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“ In the past decade, Pune has witnessed nothing short of a metamorphosis in terms of style, fashion and beauty. That’s not to say we’ve “arrived” but, we’re now bounteously fashion/beauty savvy.”

Contact: [email protected]

Editor-in-ChiefAditya Kuber

Editors Veethi Telang Apeksha Bhagchandani Contributors Sharan Garcha Sanil Mahajan Hanisha Lalwani Parmeet Kohli Radhika Sharma Protima Tiwary Amruta Ghate DesignPrasanta Kundu Maddy Kulkarni Sanjali Manekar Anishka Gurjar MarketingAnish Sohoni Rekha Achtani PublisherMedia Sphere Communications Pvt. Ltd.www.mediasphere.co.in

The Wizards of Glamour...A well-known stylist once said, “Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak”. Inner beauty and all of that is all very good; but I truly believe that an appealing, cared-for appearance is always a sight for sore eyes and goes a long way.

In the past decade, Pune has witnessed nothing short of a meta-morphosis in terms of style, fashion and beauty. That’s not to say we’ve “arrived” but, we’re now bounteously fashion/beauty savvy. Considering that, the focus of this issue is on some of Pune’s very own remarkably creative squadron who have dedicated their work towards making us people, women and men alike, look our finest.

Besides that, our grub section will now allow you to easily replicate enticing dishes prepared by Pune’s top chefs, as directed by the culi-narians themselves.

We also arrived on the final leg of our Puneri Peths’ journey and boy, was it a joyride or what! No one around here is coming out of the culture and heritage trance anytime soon.

And of course, the other awesome stuff prevails.

Stay stylish!

Apeksha Bhagchandani

EDITOR’S NOTE

Cover Photo: Vaishnav PraveenModel: Ridhiema Shahani

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4 PUNE UNLTD.

SEE

09 INSTAPUNE Capturing the soul of Pune on Instagram

LIVE

10 #ACTPUNE

In Search of Goodness Conversation with Sonia Garcha

24 SPECIAL FEATURE

Peth Puja - Part IV Ghorpade Peth, Ganj Peth & Navi Peth

30 ENTERTAINMET

On the count of 3...2...1... We chatted with three of the renowned studio owners in the city to get their take on the Pune’s independent music artists and howthey really operate…

IN THIS ISSUE January 16, 2015

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1212 COVER STORY

Pune’s Makeover Magicians As we bid a stylish adieu to 2014, let’s take a look at what some of the prom-inent names in the fashion industry in the city have to say about this transformation, current trends, style tips and a lot more.

06

PLAY

23 SCOR’D Reviewing all you can watch, read and eat in Pune.

36 EVENTS These are set to rock Pune for the next 2 weeks.

EAT06 FOOD

CIY: Cook It Yourself Ever had a mouth-watering meal and wondered what it would be like to make it at home? Here’s the good news! What if we told you that two of the most skilled chefs in the city share their secrets with you? We bring to you three delectable dishes straight from Courtyard by Marriott’s chefs’ cookbooks. Isn’t it just great to have them at your disposal? Cook whenever and impress your folks!

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FOOD

� Veethi Telang

C I Y

Ever had a mouth-watering meal and wondered what it would be like to make it at home? Here’s the good news! What if we told you that two of the most skilled chefs in the city share their secrets with you? We bring to you three delectable dishes straight from Courtyard by Marriott’s chefs’ cookbooks. Isn’t it just great to have them at your disposal? Cook when-

ever and impress your folks!

Cook it Yourself


PRADIPT SINHAEXECUTIVE CHEF, COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT PUNE CITY CENTRE

Pradipt Sinha has been recently appointed as the Executive Chef of Courtyard by Mar-riott Pune City Centre. With an exceptional record of service and experience, Chef Sinha joins the city centre hotel to ensure that guests are given high quality F&B ser-vice at the hotel. He shares the recipe for Murgh Paan Dum Biryani with us.

MURGH PAAN DUM BIRYANIIngredients (Serves one)

Î Basmati rice 200gms

Î Chicken 90gms

Î Chopped Onion 20gms

Î Saffron 2gms

Î Milk 20ml

Î Lemon Juice 10ml

Î Chopped Coriander 10gms

Î Chopped Green Chilies 5gms

Î Oil 15ml

Î Ginger Paste 5gms

Î Garlic Paste 5gms

Î Turmeric Powder 5gms

Î Curd 100gms

Î Degghi Mirch Powder 10gms

Î Salt to taste

Î Cloves 2gms

Î Cinnamon Stick 2gms

Î Bay Leaf 2gms

Î Cardamom 2gms

Î Cumin Seeds 5gms

Î Betel Leaf 2nos

MethodMarinate the chicken with curd, turmeric powder, salt, chili powder and ginger-garlic paste, and mix well.

Grind all the spices for the chicken in a mixer and add to the marinade. Leave the chicken to marinate for 2 hours.

In a pan, heat add the oil and sauté onions until golden brown.

In another vessel, cook the biryani rice and keep aside.

In a handi, add oil. Once hot, add the chicken and cook on high heat till it gets golden brown in color.

Lower the flame; flatten the chicken to form a layer. Add the rice on it and pour the saffron infused milk over the rice

Cover the vessel and seal it from all the side with the dough.

Let the biryani cook over slow flame till the seal is hard and the rice looks fully cooked.

Serve hot and garnish with betel leaf.






