Licensed to Grill

By Nikhil Raghavan

Is there an urgency to fill your stomach, quench your thirst and satiate your desire for a sweet round-off to your meal? An express-delivered meal? A Grill that Thrills? Candy floss and Goli Soda to give that authentic street-food experience? All this and more are now served in the recently opened 80-seater first floor restaurant – Axpress BBQ, touted as India’s first Barbecue QSR. Yes, a Quick Service Restaurant, bang on Rajiv Gandhi Road (OMR) in Karapakkam, Chennai, very close to TCS.

A brainchild of the concept-driver and man-on-the-spot at Axpress BBQ, Debabrata Misra, the restaurant is a combination place for dining in, take-away and online orders through Swiggy and Zomato – a kind of first for hot-grilled barbecue dishes.

With an extensive menu of a variety of combinations in non-vegetarian and vegetarian dishes comprising of seafood, mutton and chicken besides a whole range of delectable veggies, Axpress BBQ practices eco-friendliness through a host of measures.

To start with, all dishes are served in eco-friendly, biodegradable cutlery and crockery. Even take-away dishes are packed in non-plastic and non-toxic materials like corrugated cardboard cartons. “While this is an eco-friendly measure, we also save on water which we would have otherwise used for washing the dishes,” says Debabrata.

A unique feature of the food served is that the portions are planned in a way to try and avoid left-overs. Accordingly, the dishes are also priced reasonably. “And, a portion can be shared by two persons and only if necessary, you need to order for another portion. If there are any left-overs, we encourage the diners to pack and take them away, dispelling the doubt that our kitchen may recycle any untouched items,” reveals Debabrata.

“We do love our patrons to dine in with their family members, to experience our hospitality and care. To ensure this, some items like our desserts – hot-fried jilebis, candy-floss encircled cone ice-cream are only served in-restaurant,” says Debabrata. Accompanying the food with an orange or lime-flavoured Goli Soda enhances the food experience.

The mainstay of Axpress BBQ is, of course, the range of barbecued and grilled dishes. Categorised under headings: BBQ Straights, Top Up Choices, Mix Grills BBQ Wonders, Kids Specials, Axpress BBQ Kebab Rolls, Sateys, Axpress Combos, Axpress Corporates, Axpress Specials, Axpress Desserts and a 4 pm to 6 pm Menu, the restaurant offers a mix-and-match, add-and-combine feature to every dish. Unlike traditional barbecue restaurants where the grill is placed on the dining table of the guest and he is allowed to eat right off the fire, at Axpress BBQ, the orders are prepared and cooked in a see-through kitchen. “We even encourage our guests to come into our kitchen to view the cooking process,” says Debabrata.

Carrying forward the eco-friendly nature of the restaurant, when diners celebrate a birthday or anniversary or any special occasion, the person is gifted with a small box containing two sachets of vegetable and flower seeds, with instructions on how to tend and nurture it in your own private garden or balcony.

It’s a personal thing

By Nikhil Raghavan

Gifts come in all forms and varieties, including the easiest to choose – a bouquet of flowers. You can never go wrong with that, whatever the occasion. But, many a times, we think we know an acquaintance well enough to present him with a book or a music album, since you know that he loves to read and listen to music. You couldn’t be more wrong!

Many a times, for birthdays or anniversaries, friends have given me music CDs or books. At least 5% of my shelf space for music and books consist of unread/unheard material which are not my cup of tea. I know they were given with good intentions so, it will remain there for the rest of my life. Music and books are probably the only two things that have strong and personalized preferences and as long as people realise that, the world will be a better place to live in. I, for one, have never gifted music or book to anyone, for I do not know what his or her personal preferences are.

I would buy a magazine off the rack or grab a newspaper off the stand, for that casual ‘time-pass’ periods of waiting at airports or travel on the tube. And, just as casually, fling it into the nearest dustbin. Or, I would turn on the FM on my mobile and listen to ‘canned music’ to keep away the outdoor ruckus while commuting. Both these actions do not warrant intense or dedicated attention.

But, when I buy a particular music album or a novel, it is because I need it to satisfy an urge. No one can sense what my urge is at a particular ‘moment’ and try to gift me one.

Over the years, my choice of music / artistes and books / authors have continuously evolved, changed, swung back and forth, but, genre-wise, mostly remained stable – thrillers and adventure fiction and rock music. I may have indulged in the occasional periods of jazz & blues, country & western or heavy metal, but I will always drift back to pure rock music. For me, the kind of music I listen to purely depends on the mood of the day or the state of mind.

But, when it comes to reading, I like the adventure of Wilbur Smith, the thrills of Robert Ludlum or the lyrical landscape of Jeffery Archer. In younger days I have had my fill of classics and Shakespeare but not anymore. For me, reading a book is like watching an entertaining film. It has to occupy my mind during the length of the read and then forget about it, rather than dwell on the characters and plots and ‘would-it-have-been-so?’ situations. Maybe I will never read the same title again, because, somehow, the story will always be fresh in your mind, even after a decade.

Similarly, listening to an album is cerebral to the extent that I try to understand the lyrical story or the musical arrangement or the guitar riff, forgotten till the next track comes along. But, I will revisit the album or songs several times only to enjoy the compositions more and more, and even discover nuances that will keep surfacing.

Now, let’s assume a situation where you have to give a good friend and neighbor a gift for his birthday. You know he loves music and reading but not the same stuff of your choice. So, take him to the nearest book/music store and ask him to pick his choice…but, be prepared that he might have multiple choices and will dent your debit card a bit. Never mind, he is your BFF and at least your gift will not go to waste. Never mind that the surprise element was lost, the recipient got what he loved, after all. Would everyone think of doing something similar?

Similarly, music being so personal, there are times when you can get lost in the lyrics of Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Dylan, John Denver or immerse yourself in the guitar pyrotechnics of Slash or Jimi Hendrix or the flights of fantasy of Eric Clapton’s blues. Now, how would your neighbor know whether he should give you a Clapton or Wilbur Smith. Would he know if you already have it? How would he know that that particular Clapton album is really not up to your standard of liking?

Remember, music and books are a personal thing!

Absolutely awesome

Following up on the runaway success of Absolute Barbecue’s first outlet on G. N. Chetty Road in T. Nagar, Chennai, the speciality of which was AB’s Wish Grill, AB’s have just opened their second restaurant in Velachery. Strategically located on the vital Velachery-Taramani Link Road and bang opposite TCS, AB’s have come up with a few newer concepts to satiate the hunger of their patrons.

