- The Leela
Transcription
- The Leela
M A G A Z I N Himalayan Culture E CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE I ’d like to express my solidarity for the people of Nepal, in the wake of the recent tragedy. Last year, Narendra Modi had met Nepal’s Prime Minister, Sushil Koirala, and the two leaders had stressed the importance of developing tourism across the SAARC nations. But due to the calamity, Nepal’s tourism industry HR DWODBSDC SN RTƤDQ @ AHF AKNV (MCH@ HR @ OK@XHMF @ UHS@K QNKD HM SGD QDKHDE VNQJ @MC SGD QDATHKCHMF NE SGD HMEQ@RSQTBSTQD including a new international airport near Kathmandu; and we hope that life returns to normal there. "NMRDQUHMF SGD DMUHQNMLDMS G@R @KV@XR ADDM @ O@QS NE 3GD +DDK@ &QNTOŗR OGHKNRNOGX @MC VD BDKDAQ@SDC SGD Ŗ6NQKC Environment Day’ on June 5th at our various properties. My father, and Late Founder-Chairman, Capt. C.P. Krishnan Our late Founder-Chairman, Capt. C.P. Krishnan Nair, was a big nature lover; and -@HQ V@R @ AHF M@STQD KNUDQ @MC @KK NTQ OQNODQSHDR RGNV @M HLOQDRRHUD K@MCRB@OHMF @MC FQDDMDQX #TQHMF SGD 6NQKC $MUHQNMLDMS#@XDUDMSSGDL@M@FDLDMS@MCRS@Ƥ@S3GD+DDK@ ,TLA@HO@QSHBHO@SDCHM@Ŗ&QDDM6@KJŗOK@MSHMFR@OKHMFRHMSGD MD@QAX@QD@R all our properties show an 3GHRXD@QVD@KRNBNLLDLNQ@SDCSGDƥQRSCD@SG@MMHUDQR@QX impressive landscaping NE "@OS -@HQ @BQNRR @KK NTQ OQNODQSHDR AX K@TMBGHMF @ and greenery. During the CNBTLDMS@QX Ŗ3GD 2SNQX NE @ +DFDMC 3QHATSD SN "@OS "/ *QHRGM@M -@HQŗ OQDRDMSDC AX 5HI@X LQHSQ@I @ LDLADQ NE NTQ World Environment Day BNLO@MXŗR AN@QC @MC @ UDQX BKNRD E@LHKX EQHDMC RHMBD event, the management and VGDM SGD ,TLA@H OQNODQSX V@R BNMBDHUDC 8NT B@M UHDV SGHR RS@Ƥ@S3GD+DDK@,TLA@H participated in a ‘Green Walk’, planting saplings in the nearby areas ƥKLNMSGDHMSDQM@KBG@MMDKNE@KKNTQGNSDKR The monsoons are here, and our Goa, Udaipur and Kovalam OQNODQSHDR D@BG NƤDQ DWBDKKDMS QDSQD@S O@BJ@FDR $WODQHDMBD the unique charm of any of these destinations, and also spend some quality time with your family and friends. On the other hand, our city hotels provide excellent facilities for Meetings, (MBDMSHUDR "NMEDQDMBDR @MC $WGHAHSHNMR 3GHR VNTKC AD @M HCD@K SHLD SN QDSQD@S @MC QDSGHMJ ATRHMDRR RSQ@SDFHDR HM NTQ AQD@SGS@JHMFUDMTDR Vivek Nair Chairman & Managing Director, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts THE LEELA MAGAZINE | 6 | MONSOON 2015 stefanoricci.com T H E L E E L A M A G A Z I N E — M O N S O O N 2 0 1 5 CONTENTS 14 Luxe Effect 18 Proust Questionnaire 22 Explorations 26 Style %NTQBNNKV@SBGDR 4MBNUDQHMFSGDODQRNM@KHSXNE 2M@ORGNSREQNLSGDBNƤDDS@AKD #DBNCHMFSGD@OOD@KNE @MCRSXKHRG@BBDRRNQHDR B@QCDRHFMDQ#HKHO"GG@AQH@ ANNJ'HL@K@X@M2SXKD E@RGHNMAQ@MC/@TK2LHSG 32 Dance 36 Architecture 40 Travel 46 Books KNNJ@S,TLA@HŗR 2VHSYDQK@MCNƤDQRRNLD ,TRSQD@CRANNJRSNTMCDQRS@MC QS#DBNGDQHS@FD QDL@QJ@AKDSQ@HMINTQMDXR (MCH@ŗRONKHSHB@KRHST@SHNM 58 Drink 62 Creativity 68 High Achievers 3QDMCBGDBJ !@MF@KNQDA@RDC LQTS 0 VHSG+NQDMYN0THMMNMDNE 3GQDDDWSQ@NQCHM@QXVNLDM BTQ@SDCENNCDWODQHDMBDR L@JDRDWBDKKDMSRHMFKDL@KSR SGDVNQKCŗRADRSRBTKOSNQR @MCSGDHQRSNQHDR OQNƥKDNE CHSH,@MF@KC@R @M@BBK@HLDC*@SG@JDWONMDMS 52 Food 3'$+$$+ , & 9(-$ | 8 | ,.-2..- T H E L E E L A M A G A Z I N E — M O N S O O N 2 0 1 5 C O N T E N T S COVER /GNSNFQ@OGDCAX3GNL@R+*DKKXENQ 'HL@K@X@M2SXKD1NKH!NNJRVGHBGGD G@RBN@TSGNQDCVHSG"K@HQD!TQJDQS THE LEELA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF — Lakshmi Nair PRODUCTION DIRECTOR — Shobha Patel CONTENT AND DISTRIBUTION — Priyanka Paul PRODUCTION — Prakash Bachche PUBLICITAS PUBLISHING EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF — Deepali Nandwani EDITOR — Jaideep Dave WRITER — Nisha Shroff CLIENT SERVICE MANAGER — Reshma Malvankar ART 68 76 79 CREATIVE DIRECTOR — Muhammad Jaan Faruqui ART DIRECTOR — Rane Sanjay Vaman GRAPHIC DESIGNER — Shivaji Gaikwad IMAGE EDITOR — Mrunali Gujarathi PRODUCTION MANAGER — Elidio Fernandes ADVERTISING SALES BAC K OF T H E BOOK MUMBAI (022- 61377400) Vice President — Monica Chopra Lamont Dias, Rashmi Kapoor 74 The Aesthete 82 Oenophilia DELHI (011-23730873/66599300) Regional Manager (North) — Sanjay Seth BANGALORE (080-25592714/82514) — Yogeesha A 76 Snapshot 83 Events HYDERABAD (08978866599) — Sheetal Petkar 77 Launchpad 85 Accolades AD SALES - INTERNATIONAL 78 Haute Property 86 Perspective 79 Chef’s Corner 87 Social Index KERALA (09414069321) — Sanjai Krishnan HONG KONG (+852-2516 1003) — Winky Wong MALAYSIA (+60-3-7729 6923) — Shallie Cheng SINGAPORE (+65 6735 8681) — Joui Ong DUBAI (+9714 3913360) — Sunil Kanchan MARKETING MANAGER MARKETING SERVICES — Salim B. FINANCE & ACCOUNTS SR. MANAGER - ACCOUNTS & ADMIN. — Girish Sharma ACCOUNTS EXECUTIVE — Ashwin Makwana CREDIT CONTROLLER — Girish Joshi “This Magazine is published by Hotel Leela Ventures Limited (“Leela”) and produced by Mediascope Publicitas (India) Pvt. Ltd., on behalf of and under agreement with Leela. Opinions expressed herein are of the authors @MCCNMNSMDBDRR@QHKXQDƦDBSSGDNOHMHNMRNE+DDK@NQNE,DCH@RBNOD/TAKHBHS@R(MCH@/US+SC KKDMPTHQHDR about editorial matters, reproduction of articles and advertising should be addressed to The Leela Magazine, Mediascope Publicitas (India) Private Ltd., 51 Doli Chamber, Arthur Bunder Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400 005, India. Email: I@HCDDOC@UDOTAKHBHS@RBNL Material in this publication may not be reproduced, whether in part or in whole, without the consent of the publisher. Neither Leela nor MSP assumes any responsibility or endorses any claim made by the advertisers herein.” Printed at Parksons Graphics, Andheri (West), Mumbai 400053. CORPORATE CEO & MANAGING DIRECTOR — Marzban Patel EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR — Anita Patel CFO — Anup Dutta DIRECTOR — Indu Joshi CONNECT WITH US ON This magazine is printed on environment-friendly, wood-free paper. 3'$+$$+ , & 9(-$ | 10 | ,.-2..- ,.-2..- | 11 | 3'$+$$+ , & 9(-$ LUXE CHANEL Bored to carry a girly bag? Try this new accessory by Chanel— Girl Chanel Bags. These are meant to be carried cross body, just like a shoulder bag. Featuring many compartments, including pockets on the outside, these clothing style pieces are decorated with buttons and side pockets. Available in LOUIS VUITTON multiple patterns. Louis Vuitton’s new and colourful iPad case features its historic damier pattern in pinpoint perforations. This supple, richly coloured calf leather is both stylish and functional. Its ultraƦ@SCDRHFM@MCLHBQNƥAQDKHMHMFDMRTQDODQEDBS hold and optimum protection. Style check From suave sunglasses to a cool iPad case, here are four must-buy accessories. MARC JACOBS These sunglasses with blue dark mirrored AERIN lenses will add to your Rose de Grasse from Aerin Lauder (granddaughter style wherever you go. of Estee Lauder) is a rose centifolia (hand-picked Weighing just 42 grams in Grasse) scent, and is tempered with violet wood, these sunglasses are ambrox and musk. The interesting looking bottle is easy to carry. sculpted