COVER STORY

8 PUNE UNLTD.

HONEY GLAZED HAMIngredients (Serves one)

Î Cooked ham block

Î Cloves

Î Honey

Î Maple syrup

Î Mustard paste

MethodPrepare a glaze of honey, mustard and maple syrup by heating it up on a double boiler.Preheat oven to 180 degrees C

Score ham, and stud with the whole cloves. Line a baking tray with silver foil.

Brush glaze over ham, and bake for 1 hour and 15 min-utes in the preheated oven.

Baste ham every 10 to 15 minutes with the honey glaze. Increase the temperature in the last 5 minutes and let the glaze get caramelized.

Remove from oven, and let sit a few minutes before serv-ing. Slice a serve.

GIRISH KUMAREXECUTIVE CHEF, COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT, CHAKAN

Chef Girish T.V brings with him 14 glorious years of experi-ence in the hospitality industry. He mastered the culinary art from Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) in Chennai. As Executive Chef at Courtyard by Marriott, Chennai, he oversees all operations related to multi-cuisine restau-rants in the property. He shares the recipe for Honey Glazed Ham and Panettone with us.

PANETTONEIngredients (Serves one)

Î Flour 400 Gram

Î Salt 5 Gram

Î Sugar 10 Gram

Î Yeast 10 gram

Î Butter 100Gram

Î Egg yolk 2 Number

Î Milk 225 ml

Î Orange zest 1 Gram

Î Lemon zest 1 Gram

Î Raisins 200 Gram

Î Sultanas 200Gram

Î Black currant 50Gram

Î Nutmeg pwd 5Gram

Î Cardamom pwd 5Gram

Î Glace cherry 50Gram

Î Caster sugar 50 Gram

MethodPreheat the oven to 200C, Butter a 20cm (8 in) cake tin and line with lightly buttered greaseproof paper.

Pour the milk into a bowl, and then sprinkle on the sugar and yeast. Leave for around 10 minutes – it should start to go frothy.

Combine the butter and caster sugar in a bowl and beat them together until they are very fluffy. Then beat in the eggs gradually, followed by the lemon and orange rind (and the vanilla extract if you’re using it).

Place the flour and salt in a large bowl. Now gently fold in the milky/yeast fluid, followed by the creamed butter/sugar mixture. Mix them all together until you have soft dough.

Put the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes until its smooth.

Then place the dough cover with a towel and leave in a warm place. Leave it for about an hour until it has dou-bled in size.

Sprinkle the raisins/sultanas and mixed peel over the dough. Knead until they are completely mixed in. Place the mixture in the cake tin and leave it in a warm place for about 45 minutes until it gets doubled in size again.

When it has risen, bake it in the oven for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to 180C, and bake it for another 30 min-utes. When it’s done it should be golden brown and firm to the touch.

Cool the panettone, and dust it with icing sugar 1 tea-spoon sugar.

COVER STORY


Independence Day long weekend is round the corner. Are you scrambling to put together your travel plans? We present you four quick alternatives to replace your travel agents and expensive hotels! To make the most of your vacation, explore these different options according to your budget, time frame and other parameters. INSTAPUNE

@5uryawanshi

@ebejohndev@ankeytricks

@sequinsanity

@thehighspirits

@vidya_vee

@thepunekarWe love everything about Pune and scout for Instagram images that showcase its spirit. If you have an interesting image of the city, tag @thepunekar on Instagram and it could get featured here!

@nilaysawant008 @patildhaval

@instaapeksha






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#ACTPUNE

In Search of Goodness � Sharan Garcha

By the turn of the 21st century, the concept of CSR as a voluntary measure gathered momentum with corpo-rates funding social initiatives. Sonia Garcha, a consul-tant at Development Support Team (DST), shares her experiences of working in an NGO and enabling corpo-rate partnerships.

Tell me about yourself…

Having completed my Masters in Computer Science from Pune University, my career began with working at C-DAC, Pune. I moved on to setting up my own soft-ware firm, which specialised in Hospital Manage-ment Systems. As the advent of computers also affected the NGO sector, they needed assistance in setting up systems and training the staff. I was roped into it by Mrs. H. Bedi, who is my inspi-ration and also my mother. Mrs. Bedi was then the Country Representative of Oxfam Australia (a funding agency) and is currently the Managing Trustee of DST. While we were growing up, vaca-tion time for my brother and me meant project visits to various rural areas and this experience had taught us the importance of giving back our expertise to the society. She suggested that I give my inputs to NGOs and I slowly realised that

this was a much more gratifying and satisfying experi-ence as compared to commercial software development

What is your role in the organisation?

As my role in the organisation has always been system design and development, my skills as a software pro-

grammer were always useful. Cur-rently, my role in DST is of a Project Co-ordinator and I manage the proj-ect implementation and documen-tation for three corporate partners, Forbes Marshall, Ruchi Soya and the UPS Foundation (USA). I also guide students from both, local col-leges and international universities, for their internships and research projects.

While working with the cor-porate partners, have you created any platform for effective partnerships?

Yes, we have; through various dia-logues and workshops, both at a local and the national level. We firmly believe that the corporate

and social sectors have complementary and not com-petitive skills for development initiatives. Infused with this perspective, a strong partnership will emerge cap-italising the strengths of both the sectors in working


#ACTPUNE

towards a fairer world. Thus, it becomes important to create a forum that brings together stakeholders from the corporate and the social sector with match-ing value systems and ideologies for a dialogue to facilitate effective partnerships. With this objective in mind, DST initiated a series of interactive sessions on “Building Bridges”.