The new outlet features a Gaucho Style Churrasco counter – Mexican attired waiters and all! While they carry forward their favourite Cold Stone Creamery, a new introduction is a Kid’s Corner, during weekends. “This will help the weekend family diners to engage their kids while they focus on the food part of the experience. We have also noticed that, in recent times, it is the children who dictate the place for a dine-out,” says Prosenjit, one of the two directors of AB’s.

Prosenjit and Gurudas, the brains behind AB’s accompanied me to a lunch tasting at the new outlet. “This is a 160-seater restaurant and is located strategically to cater to both OMR and Velachery residents, as well as those from the immediate neighbourhood. With the addition of this, we are now operating 8 outlets, including two in Dubai. We have two each in Bangalore and Hyderabad,” informs Gurudas.

The live grill placed in the centre of the table attracts the attention of a retinue of waiters who constantly place skewers of veg and non-veg food. In between, to cleanse the palate, American corn is served, along with American Cheesy Potatoes. Only then can you do justice to the Chiptole Wings. Juicy Texan prawns, Singaporean Chicken Wings, BBQ Mushroom, Lady Fish in Sambal Olek Sauce which are followed by chicken and pineapple served the Gaucho style.

Desserts include donuts and soufflé, phirni and rabdi not forgetting hot crisp jalebis which can be topped with a variety of ice creams straight off the cold stone.

The overall eating experience is enhanced by the pleasing interiors with cleverly planned seating and air conditioning which, combined with the unique smoke exhausts, prevent any sort of stuffiness or food aroma.

Sun, sand and the sea

There’s something about the sun, sand and sea that increases your appetite for food. I think the salt in the air tickles your taste buds and the fragrance (note: NOT smell!) of the sea stirs the sensors in the nose to heighten the need for food. At least for me, the ‘sss’ combo always works to make me hungrier and thirsty. Probably the reason that numerous seaside eateries and beach resorts do so well.

Ever since Suresh Chandra Menon opened his The Beach Club at Neelangarai, I was dying to visit. I did so, a couple of months ago, at the fag end of the so-called Madras winter. The air still had a nip in it, when I reached the plonk-on-the beach eatery. Noon-time sun was bright, but not hot. Still, I decided to enjoy the sights from the vast and airy first floor balcony with its wicker chairs and glass tables.

Suresh has converted a twin beach house, with a medium sized pool in the front yard, into a well-appointed restaurant which has an air-conditioned seating area, a garden set-up with granite tables and chairs, and a vast balcony which overlooks the garden and the sea beyond. Inside, there are pool tables and a lounge area.

The Beach Club serves both Indian and Continental cuisine, with a firm thrust on sea food. With an eye on family patronage, Suresh has consciously avoided serving liquor. Hence, fruit cocktails or mocktails, smoothies and other ‘cool’ drinks will quench your thirst after a romp on the sands. Succulent prawns, fresh fish, tender lamb and chicken to go with Indian breads and rice dishes will make you crave for more.

Not being satisfied with the lack of exploring the sea and the sands, I made another trip to The Beach Club, just as summer was setting in, before the sun disappeared into the western horizon. While tiny crabs scrambled about and the waves lapped energetically at the shore, I built up a generous appetite by trudging the length and breadth of the almost private beach. Fishermen from the neighbouring village were returning home with their meager catch of the day.

Dusk was already setting in and I wanted to get as much of the sea, although the beach was already being lit in the glow of a couple of ‘street lights’.  With the sea breeze cool enough, I decided to occupy one of the granite seat/table, and indulge…in food, of course.

Here is a sample of food to die for:

• Stir fried prawns with chilly flakes, garlic, coriander and lime served with a cocktail dip and a mint and coriander dip.
• Crumb fried stuffed mushroom, stuffed with ricotta and jalapeno served with a garlic mustard cheese dip.
• Stew of lamb shank with potatoes, peas, pepper paprika, rosemary and wine.
• Mutton Biriyani.

The menu is endless….and I will have to make repeated visits to this heavenly seaside club to sample the rest of the variety. 

Bob Rupani's participation in a German Classic Car Rallye

Bob Rupani writes:

Just thought I would share that I was invited to participate in the 604 Rallye in Germany in June. This event had 50 teams and I was the only non German speaking person there. In fact no Indian has participated in this event before.

My co-driver was Carolin Jackel - a Germany lady who I met for the first time an hour before the start. Ours was the only Indo- German team on the event.

You might want to look at the links below:

http://overdrive.in/features/at-the-rallye-604-in-germany1/

Below is a link of the story done by my co-driver Carolin Jackel. Her's is a better story than mine. You may want to look at the various photo galleries where she beautifully tells the story of the entire event through the photos and captions:

https://www.volkswagen-classic.de/en/magazin/report/rallye-604-edition-2015

Will this nostalgic experience happen again this year?

November last year was very special in my life. I was going back to my Alma Mater after 45 years of passing out. It was really a nostalgic trip down memory lane for me. And, boy, was I in for a shock!
Let me start at the very beginning. Nineteen fifty three...or was it fifty four? Was I three years old or four? At sixty three years of age, some patches of memory gets obliterated, but what I do remember very distinctly is the kindergarten class, a matronly 'Aunty' holding my small hands in her pudgy paw and guiding me to write a, b, c and so on, on slate! That was the beginning of my tryst with St. Michael's Anglo-Indian Boys High School at Cannanore in Kerala. A student life that shaped my character, my personality, my future.
As I grew up and moved from KG to first and on to other standards, the predominantly Anglo-Indian populated school, with Anglo-Indian teachers and a variety of Jesuit priests, including Fr. Mayer, an American, had a lasting impression on me, my psyche, my education and attitude towards life. Not forgetting the fact that the old school, its boarding and vast playgrounds were located in a quaint cantonment called Burnacherry, or, Burnshire, as many of us 'anglicised' kids would refer it as.

English was not just the language we had to speak, it was also a way of life; even the meals had to be eaten with fork and spoon. Of, course, in language class - Hindi and Malayalam, we were encouraged to converse in those languages so that the nuances could be picked up.