with a circular cap. yGEHAD=<:Q&AK@9+@JGÌ THE LEELA MAGAZINE | 14 | MONSOON 2015 LUXE EFFECT -$(*(5ʘ/(&28/75( Jaeger-LeCoultre pays a tribute to Britain with the Grande Reverso Ultra Thin 1931. This is a manual-wound watch with 45 hours of power reserve. The extremely slender 7.3 mm case incorporates the complex parts of the swiveling mechanism as well as a movement just 2.95mm thin. The special London Flagship edition dial is a beautiful deep green lacquered. The second side on the solid case back features an exquisite engraving of the palace of Westminster featuring the famous clock tower. Time masters %5(*8(7 Breguet’s Tradition Chronograhe Indépendant 7077 is B@RDCHMB@Q@SVGHSDFNKCVHSGCDKHB@SDKXƦTSDC Our picks of the season’s case band. The watch features many of Breguet’s coolest watches. signatures, including iconic open-tipped hands to indicate the hours and minutes. The diameter of the watch is 44mm and it is CHOPARD The L.U.C XPS 35mm Esprit de Fleurier is the latest timepiece for women from Chopard. Viewed powered by caliber 580DR, an in-house selfwinding movement featuring a symmetrical inverted in-line lever escapement with silicon pallets, and boasting a 50-hour power reserve. from the front, the diamond-set 18-carat white gold bezel delicately frames a mottled blue mother-of-pearl dial bearing hour- PANERAI markers graced with Mare Nostrum Titanio takes brilliant-cut diamonds. inspiration from a 1943 prototype This model is teamed watch designed for the Italian Navy. with a matching blue The combination of rich brown dial alligator leather strap. It coupled with brushed titanium makes it houses a twin-barrel self- pleasing to the eye and light on the wrist. winding movement, with a 65-hour power reserve It houses a brand new engine in the hand- inside an ultra-thin 7.10 wound OPXXV caliber, which beats at 18,000 vibrations per hour. It’s water-resistant up to 3 bars. mm case. yGEHAD=<:Q&AK@9+@JGÌ THE LEELA MAGAZINE | 16 | MONSOON 2015 PROUST QUESTIONNAIRE What is your current state of mind? Brooding. What do you most value in your friends? I have no friends. What is your idea of perfect happiness? When I don't see poverty around me. What is your favorite journey? !@CDM!@CDM@RO@SNVMHM&DQL@MX(SŗR highly scenic, and far from the madding crowd. What is your greatest fear? Losing happiness of my family. :KLFKKLVWRULFDOƩJXUHGR\RXPRVWLGHQWLI\ with? General Patton. For his sheer drive and execution prowess. Which living person do you most admire? None. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Insecurity. What is the trait you most deplore in others? Braggadocio. What is it that you most dislike? Professional unpreparedness. What is your greatest extravagance? Lazing on a Sunday morning. What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Being smart. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Creating a luxury market for our products. If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be? To spend less. On what occasion do you lie? When I have to protect my family. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? When you are not loved or cared for. Which living person do you most despise? None. What is your most marked characteristic? Workaholic. What or who is the greatest love of your life? My ability to design into the future. When and where were you happiest? Can't remember. Who is your favorite hero of ƩFWLRQ" 2@C2@BJ@BNLHBANNJBG@Q@BSDQ created by American Seargent &DNQFD!@JDQCTQHMF6NQKC6@Q(( ŕADB@TRDGDV@RRDKECDOQDB@SHMF If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? 3NADLNQDBNMƥCDMS What is your motto? Communicate, Communicate, Communicate. DILIP CHHABRIA Made in India 3GD#" U@MSH(MCH@ŗRƥQRSHMCHFDMNTRKXATHKS RONQSRB@QV@RƥQRSRGNVB@RDC@SSGD#DKGH Auto expo. It’s customisable and the price range starts from Rs 36 lakh. The DC Avanti is powered AX@KHSQDBXKHMCDQSTQANBG@QFDCDMFHMD mounted between the seat back and the rear wheels. The motor can produce up to a peak ONVDQNTSOTSNEAGO@KNMFVHSG-LNE torque. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels UH@@RODDCL@MT@KSQ@MRLHRRHNM3GD#" U@MSHFNDREQNLSNJOGHMRHWRDBNMCR and has a top speed of 200kph. Avid design and auto enthusiasts swear by Dilip Chhabria’s car makeovers. The founder of DC Design, DC, @RGDHRJMNVMG@RMNSITRSCDRHFMDCB@QRENQL@MX(MCH@MBDKDAQHSHDRGD@KRNL@CDSGDƥQRSOQNSNSXOD ENQ SGD RSNM ,@QSHM 5@MPTHRG VGHBG @OOD@QDC HM SGD )@LDR !NMC ƥKL #HD MNSGDQ #@X LNMF SGD K@SDRSNEGHROQNIDBSRHR(MCH@ŗRƥQRSHMCHFDMNTRKXATHKSRONQSRB@QSGD#" U@MSHVGHBGG@RADDMK@TMBGDC commercially recently. The following interview is not about DC the car designer, though; it is about DC the man. Akhila Ranganna SQHDR SN TMBNUDQ GHR ODQRNM@KHSX AX TRHMF SGD PTDRSHNMM@HQD SG@S V@R ƥQRS made famous by early 20th century French novelist Marcel Proust. THE LEELA MAGAZINE | 18 | MONSOON 2015 MONSOON 2015 | 19 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE $7/+.1 3(.-2 Variations on theme HIMALAYA 3GD BNƤDD S@AKD ANNJ Himalayan Style (Roli Books) AX Thomas L. Kelly@MCClaire BurkertHR@MNCDSNSGD@QBGHSDBSTQD @MCBTKSTQDNESGDLNTMS@HMQDFHNM%QNLRSTCXHMFSGDDWSDQM@K E@¢@CD NE LNM@RSDQHDR HM 3HADS SN RTQUDXHMF SGD HMSDQHNQR NE GHRSNQHBO@K@BDRHM!GTS@MSGDANNJCDBNMRSQTBSRSGDU@QHNTR ENQLR @MC RSQTBSTQDR ENTMC HM SGD QDFHNM (S @KRN RGDCR KHFGS NM BQ@ESRL@MRGHO @MC BQD@SHUHSX NE SGD ODNOKD HM CHƤDQDMS OK@BDRHMSGD'HL@K@X@ŔSGDRSNMDB@QUHMFSQ@CHSHNMHM/@S@MHM -DO@KSGDVD@UHMFDWBDKKDMBDNE!GTS@M@LNMFNSGDQSGHMFR Opposite (from top): A woman collects water in the Tusha Hiti, an exquisite oval step-well in the courtyard of Sundari Chowk, at The Patan Darbar, a renowned palace in Nepal. ƥMDKXB@QUDCRSNMD plaques line the step-well The Tibetan-style lock of the main shrine of Uku Bahal, Patan, Nepal. The phenomenal artistry of the valley’s Newar artisans is manifest in the grill’s lotus and dorje motifs created by repousse and the small lost wax statues attached. Lock rings are shaped like hands. Two images of snake virgins with intertwining snakes bodies hold their hands in a devotional pose Left: Young Thubstan Nawang, the reincarnation of the Most Venerable Kushok Bakula, at Spituk Monastery, in Ladakh. Bakula is depicted in the portrait behind THE LEELA MAGAZINE | 22 | MONSOON 2015 MONSOON 2015 | 23 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE Right: Monks entering the courtyard of Nepal’s Podorong Monastery, which is painted with auspicious symbols for the Tibetan New Year Left (from top): Two pilgrims stand in front of the decorative bar on the Barkhor (circumambulation area) in the old city of Lhasa An illustration of Nepal’s rural architecture: a mud-plastered farmhouse with a thatched roof in Surya Binayek village, near the Kathmandu Valley THE LEELA MAGAZINE | 24 | MONSOON 2015 MONSOON 2015 | 25 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE STYLE M ondrian, Warhol, The collection, for instance. While Rolling Stones, Miles the basic colours