Please tell me about the workshop…

DST is organising a second workshop on “Building Bridges and Enabling Partnerships” on January 20, 2015, so that a new journey can be traversed with a collective strength. The workshop will involve sharing the challenges and roadblocks faced in the implemen-tation of CSR projects. That is while not undermining the best practices adopted by organisations in build-ing a mutually beneficial complementary partnership between the corporate and social sector.

What do you hope to achieve from this workshop?

The participants, who will be from leading companies and the social sector specifically from in and around Pune, will have an opportunity to understand views

of different stakeholders, discuss best practices, exchange knowl-edge and build partnerships towards achieving common objec-tives.

What’s next?

At DST, we plan to “build bridges” between the NGOs and the corpo-rates to enable CSR partnerships and work collectively towards sus-tainable development.






When it comes to fashion, Pune has seen a huge transformation in the last decade. With changes in rules of organized retailing, Pune saw a lot of premium and international brands entering the market in the past. Many national and international apparel and cosmetic brands were no longer restricted to bigger cities

like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore.

As we bid a stylish adieu to 2014, let’s take a look at what some of the prominent names in the fashion industry in the city have to say about this transformation, current trends, style tips

and a lot more. � Protima Tiwary

Pune’sMakeoverMagicians

COVER STORY


What are the hair and makeup trends that you cur-rently adore? I’m currently obsessed with braids. They are easy, chic and give an air of careless elegance. They also cover up bad hair days with minimum has-sle and maximum élan.

My personal favourite look involves pairing up bright lip colors like neons with nude eyes and a hint of eyeliner. This works perfectly well for a fun day look. My second favou-rite look is the black/brown smokey-eyed look with nude lips, which works best for a night out.

Natasha Parekh Natasha Parekh is an upcoming name in the fashion and make-up circuit in Pune. At a young age, she has man-aged to carve a niche for herself as a hairstylist and free-lance makeup art-ist. She owns her own salon in Aundh, and has previously worked with big names like Slice & Bounce Salon & Spa and Head to Toes Salon.






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What do you see different about hair and makeup in 2015 when compared to say, 2000?

I believe people are willing to experiment so much more now. I find many people opting for an Ombre look. Curls too seem to be trending again. The change has been a welcoming one and there is a lot more scope in the mar-ket.

Pune has undergone a massive transforma-tion in the fashion circuit. Comment?

People have started becoming more conscious about the way they look. They are more aware about current trends and also willing to break rules and make their own fashion statements. I sometimes feel that people have become a little too brand conscious, which I feel can lead to monotony when it comes to colours, styles

and patterns. However, their willingness to experiment makes my job more fun and interactive. So it’s all good (laughs).

If you could describe your look in three words, what would they be?

I like to keep it simple, comfortable and most impor-tantly, practical.

What is one important tip you’d give to women when it comes to their makeup?

It’s important to be comfortable with the way you look. Don’t try to change the way you look with makeup; just enhance your features. Also, putting on too much makeup can make your face look patchy and/or oily. Go easy!

Hair and Makeup by Natasha Parekh

COVER STORY

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When and why did you start fashion pho-tography?

It’s been three years since I started. I initially started with street photography. Street photography taught me basics like observing natural light falling on to a subject, how to compose frames and a lot more. It’s during this that I realised I loved portraying people. That is when I made a decision to shoot portraits. I later fused this with fashion. I still do a little bit of street photography when-ever I get some free time. My work is a blend of abstract and fine art with a hint of fashion.

What is it that inspires you?

Photography makes you to look at the world more closely. It teaches you how to observe. It makes you find intriguing, unusual and stunning beauty in unex-pected places, and inspires you to look for new things in unknown places. It broadens horizons, opens eyes, parts velvet ropes, and catalyzes quirky and wonderful events. You can make moments permanent, control light, and

immortalize the infinitesimal.

Great photo-graphs move me, so I’m happy to be an avid photog-rapher hoping to produce my own images. I’m inspired by whatever I see; light is what attracts me the most, but I am also intrigued by shapes. I’m more of an art-ist than a tech-nician.

Amit Mali The only photographer from Pune to have his pho-tos featured in the Italian Vogue, Amit Mali is a name to watch out for. With passion and skill driving him forward, this humble youngster comes across as focused, fierce and deter-mined. Here are excerpts from the interview…


What project is closest to your heart?

µ ( myu ); It’s a series of albums, derived from the word ‘Musings’. This involved my favorite model from Pune (Ketaki Narayan) and is extremely close to my heart. She understands me well and being a theater artist, she per-forms rather than pose. This is what makes the shoot interesting. This shoot changed things for us when the work went international and Italian Vogue featured our pictures on there website.

What do you think about fashion photogra-phy trends today in Pune?

Well, it’s got a long way to go. I personally feel there is a lot of evolution required in fashion photography in Pune. Things here are restricted to the four walls of a studio and a fancy camera. We need to give up this con-

trolled environment and take up work with a wider per-spective. Creativity takes courage. Pune needs to break out of the stereotype. People are taking the risk, but it’s a slow process.

What is the one concept or dream project that you want to try?

My dream project is Apriori. It’s a philosophical term with some mysticism attached to it. It’s more about exploring the spiritual aspect in me and expressing it through the art of photography. Right now, I have a team working on it, doing an in-depth analysis of this concept before its execution. It not only involves portraits but also the elements of serene fashion.

