OCTOBER 2013
SOUTH INDIA'S PREMIER UBER LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
`40
VOL 10 ISSUE 3
MASSIVE ATTACK!
'LIVE' FOR THE MOMENT
GUILLERMO DEL TORO ON THE 2500 POUNDS OF AWESOME THAT IS PACIFIC RIM
THE HOTTEST MUSIC FESTIVALS AND LIVE EVENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS
SUHANI PITTIE ON BEING ONE OF THE TOP 10 MOST INGENIOUS JEWELLERY DESIGNERS IN THE WORLD
GUTS N' GLITTER
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
As we present to you a very special edition of RITZ, one that is high on style and fashion and even higher on entertainment, we
are in the mood for celebration. Not just because the festive season is upon us, but also because October marks the fourth
anniversary of our sister publication, Southscope, India’s leading south film magazine. This month will also be a hectic one
for us, as the date for the fifth edition of the Audi RITZ Icon Awards, our one-of-its-kind initiative to honour inspirational South
Indian icons on a national platform, fast approaches.
As usual, expect the most sought-after film stars and the most awe-inspiring icons pioneering different fields and hailing from
all over South India, right here in Chennai.
Until next month, happy reading!
4 OCTOBER 2013
INSIDEBUZZIN’We're buzzin about some sugar and some spice and
everything nice this October!
10
GLAM BRIGADEA round up of what the glitterati has been up to
28
SNAPPEDLast month's hot and happening events and launches
through our viewfinder
36
PORTFOLIOWe join in the fashion extravaganza that took place
at the London and New York fashion weeks while
showcasing some trailblazing designs that set the
runway on fire
40
HAUTE STUFFOur fash forward lineup includes getting your royal bling
right; the lowdown on quirky, artsy dresses and more
54
PERSONALITYA candid chat with the versatile Suhani Pittie shows us
why she is one of the top 10 most talented jewellery
designers in the world
68
74UBER LIVINGFrom the depths of the deep blue sea are harvested one
of the most beautiful gems ever known to man – Pearls.
Find out what goes behind the creation of these coveted
beauties and what makes them so valuable
78HAWKEYEDestination Divorces are slowly gaining acceptance –
we scan the trend of clubbing a holiday with breaking
one’s nuptials!
60ON OUR RADARWe go on a detailed tour of AM:PM designers Ankur
and Priyanka Modi’s plush and fuss-free Delhi home
80TAKE OFFPack your bags and head out for some live music
as we bring you the lowdown on the hottest music
festivals and camping festivals happening around the
country this year
68
37
10
78
74
40
6 OCTOBER 2013
INSIDE
EDITOR & PUBLISHER ARUNA R KRISHNAN EDITORIAL CO-ORDINATORS SHRUTHI SUDHAKARAN & ROHIT PANIKKERCONTRIBUTING WRITERS ASMITA AGGARWAL, ROHIT PANIKKER, VINITA NAYAR, SIDDHARTH KUMAR, RICHA TILOKANI,
VIRA SHAH, MINAL KHONA GUEST COLUMNISTS SHARAN APPARAO, VIDYA SINGH DESIGN PURPLE MANGO CREATIVE SOLUTIONS
MARKETING MANAGER PRAVEEN KUMAR M EXECUTIVE-CLIENT SERVICE SWATHI RAMAKRISHNAN SENIOR MEDIA EXECUTIVE – FILM PROMOTIONS SANJAY G FEATURES PHOTOGRAPHER ARUL RAJ
EVENT PHOTOGRAPHER, CHENNAI M GURUNATH PRABHU
All correspondence should be addressed to:
RITZ, 7th Floor, Sigma Wing, Raheja Towers, 177, Anna Salai, Chennai 600002. Contact: 42113871 / 2
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Edited and Published by Aruna R Krishnan from 7th Floor, Sigma Wing, Raheja Towers, 177 Anna Salai, Chennai 600002.All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. RITZ is not responsible for unsolicited material. RITZ assumes no responsibility for the veracity and authenticity of the advertisements published herein. Readers are requested to make appropriate enquiries before incurring any expenses or acting on medical recommendations or otherwise in
relation to any advertisement or article published herein. Also views in articles published herein are those of the respective authors only. RITZ does not necessarily subscribe to these views.
To advertise in RITZ, call Praveen Kumar on 9841973090 / 044 42113871
INDULGEWe're on an overdose of foreign films this month as we
take a look at something to laugh over and something
else to ponder. Plus we get talking to the powerhouse
duo of Adil & Vasundhara on their music and writer
Ashwin Sanghi on his literary influences
90
MAINCOURSEVidya Singh and her stylish friends check out China XO
at The Leela Palace and come away happy while our
Hyderabad correspondent has an equally awesome
experience at The Olive Bistro
96
THE RITZ READERShruti Haasan gives us her idea of luxury and ‘the
good life’
102
OVER A CUPPADirector Guillermo Del Toro takes you behind the scenes of
his fantasy action flick Pacific Rim
86
VIEWPOINTAward-winning gallerist Sharan Apparao takes you step by
step towards preserving your works of art to be enjoyed
for years after, while Sujaya Chandran tells us why some
aspects of social networking are not working for her
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8 OCTOBER 2013
Diwali Delights from BISCOTTI
Choose from exclusive hand
crafted festive hampers that
you can customise as per your
desire. Take your pick from
traditional sweets and signature
Biscotti goodies like macaroons,
dry fruit halwa, dried apricots,
chocolate truffles, dark
chocolate bars, ladoos, cookies,
dry fruits and more. Available
in a range of festive colours
and sizes, starting at ` 499
onwards. To know more about
the Biscotti sweet surprises,
call Hyatt Regency Chennai
at +91 99620 01647.
Celebrate the weekend with
a difference at the first-of-
its-kind Sundown at 365 AS,
with six hours of unlimited
music, free flowing spirits,
BBQ and delectable food
fare to delight your soul.
Saturdays and Sundays
will never be the same in
Chennai. Starting October
2013 – 2 PM to 8 PM every
Saturday and Sunday at
365 AS at Hyatt Regency
Chennai.
SUNDOWN at 365 AS
FOOD
10 OCTOBER 2013
BUZZIN’
Lladró unveils the limited edition Ram Darbar
Frame your Style
SHOPPING
This Diwali, the iconic 60-year old Lladró has
unveiled a special limited edition sculpture titled
Ram Darbar, at their flagship boutique at the
Bergamo Mall, Chennai.
Ram Darbar summarizes the best expressions
of Lladró’s work and includes the highest level
of excellence that the Lladró family has to offer.
The sculptures of Lakshman and Hanuman
capture the essence of unflinching devotion
to the Divine Couple. Drawing from the Hindu
iconography and embellished in finery, both
Lakshman and Hanuman are depicted in their
traditional posture, next to Ram and kneeling
in prayer respectively. This new creation
is a limited edition of 1800 pieces and is
approximately 46 x 29 cm in size,
available worldwide.
Ram Darbar is a part of The Spirit of India
collection, which includes other sculptures
such as Goddess Lakshmi, Ganesha
series, Divine Love, Radha Krishna, Lord
Krishna, Sacred Cow, Indian dance etc.
The luxurious attributes of the baroque and
enthralling wonders of India are captured in
the various pieces of this collection.
For those who love their shades, the Fall Winter
Diesel Eyewear collection is a collection worth
checking out. It suggests a new vision of style,
mainly inspired by denim, vintage and colorful
touches. Following the previous successful
season, Denimize shades make their comeback
with a full denim edition. Asymmetric temples
and exclusive real denim inserts transform the
unisex Wayfarer shape into an iconic piece
dedicated to real denim lovers. The captivating,
colourful collection, featuring mirror lenses and
unbalanced frames, is inspired by the most
unconventional people and sets a statement
worth your style.
Price: On Request
Availability: Available in all leading optical and
multi-branded stores across country
Spring/Summer or Fall/Winter, shades are a fashion constant. With Diesel and Marcolin collaborating to bring about Fall Winter 2013 collection, we find out more...
Ram Darbar, the limited edition Lladró stands true to the brand’s focus on heritage and craftsmanship…
12 OCTOBER 2013
BUZZIN’
Every Diwali, we promise not to overeat
but still end up devouring many boxes of
fattening sweets. This year, why not switch
to healthier options like dry fruits and
chocolates, which are much lighter on the
stomach? For healthy but tasty gifts, head
to Brown Tree this festive season where
you can choose from a wide range of dry
fruit hampers and imported chocolates like
Lindt, Hersheys etc.
It has been four successful years since
young entrepreneurs Dinesh Kumar and
Abhinandan B started Brown Tree. Since
then, they have opened 16 stores, of which
are 12 in Chennai and four in Bengaluru.
The duo plans to open many more in every
major city in the country, very soon.
Says founder Abhinandan B, “This Diwali,
gift health to your loved ones with our wide
range of dry fruit hampers. The advantage
of gifting dry fruits is that they have a longer
shelf life compared to sweets. Plus, a lot
of people are unable to eat sweets due
to diabetes etc., so dry fruits are a good
alternative for them. We have a wide range
of price points as well; we have gifts from
` 120 to ` 4000. So, there is something for
everyone at Brown Tree.”
Perfect gifting solutions
One of their best-selling gifts is the
intricately designed gold or silver-coloured
basket, which features apricots centered
around cashewnuts, almonds, raisins and
pistachios in a pleasing arrangement.
The whole pack is sealed with a thick
transparent film with the dry fruits packed
individually inside. It makes for a great
corporate or private gift. Another fast
mover is the ornate fruit gift box inspired
by the art of Rajasthani royalty, complete
with coloured, jade-like metallic finish,
sure to create a lasting impression. This
compartmentalised gift box contains the
finest quality of cashew nuts, almonds,
raisins and pistachios.
Brown Tree also has a Celebrations and
semi-ornate range which is suitable for all
occasions. This dry fruit gift box comes
with an ethnic touch, using designs inspired
from the traditional block-prints of India. It
comes with a brilliant shine derived from
the glass embedded on the boxes, packed
with loads of healthy dry fruits to fulfill the
nutritious dietary needs of your loved ones.
Healthy yet tasty
Brown Tree also offers organic and natural
foods, gourmet coffee beans, cereals,
biscuits, instant noodles, roasted snacks,
teas and sugar free products. Freshness
and goodness is the driving motto of the
founders at Brown Tree. “All the products
are healthy, yet there is no compromise on
taste. Going forward, we hope to continue
to delight our customers with our healthy
offerings,” signs off Abhinandan as he gets
ready for another exciting festive season.
Not surprising then, that Brown Tree is
fast becoming everyone’s favorite health
food store.
Call the toll free number 1-800-1023360 for bulk orders.
Brown Tree promises to make your festive season extra special and healthier with a even wider range of yummy gift hampers, says Richa Tilokani.
with
Gift Brown Tree
health
14 OCTOBER 2013
ADVERTORIAL
Sanskrriti offers a range of custom-made, ethnic, and innovative wedding trousseau packaging, corporate gift hampers and festive giveaways to complement any celebratory occasion. Sanskrriti works closely out an inimitable style to your
celebrations, making every moment count.
Old No. 14, New No. 15, Sulaiman Zackariah Avenue, Casa Major Road, 3rd Lane, Egmore, Chennai - 600008.Ph: 2819 4489, 64992496 | Email: [email protected]
Weekdays: 10am – 7:30pm | Closed on Sunday
Trousseau packing | Gift boxes | Gift packing | Garlands and more...
Celebrating in Style
where celebrations become grander
With the festive season around the corner, The Chennai Silks is all geared up to make your shopping experience even more special…
Defining
style this festivaly
season
This Diwali, The Chennai Silks brings
you a lot of surprises loaded with some
enviable and exquisite collections. Get
geared up for the grand sale this festive
season. One of their signature designs
this month includes the Perfumed sarees,
which will stir the senses of every woman.
The saree is crafted in a way that it
retains its fragrance for a minimum of 20
washes. This is something that has never
been attempted before in the history of
the traditional saree!
The Chennai Silks has also launched a unique
product in the kids' segment called 'Bublee
- 2500 in 1' for the first time in the world,
where kids can wear a single outfit in 2500
different styles. Likewise, The Chennai Silks
is also launching various innovative clothing
merchandise for boys like reversible t-shirts,
reversible bermudas and convertible pants.
Besides these innovative designs, comes
the 30-metre skirt and top set with shawl for
teen girls, which will definitely jazz up your
wardrobe this festive season.
18 OCTOBER 2013
ADVERTORIAL
Casa Paradox hits French Shores
Raseel Gujral Ansal, drawing
inspirations from the two
facets of India, the sublime
and the irreverent, recently
showcased her much-
anticipated collections –
Neophile and Illustratti – at
Maison et Objet, a major
French trade fair for interior
design. As always, Casa
Paradox transforms the
lifestyle of its clients, by
providing a space that is
novel yet familiar, with the
only constant being luxury
and elegance. The luxury
design brand continues to
deliver the top trends with
distinct and bold collections.
THIS MONTH WE LOVE
20 OCTOBER 2013
BUZZIN’
One Among The StarsWith the introduction of its
Constellation Star in two sizes,
Omega joined hands with Orbis
International and its Flying Eye
Hospital, which delivers high-level
eye care to some of the world’s
more remote regions. With the debut
of its exquisite and sophisticated
Constellation Star 24mm and
27mm, Omega demonstrates its
connection to social responsibilities
and has made it possible for watch
enthusiasts to make their own
contribution to Orbis International
and its efforts to fight preventable
blindness around the world. The
Omega Constellation Star 27mm
features a distinctive sun-brushed
blue dial with applied 18-carat white
gold elements and white Super
LumiNova on the hands. Its stainless
steel case gleams with a diamond-
paved bezel and is attached to a
stainless steel bracelet, giving this
unique wristwatch a timeless yet
bold appearance.
THIS MONTH WE LOVE
22 OCTOBER 2013
BUZZIN’
SWEETEST FESTIVAL
Combine jewellery and good sound with
these exclusive 18-carat gold earphones by
Stockholm-based Happy Plugs.
25 grams of gold are hand-moulded into
shape by a Swedish goldsmith, giving it
as much importance as crafting a piece
of jewellery. For those who are conscious
about the price, Happy Plugs has also
introduced similar metallic versions in silver
and gold shades, costing ` 2000 (approx)
as compared to ` 90,000 (approx) for the
solid gold ones. Upgrade your look and
make some noise!