for the suits Davis… Paul and trousers remained the more Smith was born of these, not just conventional teal, navy and dark by way of inspiration, but to be grey, their monotony was broken part of their world. A world where VHSG@ƦNTQHRGNEPTHQJHMSGDENQL colour is vital, where alternative of rainbow stripes, paisley prints, ideas become mainstream, and leather fringes and typographs. where pop, well, rocks. Inspired The whimsical extended to the by this very world, Sir Paul Smith accessories as well, with hand- NODMDC GHR ƥQRS ANTSHPTD HM RSHSBGDC OK@XETK RMD@JDQR ƥMFDQ Nottingham, in 1970, and showed printed totes and luxe, satin GHR ƥQRS BNKKDBSHNM HM /@QHR HM holdalls. Brand 1976. Encouraged and helped And yet, the hallmark of by his then-girlfriend, now-wife, the brand remains its versatility, Pauline, who happened to be a whether in terms of how well the British label Paul Smith, which has been in India fashion graduate from the Royal pieces lend themselves to mix- for less than a decade, has taken the country’s College of Art, London, Paul and-match, or how easily they Smith fast emerged a name to be slip from formal to semi-formal menswear market quite by storm. We look at reckoned with, bringing fashion to smart casual to lounge wear, into the colourful world that had or in the latest innovation, the so excited him. ‘Travelling Suit’. Made of merino For a quintessentially British | 26 | MONSOON 2015 collected embodies from the sheep’s stomach — ADB@TRD SG@SŗR VGDQD SGD ƥAQD classic sensibilities is the longest and the most with modern pop aesthetics, in resilient — the Travelling Suit is a rather curious mix of sharp completely wrinkle-resistant and tailoring and a vibrant outlook. can happily be teamed with a tee Vivid prints and sneakers or with a tie and and unconventional pairings, all brogues, depending on your need, against a backdrop of archetypal making it any time-, occasion- and boardroom dressing. Clean cuts season-appropriate. Paul great combining THE LEELA MAGAZINE that’s irreverence, a PS by Paul Smith wool of label, From the PS by Paul Smith collection sheep Smith deal colours, graphic what makes the fashion brand tick with the young @MCMNETRRKHMDRşSGDRSTƤONVDQ Paul Smith entered India dressing is made of, and also the in 2007, with its menswear line. RSTƤ SGD KHJDR NE 'TFN !NRR @MC 3GD AQ@MC RSHKK NƤDQR NMKX Armani have made their millions menswear in the country.) “We NƤ !TS !NRR @MC QL@MH G@UD ƥQRS NODMDC HM !@MF@KNQD @MC nothing on Smith, who’s taken the response was so exceptional, SGD RSHƤ TOODQ KHO NTS NE GHR UDQX we’ve expanded to four cities, British brand, putting his models Kolkata being the most recent,” on the ramp in suits paired with reveals Deepika Gehani, Creative trainers, tees, funky sunglasses, Director of Genesis Luxury Pvt even baggy shorts. Take a look at Ltd, the company responsible for his Spring/Summer 2015 men’s bringing the brand into the country. MONSOON 2015 | 27 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE Indian. By Prerna Singh Butalia A bag from one of Paul Smith’s previous collections From the Autumn/Winter 2015 collection The Spring/Summer 2015 collection The brand’s Wren monk shoes THE LEELA MAGAZINE And, recently, a survey pronounced most popular products are our Paul Smith the go-to brand for graphic yet tailored shirts and our the young Indian entrepreneur. suits.” Young Indian men, today, Interesting choice, yes, but not are sure talking the language of altogether surprising, given the looking the part, with the luxury brand’s design philosophy and menswear market booming like DNA. “The bright colours and never before.” vivid graphics make Paul Smith Adds a popular choice for the Indian becoming consumer, always conscious of how they look and been attracted to such vibrant dress. They need to look sharp, elements,” says Mumbai-based yet individualistic — a need that fashion stylist Isha Bhansali. Gehani Paul Smith seems to address only BNMƥQLRSGHRKHMDNESGNTFGSř.TQ too well.” who | 28 | MONSOON 2015 has Bhansali, more “Men and are more The philosophy is simple: Keep with the essentials, but make sure there is always a pop twist. So the piece will always be basic, but there will be a quirky print or an idiosyncratic message The brand’s multi-stripe shirt is quite popular Paul Smith opened a new store in London recently Paul Smith Walk into a Paul Smith store SGD RHFM@K GDŗR FHUHMF NƤ HR BKD@Q by Paul Smith for age groups 20 be basic, but there will be a quirky and you will notice that the SNN 'D ADKHDUDR HM BNMUDMSHNM@K to 30, and Paul Smith London for print or an idiosyncratic message. garments are always well-tailored, wisdom and traditional practices, consumers over the age of 30. Needless to say, the vibrant rainbow but he has a mind of his own, The main line is our ultra-premium colours and vivid prints have been stripes may have taken the place and is looking to mould those BNKKDBSHNM SG@SŗR RSQ@HFGS NƤ an instant hit in a market that is of pinstripes, the output still practices to work with the times. the runways. We have something looking for luxury, that is looking remains crisp and the look always ř.TQBNMRTLDQA@RDHR@RSTSD@MC for everyone!” for alternatives to the obvious, very businesslike. It’s the kind of they know what they want — we Paul Smith has successfully that has few options to satiate thing the young entrepreneur, cater to men who like to dress brought in its USP — colour, its newfound love for kitsch, and who’s looking to make a mark, sharp but show their personality graphics and typographic art — to that has always had a steady VNTKC FN ENQ 2L@QS RHKGNTDSSDR while doing so,” says Gehani. “We the Indian public. The philosophy appetite for drama. For the young so that he’s taken seriously, and RSNBJ RDUDQ@K KHMDR HM NTQ RSNQDR HRRHLOKD*DDOVHSGSGDDRRDMSH@KR Indian male, Paul Smith seems to the right dose of spunk, to let his Paul Smith Jeans to cater to the but make sure there is always a be the answer to all of these, and personality shine through. And younger end of the spectrum, PS pop twist. So the piece will always then some! and that, while the THE LEELA MAGAZINE | 30 | MONSOON 2015 DANCE RGD ROD@JR TO @ANTS GDQ ADKNUDC @QSENQL #DQHUDC EQNL SGD 2@MRJQHS words katha (story) and kathakar (storyteller), Kathak originated in ancient North India with the wandering bards, telling tales steeped in myth and Poetry in motion Aditi Mangaldas, who is considered one of the world’s best contemporary Kathak dancers, is also credited for pushing the boundaries of the form. From starting training @SSGD@FDNEƥUDSNCDKHUDQHMFBQHSHB@KKX@BBK@HLDCODQENQL@MBDR@KK@BQNRRSGDFKNAD GDQRG@RADDM@INTQMDXNE@RRHCTNTRCDUNSHNMSNNMDŗRBQ@ESBy Akhila Ranganna religious scripture, infusing them with song, dance and commentary. After SGD,TFG@KHMU@RHNM*@SG@JL@CDHSRV@XEQNLSGDSDLOKDSNSGDBNTQSR making it a unique synthesis of Hindu and Muslim culture. Deft footwork, DK@ANQ@SD