And, I would also love to work with Laxmi Menon one day; she is the one model I really hope to work with.

If you could describe your style in three words, what would they be?

Attentive, intimate, simple... And obsessive (I couldn’t put it in 3 words, sorry!)

What is one important tip you’d give to budding fash-ion photographers?

Experiment a lot and keep practic-ing.






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How has Pune been a pivotal part of your journey?

Well, it’s home. I have always been comfortable here. I have felt at home with my friends, family and Pune in general has been like my support system. People feel Pune is a slow market and there are not enough oppor-tunities here, but I beg to differ. I started from Pune, and that is only because I grabbed all the opportu-nities that were presented before me. Every-thing is available here. You just need to be aggressive.

You must have noticed a transfor-mation in the fashion circuit in Pune say, since the year 2000. Your com-ments?

I was 10 years old back in 2000 so I doubt I can comment on this (laughs). But since the time I have taken an interest in this field, I have noticed a change. People are getting exposed to international brands, opening up to exper-

imenting with their styles and opting for dif-ferent looks. Pune has definitely seen a mas-sive change and continues to do so.

What’s your favourite trend in the market right now?

I am a big fan of the classic era; mono-chromes and clean cuts are an eternal favou-rite. When it comes to makeup, I love bright colours and experimenting with my looks.

What tip would you like to give to aspiring models?

Stick it out. It’s a difficult field, it takes a lot of patience, but it works out in the end if you play your cards right. Stick it out!

Any dream project that you wish to be a part of?

To be honest, I have been living a dream all through 2014. I had never thought I’d be a part of LFW, and I got to walk for some big designers last year. Right now I want to try my hand at acting. I am attending classes and working hard towards this. Right now Bollywood is a dream.

What does 2015 have

in store for you?

2014 was a year of prepa-ration and 2015 will be a year of execution.

Sanjana GanesanAn upcoming model from Pune, Sanjana Gane-san has made a mark in the modelling industry in the last one year. A contestant at Femina Miss India 2014, Sanjana forayed into television with the reality series Splitsvilla at MTV. Here is a can-did chat with the young star.

Image Credits: Femina Photographer: Abhishek KhorgadeDesigner: Ajay Admane

COVER STORY


Footwear designing is an unusual field. What made you choose this path?

I was a journalist for 11 years before I decided to take this step. I have always been a shoe lover; my aunt still tells us stories about how she would get me shoes from dif-ferent countries she’d travel to, and I’d wear them all around the house, afraid to put my feet down and get them dirty. I was 21 when I realised I could design shoes too. On a girls’ night out, while watching P.S I Love You, I had a sudden inspiration to design shoes. A very cheesy start, but that’s how it is. My then boyfriend and now husband, has been a strong support system throughout. I went to London, studied footwear design and launched my label in August 2014.

How has your experience in the Pune mar-ket been so far?

It’s been fantastic! People have loved what I have to offer; they have accepted me with open arms. I am invited to display my shoes at exhibitions all over the city. I also get orders from other cities. It’s been great!

Is there any particular buying behaviour that you have noticed here in Pune?

Everyone here wants to stay in his or her comfort zones. Every woman admires heels, but not many buy them. Because let’s face it, they’re not comfortable. Most women go for flats. That’s why I promote wedge heels; they’re a lot better than stilettos.

What are your favourite trends in the foot-wear industry?

It’s got to be Gladiators. I try incorporating that style into all my designs. I recently did Kolhapuri gladiators that were a big hit. I absolutely love that trend!

What according to you will be a dominant trend in 2015 in the footwear industry?

There will be a lot of colors, especially blue as well as two-toned hues.

Nupur ChaudhuriJournalist-turned-footwear-designer Nupur Chaudhuri launched her brand of footwear in August 2014. All about fun, comfort and non-leather shoes, Nupur has already made a mark in the industry.






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Compare the current fashion/beauty circuit in Pune from say, 10 years ago.

There has been a tremendous change. Pune has become very trendy in the last decade. People are aware of brands, colours and styles. Even college students have become trendy now and are no longer laid back. They are aware of things like colour blocking, Ombre, etc. In hair and makeup, there has been a drastic improvement in terms of styles and cuts, hair colouring and experi-mental makeup. People are getting bold. They are taking extra care of their hair with regular hair spas and treat-ments.

What according to you is the current trend in hairstyles?

As far as makeup is concerned, this season is all about smokey eyes and glowy/dewey skin tones. Towards the end of 2015, I see a lot of bright lips and neutral tones being used.

For hair, I love the shoulder- and mid-length styles. Poker straight is out, thank God for that. Bangs are fun too. Highlights have made a comeback along with bold

hair- colours. I see a lot of red being used towards the end of the season. I feel the 1960s will make a comeback this year.

Describe your look in three words.

Elegant, bold and poised.

Share some tips on hair and makeup with Punekars.

For makeup, always carry a good lipstick/gloss, blush, lotion, kohl, eyeliner and bronzer with you. You never know when you might need them. Winters are the best to manipulate your look. During summers keep it min-imal. You don’t want excess makeup getting your face oily or worse, it melting off your face! Keep the liquid mascara to a minimum, use very less kajal, and go in for light shades like pink and peach for the lips.