As mentioned earlier, there was a strong Anglo-Indian presence in the school and many of my friends were from that community which not only excelled in education, but also in sports and games like hockey, for instance. Of course, the school excelled in cricket and football, too with many of the school's students playing at state, national and even international levels.

Forty-five years later, when about 120 of us converged on the school campus, it was at the new school premises, where I had also studied for roughly half of my schooling years. But, what shocked me was the non-existence of the entire old school and boarding campus which was now partly occupied by residential units and partly by overgrown vegetation. The only consolation was the existence of some ruins of the old school building and the famous music room where Mr. Crasta used to fiddle his way through our cacophonies.

Walking though the old 'Burnshire' I found that our neighbouring haunt, St. Teresa's Convent was flanked by a mammoth new church and old ramshackle buildings, many of them devoid of the original Anglo-Indian families and now owned by other communities.

Potholed streets and old houses in ruins, indifferently maintained by a cantonment active with army personnel, was all that remained of my good ole Burnshire.

As the day wore on, the 120 of us Old Boys of SMS from batches ranging from 1950s to 1980s socialised, caught up with old stories, brought up-to-date with each person's life and promised to keep in touch in the future.

While there was an eclectic mix of boys from several communities and religions, SMS was what it was, due to the strong presence of Anglo-Indian boys. These are some of the old boys, the ones that gave the 'Anglo-Indian' in the school's name, a true meaning, who made it to the meet in November 2103: Marie Alphonse Merandez, Pinto Aloysius, Condrad D'sylva, Douglas Simcock, Kenneth Pinto, Lester Noranho, Nelson D'couto, Nobert Mendonza, Norman Noranho, Norman Young, Robert Pink, Rodney Castelino, Rogers D'souza and Ronald Rozario and many, many more who I cannot recall.

Whatever be the case, it is my firm belief that it is the school years that lays a strong foundation for a person and most friendships built during those years last longer than the ones developed in universities.

Gently blows the breeze on Windham Hill

About ten years ago I had picked up a CD, simply titled TOUCH. This was released on the Windham Hill label, released in India by BMG Crescendo in 2001. Then, after listening to the tracks for a couple of times, the CD was relegated to my rack as part of my growing collection of music, a result of having worked in the music industry for over 16 years.

Just the other day, I was dusting through my old collection of music, in an attempt to segregate them according to genres, I again chanced upon the Touch CD and slipped it into the player's tray. What resulted was 56 minutes and 49 seconds of sheer bliss. Here is why:

Windham Hill began as a label creating a renaissance of music for the guitar. In celebration of 25 years of the guitar, Windham Hill compiled a collection of exceptional guitar recordings ever since the label was formed. Renowned music producer Dawn Atkinson was assigned the job of selecting the songs to be put on the album. And, Will Ackerman, accomplished guitarist and founder of Windham Hill Records, was requested to provide the liner notes.

Founded in 1976, Windham Hill became a pioneer in establishing a new genre of music whose artists combine classical, folk and jazz backgrounds to create a new sound.The label has always stayed a small and dedicated one and in the 25 years leading to the release of Touch, it had grown in different directions while all the time adhering to the tradition of interesting, ahead-of-the-time, quality releases for which it is known.

Will Ackerman writes in his liner notes:

Windham Hill Records began without the label name attached to it when I recorded a simple collection of guitar solos in 1975 called In Search Of The Turtle's Navel. I followed that with my second LP, It Takes A Year, in 1977. The entire adventure was saved from being a vanity effort when I convinced my cousin Alex de Grassi to record Turning: Turning Back. We then added my Childhood and Memory and Alex's Slow Circle in 1979. Thus began a great journey which includes a wide range of releases by pianist George Winston.

Touch features two tracks by Michael Hedges - Aerial Boundaries and Rikki's Shuffle, two tracks by Will Ackerman - The Impending Death Of The Virgin Spirit and Shella's Pictures, two tracks by Alex Grassi - Western and Turning: Turning Back and Russ Freeman's Larry's World, Snuffy Walden's Who Lives Up There, Steve Erquiaga's Pavane, Sean Harkness's Coming Home, David Cullen's On The Way and Doyle Dykes' Nothing's Too Good.

Says Ackerman about some of the tracks, in his liner notes:

"Engineer Steven Miller and I were in a mobile truck with earphones on when Michael Hedges unleashed Aerial Boundaries and, without exaggeration, the world has never been quite the same since.

The liner notes of Turning: Turning Back and Slow Circle describe me as the producer of those recordings. I have never done less in my life. Alex Grassi always knew what he wanted, how he wanted to get there and precisely what he needed to exact from himself to accomplish it.

While best known for his work in jazz, Russ Freeman began in acoustic finger-style guitar. Larry's World is a wonderfully upbeat piece incorporating a lot of polished technique in a short space of time.

What makes Steve Erquiaga so remarkable is that his arrangements and performances so effectively blend his deep respect for that repertoire with the ability to create a new, personal and contemporary form. In the Pavane by Faure, which was written in 1886, Steve brings the piece wonderfully alive into the 21st century.
Sean Harkness thrives in every musical genre and ultimately it seems as if he, to put it simply, just loves music. Coming Home is a piece Sean wrote while visiting with his family and features him on both nylon and steel String guitars.

A recording artist in his own right, David Cullen has released a considerable catalogue of recordings, both solo and ensemble. On The Way, he describes as an attempt to capture the lyricism of Ackerman in combination with the technical prowess of Ralph Tower. It is a reminder, too, that the trip should be about the journey, not just the destination.

What struck me then (referring to a concert) still strikes me now: there are plenty of technically precise guitar players in the world, but to find someone who possesses that ability and combines it with musical expression from the heart is a rare and wonderful thing indeed. Doyle Dykes is very much that combination."

Touch will help you renew your enthusiasm for the great music that has come to be known throughout the world, a genre that Windham Hill Records has endeavoured to bring to the world of music.

Ban the Bhang?

Can you imagine Holi being celebrated without the ubiquitous Bhang? What is this exotic drink? Culled from the leaves and buds of Cannabis plant, the very intoxicating Bhang helps to escalate the spirit of Holi.
Cultivation of Cannabis is government regulated and illegal without a permit. The derivatives of Cannabis are Marijuana, Hashish and Bhang. In the US, several states have decided to legalise the recreational use of Marijuana; in India, such a similar use for Cannabis, was the norm till 1985, when due to US pressure to stop India becoming a conduit for drugs from Afghanistan and Pakistan, our government notified Cannabis as a narcotic.