G@MC FDRSTQDR E@BH@K DWOQDRRHNMR @M @RBDMCHMF SDLON SGD RXMSGDRHR NE QGXSGLHB TSSDQ@MBDR ENKKNVDC AX C@MBD LNUDLDMSR GHFGKHFGSHMFSGDAQD@SGBNMSQNK@RODBSNEXNF@SGDƦNVHMFBNRSTLDR@KK @CCSNSGDQHOOKHMFM@QQ@SHUD@OOD@KNESGHRC@MBDENQL ,@MF@KC@R BQDCHSR GDQ KNUD ENQ *@SG@J SN SGD U@QHDC HMƦTDMBDR RGD V@R KTBJX SN DWODQHDMBD G@UHMF SQ@HMDC TMCDQ ANSG +@JGH@ @MC Maharaj. “With Kumudiniji it was a focus on the larger ambience, TMCDQRS@MCHMF LX ƥMHSD ANCX HM SDQLR NE SGD DMUHQNMLDMS ( V@R HMŚ “I B@MŗS SGHMJ A@BJ SN @ SHLD VGDM ( V@R MNS C@MBHMFŚ 3GD UNHBD tremendous freedom as a girl child.” Hailing from Gujarat, Mangaldas’ ,@MF@KC@R SQ@HMDC TMCDQ +@JGH@ EQNL SGD SDMCDQ @FD NE ƥUD !TS NMBD HR ROQHFGSKX @MC KHJD DUDQXSGHMF @ANTS GDQ HS QDRNM@SDR VHSG family was steeped in business and academia. And she laughs out loud she reached college she felt that some parts of her “were not dancing; something was inherently missing.” SGDUHU@BHSXSG@SCDƥMDR CHSH,@MF@KC@R MCHSHR@RS@SDLDMS while reminiscing about how her interest in dance came about. “This is that perfectly illustrates how dance in general and Kathak in particular a story from my paternal grandmother,” she recounts in her trademark (S V@R SGDM SGD LNUD SN #DKGH G@OODMDC @MC VHSG HS SGD CDBHRHNM G@UD @KV@XR ADDM @M HMDWSQHB@AKD O@QS NE SGD C@MRDTRDŗR KHED %QNL DƤDQUDRBDMS L@MMDQ řSG@S VGDMDUDQ SGDQD V@R @MX LTRHB OK@XDC QHFGS to train under Kathak maestro Birju Maharaj at the Kathak Kendra, With training under Kathak legends Kumudini Lakhia and Pandit Birju Maharaj, from when I was just about four years old, I would jump onto the table and ,@G@Q@I HS V@R @ LNQD řUDQSHB@KŚ DWODQHDMBD ř6D VDMS CDDODQ HMSN SGD SN NODMHMF GDQ NVM C@MBD HMRSHSTSD EQNL HLATHMF SGD UDQX DRRDMBD NE RS@QSLNUHMF(VNTKCTRDLNUDLDMSSNDWOQDRRINXŚ RSXKDSGDDRRDMBDNEHSV@RLNUHMFEQNLSGDNTSDQDCFDNELXANCXSNSGD SQ@CHSHNM@K *@SG@J HM GDQ ODQENQL@MBDR SN QDHMUDMSHMF SGD C@MBD ENQL 2DDHMFSGDHQC@TFGSDQŗRHMSQHMRHBKNUDENQC@MBDGDQO@QDMSREDKSSG@S BDMSQDNELXADHMF$UDQXC@XXNTQD@KHRDCGNVKHSSKDXNTJMDVŚRGDR@XR within its broad parameters, Mangaldas’ journey is one of determination, RGD V@R DWOQDRRHMF @QSHRSHB RDMRHAHKHSHDR @MC DMBNTQ@FDC HS 3GDX @KRN +D@QMHMFTMCDQSGDRDSVNFTQTRF@UDGDQSGDBG@MBDSNF@HMANSG@M immersion in one’s craft and liberation. DWONRDCGDQSNO@HMSHMFLTRHB@MCDUDMSGDBNLLTMHSXRBHDMBDBDMSQD HMBKTRHUD @MC @M DWBKTRHUD UHDV NE C@MBD 2GD V@R RSDDODC HM SQ@CHSHNM 3GDNSGDQREDKKAXSGDV@XRHCDATSGDQKNUDENQC@MBDFQDVEQNLRSQDMFSG XDS @S SGD R@LD SHLD V@R DMBNTQ@FDC SN PTDRSHNM AD HMUDMSHUD @MC debate and questioning and no rituals,” Mangaldas, 55, says. “I had to strength. řQDADK ONRHSHUDKXŚ ř!DHMF RDKE@M@KXSHB@K @MC BQHSHB@K HR BQTBH@K SN RDKE Facial expressions play a key role in Kathak Kathak, both in India and abroad. She has performed as a solo artist and 'NVDUDQ@ESDQƥUDXD@QRNE@řL@FHB@KSHLDŚSQ@HMHMFTMCDQ,@G@Q@I BGNQDNFQ@OGDC@MCC@MBDCHMRDUDQ@KFQNTOODQENQL@MBDRNUDQSGDXD@QR and performing, with resounding success, along with his troupe, both in Australia, Singapore, Germany, Dubai and England, among other places, HM (MCH@ @MC @AQN@C RGD ADF@M SN NMBD @F@HM DWODQHDMBD SGD EDDKHMF to tremendous acclaim. that something was inherently missing. “I went to my gurus to get an ř(FQDVTOHM@UDQXKHADQ@SDC@SLNROGDQDVGDQDSGDQDV@R@KV@XR 3NC@X ,@MF@KC@R HR QDF@QCDC @R NMD NE SGD KD@CHMF DWONMDMSR NE THE LEELA MAGAZINE CDUDKNOLDMSŚRGDR@XR ř'DQBNMBDOSNESGDHMS@MFHAKDDLAQ@BDRSGDCHUHMD@MCSGDOQNENTMCKX understanding of their knowledge, they opened the doors for me, but I GTL@MKNUD@MCEQDDCNLSQTSG@MCAD@TSXADHMF@RBNRLHB@KKXLXRSHB@K MDDCDCSNƥMCLXNVMO@SG(SHRADSSDQSNAD@A@CNQHFHM@KSG@M@FQD@S @R&NC3GHRHMROHQDRVNMCDQETKDWBTQRHNMRHMSNSGDGD@QSNEQGXSGLSGD BNOXŚRGDDWOK@HMR@ANTSGDQCDBHRHNMSNRS@QSNTSNMGDQNVM MCSGTR DMDQFHDR NE KHFGS SGD @LAHDMBD NE RO@BD SGD RSQTBSTQDR NE LNUDLDMS V@R ANQM SGD #QHRGSHJNM #@MBD %NTMC@SHNM HM 6HSG #QHRGSHJNM and the power of stillness,” wrote Mary Brennan in the The Herald after ,@MF@KC@R K@TMBGDC HMSN GDQ NVM HMCHUHCT@K @QSHRSHB ODQRNM@ VHSG ANSG ,@MF@KC@RŗODQENQL@MBD@SSGD$CHMATQFG(MSDQM@SHNM@K%DRSHU@KHM SQ@CHSHNM@K @MC BNMSDLONQ@QX *@SG@J ODQENQL@MBDR ř$WOKNQ@SHNM @MC Farooq Chaudhry, former chairman of Dance UK, described Mangaldas as a conformation are an integral part of any classical work,” says Mangaldas. O@QSNE@MDWBHSHMFMDVV@UDNE*@SG@JC@MBD@QSHRSRVGN@QDHMUHFNQ@SHMF 'DQ VNQJ VHSG #GQHRSHJNM G@R QDƦDBSDC SGHR ATQMHMF CDRHQD SN RS@X SGHRBK@RRHB@K@QSENQLVHSGHL@FHM@SHUD@MCHMSDKKHFDMSLNCDQMDWOQDRRHNMR QDKDU@MS VHSG SGD BG@MFHMF SHLDR DUNKUD @ MDV C@MBD UNB@ATK@QX XDS NƤDQHMFMDVV@XRSNDWODQHDMBD*@SG@J @SSGDR@LDSHLDRS@XHMFSQTDSNGDQBK@RRHB@KQNNSR6HSGDUDQXRNKN@MC “Kathak has an amazing history, a secular amalgamation of Hindu and group performance that she has choreographed, Mangaldas has, in her Muslim culture, a structure that is bound and yet open,” she says. You can words, tried to write “beautiful poetry” through the medium of dance. @KRNHL@FHMDGDQVDKKSQ@HMDCDXDRŕVGHBGG@UDOQNUHCDCGDQ@TCHDMBDR ř.ESDM(G@UD@BNMBDOS@MCSGDM(KD@UDHSHMLXGD@CŚRGDR@XR@RRGD VHSG RN L@MX DWOQDRRHNMR NUDQ SGD XD@QRŕSVHMJKD VHSG DWBHSDLDMS @R SQHDR SN DWOK@HM GNV SGD RDDC NE @ C@MBD ODQENQL@MBD FDQLHM@SDR Ś@MC | 32 | MONSOON 2015 MONSOON 2015 | 33 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE ,@MF@KC@RG@RADDMODQENQLHMFENQ@KLNRSƥUDCDB@CDR ‘Within’ seeks to explore the brutality VHSGHM@KKNETR2G@JHMFSGDUHDVDQRNTS of their complacency, the choreography breaks free from the structural aspect of classical Kathak, beautifully depicted HMSGDƥQRSG@KESHSKDCŖ*MNSSDCŗ SGDMHM@M@QD@NERHKDMBDRNLDSGHMFFDSRQDUD@KDC8NTSGDMOTSHM@KNS of hard work in the studio and suddenly the abstract starts taking shape right in front of you.” Some of her most famous group and solo performances and choreographies with Dhrishtikon include ‘Widening Circles’, ‘Seeking SGD!DKNUDCŗŖ4SR@UŗŖ(LLDQRDCŗŖ4MBG@QSDC2D@RŗŖ%NNSOQHMSRNM6@SDQŗ Ŗ-NVHRŗŖ3HLDKDRRŗ@MCŖ6HSGHMŗ2GDL@CDGDQ42 CDATSHMVHSG ‘Footprints on Water’, a performance that was described in the The New 8NQJ3HLDR@RNMDHMVGHBGřDUDQXVGDQDXNTKNNJDCNQKHRSDMDCSGDQDV@R something to delight”. ‘Uncharted Seas’ retains the classical elements 2GNVHMFRNLDLNUDLDMSR from her ‘Within’ performance in terms of costume, music and presentation; the central theme of this performance is based on the fact that we are all looking for something. ř KSGNTFG HSŗR HM SGD BK@RRHB@K ENQL@S ( G@UD KDES @ KNS NE NODMDMCDC @UDMTDRŚ Ŗ6HSGHMŗRDDJRSNDWOKNQDSGDAQTS@KHSXVHSGHM@KKNETR2G@JHMFSGD UHDVDQR NTS NE SGDHQ BNLOK@BDMBX SGD BGNQDNFQ@OGX AQD@JR EQDD EQNL SGDRSQTBSTQ@K@RODBSNEBK@RRHB@K*@SG@JAD@TSHETKKXCDOHBSDCHMSGDƥQRS half, titled ‘Knotted’. The second half, with more classical notes, titled Ŗ4MVQ@OODCŗ SQHDR SN HMETRD @ RDMRD NE ONRHSHUHSX ř3GD RONMS@MDHSX NE *@SG@J KDMCR HSRDKE VDKK SN DWODQHLDMS@SHNM VHSGNTS XNT G@UHMF SN FN outside the format of the recognised dance form.” She has pushed the SGDL@SHBANQCDQRL@JHMFSGDVNL@MSGDBDMSQ@KƥFTQDHMBNLONRHSHNMRKHJD "GDDJG@MC2UNF@SHMBNQONQ@SHMFTMTRT@KRSDORHM3HLDKDRR@MC6HSGHM using multimedia in Now Is. Her latest performance was at the Alchemy %DRSHU@KHM+NMCNMHM,@XSGHRXD@QVGDQD3HLDKDRRV@RRS@FDC'DQETSTQD international performances are slated for the Perth International Arts %DRSHU@KHM%DAQT@QXMDWSXD@Q@MCENQSGD!DKFQ@CD%DRSHU@KHM,@QBGMDWS year. Drishtikon has been commissioned by Dance Umbrella for a new OQNCTBSHNMSNADOQDRDMSDC@SSGD!