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Transcript of RITZ September 2013 issue
SEPTEMBER 2013
SOUTH INDIA'S PREMIER UBER LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
`40
VOL 10 ISSUE 2
THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDSA roundup of the Delhi Couture
Week and LFW
SPELL OUT S.P.U.N.KSriya Reddy shows us every bit
of the candour and energy we
love her for!
ON OUR RADARShooting aficionados and
passionate gun collectors
PLusThe boldest
fashion trends, the
coolest products
and a generous
slice of the uber
lifestyle
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
I look around and see a lot of beautiful women looking like clones of each other at events, sticking to the usual routine of wearing
a pretty dress, flaunting a poker-straight blowout, girly makeup and carrying a box clutch. Just how boring is this look? If you
ask me, very! Time for some experimentation, much? Take international designers for example. While we’ve fallen hook, line and
sinker for the known names, such as Oscar de la Renta, Saint Laurent, Dolce and Gabbana and Valentino, there are several other
designers like Roksanda Ilincic, Mary Katrantzou, Christopher Kane and Erdem who surprise fashion lovers every season. A little
effort at experimentation in the style department is sure to yield gorgeous results.
At RITZ, we’ve renewed our interest in fashion by presenting you with interesting choices. On the one hand we feature newbie
designers who are upping the ante with their bold creativity, and on the other, you have the big guns bettering their best with every
passing season. And if our effort helps men and women across South India look their best, it’ll all be worthwhile.
4 SEPTEMBER 2013
INSIDE
of
presents
9 years of style & success
BUZZIN’We’re buzzin’ about the high life this month
12
GLAM BRIGADEA highlight of people and events that caught our attention
27
SNAPPEDOf special occasions captured for memory
28
PORTFOLIOCheck out some of the hautest bridal couture this
season while we catch up with some interesting work
by fashion heavyweights from Sabyasachi to Anamika
Khanna, Ritu Beri, and Manish Arora. We also show you
how to go bold with some intrepid punk plaids.
40
PORT
FOLI
O
PERSONALITYSriya Reddy on cinema, life away from the camera and
her obsession with fitness
56
62UBER LIVINGSome people just need to take that shot! Collecting
and caring for your own set of rifles and firearms is not
something everyone can afford. But there’s certainly a
rush when handling one as we find out.
66TAKE OFFYou don’t really have to head to the Gold Coast to
catch that wave! Grab that board and head to the
South Indian coastline!
VIEWPOINTArt entrepreneur Sharan Apparao explores the
interaction between the visual and text in art while
Sujaya Chandran finds that retail therapy can in fact be
cause for therapy itself.
70
6 SEPTEMBER 2013
INSIDE...
EDITOR & PUBLISHER ARUNA R KRISHNAN EDITORIAL CO-ORDINATORS SHRUTHI SUDHAKARAN & ROHIT PANIKKERCONTRIBUTING WRITERS ASMITA AGGARWAL, KIRTHI JAYAKUMAR, MARCUS.A.CLAY, MINAL KHONA,
RICHA TILOKANI, ROHIT PANIKKER, SIDDHARTH KUMAR, VINITA NAYAR, VIRA SHAH 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 take an intense look at the works of Jean Sasson
and Susan Abulhawa. As fodder for more entertainment,
we catch up with Live Banned.
78
MAINCOURSEVidya Singh and a group of friends enjoy a lazy Sunday
lunch at The Focaccia at The Hyatt Regency.
82
THE RITZ READERDeepak Suresh on his idea of luxury
86
OVER A CUPPAWe get up close with actor Forest Whitaker on his new
film The Butler as Jason Sudeikis and Jennifer Aniston get
together, talking about their latest release We’re The Millers.
74
8 SEPTEMBER 2013
FOOD
‘Big Sundays’ at ITC Grand Chola
now give you an even more
enticing chance to relax. Head to
Ottimo – the Cucina Italiana that
offers gourmet antipasti, pastas
and pizzas. At Pan Asian, you can
indulge in an assortment of crisp
salads, cold appetizers, lighter-
than-air dim sums and fresh sushi.
The Madras Pavilion restaurant
features Indian and international
gourmet desserts.
The ITC Grand Chola is at
63, Mount Road, Guindy,
Chennai.
Indulge in the soulful flavours of
southern Italy at the antipasti &
dessert buffet at Focaccia, The
Hyatt Regency, all through the
week from Monday until Friday.
The menu ranges from bacon to
fagioli salad to tenderloin carpaccio
and you can top it off with a buffet
of all things sweet at their exquisite
dessert bar. Also be sure to check
out the Trattoria-styled brunch for
the entire family, offering unlimited
antipasti and desserts. With pasta
and pizzas ahoy, have a fantastic
time as you lounge at the poolside
with your family before you indulge
in the colossal Italian feast. With
unlimited juices and mocktails:
` 1299 + taxes; with unlimited spirits
and cocktails: ` 1599 + taxes.
The Hyatt Regency is at
365, Anna Salai, Teynampet,
Chennai.
12 SEPTEMBER 2013
BUZZIN’
SHOPPING
Tom Ford presents his best in striking
frames as he flaunts his new collection,
which includes 22 new sunglass frames
and 14 optical frames for women and
men. Sophisticated and sexy, these
new, clean, linear shapes make a
powerful statement of personal style.
Minimalist and modern, the Tom Ford
collection defines luxury at its best.
Crafted from exquisite materials and
featuring superb fabrications, the range
is lightweight, comfortable and just what
the doctor ordered!
Availability: Available at all leading
optical and multi-branded stores across
the country
Price: on request
If you’re looking for suave and slick, then Tom Ford’s new collection is your best pick.
Funky, clear bags are great for an outing on a rainy day. Take a look…
Be a monsoon diva!
Make a style statement
even when the skies
are rumbling. Lucite
bags are perfect for
the monsoon, and at
any time of the day
or evening. Time to
ditch the leather totes
for these see-through
beauties, indeed.
Available on
www.shop.inonit.in
14 SEPTEMBER 2013
BUZZIN’
SHOPPING Sanskrriti brings to you an exciting
range of gifting options for this festive
season. Be it Ayudha Pooja, Navratri,
Diwali or any other celebration, make
each occasion extra special with exciting
gifts from Sanskrriti. Choose from a wide
range of hampers, gift baskets, potlis and
trays laden with fruits, dry fruits, cookies,
chocolates, biscuits or any other goodie
that you may desire to gift.
All the gifts are designed and attractively
packed in bright neon colours, which are
so hot this festive season. So get ready to
celebrate the special occasion called life
with Sanskrriti.
Drop in at:
Old No 14, New No 15,
Sulaiman Zackaria Avenue,
Casa Major Road,
3rd Lane, Egmore, Chennai.
Call the store at +91 44 64992496
16 SEPTEMBER 2013
BUZZIN’
THIS MONTH WE LOVE
Quirky and Eclectic
We went gaga over Quirk
Box’s collections at the LFW
2013. On a boring evening
for a dose of eccentric fun,
slip on this printed number
from Quirk Box and pair
with coral pumps.
18 SEPTEMBER 2013
BUZZIN’
THIS MONTH WE LOVE
Shilpa Reddy makes a stunning statement at LFW
Designer and former model Shilpa Reddy’s LFW collection inspired by Thai
warrior-queen Suriyothai has been receiving accolades all around. The designer
who in the past, had famously graced the Kingfisher calendar, has put together
a strong statement with her current line. Cheering her at LFW were superstar
Nagarjuna and actress-producer Lakshmi Manchu.
22 SEPTEMBER 2013
BUZZIN’
NEW PRODUCTS
Mechanical perfection, unique style and elegance is what Rolex is all about. Of all the
collections, the Daytona is arguably the most sacred watch to Rolex collectors.
First introduced in 1963, the Rolex Daytona range was made famous by
actor and motor racing enthusiast Paul Newman.
The 50th anniversary of the iconic watch has been
marked this year with the launch of a first
‘prestigious edition’ of the Cosmograph
Daytona that replaces the usual steel case
for one made entirely of platinum. Rolex
created an instant collector’s piece
featuring a case made entirely of 950
platinum, with a chestnut brown
Cerachrom bezel that matches the
sub-dials in the beautiful ice blue
dial and white gold borders.
The 50th Anniversary Rolex
Cosmograph Daytona
Reference 116506 features
the Rolex caliber 4130
and will have a retail price
of $75,000 (` 48 lakh
approximately) when it
hits stores later this year.
Needless to say, the
Cosmograph Daytona
is on every Rolex
aficionado’s wishlist.
An iconic benchmark for those who are passionate about luxury and prestige, Rolex continues to dazzle...
WEARING YOUR STYLE
24 SEPTEMBER 2013
BUZZIN’
The Bentley Luxury Handbag Collection
The world’s leading luxury carmaker has now introduced a limited
edition luxury handbag which transfers the functional luxury of the
car into an accessory that women can cherish. Each limited edition
Bentley luxury handbag will feature a metal plaque, commemorating
its individual number. This plaque can be personalised to the
handbag owner and their car.
The collection features two distinct models that create a strong link
with some of the key features of the cars. The Barnato is named
after the first British woman to break the sound barrier; she was
also the daughter of the founding chairman of the company. The
Continental is named after one of Bentley’s famed model lines,
used on successive generations of Grand Tourers since 1952. The
Bentley Handbag collection is available from October 2013. This
limited edition collection comprises 160 bags globally, 80 of each
style, in four colourways. This palette of options will be expanded in
2014 to include new models.
Gemfields to offer collaborative jewellery on Couturelab
Gemfields has collaborated with a selection of international jewellers
to create one-off designer jewellery. For the 12-piece collection, the
designers used Gemfields’ Zambian emeralds and amethysts, and
Mozambican rubies to create one-of-a-kind pieces exclusively for
the environmentally and socially responsible mining company.