Crafted by hand, the new 18-carat gold earphones by Happy Plugs is an aural masterpiece
Golden Hearing
After her successful spring collaboration
with makeup giant MAC, singer Rihanna’s
fall line with the cosmetics brand has
been a much-awaited one. In addition
to bronzer, blushes, mascara, eye
shadow palettes and liners, the Fall
2013 Collection ‘RIRI hearts MAC’
will offer Rihanna's signature lipsticks
including ‘RiRi Woo’, which was a huge
sensation from her previous collection.
All products are encased in rose gold
metallic packaging, a stark deviation from
the usual MAC black. The range releases
internationally on October 3.
Makeup brand MAC ties up with Rihanna to launch an exclusive line of cosmetics titled ‘RIRI hearts MAC’…
A touch of RiRi’s Style!
NEW PRODUCTS
24 OCTOBER 2013
BUZZIN’
A new mode of travel has been conceptualised by UK-based designer Mac Byers, which
allows guests to reach a wide range of destinations in a short time, while enjoying some
of the greatest views imaginable. The airship looks like one inspired by Star Wars and the
NASA space shuttle. The interiors are as open as possible encouraging social interaction
like a full service hotel in the sky with at least one restaurant and a bar. Take a look at these
awe-inspiring pictures.
Mac Byers’ concept airship is a blend of Star Wars and a NASA space shuttle, and
can hit long distances in the shortest time
A new concept of travel
26 OCTOBER 2013
BUZZIN’
CHEN
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574
GLAM BRIGADE
Canali hits Chennai!
Adding to the brand blitz that's hitting Chennai this year, famed
Italian luxury menswear brand Canali launched its boutique at the
Bergamo Mall in the city. The occasion brought the glitterati of
the social circuit together while showcased on mannequins was
their stunning AW 13 Collection. Paolo Canali, third generation
of the Canali family and group commercial director of the brand,
was present at the event.
Deepika & Radhika Shobha & Swati Heeba & Omar SaitPaolo Canali & Karti
Chidambaram
Lanka Lingam
Ajay & Garima Agarwal
Celebs at Rehana's store launch
Designer Rehana launched her latest collection at her new store
on Harrington Road. The event was graced by actresses Urvashi
and Lakshmi Rai as well as Lizzy Priyadrashan, who were all
spotted checking out the clothes.
28 OCTOBER 2013
GLAM BRIGADE
Gatsby Re-invented
The launch of the all-new Gatsby
store at Kakani Towers, Khader
Nawaz Khan Road, and their
fabulous new brand, Aliph, featured
a stylish and classy range of
ethnic, western, formal and casual
wear for men. Soon to make an
international debut, Aliph wows
with its excellent attention to detail
– from the most luxurious and
well-priced clothes to accessories
such as a range of ties, bowties,
cummerbunds, pocket squares,
cufflinks and stoles to custom-
made shoes, the store has it
all. At the launch, long-time
customers who dropped in to wish
Rafiq and Omar Sait were heard
complimenting the father-son duo
on their great new venture.
VBJ Re-loaded
Last month, the well-
known and trusted
Vummidi Bangaru
Jewellers (VBJ) re-
launched their exclusive
flagship showroom, on
Anna Salai, in Chennai.
The all-new showroom
houses what VBJ, over
the last century has been
best-known for – a large
and stunning variety of
gold, diamonds, platinum
and gemstone-studded
jewellery. The heirloom
bridal jewellery collection
will also be launched at the
new showroom, soon.
36 OCTOBER 2013
SNAPPED
Achievers Galore
The prestigious Jaguar Land
Rover Women Achievers
Awards were given away in
Chennai recently. Recipients
included well-known
transgender television
presenter Apsara Reddy,
actress Lissy Priyadarshan
and Sonika Jain, Vice
President, Taj Group of
Hotels, South India. Sanjeev
Subramanian of VST Grandeur
presented the Awards. The
wine and cheese affair,
which was hosted by Pooja
Malhotra, also saw a special
focus on the sensational new
Jaguar F-Type.
OCTOBER 2013 37
SN
APP
ED
The Mentalist engages
Chennai
Celebrated performer and mind
reader Lior Surchard, who has
been publicly declared as the
next Uri Geller, was in Chennai
recently and he awed the
audience with his unique set of
mental skills. Surchard engaged
with members of the audience to
perform his acts, interacted with
them and elated their senses
by taking them on an exciting
adventure built on drama,
tension and astonishment
doused with a huge sprinkling of
humour, comedy and fun. The
event was conducted by MMRT
3 and MMLC 4, both part of the
Round Table of India movement.
38 OCTOBER 2013
SNAPPED
Asmita Aggarwal takes alspin around the intrepid andinnovative designs that hit the runway at two of the ‘BigFour’ of international fashion weeks – London and New York – and finds that ‘simplicity’ issometimes overrated.
The recently-concluded annual installment
of both the London and New York Fashion
Week – which are touted to be two among
the big four of fashion weeks that include
Milan and Paris – was definitely an event
that the updated fashionista must follow.
Especially since the designs showcased
here annually define the trends and styles
for the rest of the year! Of course, while it
is still the most trend-setting and intrepid
among the four, the London Fashion Week
has always screamed youth, rock n’ roll and
the irreverent lifestyle, be it in attitudes or
fashion. Meanwhile, the New York Fashion
Week took on more sombre tones, leaning
towards the professional. Here’s a roundup
of our favourites from the runway.
Cropped white tops teamed up with
striped floor-length skirts, inspired
by the Kinetic Art Movement, a
takeoff from the Impressionist
painters of the 1800s. Simply put,
it was a tribute to 3D, and that’s
why there was an extensive use of
organza giving the line a dreamy
look. Venezuelan artists Carlos Cruz
-Diez and Jesus Rafael Soto being
her muses, Carolina Herrera played
with optical illusion to give her
geometric motifs a stunning angle.
40 OCTOBER 2013
PORTFOLIO
Carolina Herrera
OCTOBER 2013 41
PO
RTFO
LIO
Delicate, flowery and fit for a lover of all
things divine, Marchesa flirted with tulle
and lace to give 20s and 30s glamour
a new twist. What were endearing
were the 3-D flowers and dip-dyed
feathers in the hair that gave models
a sylph-like look. Georgina Chapman
and Keren Craig’s storyline was ultra
feminine and super glam, perfect for
the glitzy red carpet.
42 OCTOBER 2013
PORTFOLIO
Marchesa Spring 2014
OCTOBER 2013 43
PO
RTFO
LIO
Jack McCollough and
Lazaro Hernandez
paid a tribute to all
things comfortable yet
on-trend. Their gold
pleated silk skirts and
Moroccan weaving,
low necklines, superbly
crafted coats with
clean, architectural
lines and wood
platforms spelt pure
sophistication. The
foil print dresses
were structured and
the silver and bronze
plates crafted into
cropped tops were
worn with natty
culottes. Monochrome
fiber prints and multi-
layered suits brought
back the softer look.
44 OCTOBER 2013
PORTFOLIO
Proenza Schouler Spring 2014
OCTOBER 2013 45
PO
RTFO
LIO
Rose Pink and lemony shades
made a Burberry girl’s summer
quieter with Christopher Bailey
playing with Scottish cashmere
and Merino wool. Interspersing
lace and transparency, he created
a romantic mood with a subtle and
gentle line which also had plastic
jackets and laser-cut leather.
46 OCTOBER 2013
PORTFOLIO
Burberry Prorsum
OCTOBER 2013 47
PO
RTFO
LIO
It was Emma Hill’s swan song, her last
line, as she bids farewell. Her knee length
coats in divine white, wide legged pants
and florals made it a spring to remember.
Cara Delevingne, with her bushy eyebrows,
carried the silk jacquards to perfection,
but who can forget the delicious bags the
company is known for!
48 OCTOBER 2013
PORTFOLIO
Mulberry
OCTOBER 2013 49
PO
RTFO
LIO
Glittery, shimmering and
ideal for a woman who
likes, well…a lot of bling,
Tom Ford, fashion’s
poster boy, sent down
models in body hugging
catsuits, zebra prints and
cobweb-like designs.
The man who reinvented
Gucci in the 90s taking
it to new heights, this
time dresses the sexy
woman in safari suits,
monochromatic tuxedos
and of course, bondage
shoes.
52 OCTOBER 2013
PORTFOLIO
Tom Ford
OCTOBER 2013 53
PO
RTFO
LIO
‘Op
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ab
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at
DC
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01
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Do
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bana fall
20
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fall
20
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Ro
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availa
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54 OCTOBER 2013
HAUTE STUFF
Floral jacquard shorts
by Red Valentino
Fre
ida P
into
in S
anchita a
t
Cannes fi
lm festival
Starburst embellishment
on jacquard top
by Marks & Spencer
Metallic brocade and
stretch wool peplum jacket
by Prabal Gurung
Sequin embellished crepe dress
by Victoria, Victoria Beckham
Cream pearl
embellished pencil skirt
by River Island
Embellished cotton jersey
sweatshirt by Lanvin
Forest fern strappy top
by French Connection
Embellished metallic jacquard
mini dress by Balmain
With the festive season upon us,
this fall trend is sure to make you
go back in time, look and feel like
a real queen at every social do.
Eye-catching embroidery, oversized
gemstones, rich fabrics and
statement jewelery characterize this
more-is-more look, while maintaining
a modern edge. Step up your style
quotient next time you’re stepping
out, but don’t forget the bold
attitude and loads of confidence!
Vira Shah tells you how to get it right with the royal bling
All hail the Royal Bling!
Gold sequinned bodice
dress with mesh skirt
by Forever New
OCTOBER 2013 55
HA
UT
E S
TU
FF
Baroque pearl clutch
by Accessorize
Mesh clutch with pearls and crystals
by Rachana Reddy
Tone on tone pink clutch
by Balmain
Pearl and gold studding
by Marchesa
Vine evening bag
with floral beadwork
by Hidesign
Ho
use o
f C
hic
fall
20
13
Am
ber
and
blu
e r
ing
by S
onal’s
Bijo
ux
Statement bracelet by House of Chic
Gold rose sunglasses
by Dolce & Gabbana
Embellished heeadband
by Deepa Gurnani
Chandelier earrings
by Notandas & Sons
jewellers
Pearl and gold bracelet
by Alexander McQueen
available at Kitsch
56 OCTOBER 2013
HAUTE STUFF
Metalwork with stones on
pumps by Bruno Magli
Thread and stone embroidered platforms
by Metro
Mosaic heel mary jane pumps
by Dolce & Gabbana
Vintage floral inlay pumps
by Roberto Cavalli
Beaded and sequinned slippers
by Roger VIvier
Jewel like nail sparkling
powders by Dior
Lakm
e a
bso
lute
ro
yal
beauty
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DNA,” says Jayesh.
Quirk Box offers dresses from ` 2,000
onwards, and they have interesting concepts
like Dream Factory, Solider, Dolls and Toy
factory designs. “We also have stationery,
home décor items, cushion covers, coasters,
wall art, furniture and mugs. For our Lakme
Fashion Week collection, we have knew
that we were addressing a prêt audience,
but have played with loud prints, and added
colour blocking to make them sparkle,”
says Jayesh.
Most fabrics are georgette and silks,
as the focus remains colour – lots of it.
“Indians love colour, and even though we
don’t believe in trends, prints will remain
our mainstay, irrespective of whether they
are internationally ‘in’ or not,”
concludes Jayesh.
After working for an advertising agency in
Singapore, Jayesh quit to return to India
and immerse himself in art. He has also
painted canvases for the screening of Ketan
Mehta’s film at the Cannes Film Festival.
“Art must not be restrictive, that’s why I
like Andy Warhol’s work. It was fun and
everyone could get it,” he says.
The design sensibility of Quirk Box is well …
quirky and what distinguishes it from other
labels is that all the artwork is original, done
by Jayesh. Their forte is prints … so you
will see offbeat, unconventional ones in the
most eye-popping hues. Nothing is subtle,
everything is a bit over-the-top, ranging
from the fuchsias and neons to tangerines.
“We wanted to give women something
that was original. I am quite inspired by the
Japanese Manga comics too, so you will
see some bits that come into the label’s
Jayesh Sachdev loved art and honed his
brush strokes in Singapore, but little did he
know that he would win the British Council
Award in 2008, and meet another awardee
Rixi Bhatia, and that it would be a life-
changing event.
“Being an artist you can only paint 10-
15 canvases in a year, restricting my
audience to a few people who understand
and appreciate art. I thought this was a
bit elitist, as art must be accessible to
everyone, and that’s how the idea of Quirk
Box, our lifestyle and fashion label came
about in 2011,” says Pune-based Jayesh,
who graduated in Visual Communication
from the Lasalle College of the Arts,
Singapore. He has founded his own art and
design studio under the name of Emblem
Studios, and admits he is inspired by
greats like Andy Warhol and Peter Philips.
Two designers from Pune give Asmita Aggarwal the lowdown on some original artwork on natty dresses…
Making Quirky Cool
58 OCTOBER 2013
HAUTE STUFF
Elephants have been an integral part of the
rich culture of Asia. They occupy a very special
place in India, as they are worshipped in our
country. Yet, as is common knowledge, Asian
elephants are widely subjected to various forms
of cruelty and abuse and their numbers are
fast dwindling. For centuries, they have been
part of circuses and are routinely subjected
to extremely hard labour. In our country, they
have even been made to beg on the streets.
Of late, there are several movements being
spearheaded to liberate the elephants and help
them regain their lost freedom. Besides the
conservation programs and other such, many
people have sought to raise awareness about
and love for elephants through art.
In 2006, father and son duo Marc and Mike
Spits initiated the first open air art exhibition
called the Elephant Parade with a strong motive
to conserve Asian elephants and ensure their
welfare. The parade includes creative life-size
models of elephants from various parts of
the globe that are created by reputed fashion
designers. And for the very first time the parade
witnessed a jewellery designer extend her
support to the cause. Mirari, a premier name
in luxurious jewellery in India, designed one of
the marvelous elephants for the parade. Mira
Gulati of Mirari is the first jewellery designer in
the world to have participated in this globally
renowned Parade.