A Times of India report says:

It is now medically proven that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol. In fact, the good weed has medical uses (as many as 19 US states have legalized marijuana for medical purposes). However, moderation is the key. While excessive and sustained consumption of alcohol can cause severe liver damage leading to death, excessive use of marijuana too can cause some damage, mainly to our sensory abilities. In moderation, marijuana is a gentle mood-altering relaxant.

So, if there is a rational policy towards intoxicants and we allow the sale and consumption of liquor, there is no good reason to not similarly allow sale and consumption of marijuana, hashish and bhang. For years, India has held this position. For 25 years since 1961, it has withstood American pressure to keep marijuana legal. Which brings us to the story of why it was banned in India.

Since 1961, the US has been campaigning for a global law against all drugs, both hard and soft. Given that ganja, charas and bhang were a way of life in India, we opposed the drastic measure. But by the early '80s, American society was grappling with some drug problems and opinion had grown against the "excesses" of the hippie generation. In 1985, the Rajiv Gandhi government buckled under the pressure and enacted a law called the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

(The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, commonly referred to as the NDPS Act, is an Act of the Parliament of India that was assented to by President Giani Zail Singh on 16 September 1985, and came into force on 14 November 1985. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Bill, 1985 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 23 August 1985. It was passed by both the Houses of Parliament and it was assented by the President on 16 September 1985. It came into force on 14 November 1985 as The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (shortened to NDPS Act). Under the NDPS Act, it is illegal for a person to produce/manufacture/cultivate, possess, sell, purchase, transport, store, and/or consume any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance.)

Twenty seven (now, nine) years later, now that some American states have "shown the way", it is time to revisit the ban. When ganja, charas and bhang don't have obvious medical negatives and don't lead to addiction or violent behaviour (which alcohol may be accused of doing), why then should it not be legal as it was in India for centuries? Especially, when there is no social or cultural rejection of them. On the contrary, it is a way of life in our country. Poorly thought-out laws lead to corruption and the harassment of ordinary people. It also tells on the health of the nation. Instead, the NDPS Act should be amended and soft drugs such as ganja, charas and bhang should be made legal. (End of report).

ALTERNATIVELY, SHALL WE CAMPAIGN FOR BANNING BHANG TOTALLY?




Interview - Actor Vincent Asokan

Published in The Hindu Cinema Plus

Remember the television commercial for an online shopping portal which asks, in Hindi "Real life mein aisa hota hai kya?" Similarly, does menacing villains and fisticuffs at the drop of a hat, happen in real life? Does a lanky youngster in real life manage to beat up scores of well-built thugs with his bare hands? Well, that is celluloid for you. Everything that happens on the silver screen is larger than life and is meant purely to entertain the masses. After all, don't we all need an escape into a world of make-believe from the drudgery of humdrum life?

And, that's precisely what actor Vincent Asokan is good at. He would rather chase the good man (read: hero), rough up the damsel (read: heroine) into more distress and eventually get smashed to a pulp by the said hero. For, that's what the masses want and that's his profession - Villainy!

Since his introduction to the silver screen in 2004 in director A Venkatesh's Aei, Vincent Asokan has done that in close to 30 films. That's an average of 3 films a year! But, 2013 was different for Vincent as it must have been for other villains and thugs of the film industry. That was the year when, besides the odd 'Madurai-type-film', comedy and romance reared its head. "For the first time in my career, 2013 was a dull year with no releases, except a Kannada film, Lakshmi. But the bright side was the completion of two excellent films and the ongoing production of four others," says Vincent.

Bright year ahead

That makes six films ready or getting ready for release this year. And, Vincent is quite upbeat about them. "In Thottal Thodarum, directed by Cable Shankar, I play a negative role with a difference. I have absolutely no dialogues and the terror element is conveyed through menacing looks, facial expressions and actions. I was quite apprehensive when Shankar narrated the script, but I found a uniqueness in this characterisation which gave me the confidence to do the role. At the end of it all, personally, I feel that this will be one of the highlights of my career," confides Vincent. Thaman Kumar is the hero of Thottal Thodarum, with Vincent playing a hired assassin.

While, Vincent's role in Thotal Thodarum will come up for critical acclaim, the one he plays in director Ramesh Selvan's Thalaivan will take him back into mainstream villainy. "Thalaivan is a proper commercial film with all the right ingredients to warrant such a big budget production. It is a very well-made film in which I play a Don. BAS Bhaskaran in the hero. Ramesh Selvan has etched an extremely powerful character for me which takes me to action in locations such as Goa and Ooty/Coonoor," says Vincent.

Besides Thottal Thodarum and Thalaivan, Vincent has four other films, in almost completed status which will give him a variety of roles. "For instance, in Eppodum Vendraan, for director Sivashanmugham, I play a cameo role of a good cop. In Ennamo Nadakkuthu, director Rajapandi wanted me for a guest role as a boxer; I spar with actor Prabhu. But, there are two other films in which I am doing main villain roles that are ready for release. Director A. Venkatesh has given me a thug's role in Killadi which has Bharat as the hero. In Mayyam Kondein, director Arjunaraja has come up with an interesting script in which I play a village bad man to Dilip Kumar's hero."

Trend cycles

Changing trends do not worry him. Vincent feels that, as in any other industry, trends keep changing and there will always be a cycle. Consequently, in films, villains, heroes and heroines will keep changing their styles to keep with audience demands. "There have been instances when villains took to comic roles, or heroes took to negative roles. Mainstream heroines have done item numbers, too. Clearly demarcated roles are not the order of the day and we as actors have also to understand the needs of the audience and keep re-inventing ourselves. But, when it boils down to hard facts, villains have to beat up the hero and in turn get beaten up."

Does he perceive a change in trend from main stream movies to critically acclaimed small budget films with comedy and romance as the theme? "While that may be the case with so many comedies, romantic films and realistic stories doing the rounds, we must all understand that films are meant to entertain. And, to properly entertain the masses, there must be commercial elements - songs, dances, fights, thrills, good man, bad man, comedian, item numbers, car chases - the works. Obviously, these will be big budget films with big action stars, but these will also be box office successes, giving mass entertainment value. Films are larger than life and so will the hero, heroine and villain be. As long as there are good directors who come up with exciting scripts to portray his film's characters differently, all of us will have our work cut out properly," concludes Vincent Asokan, in a positive frame of mind, as he looks forward to his first Bollywood film with a current favourite director from the South.