Prices for the Gemfields collection at couturelab start from $4,050
(` 2.6 lakh) for a brooch by Askill.
Available at www.couturelab.com
26 SEPTEMBER 2013
BUZZIN’
Suhasini Manirathnam
Under the maestro’s tutelage
The launch of AR Rahman’s KM College of Music and
Technology in Chennai featured an interesting blend of
musicians and famous personalities. While Mukesh and
Nita Ambani inaugurated the institute, the guests at the
event were held spellbound by the magical strains Sufi
music, including Rahman’s own composition Khwaja
Mere Khwaja, performed by students of his music
conservatory.
Shakthishree Gopalan Adam
AR Reihana
Gilles and Aramian
Rajiv Menon with his wife
Mukesh and Nita Ambani, AR Rahman and Saira
SEPTEMBER 2013 27
GLA
M B
RIG
AD
E
The 9th anniversary edition of RITZ, South India’s Premier Uber Lifestyle Magazine
was celebrated with much fanfare on the 14th of August, 2013 at Greenways Hall,
Hotel Park Sheraton. The dynamic Col David Devasahayam and his charming wife
Dr. Renuka David of the hugely successful Radiant Group of Companies presented
and spearheaded the 9th anniversary celebrations of the magazine. Speaking at the
event, Col David was very appreciative of the success of RITZ. US Consul General
Jennifer McIntyre presided over the elegant occasion and unveiled the cover of the 9th
anniversary edition, featuring real estate tycoon Varun Manian.
Senior BJP politician, lawyer and highly respected activist Dr. Subramanian Swamy
congratulated the magazine on its spectacular success and commended the quality
and journalistic standards of RITZ. Actress Gautami, designers Rehane and Vivek
Karunakaran, Grammy Award-winning singer Tanvi Shah and entrepreneur Omar Sait,
who have all graced some of the most memorable covers of RITZ in the past, were all
praise for RITZ. Gautami charmed and wowed the audience with her trademark candour.
A very special work of art by legendary artist and art director Thota Tharrani, inspired
by Beethoven’s 9th symphony, to commemorate 9 years of RITZ was also unveiled
on the occasion. The event saw an eclectic mix of socialites, politicians, bureaucrats,
industrialists, diplomats and film stars from around the country. Bollywood actresses
Evelyn Sharma (of Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewaani fame) and Sonal Chauhan (of Jannat
fame) graced the event. Tamil stars like Vijay Sethupathy and Mirchi Shiva were also
present at the do. The gorgeous Greenways Hall at Park Sheraton was indeed a fitting
venue for such an elegant evening.
The team at reputed event management company Aura was at the helm of affairs and
ensured everything was perfect.
of
presents
9 years of style & success
28 SEPTEMBER 2013
SNAPPED
Darshana Vijay Yesudas launched a new line
of clothing under her label DVY at the Studio
Saks House of Fashion in Chennai recently.
The collection titled Bespoke features classic
and contemporary ensembles, tailored for
the festive season. The launch of the line
saw many celebs and P3P’s in attendance,
including Darshana’s husband and playback
singer Vijay Yesudas along with her close
friend Aishwarya Dhanush.
Couture galore at Studio Saks
Arti Bagdy’s Jewel Collezione proved to
be a big hit once again. The very luxe and
glamorous exhibition showcased stunning
jewellery by an ensemble of fine jewelers
and jewellery designers from across the
country. On display were exquisite pieces
crafted in Victorian, contemporary, Mughal,
Nizam, Chettinad and styles, set in gold
and platinum.
A hit Collezione
SEPTEMBER 2013 37
SN
APP
ED
Now you can shop affordable luxury
brands like Love Moschino, Versace
jeans, 7 for all Mankind, True Religion, Ted
Baker and others right here in Chennai.
The Collective retails these brands and
many more at its flagship store located in
the chic Buva House on Khader Nawaz
Khan Road in Nungambakkam.
The Chennai launch last month saw the
likes of director Selvaraghavan, actor
Jeeva, music director Harris Jayaraj,
designer Sidney Sladen, actress Vimala
Raman, Kiran Reddy of Sathyam
Cinemas, cinematographer Ravi K
Chandran and others.
The Collective comes to Chennai
38 SEPTEMBER 2013
SNAPPED
Driving enthusiasts were in for a treat at
the Audi Sportscar Experience (ASE) event
in Chennai recently. More than 120 people
experienced exhilaration driving models the
TT, S4 and R8 models of the reputed German
luxury carmaker. ASE is a unique initiative
in India which enables patrons to drive high
performance cars of Audi.
Audi Sportscar Experience
SEPTEMBER 2013 39
SN
APP
ED
Ritu Beri drew on all of her Punjabi flair for DCW 2013, showcasing a collection that
bridged Victorian-era gowns with over-the-top Punjabi exuberance. The designer used
an array of crystal embellishments and gota work, pairing them with jackets and ballroom
gowns in a manner that can only be described as a Victorian crossover, Punjabi style.
The fourth installment of the Delhi
Couture Week (DCW) held recently at
the capital showcased a melting pot of
designs that were on the cutting-edge
of experimental couture while remaining
deeply rooted in the traditional. We
take a look at some of these stellar
collections, heralded by the likes of
Ananmika Khanna, Manish Malhotra,
Ritu Beri and Manish Arora. Here’s
a roundup of the various designers
whose work dovetailed both the spark
of experimentation as well as an identity
that is distinctly Indian.
Siddharth Kumar does a roundup of the most impressive designs on display at the Delhi Couture Week and the recently concluded Lakme Fashion Week and comes away awestruck.
A Melting Pot Of
Designs
40 SEPTEMBER 2013
PORTFOLIO
Anamika Khanna exhibited one of her strongest and most awe-inspiring collections to
date at the Delhi Couture Week. The ace designer’s flora and fauna inspired collection had
fashion folk raving about her contemporary Western take on Indian couture. The collection
included sarees, jodhpurs and lehengas adorned with zardozi, lace and crotchet work.
42 SEPTEMBER 2013
PORTFOLIO
This was Manish Arora’s debut attempt at bridal wear, and naturally aimed at
the unconventional bride! We loved the way he has used bright-coloured digital
prints on pure fabrics, finishing each design with painstaking craftsmanship.
Take a look.
44 SEPTEMBER 2013
PORTFOLIO
The opening night at this year’s edition of LFW was a glitzy affair, with the fashion
badshah of Bollywood, Manish Malhotra kicking off the proceedings by showcasing a
spectacular festive/pre-bridal collection titled Reflections. Using contrasting mirror images
for the ramp, Manish’s collection looked to be influenced by the colours and textures of
Rajasthan and the Kutch region and proved to be a fitting opener to this year’s LFW.
LFW proved worthy of every bit of the hype it generated, as several designers presented some of their strongest fashion statements on the ramp.
46 SEPTEMBER 2013
PORTFOLIO
The grand finale of LFW 2013 was heralded by Sabsayachi Mukherjee, with his Absolute
Royal collection. A stunning Indian wear line, the outfits in this collection included waistcoats,
sherwanis, jackets and kurtas for the men while the women’s line included heavy dupattas,
glares and heavy jewellery. The likes of Nargis Fakhri, Kalki Koechlin, Sameera Reddy,
Shraddha Kapoor and Jugal Hansraj were also present at the grand finale.
48 SEPTEMBER 2013
PORTFOLIO
Vira Shah shows you how a bold twist on the classic Tartan makes a world of difference
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50 SEPTEMBER 2013
HAUTE STUFF
Tartan is the latest trend, making its way back from the 90’s with the
help of some colour changes, added leather and studding giving it
a rebellious feel. For the uninitiated, the Tartan print features multiple
horizontal and vertical bands going criss-cross in myriad colour codes.
The classic print has now been given an unexpected twist making it
bold yet sophisticated, while drawing inspiration from the brash and
intrepid punk movement. Coming in everything from flirty skirts with
zippers to playful checked tights to designer collaborated accessories,
experiment fearlessly by adding a dose of punk to your style.
Black and yellow
checked laptop bag
by Fastrack
Buckled tartan pumps
by Christian LouboutinSuede with gold hotfix
by Jimmy ChooStudded pumps
by AldoStudded platform pumps
by Metro
Steve Madden women
black studup leather
sandals
Check dress
by Pepe Jeans
F6 Sheer Calamity shirt
Pink Confederate
by Superdry
Check wrap blouse
by Mango
Checked skinny
trousers with zipper
detailing by ZaraChecked sweater
by Miu Miu
Corvus ring
by Manish Arora
for Amrapali
Gold-triple hoop
earrings
by Accessorize
MCQ available
at Kitsch
Patterned biker jacket
by Diesel
Zippers plaid miniskirt
by Mango
Set of 4 gold
toned bracelets
by Accessorize
Silver metallic spiky
hair elastic by Ayesha
accessories
Studded and fringe
sling bag by Steve
Madden
Dior 2013 Lady Dior
pouch tartan
Plaid Jane Punk
SEPTEMBER 2013 51
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TU
FF
Started in May 2011, Aharin literally means
a collection of beautiful things. The brand is
strongly influenced by Indian traditions, and
the collections use hand-drawn bold motifs
sketched by Prasansha herself, which are
then worked upon by a class of antique
embroideries, traditional silhouettes and a
strong play of hand-dyed colours. “I design
because I feel for it” says Prasansha, who
graduated from NIFT with the recognition
of Most Creative Design Collection and the
Persis Khambata Award in 2007. “I love
what I do and I can relate myself to it,”
she stresses on what inspires her creative
streaks and designs.
While Prasansha uses hand-drawn motifs,
Ashish embraces an aesthetic approach
to every detail in design. His interests lie in
focusing on the bold Indian look, antique
costumes, and the traditional drapes &
dresses of the royalty of yore. Shop this
Asmita Aggarwal finds that designer duo Prasansha Saha and Ashish Tagra of Aharin continue to be inspired by Indian motifs and history...