@QAHB@M3GD@SQDHM+NMCNMHM 6GHKDRGDG@RADDMODQENQLHMFENQBKNRDSNƥUDCDB@CDR,@MF@KC@R ADKHDUDR SG@S NMD LTRS ENQDUDQ JDDO @KHUD NMDŗR E@BTKSX NE VNMCDQ ř6D G@UDSNBQD@SD@VNQKCNEL@FHBSNDMRTQDVD@SSQ@BSSGDXNTMFDQ@TCHDMBDR to our art.” THE LEELA MAGAZINE | 34 | MONSOON 2015 ARCHITECTURE Art Deco in Mumbai Home to the world’s second largest number of Art Deco buildings, the city’s aesthetic is about much more than steel-and-glass exteriors. By Apekshita Varshney P robably you’ve brisk walked there, soaked in the sun, or chuckled High Court, and The University of Mumbai, with its turrets, arches, and at the charades of the thronging lovers. Perhaps guzzling the sea ornamentation is grand, even daunting. But post-World War II, modernism air (sometimes even the salty, splashing water), you just sat, eyes in architecture began to reject ornamentation. The mood of this time is keen on the horizon, and back turned to Mumbai’s mayhem. But while vividly documented in the book Bombay Deco, by Sharada Dwivedi and you’re busy inhaling the beauty of Marine Drive, don’t miss out on a style Rahul Mehrotra. “Look at the façade in Bombay… It would be transformed of architecture just across the street. ENQSGDADSSDQHENMDSNNJ@M@WD@MCBGNOODCNƤDUDQXAHSNENQM@LDMSŚ renowned architect Claude Batley is quoted in the book. Buildings stretching across the promenade, and those in Malabar BARE ACT Hills, Mohammed Ali Road, Pherozshah Mehta Road, and the Dadar- Soon, in the 1920s, a nudist movement, with minimalistic style, gripped Matunga area display the classical style of Art Deco, an architectural style architecture, and Art Deco stood true to its time. “Art Deco was a sign of that emerged in France and which caught Mumbai’s fancy in the 1920s optimism towards the future. It was talking about speed, transportation and ‘30s. @MC ONVDQŚ R@XR ,TRS@MRHQ #@KUH @M QS #DBN DWODQS @MC OQNEDRRNQ NE QS #DBN HR MDHSGDQ FQ@MC MNQ K@YX HS HR RHLOKX DƤNQSKDRR &NQFDNTR @QBGHSDBSTQD@S))"NKKDFD Art Deco apartments with their balustrades, geometric shapes, smooth It was reformist; a cusp between medieval and modern. It borrowed lines, curvy balconies with eyebrows, and modern technology motifs may imagery from the industrial age and incorporated nautical, airplane motifs. compel you to move out of your glass house. Fact: After Miami, Mumbai has the largest number of Art Deco buildings in the world. A quick walk to Oval Maidan, in Churchgate, will present to you MCHSGDKCNMSNSGDO@RSVHSGLNSHERKHJDEQNYDMENTMS@HM@MCƦNQ@ MDDC for grandeur also continued to sway architects — colour combinations and vertical ribs made the buildings look taller than they actually were. @ O@MNQ@L@ NE RNQSR QBGHSDBSTQD NE SVN CHƤDQDMS BDMSTQHDR SGD NKC When Mumbai’s growing population had to be housed, The Backbay 5HBSNQH@M&NSGHB@MCSGDMDV@FD QS#DBNHRROQ@VKDC@BQNRRSGDFQNTMC Reclamation Plan, in the 1920s, paved the way for more Art Deco 3GD 5HBSNQH@M &NSGHB L@MMDQ NE 3GD 1@I@AG@H "KNBJ 3NVDQ 3GD !NLA@X ATHKCHMFR MCK@SDQBHMDL@RVDQDATHKSSNNƤDQDRB@ODEQNLSGDQD@KHSHDR THE LEELA MAGAZINE | 36 | MONSOON 2015 Indian murals feature on the New India Assurance Building, in Fort MONSOON 2015 | 37 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE COURTESY EMINENCE DESIGNS, PUBLISHER OF THE BOOK BOMBAY DECO ART DEKHO BOMBAY ART DECO ARCHITECTURE/ NAVIN RAMANI/ ROLI BOOKS NOEL MURPHY (From left) The much-loved Art Deco theatre Eros, in Churchgate; Frozen fountain, an Art Deco motif Art Deco buildings at Marine Drive are as much of an attraction as the sea across “Art Deco was a sign of optimism towards the future. It was talking about speed, transportation and power,” says Dalvi KNOW YOUR CITY of life: Eros, Liberty, Regal, Metro and New Empire were a sign of opulence. across precincts in the city. They stuck to a pastel colour palate, which, there is a similar Art Deco building in Karachi. It used to have the same #VHUDCH B@KKR $QNR SGD DOHSNLD NE CDRHFM RSXKD @MC ƥMHRG NE SG@S SHLD to my surprise, was considered garish in those days. “That’s because we RBTKOSTQD NE &NCCDRR +@JRGLH @SNO HS 'NVDUDQ HS V@R CDLNKHRGDC @mumbaiheritage has been heartily documenting old Mumbai, Art Deco was futuristic — across the length of Eros, you can see murals G@UDRDDMGNQQHAKD@QBGHSDBSTQDK@SDQNM@MCVDSGTRƥMC QS#DBNRTASKDŚ soon after partition. The New India Assurance building, in Fort, depicts much to the joy of tweeple. Here, they share with us some ED@STQHMF@ƥKLOQNCTBSHNMRBDMD Dalvi quips. “Architects had just moved from stone to plaster, hence even murals of farmers, potters and women spinning the charkha. In Dadar, SGDO@RSDKBNKNTQRVNTKCG@UDKNNJDCAQHFGS@MCBGDDQETKA@BJSGDMŚ Kanti Mahal’s entrance resembles that of a Hindu temple. “This style interesting facts related to Art Deco buildings in the city. Most of these theatres were built by foreign architects in 1930s Ş 1DF@K"HMDL@V@RSGDBHSXŗRƥQRS QS#DBNRSXKDSGD@SQD @MCR6GHKD,DSQNV@RATHKSAX@2BNSRL@M3GNL@R6GHSD+@LASGD Art Deco doesn’t beam just in posh South Bombay lanes. B@M AD B@KKDC SGD #DBN2@QBDMHBŚ R@XR #DDO@@ -@MCH @M @QBGHSDBSTQD Ş 3GDƥQRS%HKLE@QD@V@QCRBDQDLNMXV@RGDKCHM@S @QBGHSDBS NE +HADQSX 1HCKDX AANSS CHDC ADENQD GD BNTKC ƥMHRG ATHKCHMF Humble Matunga holds a secret in the form of its own cinema built in this researcher. “A few buildings in Ballard Estate, too, have traditional ,DSQN"HMDL@@MCNMKX@V@QCRVDQDOQDRDMSDC!DRS%HKL The task was later handled by Indian architect J.B. Fernandes. Western- style, Aurora. LNSHER NMD ADHMF @ RBTKOSTQD SG@S QDRDLAKDR KNQC 5HRGMTŚ RGD @CCR #HQDBSNQ BSNQ BSQDRR,TRHB#HQDBSNQ educated Indian architects, too, played a role in creating Art Deco Ş 3GDBNMRSQTBSHNMNESGD+HADQSX"HMDL@ATHKCHMFRS@QSDCHM GDMBDSGDM@LDř+HADQSXŚ Ş ,@K@A@Q'HKKR@VSGDD@QKHDRS QS#DBNCDUDKNOLDMSENKKNVDC by Horniman Circle, Marine Drive, and Oval Maidan. THE LEELA MAGAZINE buildings across the city. Made from the resilient Malad stone, the buildings are some of the best MADE IN INDIA in the world. Yet they don’t get the appreciation they deserve. “It lacks So deep-seated in Mumbai’s veins, it may not be wrong to call The Art Deco buildings in Mumbai also show traditional Indian motifs. awareness, appreciation but most importantly, conservation. With little SGHRRSXKDNE@QBGHSDBSTQDHMCHFDMNTRSNSGDBHSXř(MHSH@KKXB@SDQHMFSNSGD "Q@MDXNTQMDBJSNRONSSGDRBTKOSTQDNE&NCCDRR+@JRGLHODQBGDC@SNO@ help from the government, maintenance often pinches the residents. apartment living elite, Art Deco later became the architecture of the building in Fort. The building was built and designed to house