Interview: Director Kaushik of Tamil film Adiyum Andamum

Published in The Hindu Cinema Plus

Here is a one good looking director who did not get tempted to act in his own film, despite the fact that his entry into Kollywood was through lead roles and several television serials. "Since 1997 I have acted in four films – Indru Mudhal, Kathal Saregama, Athu Oru Kanakalam, Thoovanam, and the short story series on television, Kathey Neram. But I have always nurtured a desire to direct and having waited many years for the opportunity to come up, I didn't want to make a mess of things by indulging myself to act. Even while acting in films I have always been curious about directing techniques, camera placements, lighting etc and have learnt a lot by just observing and asking questions," says Kaushik whose Adiyum Andamum is releasing on March 14. His stint assisting director Haricharan in a biopic, after his role in the director's Thoovanam, has helped him learn a lot about direction.

The producer and hero of Adiyum Andamum, Ajaay and Kaushik have known each other for some time and when the former launched his own production company in 2010, Kaushik was requested to come up with a script. "Before this I was peddling several ideas to many producers, in vain. When I narrated a basic story line to Ajaay, he immediately showed a keen interest and thereafter, I started working on the script, which eventually became Adiyum Andmum. In Ajaay I found the right actor with the required qualities and temperament, as well as belief in the script. At the end of it all, I must say, that he has brought the character to life, like no other. I think his experience in doing TV serials like Kolangal, has helped a lot. More so, because he wanted to get out of the negative image that was impressed upon him, from the 'Adhi' character in the serial," says Kaushik.

Kaushik is not willing to divulge much about the plot of his film, except to say that viewers will see a totally different side to Ajaay and also identify with the core message of the screenplay. "It is a psychological thriller and, besides Ajaay, the two female characters played by Mitali Agarwal and Kavita Srinivasan are a very integral part of the story. I do not believe in ornamental characters in my films. Of course there will be romance and songs, but these are required to take the screenplay forward to its unexpected climax. When a viewer feels that he has got full satisfaction (paisa vasool) for the 120 bucks he spent on the movie ticket, for me, the film is a commercial success - whether it has item numbers, fights and chases, or not."

Despite the best intentions and sincere efforts, producer Ajaay went through a rough patch half way through the making of Adiyum Andamum, from which he resurrected himself by roping in an investor who came in as a co-producer. "Yes, there was a bit of a delay and during that phase, I was offered another film to direct," says Kaushik who started work on Panivizhum Nilavu.  After Ajaay's project resumed, Kaushik had the tough job of doing double duty to complete both productions simultaneously. "That was a tough period, especially for someone who was directing for the first time. But, the very experience has taught me a lot and I am now ready to take on bigger projects. While I am eagerly awaiting the release of Adiyum Andamum, I am also looking forward to Panivizhum Nilavu hitting the screens, soon thereafter," concludes Kaushik.

Interview: Director Raju of Tamil film Cuckoo

Published in The Hindu Cinema Plus

The call of the kuyil - 'cuc-k-o-o' - has a melody that is so symbolic of the lyrical magic of love. It has a touch of symphony that brings out the tender emotions of togetherness and belonging - that of true love. Such pure love, according to director Raju Murugan, knows no colour or smell. It is all about touch, feel and imagination. For, how else do Thamizh and Swatantrakodi, two visually challenged people fall in love in his tender love story, which he has aptly titled Cuckoo?

"The film is a musical love story between the two who do not allow their handicap to come in the way of their affection for each other. Their visual impairment is not an encumbrance in their life. She is a very confident girl who does not expect any sympathy and he is very humorous and full of life," says Raju. Dinesh (Attakathi) plays Tamizh, an uneducated youth while Malavika Nair (Malayalam film Black Butterfly) plays Swatantrakodi, a college student studying for a teacher's degree. Both the characters are from economically backward communities.

The inspiration for the story of Cuckoo came to Raju Murugan during his days as a journalist with Anandaviketan. "In the course of my work I used to come across scores of interesting people. One such person, was a blind man on whom the character in Cuckoo is based. He used to narrate to me his life, his experiences and the love for his girlfriend who was also visually challenged. For years, this idea has been germinating within me and later, during my three years of assisting director Lingusamy, I had extensively worked on the story. To a large extent it is a true story as it is based on the life of the couple who were so much in love, despite their handicap. But, for cinema, certain liberties have been taken to make it more appealing to the audience," informs Raju.

Initially, Raju had actually presented it to director Shankar who saw a great promise in the script, but was already tied up with Ai to take it up as a project for his S Pictures. "On his suggestion and with a little help from a couple of friends from the television industry, I got the opportunity to present it to The Next Big Film Productions and Fox Star Studios who gave me the go ahead immediately," says Raju.

Raju didn't want big names for his lead roles, but someone who had a bit of experience as well as the talent to grasp the nuances of acting as blind people. "We had a two month workshop when the actors were made to interact with the original couple who were the inspiration for my story. Both Dinesh and Malavika quickly learned the way the blind people move, interact and go about their daily chores. There is another visually challenged couple, Elango and Nandini who act as friends of Thamizh and Swatantrakodi. So when we started shooting, it was quite a breeze for all concerned. More important was to get a cinematographer who understood the need to neither downplay nor glorify the blindness factor. In P. K. Varma I found the right person with the temperament to understand the script. This is his next big one after Attakathi. He has achieved a perfect balance of visual beauty that is so important to the screenplay. Being a musical love story needed the right type of songs which Santosh Narayanan has brought out in his inimitable style," states Raju Murugan who is eagerly awaiting the release of Cuckoo on March 21.

Actor Vishal: Interview

Published in The Hindu Cinema Plus

What is the archetype of a film hero? Swashbuckling, tall, dark, rugged and handsome, brooding looks and a deep, manly voice. Vishal fits into all this, with his swaggering walk and disarming smile. Ideally he should be playing the buccaneering knight in shining armour who rescues a damsel in distress on his white steed or the gallant Romeo who woes his lady love to the ends of the earth. But, Vishal chooses to play a different game, especially in his forthcoming home production, Naan Sigappu Manithan (NSM).