Inspired by India
What woman doesn’t like to flaunt beautiful
cocktail rings? Senco Gold has a stunning
range that is now available at the luxury
brand’s stores in India. We noticed that
the stones used in the rings are arresting
and vivid, while the designs are all about
contemporary glamour. One look at the
rings we have featured here and you’ll know
what we are talking about.
Price: ` 20,000 onwards
Availability: Delhi, Mumbai, Eastern India
Senco Gold promises an evening of glam and glimmer with their alluring range of cocktail rings…
Mystical glamour
designer duo at various designer outlets
and exclusively at their web shop at
www.aharin.com/shopnow.
Price range: ` 24,000 onwards.
52 SEPTEMBER 2013
HAUTE STUFF
Whether you’re heading out to a
ball or a big night out, designer
Payal Sen’s collection ‘The Princess
Diaries’ – an exquisite Fall 2013
capsule promises more than
just style. The uniqueness of the
collection lies in the cut and the
design as each piece speaks for
itself.
What started as a hobby shaped
into a successful business model
for the designer. Payal went on to
study at Richmond University and
pursued her MBA at Amity. Her
innate creativity propelled her to
combine her business acumen with
her passion, which happens to be
clothing. She believes that fashion is
a fantasy and her clothes reflect the
exact same spirit.
Designer Payal Sen combines talent and knowledge with her new exquisite fall collection 2013. Asmita Aggarwal finds out more...
Sparkles and Shine
SEPTEMBER 2013 53
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An array of fabrics like velvet, raw silk, silk
tulle and satins used in this collection take
one back to the bygone era. Generously
embellished and encrusted with Swarovski
elements, Tahitian and fresh water pearls,
Japanese beads and Renaissance
influenced flowers, beads and silk
threads, the fusion of Indian drapes and
silhouettes with 18th century French
decadence has only helped enhance this
couture collection. Drenched in colours
like Rococo Red, Pink Flambé, Sapphire,
Viridian, Spinach, Bordeaux, Amethyst and
a dash of French Vanilla – the brides are
but spoilt for choice!
With its extravagance inspired by Marie Antoinette, the eccentric and much-hated queen of France, we find out more about Rajdeep Ranawat’s bridal couture collection and why the French have inspired it...
Rajdeep Ranawat’s Bridal Couture
collection for 2013 is indeed one to
reckon with. It is deeply inspired by Marie
Antoinette, the controversial queen of
France, and the wife of King Louis XVI,
who became a symbol for the wanton
extravagance of 18th century monarchy.
The couture collection is meticulously
handcrafted with motifs from 18th century
Austria and France. The collection is
a fresh mix of exotic flowers such as
peonies, roses, hydrangeas, orchids and
chrysanthemums along with paisley motifs
to create an Asia-inspired ornate feel.
54 SEPTEMBER 2013
HAUTE STUFF
Sunil Mehra impresses with his new range
of menswear specifically designed for
the working business class. Available in
shades like white, beige, ivory, tan, lemon,
and powder pink, the product lines in
the collection are tailored, relaxed, rare,
luxury shirts and suits along with relaxed
and tailored trousers. It is very important
for a man to take note of the tiny details,
Sunil Mehra defines flamboyance with his new collection of corporate wear, making it a one-stop-shop for men’s designer wear.
especially when he is in a corporate setting
where there is no space for mistakes. From
tiepins and cufflinks to socks, you can find
it all here.
Known for quality and authenticity, Sunil
Mehra is a label to be reckoned with. With
a gamut of options for men, the brand
appeals with its signature style.
Available at:
Sunil Mehra flagship store,
New Delhi.
For the Young & ���������
SEPTEMBER 2013 55
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Powered by
At RITZ we’ve always loved shooting with Sriya Reddy and featuring her on the cover. The timing of this feature is quite exciting. The dusky former VJ and actress is all set to make a comeback into the world of films after a long sabbatical. Marriage and motherhood may have mellowed her but they have not tamed her irrepressible spirit and today, the talented actress is looking forward to a new
innings. In conversation with Vinita Nayar
Spell Out S.P.U.N.K
Photography: Sunder Ramu
Make up and Hair: Rachel.B.Singh of Stylesmith
Styling by: TN.09.9696
Location courtesy: Hyatt Regency
56 SEPTEMBER 2013
PERSONALITY
Fans of dusky, sexy Sriya Reddy will
be glad to know that her sabbatical
from acting is coming to a close.
After her marriage to producer
Vikram Krishna in 2008, the talented actor
hasn’t been seen on screen. Dressed
in a fitted green T-shirt and tracks, Sriya
looks healthy and toned. She greets me
with a smile saying she was trying to fit
in a workout before I came. (More on her
obsession with exercise later!)
The last few years, since 2008, have been
quite a change for Sriya. She is the proud
mother of a pretty little daughter now. She
smiles and says, “My daughter is hardly
two. Once I got married, my husband
decided I shouldn’t act. I’ve been a good
wife and a good daughter in law,” she says
with an elfin smile. “I come from a film family
– so there’s so much drama in the family!
Plus my husband is a producer, my brother-
in-law is an actor and my father-in-law is
a producer.” She turns thoughtful. “The
question is – what do I really want to do?
When I was acting, I had got a good name
and worked with extremely good producers
and directors. I was known as a good actor.
So, if I come back, I have to come back to
a good film, definitely not just for the sake
of it. So I am still in search of that. Right
now, mentally I am extremely ready to act.
I was very content being married, having a
child, doing things I couldn’t do earlier like
travelling.” She adds resolutely, “Yes, the
future is acting. It’s been a long break and
my mind tells me my future is there.”
Actor over Producer
Sriya has produced a couple of films with
hubby Vikram. Nevertheless, she firmly
says, “I would prefer acting – seriously.
Producing is not my cup of tea at all. It is
a different ballgame. It’s a lot of hard work
and I don’t know if I want to be in those
shoes.” She reiterates, “I prefer acting; I am
bloody good at that.”
Sriya is animated and full of life. She
speaks her mind, not pausing to think
about whether her replies are politically
correct or not. And this forthrightness is
such a refreshing change in a time when
most celebrities dish out bland replies
to questions, always trying to sort out
minefields in their mind and keeping the PR
angle on top. Talking about her marriage,
we see her candour once again. Even
though when she got married, she was
an independent woman at the pinnacle
of her career, she is not afraid of telling us
what makes her happiest in her marriage
(something many feminists would bristle
at!): “I think being secure. When I got
married, a lot of young girls were very
shocked – they said ‘You are quite young;
are you sure?’” She muses, “This security is
a different kind of security. And happiness
too – at the end of the day you are happy if
you have the right man. My hubby is like a
friend to me. I have nice in-laws; I consider
them my friends and talk to them a couple
of times a day.” During the interview, her
sister-in-law pops in with an adorable
Labrador puppy that she has just picked
up. We coo over the furry golden bundle
and Sriya’s cute pug comes out. Sriya grins
and says, “We are a family of dog lovers as
you can see.”
Family Calling
Talking about her decision to get married
Sriya says, “I’m quite a sensible girl. I did what
I had to at the right time. I knew I had talent –
I was the first VJ (at SS Music) – and I did that
extremely well. I became very popular. After
that, acting happened. I’m glad I did those
good movies. Even today people come up
to me and say, ‘Wow, you were so fantastic’.
There is no difference between my life earlier
and now except that my husband pampers
me more!” She grins mischievously and says,
“Earlier my parents would tell me what to do.
Now my husband does that. But at least I can
tell him to shut up!”
Amalia, Sriya’s cute daughter, has just
woken up from her sleep and is carried
into the room. Sriya’s eyes light up at the
sight of her sleepy daughter. The little one
is already in play school and Sriya has
just attended a parent-teacher meeting;
she makes a face and grins. “Can you
imagine? Parent-teacher meetings for
Dress: Sriya’s own
Accessories: Studio Tara
Shoes: Aldo
SEPTEMBER 2013 59
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Y
such young kids!” So, we wonder,
has motherhood changed the spirited
lass? A wide grin…”It’s changed me
to be a little more responsible and a
little more serious.” Then she delivers
her punch line: “But I think I’m still the
same.” So what does she love about
motherhood? Pat comes the reply:
“I can dress her up!” And she adds
with a laugh, “But I take it a little too
forward. She has to have the right
socks, shoes, t-shirts. My husband
thinks I am a crazy cat.” When her
husband travels, which according to
Sriya he does a lot of, he asks her
what kind of clothes he should get
for the little one. Sriya is very clear –
no cartoons, ‘no funny faces on her
clothes’. She wants to dress her child
like Suri Cruise; to which her hubby
apparently points out that he is not
Tom Cruise!
The bubbly actor has also donned a
new role – of businesswoman – helping
out in the family’s granite business.
With refreshing frankness she says, “I’m
getting into a side of business which is
alien to me. It requires a different kind
of intelligence and hopefully, I will be
able to learn.” She has been travelling
extensively on work especially to New
York, where they have an office. She’s
been clocking at least six trips a year to
the Big Apple.
Fitness Matters
A self-confessed fitness freak, Sriya
admits she is ‘obsessed with working
out’ and says, “Right now I eat and
breathe fitness.” The previous night, she
tells me, she had eaten Maggi noodles,
and discovered that they packed in
a whopping 400 calories. So what
does she do? She works out close to
midnight to burn off the extra calories!
She ruefully says that she couldn’t sleep
all night.
“Before I sleep, the last thing I think
about is not my daughter but about
what my next workout will be,” she
fesses up. Her bedroom’s walk-in
closet is cluttered with papers stuck
inside with her current weight and
measurements and target weight and
measurements. Another room is a
jumble of schedules; these schedules
for the next – hold your breath – three
months have been stuck on the walls!