Mira says, “Elephant Parade is a brand in
itself, and over the years, has shown immense
growth all the while helping in the best possible
way to conserve elephants. My support is
minimal in the context of the entire Parade
but this being my first exposure I gave it my
best shot. Elephants are an essential part
of the diverse Indian wildlife and saving this
endangered species is a must. The elephant
designed by us stands in majestic testimony to
the rich culture of India and my love for it.” Each
year, the elephant models designed as part of
this exhibition are auctioned, and the proceeds
are donated to the Asian Elephant Foundation.
Mirari is possibly the first jewellery designer in the world to
have designed for the globally-renowned Elephant Parade
Mirari �� ���
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AM:PM designers Priyanka and Ankur Modi don’t like a dressed up home gleaming with silver or expensive art, as
their contemporary home is simple, fuss-free, plush and airy! Asmita Aggarwal takes a detailed tour...
60 OCTOBER 2013
ON OUR RADAR
Beaming with sunlight, and peace,
despite being in Friends Colony, a posh,
bustling area in the national capital, the
quiet, organic feel of Priyanka and Ankur
Modi’s home is refreshing. And as the
AM:PM designers say in unison, “We
wanted it to be welcoming and inspiring.
Not opulent and bursting at the seams
with Lladro and Royal Doulton. In fact,
we don’t understand the concept of
showpieces, a house must be functional
and we have made it effective in our own
innovative way.”
Living with her mom-in-law, the veteran
designer Anju Modi, has been rewarding
for Priyanka, who belongs to the Birla
family, and moved to the city six years
ago from Kanpur after she tied the knot
with Ankur and today their two boys,
Aryaman, 3, and Adhiraj, 7, are the light
of their lives.
Taking The Tour
On the top-most floor of the building,
the third, the house has a drawing and a
dining room, a lovely terrace and the kids’
rooms. The beauty of this contemporary
home lies in its simplicity and elegance.
You won’t find any expensive silver or
brocades, but what you will is muted,
warm colours, and demarcations all
executed in glass to give it a seamless,
free-flowing, light feel. The sliding doors
which divide the dining area from the
gallery offer an illusion of space too. “We
got a wall broken down to make it into a
glass window so that we could allow the
greenery to come inside,” says Priyanka.
The drawing room has a big sofa, a low
lying and unconventional table, floor
cushions and to spice things up a bit, they
have a stone wall to add a rustic charm.
The dining room has a cosy, marble top
table and the adjoining room is a puja room,
but what makes it sparkle are the dull green
walls combined with pure white. “My mom-
in-law’s bedroom is her sanctuary, it has a
massive laser-cut stone door with a floating
bed inside. The textured wall is where the
TV is placed and the long book rack that
hits the ceiling is really the best part. Ma
likes to work in her room, so we have a
small desk and chair. But she also has a
walk-in closet that is quite expansive. After
all she is an established designer who has
been in the fashion business for more than
twenty years,” she smiles.
On the other hand, Priyanka’s bedroom
has almost meditative walls, and she has
the privilege of enjoying the balcony. “I sit
and sip my morning cuppa here and it is
as if everyday I send out an invitation for
the leafy trees to join me! I like natural light,
so the glass allows us to enjoy this simple
luxury. We don’t put things where they fit,
rather we try to keep everything in harmony
with what is existing,” she says.
With most of the furniture in light grey and
white, Priyanka has kept her abode free
from any ornamentation or heavy, rich-
looking fabrics. Instead, she has played
with soft lighting to maintain equanimity.
Featuring straight lines, a clean flat plan and
shaded lamps carefully placed to brighten
up nooks and corners, this modern
home is tasteful and graceful. “I think
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thoughtful design is all about less is more
and keeping it clutter-free and airy. So our
home is luminous with lots of open spaces,
unhindered ventilation, smart lighting
and touches of white which add purity
and a certain rhythm and tranquil fluidity.
Maybe that’s why we leave our windows
undressed,” she explains.
That Special Vibe
What makes the home special is her two
boys, who add unconditional love and
happiness in her hectic life. Adhiraj’s room
is more practical, it has wooden flooring,
thereby eliminating the need for exotic
carpets. “Hardwood floors are versatile
and to tell you the truth we couldn’t
decide between walnut, hickory and wild
oak, but liked the wider planks to give the
feeling of more space, so we opted for
them. The wooden floors add a colonial,
old world charm to the room and make it
fuss-free for kids, who leave their toys on
the floor. It is also easy to clean,”
she explains.
The blue room also has a huge sofa so that
Priyanka after a hard day’s work can hang
out with her son, read a story or simply
play with him. “Adhiraj loves music and
responds to it like a true musician; he gets
so immersed in the beats that it is a treat to
watch him. We have kept a music system
in his room, and he listens to whatever
catches his fancy – from Bollywood to
classics,” she confesses.
Aryaman’s room has a low bed, white
wooden flooring and three walls painted
with farm animals that he loves to identify,
giggling every time he gets it right. “He has
bright, green shelves and a small wooden
cabinet with colourful handles which perks
up his space, instantly. We crafted a play
area within the room so that there are many
things that will spark his imagination, like art
projects, Lego or word games, which are
engaging and meaningful, rather than just
mindless TV watching,” she says.
In a world that has an over-stimulated,
commoditized culture the Modis prefer an
unadorned home that simplifies life down
to the essentials. As Priyanka concludes,
“It may be cheesy, and an adage often
misused, but home is where the heart is.”
62 OCTOBER 2013
ON OUR RADAR
Jullaaha, the eco boutique run by Jayadevi Cholayil is home to exquisite handicrafts, garments, soaps, spa products and so much more, as Richa Tilokani finds out.
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64 OCTOBER 2013
ADVERTORIAL
Jullaaha’s four exotic ayurvedic soaps are
orange and cinnamon; melon and aloe
vera; saffron and sandal; and goat milk
and jojoba and honey bathing bars. The
orange and cinnamon bar is an effective
anti-wrinkle soap, which imparts a radiant
glow. It is made of jojoba oil, coconut
butter, kokum butter, avocado butter and
glycerine. The melon and aloe vera bar
helps to gently purify and remove dead
cells. It is made from vegetable glycerine,
olive oil, grape seed oil, loofah and aloe
vera extract.
The fragrant saffron and sandal bar is
effective in whitening and depigmentation
and is made of natural ingredients
like sandal, saffron, sweet almond oil,
wheatgerm oil, and vitamin E. The goat
milk, jojoba and honey soap helps
to whiten and soothe the skin and is
made from cocoa butter, jojoba butter,
grapeseed oil, shea butter, papaya extract
and honey.
Wide Range of Ayurvedic products
Jullaaha also offers a number of other
new Ayurvedic products like, “Aloe vera
gel, natural hair colour, anti-dandruff hair
oil, virgin coconut oil, golden glow oil (for
enhancing fairness) and a herbal body
wash, which are already in demand. At
Jullaaha, we believe in leading a sustainable
lifestyle with minimum damage to the
environment. All our products are made
using natural processes and organic
materials, so you get a sense of wellness
associated with our brand,” shares Jaya.
Jayadevi’s keen sense of observation
inspires her to learn from both the ordinary
and the exotic around her. Her travels
around the world also give her a unique
perspective and a keen insight into
consumer mindset and the overall market.
Giving back
It's not surprising that the Cholayil Group
(which also manufactures the famous
Medimix soap), has pioneered the
contemporary use of Ayurveda in our
country, earning the trust of millions of
Indians and was recently included in the top
100 brands in an Economic Times country-
wide survey. The Cholayil Group also plays
an important role in society, bridging the
gap between the ethical consumer and the
poor craftsmen of the country. Jayadevi’s
initiatives at Jullaaha have improved the
overall well-being of the local communities
and made them self-sufficient. Under her
trained and watchful eye, the inherent and
untapped manual skills of the talented
artisans have been skilfully mobilised in
designing for Jullaaha. They transform
traditional kalamkari and batik prints into
eclectic creations, which are then worn all
over the world.
“We are very proud of our traditional craft
and it is important that we support them so
they can retain their rich legacy. Our country
has a rich resource of excellent weavers and
craftsmen and their talent needs to be shared
with the world,” says Jayadevi happily.
Looking ahead
Jayadevi is also excited about the future
of Jullaaha’s new Ayurvedic products. They
provide a healthy alternative to the mass
produced and non-natural options available
in the market today. The packaging lends
a contemporary glamour to the products,
blending seamlessly with the Indian design,
giving them a unique look.
“I want the users of the exotic soaps and spa
products to feel luxurious, even royal as they
pamper themselves with the goodness of our
ancient heritage,” ends Jayadevi as she gets
busy with the new products at Jullaaha.
“Be the change you want to be” said
Mahatma Gandhi. And Jayadevi Cholayil
is one to take his advice seriously. Tired
of the empty words of support to the
handicrafts industry from the fashion
world, Jayadevi decided to take matters
into her own hand. Combining her twin
passions of fashion and philanthropy, she
started Jullaaha with the aim of helping
poor local women. Today, Jullaaha stocks
a wide variety of products made by these
women and various NGOs who support
impoverished communities.
Jullaaha reflects Jayadevi’s love for colour,
travel, excellence and all things beautiful
and exotic. No wonder, it is renowned for its
high quality handcrafted garments, exotic
Ayurvedic soaps and spa products. With a
background in Ayurveda and soap making,
it’s not surprising that its exotic Ayurvedic
segment is doing well both nationally and
internationally. Jullaaha is also known for
its beautiful and warm ambience, which
has been decorated with knick-knacks
collected by Jayadevi during her travels
around the world.
Exotic Ayurvedic soaps
Says Jayadevi, “I recently travelled to
Singapore, Dubai and Bologna for a series
of exhibitions and showcased our exotic
Ayurvedic products there. The response
was overwhelming and showed that the
market for our Ayurvedic products is very
large and widespread.”
The Jullaaha soaps are the latest
offerings from the green boutique and
are based on our ancient 5000-year-old
Ayurvedic system. Made from fruits,
spa oils and all things organic, these
hand-made soaps are a great way to
bring wellness into our lifestyle, sans
chemicals and harmful products.
OCTOBER 2013 65
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choices, sending you on a delightful
gastronomic adventure. The USP of the
Lobby Café is that it offers live cooking
options for a variety of cuisines like Indian,
European, and Chinese. “You can sample
some of the best herb spiced Indian
delicacies, aromatic Chinese and live
traditional Italian oven-baked pizzas and
pastas right here in the city. Lobby Café
also serves buffet breakfast everyday and
brunch buffet on all Sundays,” says Sanjoy.
The live kitchen attached to the restaurant
provides a lot of add-ons which are freshly
made according to the different choices of
the guests. It also offers food connoisseurs
a delicious spread of healthy soups, salad
bars, dessert bars and even live music to
keep them company. The a-la-carte menu
features pre-plated options, with cuisines
from around the world to suit every palate.
Best of Southern hospitality
An offering from the Radha Hotels, the
Radha Regent is a premium hotel with
great infrastructure, amazing service and a
reputation that precedes it. Located just a
few metres from the biggest bus terminus
in Asia and close to the Chennai airport, it is
easily accessible to everyone. It is especially
convenient for corporates who do not have
many options in that area. The restaurant
seats 100 people and includes an exclusive
personalised dining hall.
The Radha Regent has been a trend-setter
among city hotels, after ushering in the pub
culture with their Geoffrey’s Pub a decade
ago. Now with Lobby Café, the hotel delights
diners with remarkable interiors, great service
and competitive pricing, making it one of
the most popular restaurants in the city. The
elegant ambience adds to the charm of the
place and creates a wonderful atmosphere to
relax and unwind.
The Lobby Café is located at Hotel Radha Regent on 171, Jawahar Lal Nehru Salai, Inner Ring Road, Arumbakkam, Chennai. For reservations contact +91 44 66778899.
The relaunched Lobby Café at the Radha Regent Hotel, Chennai, is the best place to enjoy an extra large buffet and a good conversation, as Richa Tilokani finds out.
Cuisines & Conversations
Chennaiites have a great new place
to hang out – the all-new relaunched
Lobby Café at the Radha Regent Hotel
at Arumbakkam. The Lobby Café is a
round-the-clock multi-cuisine restaurant,
which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner
buffets. A 17-year-old establishment, the
Lobby Café has now been renovated and
completely refurbished to offer the best
of Southern hospitality in a contemporary
manner. It is open 24 hours and situated at
the lobby level, hence the name.
Shares Sanjoy Kumar Das, General
Manager, Radha Regent Hotel, “Earlier the
restaurant was known as the Café in the
Park, but now it has been relaunched in a
modern avatar. The new Lobby Café brings
an extraordinary contemporary ambience
with an extra large buffet spread, which will
appeal to all our patrons.”
A gastronomic adventure
The Lobby Café offers one of the most
lavish spreads in the city and exotic cuisine
66 OCTOBER 2013
ADVERTORIAL
All of 32, she has recently been listed by the World Gold Council as one of the top 10 most inventive and ingenious jewellery designers in the world. She has won several Awards including the prestigious Audi RITZ Icon Award 2012 and has been named by Vogue Italia as one of the 5 designers to watch out for in India. Even the iconic Jimmy Choo has praised her designs and her jewellery is regularly worn by A-list film stars and well-known personalities across the country. Presenting the super talented Suhani Pittie, in conversation with Vinita Nayar.
Guts n' Glitter
Powered by Bols
68 OCTOBER 2013
PERSONALITY
Wardrobe and Accessories by Suhani Pittie
Hair and Make up by Sandy
Photography by Sucharitha Rao
Location: The Park, Hyderabad
OCTOBER 2013 69
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70 OCTOBER 2013
PERSONALITY
Suhani Pittie never planned on becoming a
jewellery designer; she was a gemmologist
who turned to jewellery design by chance.
But what a chance that has been!
Today, this talented young Hyderabad-
based designer has gained national and
international recognition and awards that
have catapulted her into a league of her
own. She has also launched her online
store www.suhanipittie.com/shop, another
successful venture from this gifted lady. The
younger sister of India’s most sought-after
fashion designer Anamika Khanna, Suhani
opens up to RITZ about her business,
the challenges she faced, her passion for
design and her own style quotient...
What inspired you to become a
jewellery designer? Tell us how you
took your interest forward.