For hair: This one is especially for those with naturally curly hair. It’s very important to care for it the right way. For children blow 10, their hair should not be brushed or combed. Parents hesitate to apply conditioners but there is no harm. Conditioner makes the hair soft. Adults with coloured curly hair need to use a colour-spe-cific shampoo for six months before mov-ing on to a regular sham-poo. In the s u m m e r s , don’t use much of con-ditioner and stay hydrated. In the mon-soon, go in for a leave-in conditioner. During win-ters, avoid washing your hair too many times. Drink warm water and consume a lot of honey.

One trend that you feel must go completely?

Bouffants and puffs need to go. Many people feel this adds volume and enhances the face structure; it’s not true for all. One needs to be very careful with this par-ticular style.

Rita VermaAfter having studied makeup and hair styling at London School of Fashion, Rita Verma decided to launch her own brand “River Academy and Makeover Experts”. With a passion for makeup and hair, it’s a delight to watch her face light up as she discusses fashion and makeup trends, her future predictions in terms of makeup and hairstyles and a lot more.


Footwear designing is an unusual field. What made you choose this path?

I am an architecture graduate who has always been in love with shoes. Back in college I owned around 150 pairs of shoes and loved them more than my clothes. Family members would have problems with footwear and feet and I would solve them. That’s when I knew I wanted to pursue my passion. I did face a lot of resistance from my folks since this was a very unusual degree to get. I completed my architecture degree and then studied footwear designing in London.

How has your experience in the Pune mar-ket been?

It’s been slow, but I have seen they have accepted me very well now. People are keen on buying new styles and are opening up to experimental designs. Customisation being my forte, I have realised people are stepping out of their comfort zones to create their own individual look. Though leaving their comfort zones is a little diffi-cult, people are opening up to my label.

Are there any partic-ular buying trends that you have noticed?

I’m honestly amazed at the excitement. Peo-ple walk in to “have a look” and leave with 5-6 pairs of shoes. And I have seen

this in the major-ity of cases. People are looking at cre-ating an individual, unique look. And I am getting a simi-lar response from other cities across the country.

What’s your f a v o u r i t e trend?

I personally feel that a pair of bold heels makes a woman look her sexiest. A woman is the most confident at her highest posture. I feel heels are the best things to happen to the shoe industry.

Describe your style in one word.

Bold.

What does 2015 have in store for you?

I am thrilled with the response from 2014. 2015 will only get better. My label is now in other cities too. I am also planning on going international but that’s all that I can say about that right now.

Nidhi BhandariA couture footwear designer and founder of her namesake brand “Nidhi Bhandari”, Nidhi Bhandari presents to us a new and unique story with each pair of footwear she designs. Every shoe has a person-ality, and Nidhi is one of the best examples of unique designs that speak for themselves.






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Your comments on Pune’s fashion sense?

People have become more open to change. They are willing to try out different styles. It’s not only about the money anymore. People are open to trying new brands, designs and styles. They are opening up to newer names and younger designers. People are opt-ing for individuality and a personal style rather than just dressing up for the sake of it. They are not blindly donning a particular trend. I also feel increase in travelling has given people an exposure that is now reflecting in their styles.

What do you feel are the current trends of 2015?

Mixing and matching is going big; colours, pat-

terns, fabrics, the works. This suddenly makes your wardrobe seem much bigger!

What have you planned for your label in 2015?

I primarily deal in natural fabrics only, but this year I will be stress-ing heavily on hand-woven fabrics only. I will also be experimenting a lot with colours.

What is your current favourite trend?

I love the way contrasting colours are being used. A salmon and a mint for example, are lovely colours that designers are now experimenting with. It’s very interesting.

What’s the one trend that you despise?

Honestly, I don’t think I despise any particular trend. Each style is meant for someone, not everything can look good on everyone. But if you really, really ask me to think, I’d say velvets. I’m not a fan of heavy velvets.

Describe your style.

I like dressing for comfort. It’s very important for me to be comfortable. I love accessorising, mixing and match-ing my clothes and I am a big fan of layering. Best part

about layering is it can help you transform your look in a jiffy!

Karishma ShahaniWith a mix of modern colours and tra-ditional designs, KA-SHA, set up in 2011, focuses on reinterpreting and re-visualising Indian fabrics and crafts. Karishma Shahani is the name behind this brand, and here is what she has to say about her journey in Pune and what lies ahead in 2015.


SCOR’D

Film Taken 3

Takes logic for granted!

An emotional romantic thriller

Book It Happens For A

Reason by Preeti Shenoy Book 2014: The Election That Changed India by Rajdeep Sardesai

Film Tevar

Totally skippable! Lacks the Punch!

A book no news junkie can afford to miss!

Food German Bakery Wunderbar

Great hangout but a bit heavy on the pocket!

Food The Flying Saucer Skybar, Viman Nagar

Just can’t get enough of the quality cocktails!






� Parmeet K ohli

Ghorpade PethThanking my stars on not having to ride through the chaotic bus hub of Swargate, I parked my bike in a lane some distance before it, off the always-busy Shankar

Sheth Road. On my last Peth assignment (yes, we have run out of Peths), with the sun beating down on a par-ticularly warm afternoon, I start the walk with a cold and refreshing glass of Nira in Ghorpade Peth.