She continues fervently, “I wear a
heart rate monitor. I have an app to
count all the calories I consume. It is
very calculative.” And what she loves
most about working out is the results
of all that hard work. She says with
a gleam in her eyes, “It is amazing
when you see your stomach getting
stronger and harder; you feel you
have achieved something.”
Sriya was a sprinter in school and even
today, strapping on her running shoes
and heading out for a jog gives her a
high. “Walking, to me, is all crap. I hear
people talk about how they walk
45 minutes or one hour every day,” she
says. “Running is my passion. Once or
twice a week, I do a 10-kilometre run.
I also do a lot of circuit training. I find
the gym boring. I try and do different
things to shock my body.” She shows
me an app on her phone where over
a month you increase the number of
squats performed daily; “My target is
250 squats a day,” says the fitness
aficionado. “I work out every single
day,” she emphasizes. Her only break is
on Sundays. She laughs and says that
her in-laws think she is insane, thanks
to her obsession with fitness.
Net result, the young lady is most
definitely NOT a foodie. Surprisingly,
she never eats out. Even if she goes
out to a restaurant with her hubby or
pals, she has some grilled chicken or
something healthy at home and only
then ventures out. She laughs and
says that she and her husband have
stopped going out to restaurants;
hubby obviously doesn’t fancy eating
alone with Sriya just watching! So, is
there any food she likes? “Just lots and
lots of chocolates,” she says impishly.
“Anything that has chocolate…”
FASH FORWARDDefine fashion according to you
Fashion is so much! I do follow what’s in
trend but I have a style of my own and I try
to put it together. Basically, for me fashion is
everything. I love dolling myself up, looking
in the mirror and posing endlessly.
Name three people who have influenced
the way you style, dress and carry
yourself.
My mother, my grandmother and Maharani
Gayathri Devi.
An attire you wouldn’t be caught dead in?
Anything which is too blingy.
Your favourite accessory
Right now, I am into headgears. I like using a
strand of pearls or pearls and diamonds as a
headband.
Any fashion faux pas that you’ve
committed?
Oh God, yes, a terrible one! Even today,
my friends make fun of me. Once I was
in Hyderabad. I had this beautiful gown
made by Rehane; it was mother of pearl
and I had got it made for a film premiere in
Canada. However, there was this party at
the Falaknuma Palace and I had this dress
with me. It was a beautiful dress with a
plunging neckline but it was not suitable for
this party. I covered up with a stole from one
of my friends. I looked like an overdressed
Christmas tree! It was a disaster.
Your favourite designer?
Plenty. Two I will name – Alexander
McQueen and Monique Lhuillier.
Any favourite clothes?
Season by season! I go from fall, winter,
spring, summer…anything which is in vogue
and makes me look good.
SEPTEMBER 2013 61
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Shooting is quite a craze among the affluent. Some take to guns for competition, and there are those who go the
extra mile to nurture it as a passion. Marcus A Clay looks at the uber lifestyle through the barrel.
Credits: shutterstock.com
62 SEPTEMBER 2013
UBER LIVING
The sepia-tinted image of a nawab
standing triumphantly beside a freshly
killed animal, a double-barrelled gun slung
across his shoulder, is a scene so distant
that it’s hard to imagine the era when
‘shikaar’ was a popular pastime. Yet, in
modern India, guns remain an integral part
of the uber lifestyle. While firearms are a
must-have for the rich and powerful, a few
have a love for weapons and the sport of
shooting that it has taken them to great
lengths, even around the world, to keep
the passion alive.
Meet Mohan Sundar Pandian, who has
a private collection of modern and old
guns, and is the first in Tamil Nadu to
register a collection of guns as antique.
Pandian, a property lawyer and native of
Ramanathapuram district, is from a family
that has always been dealing with guns.
He not only continued the tradition but
took it to much greater heights. “My father
was a hunter and owned a muzzle-loading
gun. Those days, if one wanted to own a
breach-loading gun, one would have to
be very rich,” Pandian begins. His father
sold the gun after he had a life-changing
experience. “One day, he killed a crow
and found that it was carrying food to
fledglings in its nest,” recalls Pandian, “The
incident affected him deeply and he gave
up hunting.”
Pandian’s love for guns, which was
triggered when he was just 12 years old,
never involved hunting. He says his first gun
was an air rifle that he got when he was in
high school. “When I moved to Chennai,
at the age of 24, I bought a 12-bore single
barrel breach-loader,” he says.
He then joined the Chennai Rifle Club,
learnt shooting and later became a member
of the National Rifle Association of India in
New Delhi. Today, he is a gun expert, so to
say, and can handle all types of weapons,
service, dismantle, overhaul and shoot with
them. However, he says he has no interest
in competition. “I have never participated in
any competitions. My character is such that
if you see me jogging and try to overtake
me, I will stop and let you go by. I don’t
believe in competition.”
Despite his passion for weapons, the
country’s strict gun control laws left him
with just one logical route to nurture his
passion – become a gun dealer. And, that’s
what he did. Today he owns more than 100
guns, many of which are antiques. Although
the antique firearms could be sold for high
prices abroad, he says he acquired them to
ensure that they remained in India. “Once
an antique weapon is registered with the
Archaeology Department, one does not
require a licence to possess it,” clarifies
Pandian, “But antiques cannot be exported
and can only be transferred to a museum or
a collector.”
A witness to history
Among the guns in his collection, many
are of historic importance. A long-barrelled
Enfield Rifle used in the 1857 uprising,
where sepoys had to bite the cartridge
layered with pig fat and pour the gun
powder into the barrel; a rifle from the
Roman period; guns from the world wars;
and several guns owned by maharajas are
among his prized collection.
Ask him how he acquired the guns, and
he says, “A double-barrel gun that was
once owned by the Pudukottai maharaja
was given to me by an Anglo-Indian, a
famous hunter who used to accompany
the maharaja on hunts. He gave me a
double-barrel gun and a rifle. Then, there
is the gun that must have been owned by
an Englishman, which I bought. This one is
Know the Law
While only a few own guns, most
don’t know that anyone above
21 years of age can keep up to three
weapons; neither do they know the
procedure to apply for a licence.
Says Pandian, “The Arms Act is so
fine and extremely simple for those
who know how to read it.” In cities,
the Commissioner of Police is the
licensing authority and in towns, the
Collector is the one to approach.
“Although the licensing authority
has full discretionary powers, a
license can be denied only on solid
grounds, which have to be given
in writing. If denied a licence, the
applicant can challenge the order,”
he further clarifies.
special because it is a rifle-cum-gun – on
one side it is a rifle and the other is a gun.
It was used to hunt small animals and birds
as well as big animals like elephants, lions
and tigers. I also bought one gun from the
Hyderabad Nizam’s palace.”
He also recalls how luck favoured him in
acquiring a few guns. “About 15 years
ago, when my relatives were selling their
old house and had demolished a part of it,
they found a secret chamber in the wall,
which could be approached only from the
top. The chamber contained a package
of guns and they were afraid to take it
out or even inform police about it, so they
telephoned me. I went over and took out
the package; it contained a double-barrel
gun, a muzzle-loading gun and a revolver.
The guns must have been over 100 years
Credits: Shailesh Vummidi
SEPTEMBER 2013 63
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ING
old,” he says. The house initially belonged
to one of his ancestors, who was part of
Subash Chandra Bose’s Indian National
Army; the guns must have belonged to him.
“I wrote a letter to the authorities, and after
all the legal formalities, I took the guns into
my possession,” he says.
Over the years, he has managed to lay his
hands on almost every type of gun, and
has even bought his dream gun. “It was
always my dream to possess a Holland &
Holland. It’s one of the oldest brands in the
world, and one of the most expensive –
while the cheapest would cost about
20 lakh rupees, good ones cost a few
crores. I was lucky to get one at a much
cheaper price,” he says.
Liberal gun culture
Shailesh Vummidi, Partner, Vummidi
Bangaru Chetty Jewellers, has given wings
to his passion by travelling to countries
where the gun culture is liberal and firearms
are easily accessible. “Since it is not easy
for one to own a gun, get licences, or
acquire quality weapons and ammunition in
India, it is a challenge to nurture a passion
for weapons or shooting,” he says. So
when Shailesh travels abroad, he uses the
opportunity to indulge his favourite hobby.
“I shoot more when I travel to some of
the Southeast Asian countries, where you
can just walk into a club and you have a
selection of weapons and any number
of rounds.” That not only gave him the
opportunity to pull the triggers of some
world-class weapons, but also many that
one would not come across in India. “I have
handled the M16, AK47 and even a light
machine gun, which would be impossible
here in India,” he says.
Shailesh personally owns a Spanish
revolver, but ask him to name a favourite
among the many he has handled, and he
says, “It has to be the M16. It is an assault
rifle used by the US Army; it’s very easy to
use and the recoil is minimum, making it
highly accurate.”
Among the other types of weapons that
he loves to handle are the Glock and
the Beretta handguns. And if there’s
one word from a man who loves the
sport of shooting, Prabhu Laksshman,
Director of PSNA College of Engineering
and Technology, says it has to be one of
caution: “Shoot for fun, shoot for sport, or
even for the thrill, but never to kill.”
Ancient Beauties
Since the first firearms were invented, they
have gone through several changes. Here
are a few of the guns that made a mark in
the history of firearms:
Puckle Gun: James Puckle’s invention
was a tripod-mounted, single-barrelled
flintlock gun fitted with a multi-shot
revolving cylinder. It fired nine shots per
minute at a time. James Puckle’s 1718
patent for the gun was one of the first
to provide a description of its working, a
condition required by the Patent Office of
the United Kingdom during the reign of
Queen Anne.
The Colt Revolver: Invented by
Samuel Colt, it was named after its
revolving cylinder that contained five or six
bullets with an innovative cocking device.
It was patented in the U.S. in 1836.