"With Pandiya Nadu, I came out of my comfort zone as an action-oriented, angry young man to a softer character. And, it seemed to have clicked with my viewers. Maybe, my fan base has expanded, too," says Vishal. "Pandiya Nadu has given me the courage to experiment with different roles and when director Thiru narrated to me the story of NSM, I had no hesitation in accepting it."

Unusual subject

Vishal plays a person afflicted by narcolepsy (or hypnolepsy) which is a chronic neurological disorder caused by the brain's inability to regulate sleep-wake cycles normally. People with narcolepsy often experience disturbed nocturnal sleep (quite often confused with insomnia) and an abnormal daytime sleep pattern. Almost 80% of persons with narcolepsy also has cataplexy which is a sudden occurrence of muscle weakness. In these people, extreme emotions - sadness, anger or happiness will result in instant sleep wherever or whatever situation they are in. Cataplexy without narcolepsy is rare and the cause is unknown.

NSM is all about wishes of a person with this dual disorder. His bucket list consists of several wishes which he wants to attain. Although he is a narcolepsy afflicted person, he is also human and has his desires. In the face of his problems, how does he achieve all this? This situation becomes a great hindrance to the hero's lifestyle - he is unable to undertake any responsibility - that of even walking on the road for fear of falling asleep. How Vishal tackles these situations and overcomes his handicap is what NSM is all about.

"Honestly, I had no clue about this disorder or how a person with it behaves. Thiru had done a lot of research on the subject and I did some Googling too. Hence it was quite a challenge to take it on and enact the scenes," says Vishal. “But it was exciting to do this role and I am sure it will surprise a lot of my viewers. Thiru is attempting a film with an unusual subject for the first time - narcolepsy.  I have known him for many years and, having done two films with him, I am confident of what he can achieve. For me, as well as for him, this was something new and while I had absolutely no reference point for characteristics, Thiru’s research helped.”

Known for his action scenes, for Vishal it is a departure from the norm. "With my earlier films I had established a strong viewership in the second tier markets. When Pandiya Nadu released the film brought in more audiences in the rural areas. NSM is a city-based subject and quite modern in its approach. It is an action thriller with revenge as the main ingredient. In terms of the overall flavour of the film, it will neither be a dark film nor will it be one with messages. In my view, NSM will be a cult film as something like this has not been attempted so far,” says a confident Vishal, who is also the producer of Naan Sigappu Manithan under his own Vishal Film Factory banner.

Pack your bags

Pack your bags, not your worries

By Nikhil Raghavan

Nestled in the midst of the tranquil, green Nilgiri hills, of South India, at a height of about 7000 feet above MSL, is a tiny tea estate called Sans Souci. The words mean without a worry!
For years Sans Souci has been the place where the family that owns it, came away to rest, and shake the dust and worry of the city off themselves. It has always been a place where one is at peace with oneself and nature and where the worries of the world seem so far away that they become inconsequential. A place where you live without a worry!!

Sans Souci is an old property-one of the oldest in the Nilgiris. It was handed over to a Mr William Mullaly by the Right Honorable Secretary for State of India on the 9^th of December 1871. Since then it has had rather a checkered history - from the original 30 acres or so, the property has been whittled down to a mere one and a half acres. It has passed through several hands - one being Mr Thomas Brown who willed it to a Miss Jackson and her infant daughter. “for grievous wrongs done to her”. It was used as a convalescent home for British soldiers during the 2^nd World War, and during the Mysore wars, legend has it that Tipu Sultan buried the gold reserves of Seringapatnam on the property! A lovely fairytale, with not a shred of truth in it unfortunately. However what is true, is that the Nilgiris was a part of Tipu Sultan’s Revenue collection area, and that he had a fort within trekking distance of Sans Souci. This fort served as a lookout point, and a cannon fired from the Pakasuramalai fort, would warn the sentries at Seringapatinam of approaching enemies.

One of the owners of Sans Souci was Ernst Fritchi a celebrated Swiss botanist. He gave the property its name and is credited with turning it into a fabulous botanical garden. Unfortunately only a few of the trees he planted remain. One of these is a Giant Monkey Puzzle that is probably one of the tallest trees in the Nilgiris - it can be seen all the way from Coonoor town (8 kms away), and as you come up the ghat road from Mettupalayam.

The Catholic Bishop of Ootacamund sold the property to Mr V Srinivasan, the father of the current owner - Sunitha Srinivasan. The property is jointly managed by her and her husband Markus Pfefferer.

The Facilities:
The cottage at Sans Souci is simple and rustic. It harkens back to a time when luxurious living was not all that commonplace. It is essentially a one room living space divided by furniture into a bedroom that can accommodate a maximum of 4 persons, living cum dining room and a kitchenette.  At one end is the bathroom and toilet.

You can cook your own meals in the kitchenette or else order what you would like with the housekeeper.

Right outside the cottage is the famed Monkey puzzle tree, and in front of it is an old Victorian water tank, into which drops crystal, clear spring water from rock springs that are located on the property. In fact all the water used on Sans Souci is supplied by mountain springs.

The location:
8 kms from Coonoor town
60 kms from Coimbatore
300 kms from Bangalore

You can reach the property only by road. Pick up and drop can be provided from Coimbatore/Mettuplayam.

What you can do there:

Relax and read a book.

Visit Ooty, Coonoor and Kotagiri.

Go for long walks. There are some excellent routes around the property. If you are lucky you will get to see Bears, Bison, Peacocks and Hares. Some of the most picturesque treks in the vicinity of Sans Souci will lead you to:
     1. One of the largest expanses of Echo Rock in the region.
     2. A Toda Village
     3. Tipu Sultan's fort. The remains of a wall still exist.

Learn how to harvest Tea. Tea leaves are picked approximately once in 10 days, and if you are lucky to be on the property when they are harvesting, maybe you would like to learn how Tea is harvested.

Visit a Tea Factory.

The weather:

The best months are between February and September, when the temperature is between 18-22 degrees. October – December are rainy and cold, and the temperature has been known to touch zero degrees. No matter when you go, please carry some woolens and water proof clothing.

Essentially Sans Souci is an extremely welcoming home - a haven to soothe your soul and fill it with peace. Remember to pack some of that peace when you are leaving-it is what will help you face the long, hard days of city life.