Named in the memory of Sardar Ghorpade from the era of the Peshwas, Ghorpade Peth is teeming with store

Peth-PujaPart IV

24 PUNE UNLTD.

SPECIAL FEATURE

Ghorpade Peth, Ganj Peth & Navi Peth


SPECIAL FEATURE

after store of miscellanea to help you deck your house. It does not seem to resemble a Puneri Peth in the least! Be it tiles for your kitchen, wooden flooring for your bedroom or a fancy basin sink for your bathroom, Ghorpade Peth is the place you want to be shopping at. It spe-cialises in an assortment of hardware to adorn your house with stores by the dozen dealing in kitchen-ware, sanitary-ware, tiles, wallpapers and what not. I spotted more than one couple arguing over what design suits their house the best. Not surpris-ing at all as the variety on offer here is astonishing. From the ordinary to the exquisite, from the indoors to the outdoors and from the kitchen to the bathroom, it is all here. Italian marble is the buzzword around this area and by the looks of it, Ghorpade Peth stores more of it than all of Italy!

Walking through this out and out commercial Peth, with the exception of tiny residential pockets, I came across

a wood scrap shop with some interest-ing wooden artefacts strewn around. A beautiful antique desk with two chairs caught my fancy and the dealer left no leaf unturned in trying to sell it, claiming it is from the British era and a steal at the twelve grand he was hoping to make from it. A short walk away from the wood scrap

shop I walked into a narrow lane where I spotted a stack of beautiful mini wooden temples, the kinds people use in their prayer rooms. Right behind them was a work-shop with pink walls and the cutest Labrador looking down from the building’s first floor. I walked right in to find a carpenter working away at more temples and hardly looking up to tell me that “Seth” is not around. For eatables, other than a Kalyan Bhel outlet and a colorful ice-gola handcart, I was hard-pressed to find anything other than these commercial establishments through-






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out Ghorpade Peth.

Ganj PethKnown earlier as Muzaffarjang and now also known as Mahatma Phule Peth, Ganj Peth is a short walk away

from Ghorpade Peth. The way runs through the tim-ber market of Bhawani Peth with the sharp smell of wood laminate filling your nostrils. As I walk through the market, surrounded by planks of wood and bam-boos, a man curious about my camera stops me to ask about what I’m up to and directs me to the Mahatma Phule Wada after telling me a bit about Savitribai Phule, her husband Jyotirao Phule and their wonderful legacy. Excited and a little embar-rassed at my ignorance

about their accomplishments, I get to the Mahatma Phule Wada.

Smeared in a beautiful earthy brown color, the simple architecture of the Wada mirrors the humble lifestyle of people in the nineteenth century and takes you on a journey to the past. The main structure of the Wada

is set within a spacious enclo-sure, which also houses bronze busts of Savitribai and Jyoti-rao Phule amidst beautiful old trees. The mud walls of the main Wada structure were once falling apart but have now been restored by using a com-bination of mesh wire, cement and a generous smearing of mud and dung which keeps its earthiness intact. A big thumbs up to the respective authorities for impeccably maintaining this important heritage. I loved the fact that no entry fee is charged and the caretaker, K.T. Hande, told me that apart from bus-


loads of school children, the Mahatma Phule Wada sees a constant stream of visitors. Inside, the Wada is dark with beautiful soft sunlight falling through charming old win-dows after streaming in through the thick trees outside. There’s something very surreal about the whole place and the light definitely contributes to that effect.

Inside the Wada also lies a small courtyard with a historic well, which is so symbolic of Savitribai and Jyotirao’s contribution to the liberation of Dalits in Maharashtra. All their lives they tirelessly aimed at changing meaningless societal regulations and restric-tions that were imposed on the lower castes. Moved by the treatment of untouchables, who were refused drinking water meant for the upper castes, Jyotirao and Savitribai opened up this very well to them. Savitribai played an instrumental part in the field of women’s education in India and started a

women’s school in Bhide Wada on the Jan-uary 1, 1848. This was the first women’s school in the entire nation started by a native. She faced heavy opposition from the orthodox majority who even went to the extent of issuing threats of phys-ical assault and throwing dung on her. Savitribai though, persevered and today is rightly described by the independent scholar Tiffany K. Wayne as “one of the first-generation modern Indian feminists, and an important contributor to world

feminism in general, as she was both addressing and challenging, not simply the question of gender






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in isolation but also issues related to caste and casteist patriarchy”. Together Savitribai and Jyotirao Phule also tackled the issue of young widows being mistreated by starting a home for them. Young widows were quite common on the account of girls being married off very young (Savitribai was all of nine when she was married) as well as the high mortality rate.

As I walked out of the Wada a white plastic ball bounced close to me and shouts from children playing cricket just outside the Wada’s walls broke the trance this amazing historical place had put me in. I threw the ball back and reluctantly walked away from the Wada. There was some-thing about it, which had made me not want to leave at all! I still could not shake off the past as I spotted an old man listening to old songs on one of those big transistors, which I have not seen in a while and another one zipping past on a prim-itive Yezdi. It seemed at the time like a part of Ganj Peth was wedged in the past! Still in a sort of a daze, I remember noticing that apart from

a few wooden furniture shops, which probably get their wood from the adjoining timber market, and a busy fish and meat bazaar, Ganj Peth is largely a residential Peth.

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Navi PethI then started the long walk to Navi Peth, stopping only for a jumbo glass of some heavenly sugarcane juice and photographing a few old wadas on the way. Navi Peth is largely residential, has a whole lot of classes and academies right from eleventh standard to C.A. and is more of a satellite Peth of the big-ger Sadashiv Peth. Addresses here can be rather confusing to the not-so-frequent visitor, with one saying Navi Peth and the one right next to it saying Sadashiv Peth! I spotted Lokmanya Vachanalaya, a beautiful looking public library with quite a collection of old looking books and a constant stream of avid readers. A couple of charming old wadas stand right next to the library and an old man standing outside one of them told me they will not be around for long since they’ve stood there for far longer than the Corporation is comfortable with. Swanky new buildings will soon take their place.