Rifles: The breech-loading rifle was
invented by Captain Patrick Ferguson
of Scotland. The Winchester Rifle was
invented by John Moses Browning, a
prolific gun designer who also invented
the pump shotgun, and the Colt 45
automatic. Best known for his automatic
pistols, he was the first to invent the slide,
which encloses the barrel of a pistol and
the firing mechanism.
Gatling Gun: Doctor Richard Gatling
patented his design of the Gatling Gun,
a six-barrelled weapon capable of firing,
what was then considered phenomenal,
200 rounds per minute.
Thompson Submachine Gun: When the Thompson or the Tommy
Gun was invented by General John T
Thompson, it was the first handheld
machine gun. Thompson was driven
with the thought of creating a handheld
machine gun that would help end the First
World War. However, the first shipment
of prototype guns destined for Europe
arrived in New York city on November 11,
1918, the day the War ended.
Gun Safety
If you take these cardinal rules
of gun safety seriously, you will
never find yourself explaining
how you accidentally shot
yourself in the foot.
1. Treat every gun as if it is
loaded.
2. Never point the gun at
anything you aren’t prepared
to shoot.
3. Place your finger on the
trigger only when prepared
to fire.
4. Know what you are shooting
at and what’s behind it.
5. Protect your eyes and ears.
6. Teach gun safety to everyone
in your home.
7. Store ammunition separately
from the guns. Storing guns
and ammo separately ensures
no one has access to a
loaded gun who shouldn’t.
8. Use a gun safe for storage.
64 SEPTEMBER 2013
UBER LIVING
While it may not always be that easy to just pack up and hit some of the pristine beaches abroad, surfing enthusiasts are finding equally interesting stretches right here in South India to grab that board and ride out into the waves, as Rohit Panikker finds out.
Out For A 'Board' Meeting
66 SEPTEMBER 2013
TAKE OFF
For the longest time, the concept of surfing
to your average Indian was something
that we viewed only on TV; like some sort
of western import. Although it took this
extremely popular watersport years to get
as popular here in India, that has finally
changed, especially with the beaches
of South India playing host to a horde
of ardent surfers in the last few years,
particularly, the last three.
Most surfers hit the vast coastline
of South India that runs over 7000
kilometres, usually with the aim of finding
stretches of silent, unexplored beaches
where they may ride the waves. These
vast unexplored coastlines across Tamil
Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka
and Goa have become popular for those
who just want to surf and get away from
the hype of it all as well as the sheer
enormity of the crowds that throng the
beaches in a more ‘established’ surfing
vacation spot like Bali or the Gold Coast.
“Closer to November is swell time
and that’s when you will see the more
seasoned surfers around,” explains Nigel
Noronha, an ardent surfer for the last four
years. He was among the first group of
surfing enthusiasts who would go around
exploring stretches that were previously
unknown or probably not visited because
nobody really looks out for the waves
except a surfer. “But now, the idea of
surfing tourism has caught on rapidly,
what with surfing schools operating out of
beachside villages or resorts,” adds Nigel.
It’s true. The popularity of this watersport
is evident from an endorsement by
cricketer Jonty Rhodes, who often hits
India’s beaches with his surfboard, and
was declared the official ambassador for
the sport in the country.
Rammohan Paranjpae, who is India’s only
professional surf photographer and one
of the founding members of the Surfing
Federation of India, was one of the early
students of Jack Hebner, or the Surfing
Swamy, as he was known better. “Surfing
was introduced to a bunch of us by the
Surfing Swamy in early 2000,” he explains.
“His efforts led to the first ever surfing
school in India that was established here in
2004.” The Swamy started the first unofficial
surfing school in Mangalore, something
which has since caught on in many other
spots frequented by surfers now, including
the narrow coastline in and near Chennai,
Puducherry and the southern tip of Kerala,
namely Kovalam and Varkala beaches.
Getaway with the surfboard
“People from the cities steal away to
these beaches, curious about surfing, and
wanting to learn how to catch a wave,”
explains Rammohan. He says that this
newly generated interest in surfing has
definitely helped make surfing schools
popular. “This kind of curiosity and
enthusiasm is what will take surfing to the
next level in this country. I think it’s just a
matter of time before we see India become
a much bigger part of the surfing map,”
Rammohan adds.
If you’re a surfer looking for that stretch of
beach and some impressive waves to drift
on, or even if you’re a beginner looking to
learn the nuances of this watersport, your
options are many. But if you are a beginner,
always make sure that you surf with an
instructor or when a lifeguard is present.
Also, there are a set of rules and etiquette
while surfing; the most important rule being
that you never hog the waves and you let
each person tackle their own wave.
“People from the cities steal away to
these beaches, curious about surfing, and
wanting to learn how to catch a wave”
SEPTEMBER 2013 67
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Kerala
Although Kerala was always a popular beach
holiday destination, it was not frequented by
too many surfers except for a few tourists
who would head to the beach with their
own boards. Now, after having played host
to a massive surfing festival earlier this year,
Kovalam beach, near Trivandrum, has been
generating a lot of interest, both locally and
from all over as a fast rising surfing spot.
Hit this beach before it gets too crowded.
Further up the map is Varkala beach, which
is yet another interesting spot to check out
the currents. For a tutor, look up the Soul
and Surf school.
Karnataka
Gokarna: Although known better as
a haven for hippies, Gokarna sure does
have a certain charm about it, and a glow
along the coastline as dusk edges closer.
Gokarna is a must-visit for more reasons
than one, the waves and the sand included.
If you need some help getting your hands
on a board or want some tips, there’s a
surf school on this corner too! Look for
Cocopelli Surf School.
Mangalore: Known as the official hub
of surfers and veteran surfing aficionados,
Mangalore is the spot where the first time a
group of surfers got together with the idea
of furthering the interest in the watersport
and to increase participation in India. If you
are ever looking at exploring surfing as a
serious undertaking, then Mangalore is the
place to hit!
Goa
Of course, the first mention of surfing or
even anything remotely having to do with
watersports and we immediately imagine
the wide Goan beaches and the surfboards
slicing through the waves. Goa is one very
obvious choice for surfers, but if surfing is
just one among the many beach activities
planned, then Goa isn’t too bad an option.
Although you might have to reconsider if
you’re thinking of a ‘my board and I’ kind
of time.
Puducherry
Puducherry is one of the most popular
destinations for surfers from all over India. In
fact, the credit for popularising the watersport
in the area goes to brothers Juan and Samai
Reboul, who run the Kallialay Surf School, a
popular hub for surfers and students alike.
The brothers specialise in handling beginners
and can usually have you up and on a board
confidently in about 10 days!
68 SEPTEMBER 2013
TAKE OFF
Sharan Apparao explores the interaction between the visual and text, and believes that it offers an incisive semantic portrait of our times.
Words and
Image in Art
Credits: Banoo Batliboi
70 SEPTEMBER 2013
VIEW POINT
Credits: Reddappa Naidu
“Word and image” have become
something of a hot topic in contemporary
art history, largely because of what are
often seen as invasions of the visual arts
by literary theory. The relation between
words and images is an extraordinarily
ancient problem in the study of the arts
and in theories of rhetoric, communication,
and human subjectivity. In the arts, the
comparison of poetry and painting,
literature and visual art has been a
consistent theme since antiquity in both
Eastern and Western aesthetics.
Contemporary culture has made the
interplay of word and image even more
volatile, intricate, and pervasive. What is
it about the construction of the human
mind that makes the interplay of words
and images seem, despite innumerable
historical and regional variations, to be
something like a cultural universal?
Alternating between fact and fiction,
the public and the private, the universal
and the particular, the text sometimes
offers an incisive semantic portrait of
our times. The images can be read as
all things simultaneously, and yet resist
any one reading when viewers see more
possibilities unfold.Credits: KCS Paniker
SEPTEMBER 2013 71
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OIN
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The younger artists of the next generation
like R.M. Palaniappan, C. Douglas,
and Muralidharan are joined by
A. Balasubramaiam, N. Ramachandran,
George K., Bhavna Sonavane, Rajesh Patil,
Bangalore Srinivasa Reddy, and Sunil Shree
Prasanna, in still more different aspects of
the written word as a layer to their paintings
and sculptures.
Prasanna, for example, works in a space
where he explores the communication
with the blind with a series of white
on white works that make complete
sense to the sight impaired while
almost being missed by others. It is this
communication that sometimes words
bring, that is revered and respected by
those who open their minds to look and
listen to what lies in the pictorial space
that artists create. It is but a narrative, a
chronicle of a time, a personal line that
art brings us... and for us as followers
of art and viewers of these personal
thoughts, it is the form that we are left
to enjoy.
typographic characteristics of the work,
as well as from the sense of the words.
Books by contemporary artists are
noteworthy for their many different forms
and perhaps because of this they have an
equally large number of precursors and
influences. Artists have been associated
with the written word since illuminated
manuscripts were developed in the
medieval times. Artists’ letters, gleanings
and drawings have often been known
to give a glimpse into the innermost
sanctums of an artist’s thinking.
In India, the religious manuscripts gave into
legitimate platforms to extend the non-secular
elements to secular explorations as in the
work of K.C.S. Paniker’s ‘words and symbols’
series where he worked with mathematics
and the joy of the script against his earlier
impressionistic garden series. Redappa
Naidu, also an iconic figure in the Madras
Movement, used the script dramatically
creating a beautiful gauze-like shadow in his
now iconic series of the Mahabharata that he
created in the seventies.
Some of the most well known
international artists using the written
word in their work or including an
aspect of it are Cy Twombly, Robert
Rauchenberg, Jasper Johns, Ed Rusha,
Bruce Nauman, Joseph Beuys and later,
Jean Michel Basquiat, Ugo Rondinone
and Jenny Holzer to name a few. Love,
the famous sculpture spelt out in letters
by Larry Rivers became one of the most
iconic works in this genre especially at
the time of the pop art movement. Artists
were sometimes inspired by literature,
at other times by the need to emphasize
the play of words and further in artists’
notebooks to pen their mindscapes as
another expression.