the Mumbai Miami has looked at its heritage as an entire precinct. We look at it as ODNOKDŚ R@XR #@KUH 3GHR BNGDRHUDMDRR HR QDƦDBSDC HM ATHKCHMFR ROQD@C branch of Lahore’s Lakshmi Insurance Company. Historians believe that HMCHUHCT@KATHKCHMFRSG@SŗRVGDQDVDFNVQNMFŚR@XR#@KUH | 38 | MONSOON 2015 TRAVEL In Switzerland, the journey is literally the destination. Keith Fernandez explores SGDBNTMSQXSGQNTFGENTQCHƤDQDMSSQHORŕ from the famous Glacier Express, which BNMMDBSRSGDL@RSHƤR,@SSDQGNQM@MC/HY Bernina, to The Wilhelm Tell Express, a charming mix of boat and train excursions. T GNRDNETRVGNFQDVTOV@SBGHMF#HKV@KD#TKG@MH@+D)@XDMFDŕ NQ HMCDDC @MX 8@RG "GNOQ@ ƥKL ŕ SDMC SN SGHMJ NE 2VHSYDQK@MC as an endless series of mountains and picturesque villages. Every seasoned traveller has a tale of the Jungfraujoch, the highest train point in Europe. and all of us have. at the very least, seen video of Gstaad’s horse B@QQH@FDR@MCRJHHMF !TSSGDQDŗR@KNSLNQDSNSGHRSHMXK@MCKNBJDCMNRDAKDDCHMCTBHMF M@SHNMSG@MXNTLHFGSSGHMJ3GNTFGHSŗRNMKX@ANTS@RAHF@RSGDRS@SDNE '@QX@M@2VHSYDQK@MCHR@RSNMHRGHMFKXCHUDQRDŕENTQK@MFT@FDRU@QXHMF @KSHSTCDR@MC@LHMCRDSSG@SHR@SNMBDSQ@CHSHNM@K@MCENQV@QCSGHMJHMF Peak experiences MCHSNƤDQRL@MXHMSDQDRSHMFCDRSHM@SHNMRSNDWOKNQD 3GDB@MSNMNE3HBHMNHMSGDRNTSGENQHMRS@MBDHRKHJD@KHSSKDOHDBDNE (S@KXŕNMKXDUDQXSGHMFVNQJRGDQD@RSGDKNB@KR@QDENMCNEINJHMF3GD canton of Valais, in the southwest, is home to car-free Zermatt, a romantic, NKCVNQKCUHKK@FDHMSGDRG@CNVNESGD,@SSDQGNQM!@RDKNMSGDANQCDQ with Germany and France, houses buildings by some of the world’s most famous starchitects, and is a paradise for lovers of art and architecture. +HJDEDVNSGDQBNTMSQHDRXNTB@MFDSEQNLNMDOK@BDSN@MNSGDQAX public transport (often on a single travel pass), but, nevertheless, always NMSHLD%NQBDCSNBNMMDBSQDLNSDE@QƦTMFLNTMS@HMBNLLTMHSHDRNUDQ forbidding terrain, Swiss engineers have, over the past couple of centuries, STMMDKKDC SGQNTFG LNTMS@HMR @MC ATHKS RJXGHFG AQHCFDR BQD@SHMF @ BNLOKDWMDSVNQJNEDMUH@AKDQN@CRQ@HK@MCV@SDQV@XR RMDVDQE@RSDQ routes have replaced early solutions, that infrastructure has been pressed into service for the country’s tourism industry. 3GDSNTQHRSKNNJHMFSNO@BJ@RLTBG@RONRRHAKDHMSN@RGNQSUHRHSL@X need to spend an entire day on the train, but with panoramic coaches @MC+@U@YY@AQDVDCDROQDRRNSGD2VHRRCNSGDHQADRSSNL@JDSGDRDSQHOR memorable events in themselves. Here are four such journeys. A journey to the Jungfraujoch, Europe’s highest railway station, is a must-do THE LEELA MAGAZINE | 40 | MONSOON 2015 MONSOON 2015 | 41 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE The Glacier Express The Golden Pass Line and the Jungfrau Railway The world’s slowest express train connects Zermatt in the south to A combination of two train rides, this one spotlights some of the best bits 2S ,NQHSY HM SGD VDRS (M @ BNTMSQX VGDQD LNTMS@HMR @QD BDKDAQHSHDR NE2VHSYDQK@MCENQSGNRDVHSGRGNQSDQGNKHC@XR3GD&NKCDM/@RR+HMDKHMJR KNB@KRKHJDSNR@XHMRSD@CSG@SSGDRDUDM@MC@G@KEGNTQINTQMDXBNMMDBSR SGD BNTMSQXŗR &DQL@MROD@JHMF BDMSQD VHSG HSR Ʀ@LANX@MS %QDMBG VDRS SVN NE 2VHSYDQK@MCŗR LNRS VDKKJMNVM L@RSHƤR SGD ,@SSDQGNQM @MC SGD Battles between the two largest linguistic communities are legend, but /HY!DQMHM@ MDHSGDQVHKKBNTMSDM@MBD@ROKHSŕTMKHJDNEBNTQRDSGD!DKFH@MR 3GDLDSQDF@TFDSQ@HMVGHBGƥQRSQ@MHMSQ@UDKR@ANTSJL 3GD C@X ADFHMR @AN@QC SGD RO@MJHMF MDV +TBDQMD(MSDQK@JDM SGQNTFGSTMMDKR@MCNUDQAQHCFDR'TFDO@MNQ@LHBVHMCNVRNƤDQ $WOQDRR VGHBG CDO@QSR EQNL SGD RGNQDR NE +@JD +TBDQMD (S SGDM BKHLAR RDUDQ@KNOONQSTMHSHDRSNL@QUDK@SSGD2VHRRBKHL@SDVGHBGVHKKLNRSKHJDKX L SN SGD !QTMHF /@RR ADENQD CDRBDMCHMF HMSN ,DHQHMFDM @MC ED@STQDRMNVXOD@JRRTMMXLD@CNVRƦNVHMFQHUDQR@MCENFFXUHKK@FDRŕ (MSDQK@JDM %QNL SGDQD HSŗR D@RX SN RVHSBG SN SGD )TMFEQ@T 1@HKV@X @MC @KKHMSGDBNTQRDNESGDR@LDC@X3GDSQ@HMS@JDRHMRDUDQ@KDMFHMDDQHMF travel up to the forbidding ice maiden at the top of Europe, the Jungfraujoch, ED@SRROHQ@KKHMFSGQNTFGSTMMDKRSG@SQ@HRDSGDKHMDLADSVDDM/QDC@ encased in snow all year round and reached via Europe’s highest-altitude @MC!DQFTMCHOOHMFLHMSNSGD1GHMDU@KKDXQHRHMFSNSGDL Q@HKV@X RS@SHNM @S L 3GD BNMSHMDMSŗR KNMFDRS QDL@HMHMF FK@BHDQ .ADQ@KOO@RR@MCBQNRRHMFSGD+@MCV@RRDQQHUDQNUDQ@LS@KKBTQUDC SGD &QD@S KDRSRBG B@M AD UHDVDC EQNL SGD 2OGHMW #DBJ ŕ NQ XNT B@M limestone viaduct. @BST@KKXRSDONTSNMSGDRMNV@MCBQD@SDXNTQNVM%@BDANNJVNQSGX##+) Zermatt features a thriving jazz scene and plenty of legends about moment, this is it; the song Zara sa jhoom loon main was shot here. This E@S@K LNTMS@HM @RBDMSR VGHKD FK@LNQNTR 2S ,NQHSY NƤDQR ANSG BDKDAQHSX XD@QHRSGDSG@MMHUDQR@QXNESGDƥKLŗRQDKD@RD@MCQD@CDQR(ŗLR@CSN spotting and therapeutic waters for an old-fashioned cure. confess that I succumbed to the idea. Above: The scenic Lake Lucerne Facing page: The Glacier Express connects the Matterhorn to the Piz Bernina KNMF SGD V@X KNNJ NTS ENQ SGD &HDRRA@BG V@SDQE@KK VNNCDM RBTKOSTQDRNEDMCDLHB@MCDWSHMBS@MHL@KR@KNMFSGDQNTSDSN(MSDQK@JDM SGDFQD@SOD@JRNESGD$HFDQSGD,NDMBG@MCSGD)TMFEQ@TINBGHM(MSDQK@JDM ŕ@MC@RJ@ANTSSGDHQRSNQX@MCSGDDMCKDRRGDBS@QDRNEUHMDX@QCR The Swiss don’t export their wine, they say, because there won’t be any left for themselves! to Gruyères and Broc, a trip combining two of the headiest delicacies to emerge from this rugged country – cheese and chocolate. A charming Belle Epoque train whizzes past vineyards responsible ENQ@SGHQCŕ@MCVHCDKXTMCDQQ@SDCŕ2VHRRBTKHM@QXCDKHFGS3GD2VHRR (EXNTŗQDS@JHMFSGHR@S@KDHRTQDKXO@BD@MCKNNJHMFSNRSNONƤXNT don’t export their wine, they say, because there won’t be any left for BNTKCCNVNQRDSG@MMD@QAX2BGHKSGNQMKNB@SHNMENQSGD)@LDR!NMCƥKL SGDLRDKUDRʖ3GDC@XKNMFDWBTQRHNMRSNOR@SSGDLDCHDU@KBGDDRDL@JHMF .M'DQ,@IDRSXŗR2DBQDS2DQUHBD3GD/HY&KNQH@QDUNKUHMFQDRS@TQ@MSMNS town of Gruyères, where you can visit the factory and sample the earthy, SGD@BST@KNMDHMSGDƥKL@MCSGDMDV!NMC6NQKCNƤDQ@FKHLORDHMSN complex cheese of the same name. It’s also home to Gruyeres Castle, with HSRL@JHMF its intricately painted walls and fantastic views. .MBDXNTŗQDQD@CXSNLNUDNMS@JDSGD&NKCDM/@RR+HMDHMSGDNSGDQ Then it’s on to Broc, the site of the Nestle-Cailler chocolate CHQDBSHNMSN,NMSQDTWNME@AKDC+@JD&DMDU@GNLDSNB@RSKDRƥMDLTRHB factory. It was at Broc that Alexandre-Louis Cailler, grandson of founder and a little piece of France. %Q@MBNHR+NTHR "@HKKDQ CDBHCDC SN TRD LHKJ HMRSD@C NE V@SDQ SN L@JD BGNBNK@SD 3NC@X LHKJ HR HMCHRODMR@AKD SN SGD RS@MC@QC QDBHOD +D@QM The Chocolate Train GNVSNL@JDSQTƨDRGDQDNQRHLOKXRHSA@BJ@MCDMINXSGDEQTHSNENSGDQ ,NMSQDTWL@XADLNRSE@LNTRENQHSRI@YYATSSGDQDRNQSNMSGDA@MJRNE people’s labours. +@JD&DMDU@HR@KRNSGDRS@QSHMFONHMSENQ@E@ATKNTRGNTQQNTMCSQHO THE LEELA MAGAZINE | 42 | MONSOON 2015 MONSOON 2015 SSGDDMCNESGDC@XXNTŗQDA@BJNMSGD2VHRR1HUHDQ@ŕENQSTMDR@QD | 43 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE made and lost at the Casino, while the sensible opt for a spot of cabaret. .QRHLOKXKHDA@BJ@MCSGHMJNE%QDCCX,DQBTQXŕ%@QQNJG!TKR@Q@@RL@MX (MCH@MRJMNVGHLŕVGNVQNSDGHRK@RS@KATLGDQD The Wilhelm Tell Express -NANCXHRPTHSDRTQDHESGDE@LNTR@QBGDQQD@KKXCHCS@JD@HL@S@M@OOKD on his son’s head, but there’s plenty of opportunity to dig a little deeper into the story of Switzerland’s national hero at Rütli. The meadow above +@JD+TBDQMDHRVGDQDSGDRG@CNVXENKJGDQNINHMDCSVNNSGDQO@SQHNSRSN ENTMCSGD2VHRRBNMEDCDQ@BX@QNTMCSGDSTQMNESGDSGBDMSTQXODQG@OR the earliest attempt at Swiss neutrality. 