip to Bali, do

not miss out visiting both these temples during the sunset.

Tanah Lot and

Ulu Watu



Madras – Nothing But The TruthBy Joshua Jacob Samuel, winning the best blog post of the month

hennai, this awkward city quietly perched on the sub-continent coastline, unassumingly goes about her thriving business of letting people be, under playgrounds of sky and security. Of Demi-Gods on reel, the cradle of the Carnatic way, and simple folk playing the ordinary hero in this seaside tale. If you came

looking for brazen neon lights, glitzy locale, and smooth talking narcissists, you’ve clearly landed in the wrong port. But you can stay, and I’ll even learn your ways, just as long as you don’t impose your metropolitan rhythm on me. I am Madras, curiously unfashionable by choice, quietly progressive, and unabashedly accommodating all at once, amazing like that. How these seemingly inconsistent elements work together, is the very mystique that needs no advocate, and shuns the inadequacy of

In this Madras I was born and schooled, where life took me on a tour of her shady corners, and characters of all shapes and temperaments along the way. Growing up, sepia shades crossover into streams of technicolor as pictures of us, rug rats playing cricket on the street come to mind. Those moments in the sun, I defended three stone-drawn stumps, building cathe-drals of resilience for several hours. All in the hope that if I stuck around that crease long enough I could raise my willow to the skies and live a glimpse of the man in blue. The rushes would bleed into unadulterated ambition, albeit a fire put out in a matter of time as I knocked three consecutive ducks with sniper precision. It shut those aspira-tions down and sent me packing home to trigonometry and social studies.

In Madras, I learnt not just the alphabet, but to treat my elders with gentleness and respect. Not just the piano, but to remem-ber where I came from, that everything I re-ceived growing up was by virtue of a league of extraordinary men and women who conceptualized and conceived an establish-ment where my happiness equaled profit and working overtime without recogni-tion to see it through, was money in the bank. I learnt not just how our world works with the magic of science, but also of the simpler truths in life: that blood is tougher than carbon-fiber and the rational fades in the face of love. Here, Love conquers all.

“It all balances out noiselessly, leaving

me with little to ramble on about.”

C


All that said, I have to say that Chennai keeps reminding me, that I’m not as free as I wish to believe, not going to lie. It’s the kind of place where a court of eyes would innocuously drive beside you as you take a stroll with a friend on Elliot’s beach and suddenly the race against reputation becomes a meticulously measured charade of performances. Of course, there’s that sneaky thrill that goes through you when you get away, but we won’t go there. To put it simply, you could say that you are not free to do as you wish, where you wish with impunity. An inconvenience, yes, but nothing harsher than that. It leaves us with “stuck-up” but sane people, infuriatingly righteous gentlemen, but discipline was never a whole bag of fun was it? It all balances out noiselessly, leaving me with

little to ramble on about.

The wonder of travel often makes you covet the life and sights of exalted cities that could’ve been ours, instead. Autumn in New York, walking in Rome with the mighty ambience of civilization around you, regal London, it’s music and history. But for the majority of 23 years, Madras has given me everything I love and am. I forged the deepest bonds, not in racy clubs or watering holes, but rather, on lazy nights spent on modestly high terraces, over the finest of food at not so fine dining, experiences with the rush of rock n’ roll beside our wings, and unforgettable encounters at the MCC — home of the greatest franchise in Indian sport (argument is futile).

The traffic jams, the auto

drivers will be a thorn in our side for as long as I can imagine, but the hundreds of extraordinary people and their stories so finely interwoven with more extraordinary people (despite a religiously and communally polarized country) make Chennai more than worth the while. She might be a tad bit passé at times, but you can never hold her guilty of pretension, and I can deal with that. We have given the world it’s corporate successes, music, culture, art, the works. But this is my tribute to the ordinary heroes of this city: the garbage cleaners, the fishermen, the sweepers, the mothers, the teachers and all those who might be tempted to believe that they are caught up in the tidal wave of tedium, the routine and the average. We must realize that the loyalty and heroism of the

ordinary does not confiscate our ambitions of greatness that the world confers to those who have reached dramatic landmarks of conventional achievement. Opportunities’ doors will always be open, and our East Coast will carry us as far as our dreams and wills can reach. But to attribute success to mere acts of recognition and trophy, is to miss the legacy and blessing that comes from those steadfast acts of devotion and perseverance, often done in the pedestrian everyday.

“Here, Love conquers

all”


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