For more information on Sans Souci do call Markus or Sunitha on +918041466793 / +919900590737 / +919900590713

BankBazaar.com

Banking Online

After several years in the US, the urge to return home struck Arjun Shetty and his wife, Rati Rajkumar. Having decided to set up home in Chennai, in the early part of 2007, Arjun went shopping for a home loan. He found it really hard to get a good deal and had to go from bank to bank during their working hours, stand in line and fill reams of forms to even get a quote. "Once I got the quotes, I still found it hard to compare as banks quoted interest rates in different ways and they never spelled out the various fees associated with a home loan," says Arjun.

Additionally he learnt that banks didn’t usually start-off offering the best rate that he was eligible for. They’d usually try and charge a higher rate, and he had to bargain hard to get them to lower their rates. At the end of a week, despite wasting a lot of time researching loans, being a good bargainer and being reasonably knowledgeable about finance, he still wasn’t convinced that he was getting the best deal on the home loan.

"Many people I spoke to had similar experiences. Rati and I brainstormed on whether we could make this process significantly more convenient, and became convinced that it was possible," realised Arjun. He had worked at Amazon.com in Seattle and managed the Amazon.com Visa Card program. His brother Adhil was then working for Deloitte Consulting in New York. A convincing call from Arjun set Adhil's brain ticking and the next thing he did was to arrive in Chennai and plan a startup venture BankBazaar.com. Adhil's background of a Bachelor degree in Engineering from College of Engineering, Guindy, Anna University coupled with a Masters degree in International Relations with a specialisation in International Finance and Business from Columbia U had stood him in good stead while managing Deloitte Touche Tomahatsu's US East alliances; this came in handy when forming the start-up venture. "The idea was to start a dotcom company as a one-stop shopping solution for any kind of financial loans. BankBazaar.com was launched as the world's first online real-time loan disbursal platform for one-stop end-to-end solutions," says Adhil.

BankBazaar.com is the world's first neutral online marketplace that gives you instant customized rate quotes on loans and insurance products. You can instantly search for, compare and apply for loans, credit cards and insurance products on their site. Since they partner with India's leading financial institutions and insurance firms, you have to look in only one place to get a great deal.

"Our goal is to make it easy for everyone to get a great deal on a loan or an insurance product. On BankBazaar.com, you can easily compare the total costs of the loan offers made to you, and get access to unbiased customers' ratings of financial institutions. We want to make it easy for a person to have a lot of options, to take a well-informed decision when choosing which product to apply for and to do all this instantly! And best of all, BankBazaar.com's services are completely free," explains Adhil. The revenue comes in from the commission paid to them by banks after a loan has been sanctioned and disbursed. The client does not get charged for these services.

"The most fun thing about BankBazaar.com is that we work with extremely intelligent, passionate people who’ve excelled in their careers, but chose to take a leap of faith and join us because they believe in our vision. As we decided early on that we needed our team to comprise of the very best, the most difficult thing for us has been building our team as few people meet our bar. We’ve been successful at attracting some phenomenal people because we are truly passionate about what we do and because we dream big. My team comprises of people who worked for companies like Deloitte Consulting, Amazon.com, Microsoft, Trilogy, Kraft Foods and Capital One, that are considered amongst the best in the world," informs Adhil.

BankBazaar.com is invested by AVT Infotech and is funded by Angel Investors from Silicon Valley. The company is a first of its kind in this realm of facilitating bank loans, by offering multiple solutions on a real time basis from a wide range of banking and financial institutions. The core team is headed by Adhil Shetty, 30, CEO, Arjun Shetty, 29, COO, Rati Rajkumar, 28, CPO, Iype Isaac, 32, CTO, Vimal Kumar, 29, CIO, Gurjap Kohli, 29, VP and Noel Cedric, 29, Senior Marketing & Sales Manager who work with a total staff strength of 30 hardcore IT professionals, whose collective average age is less than 30.

The venture kickstarted in July 2007 with an investment of USD 1.2 million. During the first half of the current year, they have achieved a turnover of half a crore Rupees. "During this period, we have helped disburse on an average about 500 units of loans a month valued at approximately Rs. 20 crores. The largest loan disbursed was for Rs. 80 lakhs," says Adhil.

Surya Kompella of Bangalore is one such beneficiary. "My company Affiliated Computer Services Inc is into IT enabled services. I had logged into BankBazaar.com to apply for a personal loan of Rs. 2 lakhs for my marriage. I was able to obtain the best bargain from HDFC without having to visit numerous banks. I am thoroughly satisfied with the professionalism of their system and their method of operating," says Surya.

Sridhar Seshadri of Gurgaon is another satisfied customer. A senior person from a leading Internet company, he had availed of a personal loan through the facilities of BankBazaar.com. "I searched the Net for such services and from a list of three, I found the services and features of BankBazaar very user friendly. Within a day of logging in with all my details, I got a positive feedback from three banks from which I shortlisted one - HDFC. After the initial online interaction of filing all the required documents and details, my loan was sanctioned within 7 days. I must say that this experience has been quite encouraging and the brains behind an important financial service like BankBazaar.com needs applause," says Sridhar.

How is BankBazaar.com different? First of all, the process of registering itself is unique. Initially, you don't even have to divulge your name and telephone number. The user provides very basic information to determine his credit profile. The site will revert almost instantly with a few options of banks with their best offers. You can then compare the offers using their easy to use tools. After you have decided which bank or financial institution you want to go to, you can directly apply online. It is only at this stage that your name and contact number will be entered. Normally, similar online facilitators would pass on your contact to as many banks as possible and then you will be inundated with calls. And, mind you, all the facilities offered by BankBazaar.com is free to you. The facility allows you to upload all relevant documents and papers for the bank's verification. Only the personal identification has to be furnished in person. Once the loan is sanctioned, the user will have to make one visit to the bank with all the relevant supporting documents to sign the papers and avail of his loan.

"Competitors merely generate leads for banks i.e. they sell users’ contact details to the banks who then try to convert the lead. Our model adds marginal value and offers an end-to-end real-time solution for the customer," points out Adhil.BankBazaar.com offers a differentiated loan product of a one stop solution with the best online quotes offers from multiple banks. Differentiation is through complete loan completion process online and value add for the banks and customers.