2SD@LAN@SR C@SHMF SN SGD D@QKX SG BDMSTQX VHKK B@KK @S 1·SKH @MC also many of the surrounding villages, during a three-hour cruise on SGD BNTMSQXŗR ENTQSGK@QFDRS K@JD RTQQNTMCDC AX HSR NVM RDS NE E@LNTR LNTMS@HMRSGD1HFHVGHBG3TQMDQO@HMSDCGNLDSNSGD$TQNODŗRGHFGDRS RTRODMRHNMAQHCFDEDDS@ANUDRD@KDUDK@MCSGD/HK@STRRHSDNE the world’s steepest cogwheel railway. +TMBG NM @ K@JD HR @ BG@QLHMF V@X SN RODMC SGD @ESDQMNNM @MC children will be fascinated by the language of the steamboat and SGD EQHDMCKHMDRR NE SGD KNB@KR ŕ @MC SGDHQ ODSR S %K·DKDM HSŗR SHLD SN BG@MFDSN@ƥQRSBK@RRO@MNQ@L@B@QSN3HBHMNSGDO@QSNE2VHSYDQK@MCVHSG an Italian heart. Clockwise from facing page: Alphorn players in the summer in the Jungfrau region; Swissminiatur is a theme park in the city of Melide; The Wilhelm Tell Express journey includes a steamboat ride 3GD SQ@HM BKHLAR EQNL L @ANUD RD@ KDUDK SN L VGDQD HS BQNRRDRSGDJLKNMF&NSSG@QC3TMMDKVGHBGSNNJXD@QRSNATHKC@MC | 44 | MONSOON 2015 ,@FFHNQDHRRKNV@MCTMGTQQHDC@MCDUDQXNMDD@SRO@RS@DUDMSGNRDVHSG gluten problems. BK@HLDC KHUDR MDV STMMDK @S SGD A@RD NE SGD &NSSG@QC VHKK RK@RG VDDJDMCHM+TF@MNB@KKDCSGD,NMSD"@QKNNE2VHSYDQK@MCCTDSN travel times between the regions when it opens to freight and passenger SGDFQNVHMFMTLADQNEBDKDAQHSHDRVGNKHUDGDQDHRD@RXSNS@BJNMŕENQ SQ@ƧBMDWSXD@QATSSGD2VHRR3Q@UDK2XRSDLDWODBSRSNBNMSHMTDQTMMHMF SGDK@HCA@BJCNKBDUHS@ENQE@LHKX@SSQ@BSHNMRRTBG@RSGD2VHRR,HMH@STQD the Wilhelm Tell experience. SGDLDO@QJNQENQSGDUDQSHFNHMCTBHMF,NMSD2@M2@KU@SNQDCDFQDD 6GDM SGD $WOQDRR DLDQFDR ŕ @MC XNTŗUD RDDM SGD BGTQBG NE THE LEELA MAGAZINE A weekend in Lugano, called the Monte Carlo of Switzerland, due to the growing number of celebrities who live there, is easy to tack on open-air view of the surrounding countryside. 6@RRDM EQNL SGQDD CHƤDQDMS @MFKDR @MC DKDU@SHNMR ŕ XNTŗKK AD NM SGD (S@KX &DQL@MX %Q@MBD S SGD DMC NE @ VDDJ NM HSR SQ@HMR XNTŗKK RTMJHRRDC RNTSGDQM RHCD NE SGD KOR 3GD INTQMDXŗR DMC HR (S@KX ŕ UDQX understand why Switzerland, although not part of the EU, is the true heart MD@QKX 3HBHMN KNNJR @MC EDDKR ,DCHSDQQ@MD@M KHED GDQD @QNTMC +@JD of Europe. MONSOON 2015 | 45 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE BOOKS State of the nation There’s a remark (its origins unknown) which succinctly captures the current upbeat India Unbound, by Gurcharan Das This 2000 book is easily a most readable work, which can be described as the popular economic history of both the pre and post-Liberalisation mood of many politically-aware Indians, era of India. Das says in the very opening chapter, “When I went to work to wit, “Europe was the past, America is in the sixties, I discovered that we had become economically enslaved the present, and India is the future.” A great deal of this positive sentiment has and socialism was leading us to statism. By the time I got married and we had children, Indira Gandhi was creating dynastic rule and leading us into a ditch…. Just before I took early retirement in the early nineties, to do with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Narasimha Rao delivered us our economic freedom.” This sets the tone Modi, whose emergence has been one of for the rest of the book. the most important chapters in the story of contemporary politics of the country. From there to tracing the economic and political history of an ancient nation, Das covers a broad scope in a compact volume. From GHR DWODQHDMBDR @R @ L@QJDSHMF SQ@HMDD @S 5HBJR ŕ VGDQD GD CHRBNUDQR Another milestone moment has been the NMƥDKCGNV@MNQCHM@QXKNVDQLHCCKDBK@RR(MCH@MGNTRDVHEDCHRBNUDQR DBNMNLHBQDENQLRNESGDD@QKXRDƤDBSDC HMMNU@SHUDV@XRNETRHMFHSŕSNLTKKHMFNMVGXřHEVDVDQDNMBDQHBG by the Narsimha Rao-led government, where India began to extricate itself from why are we now poor?” to blasting the innate hypocrisy of socialism to the delightful, moving and riveting chapter titled “the Merchants of Marwar,” to the story of Dhirubhai Ambani to discussions on old and new its socialist past. So which have been the LNMDX HMMNU@SNQR @MC ƥM@KKX SN SGD @QQHU@K NE (MCH@ @R @ JMNVKDCFD NSGDQ CDƥMHMF DUDMSR NE SGD K@RS BNTOKD NE economy, India Unbound is an absorbing cocktail of personal experience, decades of this story? Sandeep Balakrishna “When I went to work in the sixties, I discovered that we had become economically enslaved and socialism was leading us to statism,” writes Das biography, history, real-life anecdotes and analysis of an Economic India. 3GDANNJDMCRVHSG@MTMBNMBD@KDCRTQFDNEBNMƥCDMBD(MCH@G@C HCDMSHƥDRƥUDHMENQL@SHUDANNJRŕRNLDNE at last unshackled herself from socialist bonds and that there was only SGDLBNMSQNUDQRH@KŕVGHBGS@JDMSNFDSGDQ one way forward: up. illuminate the matter. THE LEELA MAGAZINE | 46 | MONSOON 2015 MONSOON 2015 | 47 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE Not Just An Accountant, by Vinod Rai “When it came to internal policy matters, they The former Comptroller and Auditor General a party committed to transparency, they could of India needs to be credited for exposing the be amazingly non-transparent,” and “the evil mega scams that shook India in the previous Arvind Kejriwal did was to hugely heighten CDB@CDŕSGD & RB@L BN@K AKNBJ @KKNB@SHNMR SGD people’s expectations…and then he betrayed Commonwealth Games (CWG) scam, the Air India them.” QDRNQSDC SN SGD ,@ƥ@ CNBSQHMD NE .LDQS@ş ENQ scam, the misdeeds in several PPP projects, the Air Equally, the book sums up Rahul Gandhi’s (MCH@CD@Kş RSGDANNJRGNVRSGDƥQRSRB@LADF@M abilities mercilessly: “So, we have self-doubt A@QDKXC@XRŕ TFTRSŕ@ESDQSGD4/ and a ‘reluctant prince’. Combine the two and government came to power. we have a textbook failure.” With meticulous reports, copious references Finally, on the powerful emergence of from primary sources, government documents, and -@QDMCQ@,NCHNMSGDM@SHNM@KRS@FD,DGS@ƥQRS detailed numbers, the book patiently, numerically recounts his well-recorded disgust for the man, unearths scam after scam, until you start to before condescendingly granting him a few wonder how India actually managed to even have brownie points. a functional economy. On the mammoth 2G scam, Editor Unplugged is quite a rewarding read, Rai writes that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for its biases, insider accounts, irreverence, and knew of A. Raja’s murky deals as early as November @ƥQRSG@MCODMBHKRJDSBGNEK@RSCDB@CD Reputed to be, and infamous as, a Congress sympathiser, Mehta takes an irreverent look at politicians, media, business tycoons, and the larger society, in his book 2007, but “unbelievably, the prime minister chose SN HFMNQD SGD QDC Ʀ@FR NE CDUH@SHNM EQNL ONKHBX @MCPTDRSHNM@AKDE@BSR@MCƥFTQDRNƤDQDCAXSGD One Life is Not Enough, by Natwar Singh her, and what emerges is not pretty. ENQSDKKHMFSGDSQTSGŕAXTMKD@RGHMF@"!