Artists’ books that maintain the traditional
structure of a book are often known as
book art or book-works, while those
that reference the shape of a book are
known as book objects. Other types of
work produced by artists in book format
include concrete poetry, where meaning
is derived from the spatial, pictorial and
Credits: Srinivasa Reddy N
72 SEPTEMBER 2013
VIEW POINT
Sujaya Chandran wonders if one would need therapy after an overdose on retail therapy.
Standing in a bustling mall surrounded by level
upon level of boutiques and stores is something
that is not second nature to me. Shopping is
not an activity I enjoy. In fact, I would more refer
to it as a chore. Whenever there is an event or
function which I need to attend, I pull out my
little red book of excuses that I could possibly
use to avoid having to dress up. Let’s face it, I
am not a girly girl. I don’t own a dress or even
a skirt and am most comfortable in my jeans.
Dressing up for me, involves wearing a smart
top and applying a little make-up, which for me
is a huge effort. So when friends excitedly call
me up for a day of shopping, I cannot think of
anything I’d enjoy less.
I know that this may seem very difficult to
understand for a lot of people, as those
of us who loathe shopping trips are few
and far between. But it really is a process
which makes me very uncomfortable. How
could this be, you may wonder? Well, for
instance, standing around while people try
on clothes and asking you for your opinion
on each item is difficult. I understand how
husbands must feel when their wives take
them shopping and ask if they look fat, or
pretty or nice in different items! Sometimes
you have to choose your words carefully
as to not offend your friends. For instance,
you cannot tell someone that the beautiful
satin green sheath dress she has
lovingly picked up, makes her look like a
watermelon. In a situation where I don’t
want to comment, I’ll step out at that
moment for an “unexpected” phone call
which I cannot avoid.
Obviously, it’s not possible to go through
life avoiding shopping completely. But that’s
why I enlist the help of my good friend, the
internet. I can happily sit back and purchase
everything I need or want without leaving
the comfort of my own home. My goods
are delivered to me and Bob’s your uncle! I’ve
actually been trying to convince my friends
to come over to the “dark side” and shop, by
extolling it’s advantages such as being able to
shop from stores out of the country, a wider
range of goods and most importantly ... never
having to set foot in a hot, sticky mall filled to
capacity where parking is a pain and you end
up buying things you don’t really need.
I think more stores need to get online to cater
to a wider audience and make goods more
available. Think of the pollution you’d be cutting
down on if you didn’t have to leave your house
to indulge in your retail therapy!
Happy Shopping!
SEPTEMBER 2013 73
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Jason Sudeikis and Jennifer Aniston rib each other talking about their latest film We’re The Millers, a hilarious comedy in which they play a drug dealer and a stripper (respectively, of course) as Rohit Panikker finds out...
Family MattersFilm Name: WE’RE THE MILLERS | Copyright: (C) 2013 WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Photo Credit: Michael Tackett
Caption: (L-r) EMMA ROBERTS as Casey Mathis, JENNIFER ANISTON as Rose O’Reilly, WILL POULTER as Kenny Rossmore and
JASON SUDEIKIS as David Clark in New Line Cinema’s action comedy “WE’RE THE MILLERS,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
Film Name: WE’RE THE MILLERS
Copyright: (C) 2013 WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Photo Credit: Dave Allocca
74 SEPTEMBER 2013
OVER A CUPPA
They say you can’t really choose family.
But that’s not how the Millers work. In
We’re The Millers, the hilarious new
comedy from Warner Bros, Jason Sudeikis
(The Campaign) and Jennifer Aniston
(Horrible Bosses, Friends) team up for
the first time, where Sudeikis plays David
Clark, a small-time drug dealer and
Aniston, a cynical stripper called Rose.
The premise is hilarious by itself – owing
to an unfortunate attempt to play good
Samaritan, David lands himself in a
situation where he has to recruit Rose, a
wannabe teenage customer (Will Poulter)
and a teenage tattooed and pierced
runaway (Emma Roberts) to pose as
a fake family going on vacation to and
from Mexico in an attempt to smuggle
a “smidge” of marijuana. Besides being
chased by Mexican goons, the four face
a series of events and people that will
ultimately bring them together, sticking
up like a real family would for each other.
The two lead actors of the film recount the
experience of making the film and revisit
some hilarious moments from this season’s
biggest laugh riot!
The timing between Jennifer and you is
amazing in this film. Can you talk about
how you formed that relationship on-
camera and whether there was a lot of
improvisation?
JASON SUDEIKIS: Well, to answer
your first question, we’ve worked together
in the past, but then Jen’s made Ben Stiller,
Owen Wilson, Adam Sandler, Jim Carrey
and every major comedy star for the last
ten years look good. So, I just stood there
and looked pretty, let her do it, which I think
was a refreshing change of pace for her.
As actors, you frequently have to bond
with strangers or people you don’t
know very well to create an illusion. So,
could you relate to this storyline where
these people have to come together for
a purpose and really pretend like they
like each other?
JENNIFER ANISTON: Yeah. Well,
that’s what was fun about it, the attitude we
have towards each other at the beginning.
I mean, my character can’t stand him. And
she doesn’t know the kids.
JASON SUDEIKIS: She doesn’t
give me the time of day at the beginning of
the movie. That’s where we begin.
Does that happen to you when you
go on a movie set and you have to
suddenly become a family?
JENNIFER ANISTON: I think we
actually do become a family. You spend
three or four months of your life every day,
all day, sometimes way too long (laughs),
and you just have each other.
JASON SUDEIKIS: It’s the reality
show model. You put people in the same
town in the middle of North Carolina for
four months, give them a job. But we’re
not working in a T-shirt factory, we’re
making a movie. And then you end up
loving each other and liking each other and
hating each other and getting annoyed
with each other and everything that the
movie goes through. So it’s not so much
like the process of making a movie and
faking it. As an actor, it’s probably being
used to having done other movies and
having to get across the familial aspect or
thing that occurs when you hang out with
people so long.
QUESTION: What was your favorite
scene to shoot?
JASON SUDEIKIS: Striptease,
right, Jen? But I would say the tent scene.
I enjoyed our father and son scene that
came right after the Pictionary.
JENNIFER ANISTON: Oh, yeah.
The striptease was the best! There were so
many fun scenes, but Nick (Offerman) and
Kathryn (Hahn) in that tent for me was fun.
QUESTION: Jennifer, you look amazing
in the movie. Can you give us a few tips
on how you got into that kind of shape?
Did you have any secrets?
JENNIFER ANISTON: No secrets.
A few tips? There was an amazing
choreographer, a wonderful trainer and
a beautiful cinematographer, and all
that good stuff. But I did work out a lot.
No food. There was a lot of celery, a lot
of salads, a lot of celery sticks, a lot of
cucumbers. Ice chips. They did let me eat
ice chips. Water was good. No. (laughs)
I mean, I ate normally, just
no carbs.
Jennifer, how did you get into the
head and body of a stripper? And also,
she’s a pretty angry stripper. Did you
discover something that you put into it
about stripper rage?
JENNIFER ANISTON: Well, they
had to drag me out of that strip club every
night! (laughs) I think she’s a sad stripper
who has built up this sort of tough exterior
from being disappointed many times
throughout her life and making some bad
choices. Bad men choices, decisions.
I thought of her maybe as a classically
trained dancer who then didn’t quite make
it. But the rage. I don’t know, I think rage
is sadness turned outward. What is it? But
how did I get into it? I pretended and acted.
I saw it as just very hardened. Not so much
rageful.
What about the physicality?
JENNIFER ANISTON: Well,
I worked with this amazing choreographer
and started learning some pretty crazy
moves. And it just became easy. It was
really fun, actually. So I have a stripper pole
in my house now. (laughs)
Normally when you’re doing a film, you
only have to prepare for one role, but you
had to play two and they’re very opposite
roles. How did you balance that out?
JASON SUDEIKIS: Gosh, yeah,
I would say, for me, the big distinction for
me between Denver David and David Miller
was how many buttons I had buttoned on
my shirt. That was how I made a distinction.
When I was playing button up, that means
there was somebody of authority around,
or just some way we had to pretend to be
the part. Even going through the airport.
Anybody with a uniform. That would be two
buttons, then one button would be when
I was chilled out and relaxed and more
angry. So that was the distinction.
If you can see chest hair, (laughs) I’m angry.
And if you can’t, then I’m annoyed. And
those are my two moves.
JENNIFER ANISTON: It was just
those horrible capri pants and that awful
eyelet blue shirt and the popped collar. That
was it. And those little Keds sneakers. It
was pretty easy to go into Rose Miller just
with the wardrobe. They always say it starts
with your shoes. And it’s true.
SEPTEMBER 2013 75
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OF TRUE STORIES AND REAL PEOPLE
It is said that even though history is
written by the victors – be it in a
battle, a political struggle or even in
a difference of ideological, the most
honest and accounts of the times come
from the oppressed. And in The Butler, a
historical race drama, director Lee Daniels
(Precious) attempts to tell the story from the
point of view of a butler at the White House,
serving across different American Presidents.
Loosely based on the life of Eugene Allen, a
real-life butler, the film stars Forest Whitaker
(Repo Men, Vantage Point) as Cecil Gaines,
an African-American who eyewitnesses
notable events of the 20th century during his
34-year tenure serving at the White House.
In The Butler, actor Forest Whitaker plays a house help for a series of American Presidents, thus experiencing history from behind the scenes, as Rohit Panikker finds out...
76 SEPTEMBER 2013
OVER A CUPPA
and First Ladies. What positive effect
do you think that has in the bigger
picture?
We have all these individuals, like Colin
Powell and Condoleezza Rice, who were
in powerful positions preceding President
Obama. I don’t think Obama would be
president without the movement of those
others and people understanding, and
accepting, that there were African Americans
in positions of power. These individuals
shifted the public opinion, even if it was
just subconsciously. I believe Obama was
destined to take his position and I’m really
happy he did.