My career as a jewellery designer was
absolutely unplanned. I was teaching
gemmology in Kolkata before moving to
Hyderabad in 2004. One fine day, I was
toying with some old silver. I heated it, and
made something for my mum-in-law and got
orders on it from most people who saw it on
her. Thereafter, I participated in Bridal Asia.
My work got picked up by some leading
stores, and suddenly I found myself a career!
My first love was gemmology. I was never
inclined towards design or jewellery.
I have always enjoyed getting into the
thick of the technicalities. Whether its
gadgets or cars or even the refractive
indices of gemstones, I am a sucker for
detail and love researching and reading
up on topics. As a child, I would always
be toying with the rocks and pebbles in
the garden. When I was seven, I saw an
amber in a book and got drawn to the
world of gems. Of course, I didn’t know
then that there was a whole subject
related to it that I could actually study.
But somewhere I always felt I wanted to
do something with stones and after class
12, I went to study at the Gemological
Institute of America. When I got back,
I started teaching at a gemmological
school and went on to start my own
school of gemology very soon. This was
all at age 20. At 23, I got married and
moved to Hyderabad... And like
I said earlier, everything including my first
design and executing my first order, was
unplanned. In 2004, by God’s grace,
within a month of my starting, things
started spiralling forward very quickly;
my husband Stouvant joined me and we
floated our company Zorya Fashions.
Again, it wasn’t a planned move. He
was looking at something new to do
and felt this business looked lucrative.
Personally, I always knew I would start
my own business. My entire childhood
was inspired by dad who is the most
hardworking person I know. At 14, he
started taking me to his office. So a life
without doing anything worthwhile was
never an option. As for entrepreneurship,
it’s hard but there is tremendous
satisfaction.
You must have faced several
challenges when you started out…
Oh boy...many! Eight years back there
was very little of the concept of alternative
jewellery in the mainstream market. When
I was trying to establish my team of
workers, every now and then one of them
would rebel saying this was not the kind
of jewellery that the market would buy and
that I was wasting my time. It took many
years for them to have faith in what they
were making – and nothing comes out right
till you believe in it. Now I don’t even have
to sketch, they can just read my mind!
It’s amazing.
India has all along been a patron of
precious jewellery. Suddenly to break into
this market of ‘Let the jewellery be a sound
investment’ and create a market that
says ‘Let’s have jewellery for pure delight’
needed thorough planning. Fortunately
for me, two months after I started work,
the first store to pick up my work was
‘Ensemble’ and with their acceptance came
terrific self-confidence.
I must admit that it (Hyderabad) was a
new city for me. I had to deal with a new
language and culture, and undertake
a new search for raw materials and for
people. In fact, it was a new business
model altogether. But it’s all been good
and I would change nothing about it. My
experiences over the years have taught
me a lot and moulded me immensely. For
instance, I don’t panic even in stressful
situations. I just switch on some Bollywood
music and work out on paper, a flowchart
to solve the issue.
Tell us about your online business.
Our online venture is a massive step toward
business expansion and by God’s grace,
it has taken off very well. Our aim is to
reach out to every city and town in the
country. We get so many requests and
orders from towns that are not the metros,
and naturally, we want to reach out. With
very good prices and a cash-on-delivery
option, I’m sure we would be able to attract
a very large clientele. I am thrilled that we
have had a good beginning. We are getting
orders from all over the country, including
places like Varkala, Wayanad etc. It’s
exciting to see how even the B-towns are
appreciative of our work.
What do you love the most about
designing?
My designs reflect my love for many things
– metal, my mood, my surroundings, the
old city, the Charminar, a 200-year-old
haveli, dancers on the streets, women with
their ringing anklets, the bangle maker,
the local kumhaar (potter), the by-lanes,
old photographs, tall buildings, brass,
steel, history, books and many more. So
I guess what I love about design is that
it’s an expression of emotion. I think it is a
fantastic opportunity to be able to express
so vividly what you are feeling at that
moment and the freedom and liberation
that comes with it.
So what moves and inspires you
enough to express?
Each of my collections brings with it
a mood, a feeling and an emotion. It
begins with the first impression, which is
initially vivid, then intense and then gets
slowly ingrained into the subconscious.
I like to collect these feelings, memories,
connections and observations. This time,
for example, was about the free spirit, the
naivety of the heart, about pure love. Earlier
it was a stronger mood, about cultures and
I met Jimmy Choo at a very private dinner. He touched my necklace and said those kind words“ OCTOBER 2013 71
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Style CheckTell us about your personal sense
of style. How fashion conscious are
you?
I always take the classic route. I don’t follow
trends at all and more often than not you will
find me in something that’s really vintage-
inspired. I’m a sucker for all things old. Give
me an old winding watch over a new one
any day or an old skirt from the by-lanes of
Rajasthan and I would get all glassy-eyed!
Name four people who have
influenced the way you style, dress
and carry yourself.
Anamika Khanna, Blogger Nadia Sarwar,
Roisin Murphy and Vivienne Westwood.
The one thing you wouldn't be
caught dead wearing?
Animal print anything!
Your favourite accessory brand?
Alexis Bittar. I admire the way the brand has
become so mainstream.
A piece of jewellery that is not your
design but blew your mind?
The Hermes Centaure necklace. What a
brilliant way to express the brand’s perennial
equestrian subject!
Three celebrities you would like to
see wearing your designs?
I would love for Tilda Swinton to wear our
fierce ear cuffs or Keira Knightley to wear
the very strong collars. There’s a whole lot of
people who are on my wish list.
What/who would you call your
design muse?
Anyone who has a mind of her own and is
not a victim of changing trends. Someone
who has the courage to foray into the future
on her own terms but takes along with
her all her cultural values. Anyone who is
unapologetically individualistic.
72 OCTOBER 2013
PERSONALITY
I remember her (Anamika Khanna) doing all my art and biology homework because she was so good at drawing“ I'm so proud of her and so in awe of her. She is really
amazing at what she does. Anamika is probably the only
person I know who eats, sleeps and dreams design and
works extremely hard at making it all happen. We all know
what a terrific artist she is, but it’s inspiring to see her always
strive to do better and never say 'this is it'. That, to me is
the sign of a true achiever!
You seem to only wear your sister Ananmika Khanna’s
designs. Tell us about that.
I do wear others as well. In fact, I wear a lot of old vintage
clothes too. But yes, my wardrobe has a very large section
of Anamika Khanna. What to do. she is my favourite! Would
you believe that my sister doesn’t really give me fashion
inputs? That’s an interesting thing about Anamika Khanna.
She lets you be.
What are you working on now?
We have just finished samples for the Diwali collection. I’m
working on designs for New Year now – both jewellery and
giftware.
What is a typical day like for you?
6.30 AM to 8 AM is workout time, whether it’s just running
or running and then some weight training. At 9.25, we
leave for office and get back at 8.45 PM. Then it is coffee,
anagram, Uno, video games or just tons and tons of
reading.
How do you unwind after a long day?
Photography. Dancing… and when my body tires out,
reading. I am a history buff. So I read books on world
leaders, on independence, on economics and political
history of countries. I am also a self-proclaimed movie critic
and the biggest Harry Potter fan there has ever been! And
of course, there’s the Xbox in our life! And anagram! Or
organising my sticker collection.
You live in Hyderabad. Would you say that being based
out of a South Indian city has inhibited your growth
in anyway, since most people in the fashion industry
prefer to work out of Mumbai or Delhi?
Not at all. On the contrary, it's so nice being in this
historic city away from all of the fashion noise.
I do my own thing. I have a life after 9 PM. I'm not stuck
in traffic or on the road trying to make it home. I believe
that Hyderabad, with its cultural background and
history, has really given me an eye to appreciate beauty.
Any pointers to our readers on using jewellery to
enhance a look?
Treat jewellery like the main feature of your dressing and see
how the entire wardrobe becomes new
about strength; it had within it depictions of Shiva or
Islam, as also tribes and temples. An earlier collection
was inspired by a jatra dancer I saw in Begum Bazaar.
Yet another time it was the history of the Nizams. This
time it was a story of the tribal lifestyle. I do not follow
trends. I follow my heart and my thoughts. Maybe
that’s why the collections are so varied. My work is an
unexpected combination of contradictory elements. It is
fiercely individual and fiercely honest.
How did it feel to be featured in Fortune
magazine? And to gain recognition from the World
Gold Council? Even Jimmy Choo has praised you.
I don’t think I have achieved much yet. But yes, it’s all
very encouraging. The biggest industry body coming
forth and patting you on the back and putting you in
the top ten in the world surely feels like you are doing
something right. It’s a high; but it keeps you on your
toes and pushes you to get better. Fortune magazine
analysed and talked about our business. So I’m really
happy to know that it is not just the brand but also
the business model that is getting the right kind of
appreciation. I met Jimmy Choo at a very private dinner.
He touched my necklace and said those kind words.
We chatted for very long about it.
I think I did not breathe through the entire conversation.
I think I died and came back!
A very exciting event was when we were chosen
to showcase for the British Royalty by the Birtish
Council. It brought with it a trust factor – that a very
important body had trusted us to do a very, very
important show for some very, very important people.
That trust has kept us on our toes. It’s like you
can’t let anyone down. You HAVE to be darn good
everyday! That experience, that solid belief gives me a
very firm ground to work on.
Your sister is India’s most sought after fashion
designer, Anamika Khanna. How exciting was
growing up with her?
Ana is 10 years older to me. So she is almost like my
mom. I was very young when she got married. But
I remember her doing all my art and biology homework
because she was so darn good at drawing. I remember
her first show. I wasn’t allowed inside because I was
underage. I still remember it was called the Shoowa
collection. The next day her picture came in the paper.
I remember cutting it and sticking it on my cupboard
next to a picture of Jonty Rhodes. That’s how young
I was when I started admiring her. From big sis she
was slowly becoming this big designer, all through hard
work and talent. I've seen her go through the grind and
I respect her for all her courage.
OCTOBER 2013 73
PE
RS
ON
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Y
74 OCTOBER 2013
UBER LIVING
Monicka Vadera explains, “Today, there are
many types of pearls available at affordable
prices. Vendors label these as cultured
pearls, and they are are simply defined as
man-made pearls created under controlled
environments to produce the desired
colour, type and size of pearl.”
Under natural conditions, a pearl is
formed when an irritant finds its way to
an oyster. In response to this, the oyster
starts secreting nacre which is a smooth
crystalline substance. In time, this becomes
a perfectly silky and lustrous pearl.
To make a cultured pearl, a tiny piece
of mantle tissue from a donor shell is
transplanted into a recipient shell. Monicka
says, “Live pearl oysters are opened and
parts of a live oyster bead and mantle is
inserted. This bead is the centre around
which the oyster secretes a substance that
forms the pearl. The nucleated oysters are
quickly returned to an enclosed part of the
sea or simulated tanks. The oysters feed
and grow in sheltered bays and over a
period of time are cultivated and processed
as well as sorted into the pearls we see in
the market. They are marginally cheaper
than natural or deep sea pearls as these
are mass produced and easily simulated
whereas natural pearls require sturdy
conditions and trained divers to locate or
hunt them and the resources are slowly
depleting.”
“There are a number of options for
producing cultured pearls: use freshwater
or seawater shells, transplant the graft
into the mantle or into the gonad, add a
spherical bead or do it non-beaded. The
majority of saltwater cultured pearls are
grown with beads. The majority of beaded
cultured pearls are mantle-grown in
freshwater shells,” explains designer
Alpana Gujral.
Natural pearls
Natural pearls are found in the Persian Gulf,
the South Pacific, the Gulf of Mannar, the
Gulf of California and the Gulf of Mexico.
They can also be found in the Pacific coast
of Mexico, Europe, Japan as well
as Australia.
Freshwater pearls are found in freshwater
mussels, which live in lakes, rivers, ponds
and other fresh water bodies. However,
most of the cultured pearls sold today
come from China. Saltwater pearls grow
within pearl oysters, which live in oceans.
Saltwater pearl oysters are usually
cultivated in protected lagoons or
volcanic atolls.
Akoya pearls which take their name from
the Akoya oyster are bred in hatcheries
to ensure their safety. They take about
ten to eighteen months to be ready for
harvesting. Then they are processed with
light bleaching and drilling to ensure all are
of uniform shape and size.
South Sea pearls are found in the waters
off the Philippines. Tahitian pearls are found
across the central and south Pacific but
mainly in the atolls of French Polynesia.
Cultured pearls are readily available across
countries and continents. The primary hub
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A PRECIOUS BEAUTY
Pearls have been around in human
consciousness for the longest time, since the
days of ancient Greek lore. A lot has been
written about the beauty of the natural pearls,
which occur in the wild, while pearls that are
commonly available today are cultured or
farm pearls and are taken from oysters.
For the uninitiated, a pearl is a hard object
produced within the soft tissue of a living
shelled mollusc. It is made up of calcium
carbonate in crystalline form. What makes
them different from other gems is that they
do not need any polishing or treatment
before being sold. They are created perfect
by living beings, in the deep seas.
But that is just the basics. What makes
these shiny round beads so valuable and
so revered? Well, a pearl enthusiast or
collector may take on the hobby or interest
out of pure fascination for the quality pearl
while for many others, it has grown into a
massive social status symbol and proof of
your affluence.
Harvesting Beauty
For many hundreds of years, pearl oysters
were hunted in the most brutal fashion.
Tons of them were gathered, opened, and
thus killed, to find a single wild pearl. Divers
would pull oysters from ocean floors and
rivers to check them individually. Out of
the many tons hauled, only three or four
oysters would have perfect pearls making
it an extremely laborious and tedious affair.
For the longest time, this was the only
way to obtain pearls, making them very
expensive indeed – until cultured pearls
came into existence. Jewellery designer
OCTOBER 2013 75
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a natural pearl is determined in the same
way as it would be for other ‘precious’
gems. The valuation factors include size,
shape, colour, quality of surface, orientation
and lustre.” Lustre is the most important
quality of the pearl – the way it reflects
light is graded high, medium and low. The
highest grade pearls are the brightest and
the smoothest of them all. Their surface is
unmarked by any bumps, pits, scratches
or any other such defect. “A wild pearl
often has imperfections. One way to tell
a natural pearl from an artificial pearl is to
rub it against your teeth. A natural pearl
will feel gritty, and an artificial pearl will feel
smooth.” Adds Monicka, “To compare for
example, a string of certified genuine South
Sea pearls will cost you upwards of
20,000 rupees and the cultured ones are
available from 2,500 rupees onwards.”