It was on sad note to end these magnificent Peth walks. But my time at the Mahatma Phule Wada earlier in the day had done enough to leave me full of hope and pos-itivity. Here’s wishing that the spirit of the Puneri Peth hangs on to the city we so love forever.

All Photos: Parmeet Kohli






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ENTERTAINMAENT

Budding Puneri musicians, listen up! We all know that the music scene in Pune today has moved beyond commercial genres and passionate music artists are leaving no stone unturned in creating a name for themselves. We can see a lot of upcoming independent musicians creating unique music and breaking all stereotypes. Studio owners in the city have their own take on this particular concept. We chatted with three of the renowned studio owners in the city to get their take on the Pune’s indepen-dent music artists and how they really operate…

� Sharan GarchaON THE COUNT OF

3… 2… 1…Ronak RunwalGray Spark Audio

The idea behind Gray Spark is to provide one single point where their clients can get all of their sound solutions from. The name ‘Gray Spark’ was concep-tualised by putting together interpretations of the words ‘Gray’ and ‘Spark’. Together ‘Gray Spark’ rep-resents dynamism, backed by experience and the ability to adapt, explore and create new experiences.

What do you think of Pune’s indepen-dent bands/artists?

The music scene in the city has got a lot better than what it was say five years ago. I established my studio about four years ago, and since then, I can definitely see a change when it comes to the artists and bands. There is a huge difference in not just the number of people being involved but also the quality of content that is being produced. Being a producer myself, I can certainly say that the content that the artists are creating is far more mature.

What kind of crowd do you usually get? Is it mainly college students?

No. It’s not just college students. When I started the studio, we used to get a lot of students. But today, it’s a good balance with a lot of artists and bands. Also, with the Indie Music scene improving, we are able to do some semi-commercial work. We’ve also had a

REC


ENTERTAINMENT

heavy metal band record their entire album with us at our studio. We also get work from the Bollywood industry. So, we have artists coming not just from the city of Pune but from everywhere!

Has anyone from your clientele made it big?

Yes, there are a few artists. One of the recent artists that we are working with are Drawing Short Straws who, I must say, are a talented bunch. Then, we have Rohit Vasudevan Diaries and Raushan Verma Scheme who have made a mark for themselves in the Indie Music Scene.

What are the rates for recording at your studio?

The rates of recording actually depend on whether the artist or band is an independent one or here for commercial work. Also, as we also produce albums at the studio, the charges vary accordingly.

Tell us about the facilities you provide.

We have a wide range of facilities for our clients. At Gray Spark we provide a variety of sound solutions under one roof. Our team has trained sound engi-neers. The facilities range from sound mixing, dub-bing, surround sound to even background scores. Along with this, we also have an entire post produc-tion set up for a movie assignment.

What’s different about your studio in comparison to the others in the city?

A major difference about Gray Spark and other stu-dios in the city is the entire team at the studio. We are the most experienced team. Not just that - we have a large enough space to accommodate our art-ists. There are quite a few recording studios in the city that aren’t big enough and this definitely gives us an added advantage! What’s more, we don’t just limit ourselves to our studio. We cater to our clients’ every need.






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Abhijit KolhatkarReverb Sound Studio

Equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and acous-tically treated interiors, Reverb Sound Studio reflects the passion and dedication of its founders - Abhinav Khanna, Abhijit Kolhatkar and Sanjeev Pradhan.

Pune’s independent artists have gone

huge in the last few years. What do you think?

There is a lot of upcom-ing talent and passion-ate musicians in the city. Today’s artists and bands have a lot of originality and creativity through their music. To give them

a platform to create and promote the music of the inde-pendent artists, I opened up Reverb Sound Studio. I know that it isn’t easy for musicians to make music as their profession.

What kind of crowd do you get?

When we had opened up the stu-dio it was initially opened up for col-lege students. I have interacted with about 500 artists since then and we

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have a great mix of musicians who are both students and professionals who have day jobs.

Any big names out there?

Yes, we have Gaia’s Throne, a heavy metal band. And then, we have an artist Alankar Chavan who is a lyricist, composer and singer. Recently he has got an opportu-nity to work for a Marathi film which is under production at present. I also provide opportunities for artists and bands from various genres. A while ago, I promoted 11 musicians for an event at Tilak Smarak. These musicians were a mix of lyricists, composers and five new singers.

What are the rates for recording?

The rates at our studio are Rs. 600 for an hour. We are the most popular studio when it comes to bands and are even known as the ‘band friendly’ studio in town.

That’s great! What all facilities does Reverb Sound Studio provide?

We have state-of-the-art equipment that is ideal for cre-ating professional quality audio recordings. This includes

professional grade condenser microphones by AKG and Shure, powerful iMac running Logic Pro 9, Motu 896mk3 hybrid mixer, Sonodyne SM300 monitors, etc. This is the best possible environment for musicians to record/mix your music/jingles or narrations.

You will find the best talent engaged to get you a per-fect recording and mix. Sunai Marathe, is an expert at western style genres. Not only adept at use of tools, he is an accomplished musician himself and provides very critical feedback that makes all the difference. We also have Johnston D’Souza, who brings years of live sound engineering experience also in western genres.