But destiny has its movement and things
build up to a moment until, as Malcolm
Gladwell would say, a tipping point occurs.
In this sense, I think the character of
Cecil is a good example of an individual
contributing towards shifting larger opinions
on race. In the film, Kennedy’s tie and
Johnson’s clip are the two gifts Cecil gets
and keeps. Both of those Presidents
shifted policy for civil rights in the country,
with Kennedy starting first before being
assassinated. Johnson was sometimes
called a racist and was vilified for his
position on Vietnam, but he also did things
that were monumental for human rights in
the US and getting laws passed through.
Cecil gets upset when his son says
Sidney Poitier is just a black man
acting like a white man wants him to.
How do you interpret that?
Cecil gets angered because in his mind,
Sidney Poitier is an activist and a trailblazer.
Movies like A Patch Of Blue and Brother
John were impossible for black men to
be in before he came along. The roads
he paved are still being walked today;
the work and access he created were
unprecedented. When Cecil’s son argues
that this man should be disrespected, Cecil
wants to be cordial as a father, but it’s too
much for him to bear.
That said, what Lee does with the film that’s
really great is that he explores “Uncle Tom-
ism.” My character’s son, Louis, looks at
me in some ways as an Uncle Tom. In fact,
he’s sometimes embarrassed of me. Martin
Luther King tells him my position in the White
House is in fact very important. People
like Bill “Bojangles” Robinson and Louis
Armstrong were considered for a period
of time as Uncle Toms. But before them,
African American people didn’t perform
in certain venues or go into certain rooms
because they weren’t allowed. They were
activists and treading roads that weren’t
tread on before for others to be able to walk
through. If you go through a jungle and
you’re using a machete to get past the vines
in front of you, know that the person who
chopped the vines down before you paved a
road for you to move forward.
Tell us about working with all these
other actors who were portraying US
Presidents in the film.
It was fantastic because I was sort of the
common link. That’s the thing about workers
in the White House – it’s their house in a
way. When I spoke with some of the real life
butlers who had been employed there, they
would say that they were there for years and
would see presidents come and go, yet they
would stay working behind the scenes.
While filming, it would be a new experience
with each new actor playing a president.
John Cusack plays a sort of mad Nixon.
I was thrilled to work with him, as he’s a
great actor. The scene where he’s in the
middle of Watergate, playing the tapes
over and over, was exciting to do. James
Marsden brought relaxation and comfort to
the Kennedy role. I loved working with him.
His character is very linked to mine.
I’d worked with Robin Williams before.
I enjoyed his stillness and simplicity in the
role of Eisenhower. It was very delicate. He
did a beautiful job of portraying pain and
contemplation.
This is Oprah’s return to acting. What
about this film in particular do you
think convinced her to come back?
She had a relationship with Lee of course
from producing Precious and trusted
him as a filmmaker. She and I have had
a long relationship and had wanted to
work together for a while. I think mainly
though, what the story is telling historically
and showing America through those eyes
was important to her. I also think she was
interested in exploring family and love. One
thing that our characters have as husband
and wife throughout the film was a deep
bond of love through all the strains, through
her character’s alcoholism, and all else.
I think as an artist she must have been
intrigued by this character because it’s
powerful and complex, and she does an
amazing job. I’m really happy I got to do the
film with her – I can’t imagine having done it
with anyone else.
Now, for Whitaker, who is no stranger to
historical dramas, having won an Academy
award, a BAFTA and a Golden Globe for
his portrayal of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin
in 2006, the character of Cecil Gaines,
as he explains, “ is a good example of an
individual contributing towards shifting larger
opinions on race.” The film explores a large
cross-section of the last half-century of
race relations and civil rights in the United
States … a historic progression that led
to the election of an African American
President. With a predilection for the drama,
the actor gets talking on the inner workings
of the cast and characters of the film that
reportedly made even President Obama tear
up, and the experience of working with a
powerhouse like Oprah.
This film simultaneously covers a large
span of American history and tells a
father-son story, as played by you and
David Oyelowo. Tell us a little about
that dynamic.
I think what Lee Daniels did with this film is
pretty powerful because he dealt with the
civil rights movement through the characters
of me (Cecil) and my son (Louis). My son’s
an activist first in college, and then working
with Martin Luther King and eventually
Malcolm X. It’s a broad scope of individuals
in that particular movement. At the same
time, you see me in the White House during
those periods where decisions were being
made behind the scenes with Presidents
Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Reagan, and so
forth. They were shaping the face of civil and
human rights in the country – and, in effect,
the world.
It’s also a father-son story. My character
represents the old school and the old
guard. He is changing opinions by his
mere presence in the White House, by his
behaviour and his acceptance. In a sense,
I humanize the black community because
the Presidents and staff have to deal with
me on a human level. Then you have my
son addressing those same issues in the
streets with the civil rights movement,
through things like marches and sit-ins.
The conflict is between us and our different
generations. All I want is my son to be safe
and have a good life; that’s what I think
I’m doing in discouraging his activism. The
growth for me is to realise that I deserve
certain rights too, and it’s through my son
that I come to understand that.
As White House butler, Cecil develops
personal relationships with Presidents
SEPTEMBER 2013 77
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– and no, this is no spoiler because a
perusal of the respective blurbs will tell
you this much – is that a Palestinian baby
is kidnapped/abducted/stolen and taken
by an Israeli family. The antagonism, the
hatred and the sense of disregard for all
things Arab and Palestinian is passed on
to the stolen child.
And that makes you think. Profoundly.
What is it about conflict, really, that
keeps it alive? Is it that we as a people
are inherently termagant fighters that
we simply cannot consider anything in
our path to trounce what we assume is
Jean Sasson and Susan Abulhawa present two different viewpoints to the Israel and Palestine conflict. Yet the very thing that sets their books apart is the similarity in their plots, says Kirthi Jayakumar.
Of Emotionally Charged Narratives
For anyone who thinks that the birth
of Israel has everything solely to
do with the Holocaust, a reading
of Jean Sasson’s Ester’s Child and
Susan Abulhawa’s Mornings in Jenin is in
order. Stories that chronicle a very, very
prudent truth – both, of how babies can
teach us important lessons, and of how
it is not who we are told that we are that
matters, but it is who we truly are,
deep down.
That said, the premise of both books are
similar: although the plots are larger and
variant. The core premise of both books
78 SEPTEMBER 2013
INDULGE
wrong? Is it about making a point, a point
that what the right hand gives should be
kept from the knowledge of the left hand?
Or is it, that we have an inherent sense
of disregard for questioning that which
is wrong overtly – while we covertly do
exactly what we want?
In both of the books, there is one
simmering undercurrent: that a conflict is
ultimately one between brothers. Some,
related by blood. Some, not related by
blood – but bound by the greater ethos
of the religion of humanity. Whether it is
in Jean’s fluid style of narration with an
authentic charm that starts from the thick
of the Holocaust and ends in the cusp
of the worst eras of the Israel-Palestine
conflict, or in the incredibly emotionally
charged and beautifully woven fabric of
Palestinian society by Susan Abulhawa
that chronicles the story through the eyes
of a Palestinian girl, the point they make is
simply beautiful, and makes you want to
question yourself.
What Jean’s book does for you is to
narrate a tale in as straightforward a
manner as one could tangibly expect, with
the tenor of a gifted story teller. Susan’s
book, on the contrary, has episodic
snatches from here and there, with almost
a documentary-movie feel that etches the
core facts of a difficult reality in your mind,
with a beautiful storyline.
Whether Mornings in Jenin or Ester’s
Child, there is one common element that
you take home from both: the beauty in
the human face of literature that they have
both carved with ease. Showing you the
quintessence of humanity, projecting that
it doesn’t matter what you grow to be –
you are human, deep down.
SEPTEMBER 2013 79
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guitar and Raveesh Trikey on bass, Live
Banned derives inspiration from not taking
themselves, or life too seriously. According
to the vocalist, “Live Banned is a live act
and the music is nothing like you’ve heard
before. We are shameless, we are mad, we
are stylish and we entertain. We are always
live and very, very loud. The ENT doctors
love us. We are very nice people off stage
and you are welcome to hang out with us!”
Perhaps that should explain the irreverence
with which they take to the stage, aiming to
do nothing but just entertain.
And it’s not only on stage. Live Banned has
also built a reputation for themselves with
their hilarious online videos and promos
before their shows like the one they made
before their Blue Frog gig or their Soda
Studio promo before their Counterculture
gig (“It is happening this Friday, after the
dry day..ah nice,” invites Amrit in a hilarious
Malayali accented impression).
Now, even after two years since they
started, the band has not yet released an
album, as is the norm. Amrit says, “We’re
not sure if we would release a full-fledged
audio album at all. The reason being, we
are a very visual band and not just aural.
The original tracks would make more sense
with a video or at a live show. The songs
were written to suit this idea, although it
wasn’t a conscious effort initially. There will
be a release but with a lot of visual content
in the form of a DVD or even bigger. Some
grand things are being planned and will be
announced by the end of this year.”
Meanwhile, Amrit has gone on to release
his solo project, and with a viral track called
Sappa Matter Da. On the Live Banned
front, they released a single called The
Auto Tune, a song which Amrit explains, “is
about not-so friendly, greedy, crazy, rude
and mindless auto drivers in India. It’s a
song the people of Chennai and Bengaluru
would relate to the most and brings out
the anguish of auto passengers in India.
After a decade of autorickshaw travel, there
couldn’t have been a better subject than
this to write about.”
So, what’s next on the cards for the band?
“We are working some new compositions
and focusing more on them to strike a
balance between originals and the mash-
ups. We will start shooting for our next
music video ‘Death Dance’ sometime
this month, which will be shot mainly in
Chennai, Bengaluru and Mumbai and can
be expected by the end of this year,” shares
the vocalist.