Queen of Accessories
Pearls have always had a special place in
the hearts of fashionistas. Who can forget
Audrey Hepburn with her chain of pearls
and a little black dress, setting the gold
standard in fashion for women around the
world? You too can jazz up your outfits
with classic pearl earrings or necklace. Just
wear a string of pearls with your little black
dress for an uber classy look. Or team them
up with ethnic clothes for the festive season
-- you can even try out pearl bangles or
bracelets. Truly, with their luminous beauty,
pearls are a joy forever.
for cultured pearls in India, for example,
is Hyderabad.
Spotting The Difference
So, how do you distinguish between the
two? Monicka explains, “Cultured and
natural pearls generally tend to look alike
unless seen by the trained eye. So, many
women go for the more economical option.
To truly distinguish between a cultured
and a real pearl you can get a test done
at any Gem Laboratory or run it under a
microscope,” shares Monicka.
Value of a Pearl
Alpana explains that quality natural pearls
are very rare jewels. “The actual value of
76 OCTOBER 2013
UBER LIVING
Of Destination Divorces...
Credits: Shutterstock
Photograph used for illustrative purposes only.
78 OCTOBER 2013
HAWKEYE
Imagine this. Clear blue skies, the sweet
sound of the ocean and nothing but a crisp
breeze running through your hair. As she
stands there with the man she loved – or
sort of loved...or maybe sometimes hated
even? (yes, we're getting to the context) – a
deluge of emotions engulf her. He looks into
her eyes and says the four magic words
that would end everything forever. "Will you
divorce me?” Well, this is the setting for
the perfect sine qua non to the end of a
marriage – the destination divorce.
Divorces of today, for some at least,
aren’t necessarily a heartbreaking affair.
Well, of course, while breaking off any
relationship is a bad thing, some of these
couples don't seem to think so!
A different time, a different set of people
and a different set of rules, indeed. But
here's the interesting fact – while we all
know that marriages in our subcontinent
often tend to be expensive affairs, most
people think that divorces entail only
a separation of both parties involved,
paying your lawyers and be on your
way. But then, if we're celebrating the
union of two people in such pomp and
splendour, why should we not celebrate
their separation too? That's what some
folks are thinking now. Fair enough,
some divorces are indeed meant to be
celebrated and what better way to do
that than plan a holiday divorce, where
you step out of the comforts of your own
space and take a trip with your other
'half' and come back a 'full' person!
While many couples may feel excitement
at the thought of a destination wedding,
they may look at their lawyers a bit
perplexed when they hear of the idea of
a destination divorce. However, this new
concept is starting to take root as a new
means to an amicable and court-free
divorce proceeding.
Now, why do folks prefer to get divorced
outside their own vicinity? The answer
is quite simple – to be free from snoopy
neighbours, curious relatives and annoying
friends who can rub salt on the wound
called divorce and give you an even worse
time trying to get over it.
While this practice is only quite recent
and fairly restricted to the very rich and
famous who want to avoid thrashing things
out in court and wish to break free from
prying eyes, studies show that Britain fares
among the top overseas destination for
divorces, followed by the Czech Republic
and Spain. Well, why not, because if they
can afford to get married anywhere in the
world, they can afford to get divorced
anywhere too, right?
So, what exactly is the deal with destination
divorces? Couples take a trip, usually with
a marriage counselor or a 'concerned'
relative, to some expensive, exotic
European or Mediterranean destination
(if you can't afford expensive Europe,
there is always Tantalising Thailand on the
'middle-class' bracket.s Of course, no
place better than Thailand to celebrate a
divorce, we say!). They try and sort out
their differences and if that doesn't work,
amicably decide to go their own ways.
While going abroad is the popular option,
some tour operators are also making do
with some ‘in-house’ options like Shimla,
Goa or exotic backwater resorts in Kerala.
The idea is to remove oneself from the
everyday stresses and pressures of daily
life so that the couple can focus solely on
the divorce. Wow, that's actually a service
these days!
We all have that dream wedding, but now as it turns out, some people can have a dream divorce too! Separation doesn't always have to be tedious and stressful for a few ... they take a trip, relax and end the marriage. Yes, that's a service being offered these days, finds Rohit Panikker.
OCTOBER 2013 79
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It's the festive season of the year again – and though not
religious in nature, these festivals do command an annual
pilgrimage from fans. In fact, this is the time when music fans
across the country wait in anticipation for event promoters
to make their announcements as to which acts they will
be featuring in the year. Considering that widely popular
international acts like Metallica, Swedish House Mafia,
Testament and Enrique Iglesias were among the major
international acts to headline various festivals in the last
two years, this year too promises an interesting line-up with
different promoters having announced headliners ranging from
Mutemath to Meshuggah, Avicii and Steve Aoki. So, for those
who are planning their annual dose of the festival air, we do a
round-up of the biggest music festivals – from outdoor camping
festivals to high-energy EDM gigs, it's pumping adrenalin from
now on all they way until December!
Mark your calendars! Siddharth Kumar shows you the hottest music festivals and live events that you shouldn't be missing this year...
‘LIVE’ FOR THE MOMENT
80 OCTOBER 2013
TAKE OFF
What’s happening: The Great Indian October Fest
Where: Bengaluru
When: October 12-14
Launched in 2005, the Kingfisher Great Indian October Fest is
into its eighth edition and it’s no surprise that this year’s lineup
features some of the best bands in the Indian music scene.
With killer acts like Moksha, Thermal and a Quarter, Parouisa,
The Ministry of Blues, Pentagram, Brahma, Them Clones,
Motherjane, Avial, Inner Sanctum and Indian Ocean on the roster,
TGIOF is the perfect excuse to take that long weekend off to
unwind with some chilled beer and some awesome live music.
What’s happening: goMAD Festival
Where: Fernhills Palace, Ooty
When: October 25-27
Following up after a hugely successful debut last year, goMAD
is back with some of the best music, art and dance acts from
across the world. The picturesque Fernhills Palace in Ooty
plays host to the event this year, and the organisers have gone
all out to ensure attendees come away with a truly artistic
experience. Whether it’s camping out in the wilderness that you
prefer or living it up in style at the palace while you take in the
performances some of the best artists in and around the country,
goMAD is a three-day celebration of art in all its glory.
Whats happening: Oktoberfest
Where: Goa
When: October 25-27
Into its third edition now, Oktoberfest has become one of the
mainstay events of the electronic scene in India. The three-day
festival to be held at Baga Grounds at the end of October will
witness a host of performances by electronic artistes, both
international and Indian. Besides the amazing music acts,
Oktoberfest stays true to its German roots – the event will have
on offer over 15 varieties of beer coupled with some amazing
food at the many grill and barbeque stations that dot the venue.
What’s happening: Sunburn
Where: Mumbai, Bengaluru & Goa
When: November 15-17 (Mumbai), November 16-17
(Bengaluru) & December 27-29 (Goa)
Having featured some of the world’s top electronica artists
including Armin Van Buuren, Tiesto and Swedish House Mafia
in their past editions, Sunburn has come to be one of the
most sought after and widely attended electronic dance music
festivals in the country. With their early bird tickets selling like
hotcakes already, this is one electronica extravaganza you do
not want to miss, especially with Avicii being one of the biggest
acts announced.
What’s happening: NH7 Weekender
Where: Pune, Bengaluru, Delhi & Kolkata
When: October 18-20 (Pune) November 23-24 (Bengaluru),
November 30-December 1 (Delhi) & December 14-15
(Kolkata)
With the title of “India’s best music festival” firmly tucked under
their belt, NH7 Weekender features some of the biggest names
in the independent music scene, including the likes of Dualist
Inquiry, Karsh Kale Collective, Big City Harmonics, Pentagram,
Shankar Tucker and The Raghu Dixit Project. With multiple stage
areas playing host to the best indie acts around, you can take
your pick from the wide variety of genres ranging from rock and
soul to EDM and dub. This year features headliners Meshuggah
and Mutemath, performing in the Delhi/NCR region.
What’s happening: Sound Awake Festival
Where: Bengaluru
When: December 1
The second edition of the Sound Awake electronic dance music
festival has electronica buffs going ga-ga over the fact that
American DJ/producer Steve Aoki will be headlining the main event
at the Supernova Arena in Yelahanka, Bengaluru. With four live
stages being set up at the venue, electronica fans sure are in for a
treat — what’s more, early bird tickets are beyond nominally priced.
So what are you waiting for?
OCTOBER 2013 81
TA
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Sharan Apparao tells you how you can preserve and protect your art collection for posterity.
Art for Posterity82 OCTOBER 2013
VIEW POINT
Thomas Danielle give us a glimpse of what
India was like under the rule of the British
and it is clear that even they appreciated
the marvels of what they saw in India. In
Ladakh, there is a monastery in the little
village of Alchi, which has perhaps, the
best example of immaculately preserved
centuries-old paintings and sculptures.
Here, the vibrancy of the jewel-like colours
of the murals and frescoes remain intact till
today. The breathtaking vision of the dim
interior and extraordinary skill of the Alchi
murals and closer home, the Vimana of
Gangaikonda Cholapuram in Tanjore district
of Tamil Nadu, are visual feasts that linger
in one’s memory for decades. The intensity
of the beauty and drama is timeless and is
as piercing as it must have been when it
was first created. These fine examples of
art have survived only because of how they
have been cared for over the years.
Yes, there are professional consultants
whose advice will certainly add a timeless
quality to your art collection but in order
to begin to preserve and protect works
of art, one needs to look at the following
simple steps to maintain the freshness,
the life and the value of the artwork.
Light
One of the most underestimated culprits
of decay is harsh light. Sunlight is
perhaps the worst poison for canvas
or paper artworks. Paintings especially
water colours or pencil drawings should
be shown only under very mild, soft and
low lights and never ever near harsh
sunlight. Oil and acrylic paintings on
canvas or wood need controlled light
even though they are not as sensitive as
works on paper.
When we start living amidst beautiful
objects and works of art, often the
aesthetics and the placing of the objects
becomes an act of the owner’s budding
relationship with the work and how they
view the objects that give them pleasure. In
this act of desire, one sometimes forgets to
care for the life and safety of the artwork.
With time, the value of art increases (quite
like other assets) and it thus becomes even
more important to preserve and protect the
work of art.
Art is a chronicle of the mind and a
documentation of time. We have learnt
so much of our collective psyche and
past from the architecture, sculpture and
paintings that surround us. It can be said
that art thrived under the patronage of
the kings and the rulers of the day. The
inscriptions and sculptures on temple walls
and the calligraphic documents of the
Mughals bear testimony to this. The steel
engravings and lithographs of William and
OCTOBER 2013 83
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Moisture and air circulation
Paper, canvas and other natural materials
need to breathe. They need to be
kept open or in situations where there
is a circulation of air. In damp, moist
environments these works can develop
mould and fungus. It is a good idea to keep
paintings on the wall by creating a cavity/
gap/space by placing little stoppers on the
corners at the back of the artwork.
Framing
Today, many options are available to enhance
and preserve an artwork in a frame. However,
while this is done primarily to keep out insects
and moisture and prevent any damage
through handling it can also be viewed as
an additional accent to the work. While
choosing a frame and mount, keep in mind
that acidity affects works of art. The glue, tape
and mounts/mats need to be acid free. The
selection of wood for a frame is important,
when commercial frames are not an option.
The frames should be made of seasoned
wood so as to avoid warping and bending
of the wood with the passage of time. This
movement happens when the wood used is
young and full of natural moisture.
Storage
In India one has to be very wary of pests.
Squirrels love the taste, smell and texture
of canvas, so be wary of these cute
creatures if you find them running around
the inside of your spaces. Storage rooms
need to be airy and without humidity. It is
best to store works wrapped in muslin and
stand them up vertically. An even better
way to store them is to hang them on a
wall! In the case of a lack of wall space,
a rack that is off the floor with works
standing up will work well too. Make sure
you have something (cardboard/ply) to
separate one work from the other. Or,
allow the frames to rest on each other.
Never allow anything to rest on a canvas.
Glass should also always be stored
vertically as the weight of many glass
sheets lying on top of one another will
crack the glass.
Humidity and the sea air
This is the one factor that can create
fungus, dampness and discolouration
of the artwork. Sea air has a lot of salt
content and this combined with humidity
can create a film or layer over a painted
surface that can lead to corrosion. In
such a situation the artwork would need
professional cleaning.
Dehumidifiers can help in these
circumstances as can constant air-
conditioning. Keep in mind, however, that
extreme temperature changes can be very
harmful to artworks. Putting on an air-
conditioner for long periods and not using it
for equally long periods can sometimes lead
to condensation and this could be harmful
as the work is being put through the stress
of two temperature extremes.
Transporting and packing
Artworks need to be cared for just
as one would care for a one-day-old
baby. While packing the focus should
always be on over-packing and an
anticipation of manhandling of works.
Most handlers don't understand art, so,
packing works to protect it from bad
handling is indeed a great way to pack.
Never attempt moving large glass works
without adequate protection and the
right handlers. Wooden crates protect
work in most cases. Sculptures need to
be packed in a cavity. Cushions, quilts,
polystyrene and sponge make for great
packing material.
84 OCTOBER 2013
VIEW POINT
We live in an age when technology is being
integrated into our daily lives on a constant
basis, nowhere more so than with social
networking. Myspace, Twitter, Facebook,
Instagram....the list goes on. Now I am all for
social networking, I have an account on most
of these sites. However, there seems to be an
increasing number of “random” attempts of
contact from unknown people. Surely social
networking is for people to stay connected
to people they know. I think the pre-requisite
for making contact on a social networking
site should be that you have met or spoken
to the other person at least once. What’s with
the random requests that are being sent out
to people you may have never met and don’t
share common friends with?
I have increased the privacy settings on my
social networking profile to ensure that people
who do not know me cannot find me, people
who do not know me cannot see my updates
and every other possible setting which the sites
offer...Yet I find myself inundated with inbox
messages from people claiming to have “Come
across my profile” or “have mutual friends”
or just “wanted to be friends because I have
pretty eyes”. Come on! What a croc! Not only
are these strange requests and mails irritating,
they also show the lack of decorum or social
etiquette on the part of these offenders. You
wouldn’t just walk up to someone on the street
and say “Hey, let’s be friends!” What makes it
acceptable in the cyber world?