How does this process benefit both the user and the bank? Says Adhil, "The customer needs personalised loan quotes as a simple process. The banks need to cut costs to maintain profitability. Data indicates that online lending in India has achieved critical mass. Banks are focussed on having efficient channels during this downturn." It eliminates the need for setting aside precious man hours and unwanted initial paperwork. "Loans at BankBazaar.com are at a net cheaper cost for the consumer than other options and we are compensated only by the banks and not by end user," says Adhil.

How good are these rates? "These are the lowest rates on offer from these banks. Please feel free to cross-check by directly calling the bank. Upon confirming that BankBazaar.com offers the lowest rates, do come back and apply because we also offer the fastest loan processing system in India," states Adhil.

END

The Dune Eco Village

What does actor-singer Marianne Faithfull, fashion designers Manish Arora and Christian Dior, actor Jean-Marc Barr, singer Scarlet Johansson, designer Lulu Guinness and actress Sharmila Tagore have in common? They have all been smitten by the natural and rustic charm of The Dune Eco Village. And, of course, by the charming and absolutely down-to-earth Frenchman Dimitri Klien, its founder-creator.

For the uninitiated, it will be great consolation to learn that the food you eat is all organically grown on the premises (and on Dimitri’s 100-acre organic farm in Kodaikanal). And, the bed that you lie on or the chairs that you sit on are all made from re-cycled wood. And, again, the various buildings within the 35-acre property are either made of re-cycled wood, palm leaf thatch or the walls (made of handmade bricks) are plastered with lime or mud. You can’t get eco friendlier than that!

That’s how Dimitri conceived The Dune in 2001. A once-high profile advertising professional who sold his company, FKGB to Omnicom and decided to settle down in Auroville, answered to his restless entrepreneurship calling and bought up 35 acres of coastal land about 15 kilometers from Pondicherry to make this dream come true. "It took me two years to decontaminate my system before I could think of venturing into something new," says Dimitri. What took him eventually three years to build on the barren sands on the East Coast was completely destroyed in the Tsunami of 2004 and Dimitri, with his never-say-die will power, built it all back to shipshape in no time.

Here, he put up one cottage after the other, each a unique dwelling by itself, and developed a eco-village that blends so much with nature that you really don’t miss the lack of cable television or telephones in the rooms. Spread widely over the beachfront terrain, these cottages are a unique blend of modern comfort (read: western) and the advantages of traditionalism (read: Indian). For instance, the thatched roof of one of the cottages makes the interior so cool even at the height of summer, that you don’t need a ceiling fan, let alone airconditioning. Beds enclosed in nets keep the omnipresent mosquitos away.

Some cottages offer the privacy of an independent house plus your own space with an open bedroom encircled by a high wall, semi-open bath, tiled roof with a courtyard in the centre to let rain or sun in. Moving around the ‘village’ is on bicycles – each cottage is provided with a minimum of two. Of course, for the lazy or elderly, Dimitri has an electric vehicle for use on request.

The Dune lives upto its name in the ‘eco’ category. Says Dimitri, “Most of the chairs in the restaurant are from a broken down ship. The tables are all made from old wood. The doors of all the cottages are recycled wood. All the waste from the kitchen is turned to compost for the garden. The used water from the cottages and kitchen is recycled for watering the garden and lawns. Hot water for the property is made using solar energy. We don’t provide hair dryers and instant water heaters in the rooms; they consume a lot of electricity. Unfortunately, being in the coastal, cyclone prone area, we cannot install a regular windmill. But we are exploring the possibility of putting up a low level one for pumping up water. We would love to go solar for all our electricity needs, but the costs involved are so prohibitively high, that it doesn’t compare with the electricity costs.”

Dimitri’s 100-acre farm in Kodaikanal grows vegetables and fruits, coffee and produces dairy products. A large part of the 35-acre Dune is set aside for a variety of produce for daily consumption in the resort. “Our entire requirement of rice comes from our own paddy fields. We do not use any chemical fertilisers or pesticides at The Dune or at Kodaikanal. We even have workshops for local farmers on the use of organic manure and fertilisers for their crops,” says Dimitri.

Dimitri has an eye for arts and crafts, a trait he picked up from his mother who was an expert restorer of art and artefacts. He came across a ‘mandap’ being dismantled and picked it up; this now serves as the reception area. Similarly, a temple was discarding their old chariot; Dimitri picked up the pieces and it now lies in a heap waiting for his in-house army of carpenters to lay their hand on. “Many a time, I come across unique things and blindly pick them up. Later, something will evolve around it and it will find a rightful place in The Dune. Many an item in most of the cottages is picked up like that," says Dimitri. Somewhere amidst all this is Dimitri's vintage Studebaker, a 1955 red and white 4-door version, one of the very, very few in India. "It has almost everything in its original state, although I picked it up in a junk condition from an Auroville resident who couldn't care less," points out Dimitri. He plans to showcase this in a prominent place in The Dune, as driving it around will pollute the air due to its high fuel consumption.

The Dune has a huge water tank at the height of a two-storey building. One day, when Dimitri was on top of that to inspect the tank, he was taken in by the view of the sea and the surroundings. The architect-designer in him quickly conjured up a spacious bedroom on the third floor with a mezzanine floor as a living room. The panoramic view through the vast sheet of glass, of the Bay of Bengal and the green cover surrounding it, is something that has to be experienced.

“The Tsunami destroyed every bit of the old Dune and filled the entire area with two feet of muck from the sea. It took me almost a year to clean up all the mess, re-plant the vegetation and build all these – 51 rooms, villas and bungalows that comprise of the Eco Village – to make it what it is today. The work is still not complete; the evolution continues and every morning I get up with another bright idea to implement, another concept to achieve. I want this to be a 100% eco-friendly place and help in a small way to save our eco system from destruction,” says Dimitri. Today, The Dune has rolling greens interspersed with sand dunes, swaying palm trees, scores of shrubs and plants, with winding pathways laid with gravel and mud - no asphalt is used anywhere.

Dimitri's efforts have not gone un-noticed. Le Official Voyage has voted The Dune as one of the 100 best beach hotels in the world and has declared their Spa as the best on earth! Harper's Bazaar has also found their Spa as the best on earth. Lonely Planet talks about The Dune's 'responsible tourism' while India Today has rated them as having the best honeymoon room in India. Geo Environment's poll in the tourism sector is currently on and The Dune Eco Village is the only entry from India.