“Parody is one of the things we do and
it’s very evident. But our music and
concept go beyond that,” explains Amrit
about what they do. “We mash up songs,
twist them around, shake them a bit and
present them in the most unexpected
way.” Watch their performance for a taste
of how Live Banned can mash up a series
of popular favourites, be it from your
regular Tamil ‘kuthu’ songs or a David
Guetta number. But the vocalist explains
that even though parody is an essential
ingredient in their act, their original
compositions often tend to take on more
serious issues, but yet again, nothing
better than a load of sarcasm and satire to
drive home a message. “Our originals are
satirical and talk about issues that appeal
to everyone, irrespective of the location,
class and demographics,” adds Amrit.
Rohit Panikker catches up with Live Banned, an entertaining stage act from Bengaluru and picks apart their music, which is a unique blend of genres.
Live Banned is not your typical breed
of live band. As funny as it sounds,
sometimes it’s almost impossible to do
justice to a live act with mere words on a
page. The problem usually arises when
the act itself is so entertaining, you can
write nothing but about how you felt rather
than a prissy ‘review’ on how the music
and the ‘ambience’ was! Take a look at
the Facebook page of this five-piece act
that’s garnered so much attention in less
than two years of their inception, and you
would get a fairly good idea of what you
can expect from them on stage; “Live
Banned is a concept. Live Banned is about
entertainment. The band’s originals and
medleys are popular for their humour that
is sometimes intelligent and at other times
atrocious. The performances are bold,
flamboyant and energetic, influenced by
South Indian music, Bollywood, Disco,
Pop, Rock and Metal. The band satirises,
restructures and twists popular music
across genres and languages that appeals
to everyone, from the man on the street to
an audience from the corporate world.”
Comprising Amrit Rao on vocals,
Dheerendra Doss on drums, Dhruv Kumar
on guitar, Siddhart Kamath on keyboard/
Liv
e A
ct,
Cla
ss A
ct
80 SEPTEMBER 2013
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Vidya Singh checks out Focaccia at The Hyatt Regency with a group of friends for lunch and great conversation.
Photography by A.V.Abhay Kumar
From left to right: Ranvir Shah, Sharan Apparao, Vidya Singh and Benoit Olivier.
82 SEPTEMBER 2013
MAIN COURSE
We lunch today at The Focaccia, the Italian
connection at The Hyatt Regency Hotel,
a trattoria-styled restaurant, that will be
showcasing to us food that comes from
Southern Italy, Campania, Puglia, Calabria
and of course Sicily, all areas that stretch
from the ocean to the hills. These names
themselves sound so exotic that we eagerly
await what Chef Massimiliano Pauletto,
will be presenting to us today. Chef
Massimiliano himself comes from this very
same region, and uses the best ingredients
to create very authentic Italian dishes native
to these areas.
The food is certainly simple and very fresh
with individualistic flavours. The ambience
is invigorating and we are all eager to settle
down to enjoy the lunch amid some great
conversation. Sharan Apparao, Benoit
Olivier, Ranvir Shah and I look around and
find that we are very comfortable in this
casual, trattoria style space, which has
been laid out with comfort in mind. The
rustic floor, quaint wooden chandeliers
and other Italian touches all add to the
experience. At lunchtime there is a buffet
of the Antipasti selection, while the main
courses can be chosen from the menu.
Sharan Apparao is a leading art gallerist
and curator, who travels the world,
experiencing contemporary art in its varied
forms. “Live to Eat and Enjoy” is her way of
life, being an extremely creative cook and
entertainer herself. Ranvir Shah is a culture
catalyst, who enjoys the world of business
during the day and the worlds of different
forms of art in the after-hours. He strives
to create islands of beauty even if they are
temporary! Benoit Olivier, director of Alliance
Francaise Chennai, has been the dynamic
driving force behind the organisation during
his few years in our city. As you can see, my
dining companions are all extremely well-
travelled and have an intrinsic appreciation
of fine food.
Having begun his career in Milan,
Chef Massimiliano Pauletto has been
creating food for over a decade and has
a nouveau approach to Italian cuisine,
always aiming to make it lighter, healthier
and possibly funkier! He has worked in
Paris, London and even in Southeast
Asia, but his food is inspired from his
childhood memories of Italy and hence
the simple, holistic approach. With
hobbies that range from yoga to deep sea
diving, he brings élan to Focaccia.
The food at Focaccia prides itself on being
authentic, uncomplicated and fresh. And I
am already starting to get great feedback
from all three friends. We start by tucking
into the delicious focaccia bread that is
a signature dish of the restaurant and
the tangy sundried tomato dip. We then
wander over to the Antipasti selection. For
the vegetarians there is the very soft and
well-made eggplant, a part of every Italian
selection. There is also a classic Tomato
Mozzerella salad with basil, which gets
an instant thumbs-up from Benoit. An
unusual dish of baked onion with cheese
catches my fancy and before long, I ask for
a second helping of the dish! The delicious
zucchini warm salad is crisp and fresh. The
84 SEPTEMBER 2013
MAIN COURSE
tomato mushroom bruschetta has always
been my favourite choice of starters and
I tend to order it at any Italian restaurant
I go to. To my joy, Focaccia’s bruschetta
turns out to be certifiably good. There
is even a tossed salad on offer with
vegetables, lots of salad leaves and a
choice of dressings to go with it.
Benoit being an avid meat lover livens up
the afternoon with his intelligent take on the
food. He notes that the style of cooking of
a lot of the dishes at Focaccia is authentic,
from old recipes around Italy. To our
surprise Chef Massimiliano endorses his
observation saying that several of them were
indeed family recipes! The Beef Carpaccio
Tenderloin is tender and perfectly sliced; the
Liver Paté with olives is absolutely perfect as
is the sliced cured parma ham salad. Benoit
tries grilled prawns, calamari and other
seafood and pronounces them all excellent.
There is a large round cheese platter on
the table that everyone took bits out of to
accompany the antipasti spread, as well as a
wonderful choice of breads.
After all the antipasti, we take a mini
break before indulging in the next
course. The pasta is simply delicious
– Chef has made the classic Aglio Olio
with organic spaghetti and olive oil,
tossed with garlic and chilli and flavoured
with parsley. What a deliciously flavourful
dish! Benoit’s pasta has a rustic tomato-
based sauce with basil, tossed with
slow-braised lamb. He again pronounces
it very authentic.
The pizza is sent to us next. With a thin
crust, layered with a yummy tomato sauce
and plenty of roasted vegetables, the pizza
is simply outstanding and the four of us
relish every slice.
We finally reach the best part of the
afternoon, the desserts! The berry
pannacota is gentle on the palate and
tastes great, but the highlight is most
definitely the Tiramisu. Ubiquitous it may
be, but the Tiramisu at Focaccia is just
outstanding. Chef Massimiliano has got
it just right. Benoit says that the strong
taste of the coffee indicates that it is
again, definitely an old recipe. It is just
right, not too sweet and I love the coffee
flavour with the hint of the slightly grainy
texture of the cake crumble that’s in it.
Chef Massimiliano says that he had not
used any cream in it and had used only
brown sugar. I begin to contemplate
another portion, but better sense prevails
when my guests, Sharan, Ranvir and
Benoit all ask for coffee. Soon enough,
there are espressos and Macchiatos
brought to the table to round off the
wonderful meal.
Foccacia is the perfect place for a lazy
afternoon lunch if you have the time or
even a quick business meal if you don’t!
We had a wonderful time with discussions
on events coming up that all three of
my guests – Ranvir with his Prakriti
Foundation, Sharan and her Apparao
Gallery and of course Benoit with the
Alliance Francaise – are involved with over
the next couple of weeks.
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IN C
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To each his own. I don’t believe any one
item of luxury is a waste of money but that
said, I believe that too much of anything is
not good.
6. How would you define ‘the good life’?
Breaking bread with family and friends over
numerous bottles of wine.
7. What is the most exquisite ice cream
flavour you’ve had?
Frais de Bois at Berthillon, Paris.
8. An ingredient you think is expensive,
luxurious and exotic.
Single origin dark chocolate.
9. A restaurant you love dining at?
Indian Accent, New Delhi.
10. Tell us about Amadora Ice Creams
and why it’s unique.
Amadora Gourmet Ice Cream is an Indian
brand that focuses on creating ice creams
using the finest local ingredients available.
There is quite a bit of science in what we
do but the main differentiators are the
quality of the local ingredients and the
absolute freshness. Our ice creams are
made every 4 days, as opposed to most
big brands that offer imported ice cream
made 2-3 months ago.
11. So, how would you define
indulgence, the Amadora way?
There is no other brand in the whole of India
that makes ice creams of this quality. Plus
our varied product range of 125 flavours of
ice creams and sorbets, ice cream cakes,
ice cream pies and handmade choco bars,
is absolutely unique.
1. What does luxury mean to you?
Treating yourself to something that gives
you momentary pleasure.
2. What is the one luxury you cannot be
without?
That would most definitely be food and
wine. In fact, I would say that my biggest
indulgence is drinking expensive wine.
3. What is the one holiday destination
you would love to revisit anytime?
San Sebastian, Spain
4. What luxury bands are you a fan of?
I love shoes. And many of the best shoes
are Italian. I am all for attention to detail and
appreciate the thought and effort that go
into fine, handcrafted luxury goods.
5. What item of luxury do you think is a
colossal waste of money?
If you’re looking to treat yourself to some sinful ice cream that is also dewy-fresh, Deepak Suresh of Amadora Ice Creams is the one to talk to. This engineer-turned-gourmet ice cream chef is all about experimenting with a variety of flavours and ingredients. Aptly enough, his idea of luxury is most associated with gastronomic ecstasy.
86 SEPTEMBER 2013
THE RITZ READER