And God forbid if you make the fatal error
of responding politely with, “I think you are
mistaken / I don’t know you / I have never
seen you before / I was not at the place you
claim to have met me…” The conversation
does not end there. The standard response
would be, “I’m sorry, but we can be
friends anyway?” Really? How generous
that they are offering up their friendship
as a consolation prize for my not actually
knowing them. When I politely decline,
they take offence and offer up a plethora of
replies, “You think you’re so beautiful... You
think you’re better than the others.... I’m
being so polite as saying let’s be friends…
”And the one that takes the biscuit for me
– “What makes you so wonderful anyway?”
Or “Why are you acting so pricey?”
I hate to break it you, Oh Random One,
apparently I am that “wonderful” based on
your decision to make the effort to contact
me! And if you think for a moment that a
random friend request from a person I don’t
know from Adam is going to make me
giddy at the knees, you are quite mistaken.
My lesson learnt from these wonderful
interactions, is to simply ignore and avoid.
I am sure many of you agree that
sometimes ignorance is bliss.
If you have a topic you’d like to see
discussed, please mail it to
Sujaya Chandran feels that in this age of easy communication and social networking, basic etiquette is on its way out.
Social ‘not’working
OCTOBER 2013 85
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Rohit Panikker takes a closer look at the vision and childhood fascination behind the epic monster battles in Pacific Rim with director Guillermo del Toro
Cancelling The
Apocalypse
86 OCTOBER 2013
OVER A CUPPA
The depths of the ocean have always
held a fascination for people, but we have
always assumed that its wonders — and its
dangers — are of our own world. We were
wrong. A breach in the floor of the Pacific
Ocean unleashes a cataclysmic threat to
the human race. That intriguing premise
gave rise to Pacific Rim, a power-packed
sci-fi action flick from Warner Bros. Pictures
and Legendary Pictures.
Director Guillermo del Toro, who first
gained worldwide recognition for the 1993
Mexican-American co-production Cronos,
a supernatural horror film, and later, the
Oscar-nominated fantasy drama Pan’s
Labyrinth as well as the action adventure
sci-fi thriller Hellboy, also co-wrote and
served as a producer on the film. With
Pacific Rim, the director has mashed
together every kind of giant monster and
mecha battle fantasies we may have had
as young, impressionable children, yet
creating a story, concept and premise
that is refreshingly original and high on
the adrenalin inducers (not to mention a
mindblowing score by Ramin Djawadi). The
film has already garnered polarized opinions
and while box office revenues do not deem
it as a box office trendsetter, it does hold
the distinction of being the fastest to garner
a loyal army of fanboys and followers in
the recent past and shows all possibilities
of pulling a Firefly and turning into a cult
classic, a franchise even.
On the premise of the film, Del Toro
explains, “Through that portal come
creatures that are larger and more ferocious
and brutal than anything we have ever seen
— the Kaiju. In order to grapple with them,
mankind pulls together all its resources and
invents the largest, most dynamic and most
versatile weapon ever devised. They create
the Jaeger Program — towering 25-story-
high robots, each operated by two pilots
whose minds are neurally linked together.
Paired together, these pilots are humanity’s
last hope of survival.”
He continues, “It was a project that
encompassed every single thing on my
wish list, visually, atmospherically and
emotionally … an unstoppable, thrilling
adventure about human pilots and giant
robots up against monsters, the likes of
which we’ve never seen.” The film features
an international cast, led by Charllie
Hunnam and also starring Idris Elba, Rinko
Kikuchi, Charlie Day, Rob Kazinsky, Max
Martini, Clifton Collins, Jr., Burn Gorman,
and Ron Perlman. Del Toro’s enthusiasm
was not only contagious to everyone
involved in the film, but is also largely the
reason he has become an unequivocal
favourite among genre fans. In fact, he
would be the first to count himself among
those collectively known as “fanboys.”
“We want people to be taken by the
spectacle and the sound and fury,” Del
Toro says, “but it is all meant to illuminate
the courage of the central characters.
Physically, the human beings are the
smallest thing in the movie, but their spirit
is the largest thing in the movie. They show
you the makings of real heroes.”
Behind The Scenes
Pacific Rim was shot using the RED EPIC
camera, marking the first time Del Toro has
used a digital camera for one of his films.
One of the main tasks for cinematographer
Guillermo Navarro and his department was
protecting the cameras from the sometimes
torrential artificial rain being generated by
the special effects group, as well as the
resulting steam from the water under the
hot lights. The VFX team also produced
digital re-creations of San Francisco,
California, where the Kaiju begin their reign
of terror. “We wanted to show that this was
a global occurrence,” Del Toro states. “The
adventure takes you to completely different
arenas — from densely populated cities to
the bottom of the sea to the edge of the
Earth’s atmosphere. And it’s also a movie
that, every time you think you have it figured
out, it changes. When you think you know
how the battle is going, the battle shifts.
When you think you know the stakes, the
stakes are raised. So, like the Kaiju, the
action continues to evolve.”
The expanse of the production took up
every soundstage at Toronto’s Pinewood
Studios, including two of the largest
shooting stages in the world. One set,
called the Conn-pod, was constructed on a
large gimbal to make the actors — outfitted
in specialised suits created by Legacy
Effects — actually feel like they were
engaged in battle. “We wanted to put the
audience right there in the pilot seat. It will
make you feel what it is to suit up, hook up,
and take the robot for a ride,”
Del Toro explains.
The Jaegers and the Kaiju were brought to
life onscreen by the visual effects wizards
at the renowned Industrial Light & Magic
(ILM) whose major claim to fame is yet
another cult classic, Star Wars, and were
collaborating with Del Toro for the first time.
“How do you frame up a Kaiju or a Jaeger
that’s 250 feet high and get the audience
to identify with something that large? We
needed to convey the scale, both in water
and on land. Having them together in any
one arena required very specific effects,”
Del Toro shares how his vision was finally
brought on screen.
He continues, "The scope of the film
required a lot of different looks, from
Hong Kong to Tokyo to the various
interiors, like Shatterdome and Hannibal
Chau’s lair. We were building almost
everything on stages, so from a design
standpoint, it all had to be manufactured
from scratch. We put on the layers of
about 15 years going into the future…
a future that does not appear hopeful.”
Del Toro observes, “In the time the film
takes place, we tried to show a little of how
society would be altered and geography
would change. There’s a whole domino
effect caused by these creatures showing
up on our shores. We didn’t want it to look
too futuristic because I think what would
happen is the reverse. All our technology
would go to creating weapons to fight
them, and other advancements would
slow down.”
The Players
The director delves deeper into each of
his characters and points out why they
were written the way they did. Starting
with his top Jaeger pilot Raleigh Beckett,
played by Charllie Hunnam, Del Toro
comments, “Raleigh is a man who is
basically goodhearted and genuinely
earnest and brave. He knows he has
a dangerous job, but he has a code of
honor that makes him willing to put his life
on the line to save another life, despite
any risk. Charlie Hunnam was the perfect
choice to play Raleigh because he is
able to convey that sincerity and purity
of heart, and that mix of toughness and
vulnerability. I’ve admired his work for
years and believe he is on the brink of
movie stardom. I was so happy to have
the chance to direct him on this film.”
Then comes this young woman who shows
tremendous promise as a Jaeger pilot,
although she has been held back by forces
without and within. Rinko Kikuchi was cast
as Mako Mori, whose appearance belies
her true strength. Del Toro reveals she had
been his choice for the role from the start.
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“I love Rinko,” he states. “Alejandro
González Iñárritu first introduced me to
her years ago when they were touring
for Babel. What really impressed
me was how tough and yet delicate
she was. That was essential to the
character of Mako, a girl who dreams
of being a pilot more than anything in
the world.”
Idris Elba plays Stacker Pentecost
who had been the commander of the
Pan Pacific Defense Corp before the
Jaeger Program was cut when the
world leaders decided to shift their
resources to other forms of defence.
Now he leads those who are willing
to follow his mode of resistance. The
director says, “Stacker Pentecost has
to be the ultimate warrior — true north
in a world full of chaos. When the
world appears to be crumbling around
him, he is just steely-eyed. Idris was
the man; I can’t imagine anyone else
in that role.”
Avoiding stereotypes was exactly what
Del Toro was trying to do with the
characters of Geiszler and Gottlieb.
He details, “In a movie where you
have to explain different environments
and the creatures that function within
them, there often comes a point
where you need a science guy. And,
unfortunately, this science guy can
sometimes be the most boring part of
the movie. So we studiously tried to
avoid that by dividing the exposition
duties between Charlie Day and Burn
Gorman, who guide you through the
science of the film in the funniest and
most entertaining way.”
He then talks about the very vibrant
character of Hannibal Chau, the Kaiju
parts smuggler and a new breed of
racketeer in a changed world. Del Toro
says, “Hannibal is a pirate. I knew Ron
(Perlman) would have fun with the role
and let the audience have fun with it,
too. He created a character
I think they will love to hate.” Reflecting
on the shared mission of the story’s
heroes, Del Toro affirms, “The movie is
very much about sticking together. Not
because we’re great, not because we
are invincible, but because, ultimately,
we need one another and embrace
everyone’s uniqueness. And we
protect one another; we have each
other’s back. So it’s coming from a
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point of view of solidarity and strength and
a belief in humanity.”
He concludes, “I want this film to be an
inspirational adventure, like the movies
I used to watch as a kid. It is my hope that
after you see Pacific Rim, you’ll want to be
a Jaeger jockey. No matter what age you
are, you’ll want to jump on board a Jaeger
and head right into a Kaiju brawl.”
film in conjunction with an elite band of
concept artists, illustrators, sculptors,
and designers. “We had some of the best
creature designers in the world involved in
the making of the Kaiju.”
Del Toro began with a group that
brainstormed for weeks, beginning in
a windowless room they appropriately
dubbed “the submarine.” Together, they
examined everything: from sizes, shapes
and colors to how the immense beings
moved and fought. Del Toro says, “We
wanted to evoke the sheer awe and terror
that one would feel when coming upon one
of these monsters.”
He set down certain parameters: an
example being that any animal kingdom
inspirations were primarily limited to lizards,
crustaceans and insects. For the most
part, however, the think tank could let their
imaginations run wild, taking a tag team
approach as they pooled ideas.
The designers gave the Kaiju different
nicknames that were indicative of their
most prominent physical attributes, like
Knifehead, Axehead, Leatherback, etc.
Some are viciously calculated, others
are more raw power. “They are living
weapons,” Del Toro says. “They are
blind instinct combined with tactical
intelligence, capable of making instant
decisions in battle, so there are definitely
a few surprises.”
Meet The Jaegers (yâ’gar,
German) Hunter
Just as every Kaiju is unique, each Jaeger
is distinct in both design and function, with
its own array of weapons, “so every time
you see a Jaeger go up against a Kaiju, it’s
a completely different fight,” says Del Toro.
Although the Jaegers would exist only
on screen, a great deal of planning went
into the mechanics of the robots. “From a
technical standpoint, we decided to build
them from the inside out in diagrams,”
reveals Del Toro. “We determined the way
the pistons, the relays, the torque, the
transmission, the engines, and every other
element worked in detail. Then we pulled
back and started figuring out the vents,
the thermal insulation, the outer skin and
so on.”
Del Toro emphasises, “The robot is only
as good a fighter as the fighters inside.
Ultimately, the most important dynamic that
determines who pilots the Jaegers, and
how effective they’ll be, is the relationship
between the people.”
Early in the Jaeger program, it was
discovered that the complexity and sheer
size of the robots made it impossible for
one person to handle alone. The neural load
proved fatal for a single brain. Eventually,
they learned that it could only be done with
two pilots: one controlling the Jaeger’s right
hemisphere; the other, the left. But in order
for that to work, they had to be in perfect
sync — connected to the robot in body,
and to each other in mind.
The once mighty Jaeger fleet has been
reduced to four surviving robots. The
director wanted the huge war machines
to appear combat-worn, with markings
that flaunt the number of enemies
downed. Their shape, colour and
insignias reflect their country of origin, as
do their fighting styles.
Gipsy Danger
Del Toro equates the look of the U.S. of
A.’s Gipsy Danger to “a classic gunslinger
heading into a fight. A mixture of a deco
skyscraper and John Wayne. Gipsy has
swagger and is made to resemble a WWII
fighter jet in paint job and details.” A Mark
3, it is considered an old Jaeger and,
although it’s been refurbished, it still carries
the scars of war… as do its pilots.
Cherno Alpha
Russia’s Cherno Alpha is a T-series Jaeger
with an oversized nuclear reactor. Its
exceptional brawn makes up for its more
lumbering gait. It is the oldest, heaviest
Jaeger in the surviving fleet. Brute force and
blunt trauma are its calling cards.
Crimson Typhoon
China’s Crimson Typhoon is a Mark 4,
the only Jaeger with three arms, thanks
to its three-man pilot team. Its moves are
as close as a massive Jaeger can get to
martial arts.
Striker Eureka
The Resistance has one Mark 5:
Australia’s Striker Eureka. Being the latest
model, it boasts faster speed and better
maneuverability. “But it’s an Aussie brawler,
so it has a lot of bravado and a bit of a
strut, like a guy who would pick a fight in a
bar,” Del Toro teases.
JAEGERS VS KAIJU
“In order to fight monsters,
we created monsters of our own.”
The global nature of the war against the
Kaiju is reflected in the design, colors
and insignia of the Jaegers, all giving
nods to their country of origin. The four
main Jaegers seen battling in the film are:
Gipsy Danger, from the USA; the Chinese
Crimson Typhoon; Russia’s Cherno Alpha;
and Striker Eureka, from Australia. No
less attention was paid to the creation of
the dreaded Kaiju, which are destruction
incarnate. Del Toro assembled some of
the top concept artists in the industry to
design what he calls “the most terrifying but
majestic creatures you could ever imagine,”
each with its own distinct silhouette and
lethal capabilities.
What is a Kaiju? (kaijû, Japanese)
Giant Beast
Del Toro was largely responsible for
shaping what are, literally speaking, the
biggest stars of Pacific Rim, the Kaiju.