What would you say, makes Reverb Sound Studio a cut above the rest?

Our mission of providing a platform for upcoming tal-ented musicians is something that can easily differenti-ate us from any other studio. This being the core of our studio, we try going out of our way to help this talent and produce great music.






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Swatantra Sarode TweakLab Studios

Set up by qualified and experienced sound engineer Swatantra Sarode, TweakLab Studio is a recording and audio production studio setup born out of the need for artists to have a platform to develop, record and release their own music.

Pune sure has some of the most envi-able individual artists, right? What do you think of them?

The scene is definitely getting better than what it was earlier. Especially in terms of production, an aspect that was once ignored, and is now coming into the picture. A lot of good songs are coming up. And talking about the independent artists, we are all here to help each other

out in whichever way we can.

What’s your clientele like?

I am currently freelancing with Yash Raj Productions and so, I’d have to say, my clients are more Bollywood-based. Along with that we get a lot of short filmmakers, Pop and Independent Rock artists.

Wow! Yash Raj sure is a huge association! Any other big-gies in your client list?

Yes. Skylight Vision, a Progressive Rock band that recently got featured at RayBan Never Hide Sounds show on Pepsi MTV Indies. Then we have Sanket Sane, who is playing with Agnee and also been a part of MTV Unplugged.

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What recording rates do you usually offer?

It really depends on the kind of project. We are flexible when it comes to recording rates. It also depends on what kind of bud-get the artists have and our relationship with them. We are open for bookings 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and, might I add, with free park-ing available at our studio! ;)

What are the facilities that you provide for your clients?

We are fully equipped to meet the demands of today’s studio clientele with professional quality digital record-ings using good equipment and music instruments. We also provide a ‘Jam Place’ for bands to rehearse and get better. So, you’ve got that going for you!

What would you say makes Tweaklab Studios different from the rest?

Me! Anytime you want to be entertained, come to the studio! No, I’m not kidding! It’s really the experience and vibe with us that totally gives us an edge over the others. We provide a creative environment to the artists and help get the best out of them without making the entire experience expensive.






EVENTSDown Town FleaThe Downtown Flea is a start up to create a platform where art meets society in a musical & a truly spectac-ular environment brimming with live bands, pop up

shops glazed with out-of-the-ordinary articles. It brings together an eclectic mix of produce from the best of street cuisine to fashion and craft surprises.

When Saturday, January 17

Where The Irish Village - Koregaon Park , Mundhwa Road, Opp. Raga Lawns , Ahead of Hotel Westin,

Time 11 am

17January

Learn to Paint STILL-LIFE in Oil ColoursArt2Day Gallery is organising an 8 session creative workshop on “Learn to Paint STILL-LIFE in Oil Colours:, this unique workshop will be taken by Mukta Avachat-Shirke, a young talented & professional painter.

When Saturday, January 17

Where Art2Day, 1048, Shukrawar Peth, Tilak Road, Near Hira-baug Chowk, Pune,

Time 1 pm to 3 pm .Contact 7276000027

17January

How to Read a FilmWe are used to watching films purely for entertainment. When we watch in this way, we are mostly passive observers of the action, not really thinking much beyond our feelings and impressions of what is on the screen. To teach you what aspects are involved while reading a film, Jay Gholap, a script consultant, Docu-mentary and corporate filmmaker will conduct the workshop. They will discuss the film Pather Panchali.

When Sunday, January 18

Where Prelocate, Plot No. 20, Survey no 90/2/B and 90/3/B, Behind Bharat Gas, Koregaon Park Annexe, Mundhwa, Pune

Time 11 am - 5 pm

Fee 1.300 INR per person Contact Jay-9619595411

18January

Building Bridges and Enabling PartnershipsAn Interactive session between the Social Sector and the Cor-porates for enabling future CSR partnerships. The participants will be from leading companies and the social sector specifically from in and around Pune. The delegates will have an opportu-nity to understand views of different stakeholders, discuss best practices, exchange knowledge and build partnerships towards achieving common objectives.

When Tuesday, January 20

Where MCCIA, ICC Towers, SB road, Pune Time 9:30 am

20January

American invasion – Pyjama Festival The Weirdass Pyjama brings to you comedy from the land of dreams! Seasoned pros from the USA, regulars at the prestigious Laugh Factory comedy club come to India for the first time, and hosting them is India’s high-est selling English comedian, Vir Das! This is one show you DO NOT want to miss!

When Friday, January 23

Where Pumproom, Pubtown, Ishanya Mall, Yerwada, Time 8 pm

23January

Shavita Ek Shaam Shayari aur Kavita ke NaamWe live, breathe, and dream Poetry. Do you? Then join us for Shavita: an evening of poetry recital and anecdotes. The theme: Sahir Ludhianvi Rebel. Commie. Lover. Athe-ist. Poet. Lyricist. Sahir wrote with an intensity bordering on insanity. We’ll read his anti-war opus ‘Parch-haiyaan’ - and more if time permits - with translations. We’ll recount stories about Sahir: one of us was his friend, after all. Recitation by: Jay, Preyas and Kulbeer

When Sunday, January 25

Where Pagdandi - Books Chai Cafe, Shop No.6, Regent Plaza, Baner Pashan Link Road, Behind Symantec, Baner, Pune

Time 2 pm

25January

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