“I love monsters,” states the director who
conceived all the various monsters in the
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is black. The same treatment is meted
out to his son and her only grandchild
too. While both Ousmane and the child
try hard to be nice to Paulette and seek
her approval, she doesn't see beyond her
racial prejudice.
While the character of Paulette is animated
by herself, adding a lot of colour and yes,
not to mention the string of abuses from
an old woman's mouth, there are a host
of many memorable characters you'd
see here from Walter, Paulette's amorous
neighbour, the approval-seeking Ousmane
and Vito, the drug dealer who seeks to
be "a trailblazer" or even Paulette's friend
Renee, who is mockingly referred to as
Alzheimer! The characters are very real
and each lovable in their own way – with
their own moments in the film and their
own one-liners although the best ones
go to the protagonist herself! Moments
to watch out for include Paulette going to
the store to buy a TV set and of course,
the old woman's attempts to sell her
hashish on the streets! Maybe it is because
it comes from the mouth of an old lady, a
highly unlikely place to hear such stuff, but
even the cuss words seem funnier.
If you think the world has gone too serious
or has forgotten to laugh, pop this one in
your player for a quick watch and it'll just
crack you up! Enough said.
Verdict: Supposedly based on real-life
events, the film is as outrageously funny as
its premise.
Rating: 4.5/5
Hot: Bernadette Lafont, who plays the
titular character, is the biggest strength of
the film along with some beautifully-written
one-liners.
Not: Not to nitpick, but the film's running
time is awfully short and you barely get into
the narrative when it's over, especially when
you're enjoying it so much.
PauletteYear: 2012
Language: French
Director: Jerome Enrico
Cast: Bernadette
Lafont, Carmen Maura,
Dominique Lavanant
What turned Paulette,
an extremely grumpy and prejudiced
old French woman into a darling of her
neighbourhood? Well on first look you
might say it's her wonderful cakes which,
funnily enough, have all references to
feeling light or flying or travelling in space.
But then, it all depends on the secret
ingredient, a tinge of marijuana and
hashish! Seems to set the scene for a
series of interesting events? Definitely.
Paulette, a widow living on minimum
monthly pension is almost forced out of
her apartment when she stumbles upon an
easy fix for her problem – get in touch with
her local drug dealer and work for him.
After all, who would suspect an innocent
old woman, right? And indeed, Paulette
becomes the most well-known dealer in
their area, made famous by her hashish-
infused baked goods. All goes well for
a while. But here's the catch. Paulette's
daughter is married to Ousmane, a police
officer, whom Paulette hates because he
This month, Rohit Panikker reviews two recent French comedies that are a must-watch!
�������������with The French
90 OCTOBER 2013
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brothers Feruz and Muzafar are boarding
their flight to France, but get rerouted to the
tiny island of Corsica, from where they have
to find their way to the Paris. From local
prejudices to half-baked information on
French life, women, language and culture,
the two stick out like a sore thumb from
the very beginning, even managing to get
themselves captured by another terrorist
group! From time to time you can get a
sense of deja vu from a horde of other
similarly-themed films like the British dark
comedy Four Lions or even the heavily
Borat-esque protagonists in terms of its
in-your-face comedy that can sometimes
scandalize you yet still make you laugh out
loud because of the sheer ludicrousness
of it all -- even if you realise that people
can actually sometimes be this daft and
ignorant in their prejudices in real life too!
At a running time of just about 90 minutes,
this film is the perfect companion for a
Sunday afternoon when you want to do
nothing but curl up and spend your time
laughing away or giggling uncontrollably
at the subtle gaffes throughout! In fact, be
sure to walk away with hilarious one-liners
and scenes that will certainly stick with you
long after you're done with it!
Verdict: Absolutely hilarious, yet makes
you think about how some attitudes and
prejudices we deem mundane or not
important can make a difference,
good or bad.
Rating: 3.5/5
Hot: Watch out for the brilliant play on
language and the multi-layered references.
Like for example, the protagonists get
chased across a field in Corsica by two
massive dogs named, ironically after it's
most famous resident, Napoleon
and Bonaparte!
Not: This film would be a little hard to
digest if you're easily offended. On that
note, at least it isn't Borat.
Perhaps nothing
explains this
French comedy
better than its
own opening line;
"When the world
was created, God
decided to create
the most beautiful
country of all
and put all of the
world's wonders
in it. He called that
country France. But
so that the other
countries wouldn't
feel deprived, god
decided to fill it with
... The French!"
Lampooning modern day geopolitics and
nationalistic prejudices, Vive Le France
follows two step-brothers from the very
tiny nation of Taboulistan – a self-contained
central Asian nation state whose only
claim to fame is the 200-year old recipe
for the Tabouleh dish, which they claim the
Lebanese stole from them, thus rendering
them void of the only identity they have as
a nation. Even the UN is unaware of their
existence. And to make their presence
felt in the world, the Taboulistanis decide
to follow the path of world terror groups
and plan an attack on the Eiffel tower to
get noticed. But unfortunately, they have
a horde of quirky French people and their
own stupidity and ignorance to deal with
if they have to successfully complete their
mission. What happens after the two
brothers board the plane to France forms
the hilarious premise of the movie.
Vive la France engages you from the very
first frame at the airport where the two
Vive La FranceYear: 2013
Language: French
Director: Michael Youn
Cast: Jose Garcia,
Michael Youn, Isabelle
Funaro.
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This movie is a strong case for pro-abortion
laws all over the world. It is hard to imagine
that there still exist countries where it is so
difficult to get an abortion. 4 months, 3
weeks, 2 days is set in 1987, one of the
last few years of the Ceaušescu regime
which was basically Communist Romania.
Abortion which was previously legal was
made illegal except in a few cases through
Decree 770. After the fall of the regime,
abortion became legal again in 1989.
That the movie is cold and hard-hitting
would be a definite understatement. It
opens with the two friends, Otilia (Marinca)
and Gabita (Vasiliu) talking about an
impending plan and preparations for it.
Have you packed the tissue? What about
the soap? And the plastic sheet? The
viewer is left wondering what they might
be talking about. What are they packing
for and why is Gabita so nervous? Slowly,
the movie unravels itself on you. Otilia
books a room in a hotel for 3 nights. She is
extremely insistent about booking a room
in a particular hotel but that doesn’t work
out… and yes, we are still wondering!
Otilia finally manages to book a room in
another hotel and then heads to meet a
Mr. Bebe at a previously decided meeting
point. Things start to look a bit fishy now.
Mr. Bebe (Ivanov) seems a strange sort,
someone you might want to keep away
from. Otilia gets into his car and they drive
to the hotel where Gabita is waiting. Slowly
it starts falling into place in your head now.
We realize that Gabita is pregnant and
Mr. Bebe is going to perform the illegal
abortion for her…with a probe, some
medicine and no anaesthesia. As they
start to talk, it is revealed that Gabita had
lied to him about being just two months
pregnant. He realises she is actually closer
to 4 months and therein starts the downhill
roll to misfortune.
This is a heart-wrenching movie with
carefully etched characters. It makes you
ponder over just how much of a stake the
rest of the world makes on a woman’s
body. There are a couple of side stories as
well, like that of Otilia and her boyfriend,
Adi and their roller-coaster relationship.
Watch this movie to know just how lucky
we are to live in a country where abortion
is legal.
4 months, 3 weeks, 2 days
Year: 2007
Language: Romanian
Director: Cristian Mungiu
Cast: Anamaria Marinca, Laura
Vasiliu, Vlad Ivanov
This month, Urmila Pullat reviews two random, unconnected movies – one from Romania and one from France.
Verdict: I’d say it’s a must watch.
Let’s give the choice over what
a woman must do with her body
to the one who owns it – the
woman.
Rating: 4/5
Hot: Heart-wrenching.
Not: Heart-wrenching.
Romania & France!
92 OCTOBER 2013
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The Beat that my heart skipped is
a delightfully named French film about
a real-estate thug, Tom (Duris) who is
constantly pulled by his dreams, while
continuously being pulled back by his
reality – of crime and easy money, the
power of force and the rush it brings. It
seems as though Tom’s one true purpose
in life is to be a real-estate goon. His
father, Robert (Arestrup) is a dodgy real-
estate dealer who asks Tom for help to
deal with difficult customers.
Tom meets his father at a restaurant
and his father reveals that he wants
to marry his girlfriend and would like
Tom to meet her. Tom doesn’t seem
particularly excited at the prospect but
agrees nevertheless. We realise that he
has grown to be protective about his
father, especially since his mother’s death
because his immediate reaction is to be
unfriendly, disapproving and insulting
towards her.
The movie doesn’t move very much. It
starts off very excitingly and looks like it
will be a racy one, filled with gangs and
petty crime. That is not so and instead it
takes you on a journey of torn ambitions.
Tom’s one true desire is to be a concert
pianist, just like his mother. He enlists
the help of his mother’s ex-manager who
tells him to audition. He starts practicing
and begins piano lessons with a young
virtuoso, Miao Lin to help him perform
at the auditions. The scenes between
the two make for an interesting watch as
Tom can speak only French and Lin can
speak only Chinese, Vietnamese and a
little English!
But, Tom is unable to complete the
audition. He is stressed out and
overworked and finds his father murdered
in his apartment. Tom knows that the
Russian gangster, Minskov is behind
this. What becomes of Tom? Does he
become a pianist as his heart wishes
or does he stick to his low-life career of
crime, exploitation and easy money? The
character of Tom is wonderfully portrayed
and his innocent excitement about all
things piano is heart-warming. Watch the
movie to know whether Tom gives into
easy money or lets his passion take him
on the journey called life.
The Beat that my heart
skipped (De battre mon
cœur s'est arête)
Year: 2005
Language: French
Director: Jacques Audiard
Cast: Romain Duris, Niels
Arestrup
Verdict: Slightly slow but a very
interesting take on the assumed
polarities in a criminal’s life –
easy money or chasing one’s
dreams. Can they both co-exist?
Rating: 3/5
Hot: That a criminal nurses such
sweet dreams inside him.
Not: Slow. The movie could’ve
been faster-paced keeping in mind
that it is about a criminal after all.
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Writer Ashwin Sanghi gets talking to Rohit Panikker
about his favourite literature...
The Master Of
Historic Thrillers
At a recent book club event talk on the rise
of historic fiction or the literary equivalent
of "period flicks" in Indian literature, an
observation by one of the members should
do as the perfect introduction for writer
Ashwin Sanghi – "If you say J.K Rowling
made the world read again and Chetan
Bhagat made India read again, it is Ashwin
Sanghi who made India read up on our own
history and mythology!" True enough, this
author of bestselling novels like Rozabal
Line, Chanakya's Chant and The Krishna
Key, is among the few who spearheaded
India's renewed love affair with our own
past. "We keep following the fantasy stories
of Rowling and Tolkien while we have an
impressive bank of stories, folklore and
vibrant characters to explore and write
about," he shares as he gets talking on the
literature that is close to his heart.
As for what he's reading right now, the
author has his nose deep in between
the pages of a paperback copy of
The Cuckoo's Calling – a book that hit
headlines recently because of its author,
declared in print to be a man called
Robert Galbraith, but who turned out
to be the legendary Harry Potter author
JK Rowling. This seems to reflect his
love for storytellers who delve deep into
their characters, and these storytellers
have influenced him the most as a writer,
like he explains. "My favourite author is
Jeffrey Archer. He made me realise the
difference between great writing and great
storytelling. I have always seen myself as a
storyteller rather than writer." Indeed, that
shows in his writing, as does his penchant
for adventure, even from his childhood
favourites. "My favourite book as a child
was Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure
Island for its vivid storytelling."
With his books going deep into India's
mythology and manipulating aspects of the
country's politics, literature and even its
geography into his wildly interconnecting
plots, the author is known for his detailed
research and thrilling Dan Brown-esque
chases that could have you riveted to his
writing until you're completely done. It's
not hard to see where the need to get his
facts straight comes from and where he
gets his in-depth interest in politics and
administration as evident in his Chanakya's
Chant. "My most favourite book is Robert
Penn Warren's All the King's Men. This was
the book that taught me that while politics
is the second-oldest profession in the
world, it strongly resembles the oldest one."
Ask him about his favourite literary
character of all time, and almost
immediately comes the response, "Agatha
Christie's Hercule Poirot! Although if anyone
cast me in the movie adaptation of a book,
I would like to play Vito Corleone from Mario
Puzo's Godfather..."
As an author himself, I wonder what
usually drives him to write. "My muse is the
ancient and the hidden. More importantly,
its connection to the present and future,"
he answers cryptically, adding jokingly that
it is usually a few swigs of whisky that do
the trick.
"I've always been wanting to read Gabriel
Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years Of
Solitude," admits the writer as he shares
his aspirations as an author ... and that
one compliment he would love to hear
from his readers, "would be that when they
were reading my book, the pages turned
themselves well into the middle of the
night," he signs off.
94 OCTOBER 2013
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Livewire
The stage was nothing less than prophetic.
A studio. That’s where Adil Manuel, a
guitarist, met Vasundhara Vidalur, a vocalist,
for the first time – and like they say about
a lot of epic musical collaborations – the
molecules just changed! Well, it’s not too
hard to guess that from what the duo of
Adil & Vasundhara have been up to in the
last four years since then – touring the
world, presenting their interesting blend
of influences that heavily rely on elements
of Jazz Fusion, Funk, RnB, Blues and
Gospel, and releasing a rather impressively-
produced debut album titled Ampersand in
March this year. Based out of New Delhi,
the duo recently performed together in
Chennai for the first time. “We have been
wanting to play in the city for the longest
time. The audience here knows their music
and they are always open,” shares Adil,
as we catch them after a power-packed
performance.
With a large bi-lingual repertoire of
standards and original compositions, their
shows have a mix of songs in French
and English. Both Adil and Vasundhara
admit that the main aspect that brought
them together was being able to relate
to each other’s tastes in music and how
they just felt it. "When Vasundhara and I
got together, we had a similar outlook on
music and the collaboration just felt right,
you know," shares Adil. "Both of us, we like
to do collaborations, and now, what we
hope is that this opens up more avenues
for music other than just tried and tested
popular formats; that this will open up
doors and windows for other bands to
explore ... That's how we'd like to see it,"
shares Adil.
"When you start out as a band in India, first
you look at the market. You look at what
sells. But we didn't look at any of that, so
I was a little bit antsy," reveals Adil about
how they managed to brew their music
away from set norms or templates, to
build a wholly original sound. "If you listen
to us, you'd realise that we are not really
Jazz; there's a lot of funk involved, some
heavy RnB and other influences. So what
we do is, we fine-tune it and we get some
kind of a connecting sound," shares Adil
as his bandmate chips in, "yeah, that's
something a lot of people don't do ... like
there's no point playing something if you're
not adding anything to it ... it needn't be
original. Of course, there's really no chance
that you can come up with something
entirely original, but having said that, it still
takes time to evolve your sound and to put
something like an album together – to stick
within a frame yet explore your sound."
Extensively working with artists based in
India and abroad, their focus has been
the creation of new sounds and energies
through collaboration, exchange and
cross-influence. Their debut effort also
features a rather powerful roster including
jazz pianist Louiz Banks, drummer Ranjit
Barot and Indus Creed’s Zubin Balaporia.
And that is exactly why they named the
album Ampersand, reasons Vasundhara,
“The album is called Ampersand because
it’s bigger than us. It’s not just about Adil
& Vasundhara. Everybody just stepped in.
Everybody’s contributed.”
Talking further about their debut album,
Adil explains that although they have
been touring extensively before and after
the release of their album, in the last six
months since its release, the support and
feedback that they have received has
been phenomenal. "We never actually
expected to garner so much attention
for the album. It just happened on its
own. We released the album in March
and between April and July, the album
went viral and we got featured so much
in the media. It was not something we
worked towards, but it just happened.
At one point we just lost count of
the publications – both mainstream
newspapers and other publications that
had run articles on Ampersand. That was
what really worked for us."
Adil further explains that the response
that they've got for the album is proof of
the changing popular tastes in music. "Of
course, the support we've got for the album
actually shows that at some level, people
are exploring 'genres' and listening to music
like this."
As a group that has toured both within the
country and outside, the duo has been
witness to the growing live music scene
in India. Vasundhara shares that this is a
relatively new phenomenon, especially of
the last few years with so many venues
opening up that invite musicians and have
live sessions on a regular basis. "Also,
I believe it has a lot to do with the access,"
she says. "There are a bunch of music
schools all around the country churning out
batches of musicians. Live music became
a trend of sorts and it created work, word
went around and people started trying it out
and taking chances ... and well, some of
these chances really worked out!"
For Adil & Vasundhara, a collaborative project based out of New Delhi, music is not about what sells but rather about what connects. They delve deep into their musical influences in a chat with Rohit Panikker.
OCTOBER 2013 95
IND
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virgin mojito which I asked for without mint
is served instead, with some raw mango
deliciously garnished with roasted
cumin powder.
The food follows – with the soups leading
the way. We sample a cold smoked
mushroom veloute served with a slow-
cooked confit of cremini mushrooms and
a roast tomato and mandarin broth which
had a fresh mozzarella-filled tortellini. The
mushroom veloute doesn’t have a single
flavour out of place and the tomato soup
has a refreshing aftertaste of orange.
This is followed by a roasted beetroot,
ricotta, arugula and candied walnut salad,
dressed in mild balsamic vinegar and
Acacia honey dressing; and the Olive
Bistro Chicken Caesar salad. The beetroot
salad is a must-have, especially if you are
vegetarian – you might even be tempted to
try this at home. The Chicken Caesar salad
served with bread baked in-house is a large
enough portion to be a meal in itself.
The soup only stokes up our appetite
further and if the taste is anything to go by,
I know we are in for a gourmand experience
with the rest of the food. Starters included
the Spiked Green Harissa-marinated
Prawn skewer, Chermoula spice-marinated
Chicken and Cottage Cheese Skewers
(served separately); the House Special Falafel
in pita pockets with hummus and Crumb Fried
Ricotta and Thyme Stuffed Cremini Mushroom.
The prawns were delicately flavoured and
far tastier than the Chicken skewers. The
mushrooms though were delicious as were the
pita pockets.
We also tried the all-veg pizza on a thin crust
and the Smoked Jerk Chicken Pizza – both
were laden with toppings and the blend of
colours of the peppers, onions, jalapenos and
chicken made it a very tempting option.
Mains included the fennel and chilli flavoured
Indian basa which was pan-seared basa lined
with fennel, served with a chilli sauce and potato
puree as well as the flash-baked stuffed chicken
rubbed with thyme, where a whole deboned
chicken with a stuffing of walnut and spinach
was served with herbed linguini. The basa was
cooked really well and the flavours had been
absorbed by the fish completely so one could
taste the herbs with every bite.
I always make it point to have dessert after
every meal and this time, I was happy I stuck to
my rule. The two dishes we tried left me craving
for more and if I weren’t so stuffed already,
I would have had a second helping. We tried the
Vanilla Panacotta served with a pink peppercorn
and orange sauce and milk chocolate ice cream
filled Profiteroles topped with a hazelnut and
bitter chocolate drizzle. The desserts were
simply divine.
Now, if after eating way more than my usual
quantity of food and dessert left me wishing
I had a bigger appetite – that should tell you
how good the food at Olive Bistro is. Head there
at the earliest if you haven’t been there already.
O'live' It Up!When a well-known restaurant chain from Mumbai decides to open a branch in Hyderabad, the curiosity factor is very high. If it lives up to its name and reputation, you can rest assured the place will become popular very soon. Minal Khona finds out that it is exactly what is happening with Olive Bistro, which was launched recently and is already packed on most days.
Despite its slightly out-of-the-way location,
people are flocking to this Mediterranean
style restaurant. Despite its picturesque
location, the European décor and setting,
it is obvious that the food is the star here.
As one enters, besides the stark white
of the walls, there is lush greenery and
steps lit with tiny lights to brighten the
path that lead down to the seating areas.
The restaurant, with indoor and outdoor
seating has eclectic décor. Blue tiles on
the floor, mismatched chairs and tables,
the Olive trademark cup and saucer
chandelier and a bar that has a telescope
are part of the interiors. For the outdoor
seating, there is a large fishnet and a boat
on display to go with the mood of the lake
below. The terrace seating is still being
finished however.
Retaining most of the dishes from its
flagship diner in Pune, the Olive Bistro has
food that is predominantly Mediterranean
with special dishes conceived by Chef
Mayank Tiwari. The only tweaking done is
with some seafood dishes where the fish in
the original recipe has been replaced with a
local one. That still doesn’t take away from
any of the flavours.
Attentive staff brings out the starters and
the mocktails as soon as we settle. The
Olive Bistro is on Road 46, Near Durgam
Cheruvu, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad
For reservations call +91 40 69999127
The restaurant is open from noon until
11.00 PM. A meal for two would cost about
` 2000 to ` 2500 excluding alcohol.
Olive Bistro doesn’t have a liquor licence yet.
96 OCTOBER 2013
MAIN COURSE
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Entrepreneur and socialite Vidya Singh savours the delectable flavours of the Orient with a group
of friends at China XO, The Leela Palace's new offering to Chennai...
An Extraordinary
Journey to the
Orient
98 OCTOBER 2013
MAIN COURSE
From left to right : Ratika Haskar, Paloma Rao, Paul Raymond and Vidya Singh.
Photography by A.V.Abhay Kumar
OCTOBER 2013 99
MA
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The Leela Palace is probably the most
elegant of the hotels in Chennai and it
is always a pleasure to be here. There is
a feeling that we are in someone’s very
beautiful home. China XO is The Leela
Palace’s offering to the city and is a
wonderfully stylish space, created to give
a feeling of luxury and every detail has
been planned with this in mind – from the
layout to even the upholstery and artifacts
that have come in from distant places.
This elegant restaurant has certainly taken
the concept of Oriental fine dining up
several notches.
My guests for the evening are the elegant
Ratika Haksar, avant-garde jewellery
designer and a discerning food connoisseur;
the stylish and beautiful Paloma Rao,
television presenter, RJ and travel buff; and
Paul Raymond, restaurateur who owns Moti
Mahal Delux, and has a passion for food and
loves experimenting with different cuisines.
Together, we are ready to do justice to Chef
Dharmen’s creations.
Chef Dharmen Makawana assures us
that the unique menu that he has styled
will feature selections from Sichuan and
Canton, but with several innovations.
This award-winning chef has worked
in Australia, Asia and the Middle East,
especially the Dusit Thani Resort, the
Nikko Bali Resort in Bali and in Sharm el-
Sheik in Cairo, besides working in several
luxury hotels in different parts of the world.
He constantly endeavours to introduce
people to the authentic taste and flavour of
Oriental cuisine.
As we settle in at our table, we realise
that the restaurant is so well-planned that
there is ample space between the different
tables, giving us an instant feeling of privacy
and the impression of being almost the
only diners there! Chef Dharmen first sends
out platters of Dim Sums, both vegetarian
and meat. The signature selections are
the Chilean Sea Bass, the Crispy Prawn
Cheung Fun and the Chicken Prawn
Siumai. I relish mine – the Truffle and
Edamame and the Asparagus Cheung Fun,
which are both fabulous. The colour palette
of the presentation is as pretty as the dim
sums are delicious.
Chef Dharmen takes us across to have
a quick look at the open plan Dim Sum
kitchen where we watch the rolled dim
sums being prepared. The veggie version
had asparagus and the meat variant
was made with prawns, in a variety of
textures. Now we are really beginning to
enjoy the entire experience. The Hong
Kong style Fried Prawns with a garlic oat
crust is truly unusual in its texture and
100 OCTOBER 2013
MAIN COURSE
taste. The Traditional Vegetable Hot and
Sour Soup with Bamboo Shoot is simple
and made to perfection.
After this comes the masterpiece that all of
us watch with total fascination as the Chef
brings it over – the absolutely authentic
Peking Duck, made in a wood-fired oven.
Brought whole to our table, it is carved and
different parts are served to us separately,
from the skin to the breast meat and the
thighs. The pancakes and the condiments
are brought alongside, and consist of finely
sliced cucumber and leek, Hoisin Sauce that
is slightly sweet in taste and crushed garlic.
The duck is absolutely tender and melts in
the mouth, and the flavours are balanced
with the accompaniments. A wonderful
experience in its entirety, the Peking Duck
is a big favourite at our table. Just when
Paloma and Paul exclaim that they are done,
the next course is brought in!
Among the mains that are sent out to
us, I am surprised to see the delicious
Chicken Garlic Fried Rice. A staple in
most Chinese restaurants, this version
is especially light and delicate. We have
the Jasmine Steamed Rice as well, as
an option. The Black Pepper Tenderloin
Strips are just superb as is the Clay Pot
Chicken that is made with bamboo shoot
and chilli bean sauce.
We are unanimous in pronouncing the
Braised Eggplant in chilli bean sauce to be
the most delicious we have ever eaten. Trust
me, it can make fans out of even those who
don’t usually like eggplant! No wonder this
platter is sent back to the kitchen completely
empty! The Stir Fried Vegetables with water
chestnuts and mushroom in a sweet onion
sauce is so totally delicious that we simply
attack the dish at the table. Equally drool-
worthy is the Stir Fried Chinese Greens,
with Tofu, a dish that is crisp and flavourful.
Delicious hot Jasmine Tea is constantly
replenished for us in little cups and certainly
helps digest our large meal.
Dessert arrives at the table in platters for
each of us. Paloma and Paul love the
Crisp Sesame Pancake with lotus and
red bean paste, while Ratika declares
that the Almond Jelly is incredibly light
and delicious. I try the rather unusual
Crisp Musk Melon and love the long roll
of a sponge cake with a difference. A tiny
scoop of vanilla ice-cream tops off the
dessert selection.
Dining at this restaurant has been a
wonderful experience and as Chef Dharmen
says, "Food is meant to be shared and
enjoyed with good company." China XO
at The Leela Palace Chennai makes for a
perfect fine dining experience and comes
highly recommended by all of us!
OCTOBER 2013 101
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E
What does luxury mean to you?
I think luxury is any time that you have for yourself, on a busy day. For me, it would be a
holiday, you know, with lots of sleep. That would be a lucky day.
What is the one luxury you cannot live without?
My phone, although that’s not a luxury – I mean, everybody has one now. And I can’t
live without mine.
What is the one holiday destination you would go back to anytime?
LA. I just love it. Probably because I have this great connection to the place.
Which luxury brands are you a part of?
Man – do I endorse any brands? Wow! (laughs) I mean, I’d love to be endorsing
Givenchy, but unfortunately, I’m not. But I do patronise a few brands I like,
including Burberry, and Chanel.
Is there something you have seen people spend a lot of money on, but you
think is a colossal waste of money?
Colossal waste? Oh god, yes, that would have to be imported cars in India. Why?
Because the roads are so bad, you know, and when you drive, some auto guy
would come by and scratch your car and it’s just really stupid. (grins)
What is that one secret indulgence you haven't told too many people
about?
Oh, I don’t know – nothing in particular, because I’m quite boring. I think
I just buy a lot of clothes I don’t wear. Like, I still have some stuff over from a
launch I went to, with the tags still on, and I’ve never worn them. That’s a
bad habit I have.
What inheritance/legacy would you like to leave for
future generations?
Oh my god – that’s a very heavy question. Very heavy. Um,
I don’t want to leave behind a legacy and all that – I just want
the people who knew me to remember me as someone who
made them happy. I want people to watch my movies, and
have a great time. And my kids to have wonderful things to say
about me.
How would you define 'the good life'? And what aspects
do you think need to come together for you to have a
'good life'?
You need good and positive people around you always. A mixture
of ambition, and the ability to be content with what you have. Most
importantly, you need a lot of love.
Suppose you are going on a minimalist trip. What are the three
things you would carry along?
My phone, my soap (which is very important), and some music. I think
those would be enough, to make me feel good.
Shruti Haasan has come a long way from being just Kamal Haasan’s daughter or ‘just another pretty face’. This incredibly-talented performer (yes, performer, since she is an actor, singer, dancer and a music director rolled into one and still searching for more caps to don!) has become a force to reckon with in no time. Here she is, at her ebullient best, as she answers a round of questions on life, likes and luxury.
102 OCTOBER 2013
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