(DMPTHQX Hell hath no fury like a former dynasty the 2005 Volcker report, which named him @F@HMRSGHLŕHR@BST@KKX@QDƦDBSHNMNESGD4/ ŗR loyalist humiliated. That sums up former @MCSGD"NMFQDRRO@QSX@RADMDƥBH@QHDRHMSGD LHMCRDS'HRANNJHRHMU@KT@AKDŕENQHSRGHRSNQHB $WSDQM@K Iraqi oil scam. He had to lose his ministry, and courageous revelations, and for showing in minute autobiography, One Life is Not Enough. [telecom] minister.”. The fact that Rai was mercilessly hounded detail the functioning of the CAG. Singh fell out with Sonia Gandhi over Ƥ@HQR ,HMHRSDQ * -@SV@Q 2HMFGŗR eventually walked out of the party. The chief value of the book is the wealth He also reveals the real reason Sonia NE GHRSNQHB@K @MDBCNSDR SNKC ƥQRSG@MC AX Gandhi refused to become Prime Minister someone who has spent a considerable part in 2004: “Rahul (Gandhi) was vehemently NEGHRKHEDHMFNUDQMLDMSƥQRS@R@ATQD@TBQ@S opposed to his mother becoming Prime Editor Unplugged, by Vinod Mehta 3DIO@KŗRONVDQSQHOBG@QFDCENQQ@ODSG@SƥM@KKXK@MCDCGHLHMOQHRNM and later as a professional politician. It is the Minister, fearing that she would lose her life… The late Outlook Magazine Editor’s (he passed away this year) These serve as glaring and timeless warnings as to the extremes of tale of a self-declared Nehru dynasty courtier as a mother, it was impossible for her to ignore @TSNAHNFQ@OGHB@K $CHSNQ 4MOKTFFDC NƤDQR AQDDYX @MDBCNSDR @MC media-politician-business nexus, and show how wide the tentacles of which redeems itself by its sheer honesty. Its Rahul….” personal observations and experiences, not just spanning the last 15 corruption and sleaze had spread in the previous regime. (Post-2004, NSGDQ RHFMHƥB@MBD KHDR HM SGD E@BS SG@S 2HMFG But Singh’s most damning indictment of years, but from the 1970s, when Mehta entered journalism. Tejpal had became intimate with powerful Congress MPs and ministers, is the only politician alive who has served all Sonia Gandhi is this: “What Sonia Gandhi has Reputed to be, and infamous as, a Congress sympathiser, Mehta who invested in Tehelka, which forayed into lucrative businesses SGDENTQFDMDQ@SHNMRNESGD-DGQTBK@MŕEQNL achieved is to reduce the Congress, one of takes an irreverent look at politicians, media, business tycoons, and the KHJD GNKHC@X QDRNQSR @MC BNMCTBSDC GHFGOQNƥKD KHSDQ@QX EDRSHU@KR @S )@V@G@QK@K -DGQT SN 1@GTK &@MCGHŕ@MC SGTR the greatest political parties of the world, to a K@QFDQRNBHDSXHMGHRANNJ R@LDCH@HMRHCDQGDAKNVRSGDKHCNƤSGD extravagant venues.) the book makes for a good historical record. rump of forty-four members in the Lok Sabha... media skulduggery that contributed in large measure to the previous On the historical 2014 elections, Editor Unplugged gives a pretty realistic assessment. Congress government’s misdeeds and scams. One Life is Not Enough also is the only One Life is Not Enough in a way marks the book that exposes most of the dirty family end of an era in Indian politics of the seven- secrets, especially since Sonia Gandhi became decade long dominance of the Nehru dynasty, He also recounts two episodes that’ve decorated the halls of media First, it traces the drama of Delhi’s 2013 assembly election, infamy: the role of senior journalists and editors in the infamous Nira when the Arvind-Kejriwal-led AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) came to power SGD"NMFQDRROQDRHCDMSHM-@SV@Q2HMFGV@RGDQBKNRDBNMƥC@MS which culminated in the excesses that began in 2004 and ended in 2014. Radia tapes scandal, and the disgraced former Tehelka editor Tarun and where Kejriwal resigned as Chief Minister after a mere 49 days. and personal friend for decades. The book dedicates an entire chapter to The book is autobiography, history and a denouement. THE LEELA MAGAZINE | 48 | MONSOON 2015 MONSOON 2015 | 49 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE Price was allowed unprecedented access to Modi after the latter became the Prime Minister 7KH0RGL(ƨHFWE\/DQFH3ULFH organiser par excellence to his four-time stint as Gujarat Chief Minister No piece on the history of the last 10 years of India can be complete @MCƥM@KKXSNGHR@RBDMS@R/QHLD,HMHRSDQ without a mention of the colossus-like emergence of Narendra Modi. No (S V@R CTQHMF GHR RSHMS @R &TI@Q@S "GHDE ,HMHRSDQ SG@S ,NCH ŕ politician since Independence has been the focus of so much sustained, VD@SGDQHMFDMCKDRRUHBHNTR@SS@BJREQNL@KKPT@QSDQRŕCDLNMRSQ@SDC UDMNLNTR UHKHƥB@SHNM @MC BTKSKHJD @CNQ@SHNM @S SGD R@LD SHLD -N how sheer political will could transform a state. Under his tenure, politician has ascended the Prime Minister’s chair with an absolute Gujarat emerged as one of the largest manufacturing hubs in majority on the strength of just his accomplishments. And no politician India, built amazing infrastructure, and clocked more than 11 per had been able to articulate a well-rounded, long-term vision for the cent of agricultural growth (in a state that was not known for any nation without resorting to the usual cliches of appeasement, caste, RHFMHƥB@MS BNMSQHATSHNM SN SGD RDBSNQ RHMBD (MCDODMCDMBD (S V@R and freebies. this record of good governance and economic growth and stability Among the slew of books written about Modi, former UK PM that formed the central plank of his 2014 campaign, where he won a 3NMX!K@HQŗR@CUHRDQ+@MBD/QHBDŗR3GD,NCH$ƤDBSHRODQG@ORSGDLNRS VGNOOHMFRD@SR@MCCDKHUDQDCSN(MCH@SGDƥQRSRS@AKDFNUDQMLDMS readable one. It is primarily a behind-the-scenes narrative of Modi’s after 30 years. high-powered campaign during the 2014 Indian elections. Price was Price narrates these and other aspects of Modi the man, the minister, allowed unprecedented access to Modi after the latter became the Prime campaigner and the Prime Minister in impressive, comprehensive Minister. The book provides more than just a glimpse of Modi’s personal detail. The book also serves up a fairly objective record of the political journey as a tea-selling boy in rural Gujarat to an RSS pracharak to an happenings of the previous decade. THE LEELA MAGAZINE | 50 | MONSOON 2015 %..# Trend spotting: Curated food experiences There probably hasn’t been a more exciting time to be a foodie in the history of civilisation. Q@MFDNEGHFGKXHMUDMSHUDNƤDQHMFREQNL exclusive chef’s tables to pop-up gigs in an art NQBTKSTQ@KRO@BD@QDKTQHMFTQA@MFNTQL@MCR Sharan Saikumar reports on how eating out is becoming about so much more than food. A “brunch with strangers” event by Food Talk India, which is the brainchild of Anjali Batra (centre) L @RSXD@QSGD&QD@S#DKGH/NOTO'NKH2ODBH@KTMENKCDCNM@A@KLX BTQ@SDCNƤLDMTDWODQHDMBDRDWBKTRHUDBGDEŗRS@AKDRHMGNLDGDQHS@FD ,@QBG DUDMHMF NM SGD RDQDMD K@VMR NE @ BTKSTQ@K RO@BD /DNOKD E@LHKX DWODQHDMBDR ONOTO FHFR BTQ@SDC DWODQHDMBDR HM QDRS@TQ@MSR who’d never met each other chatted over kaanji and delicate and a cocktail of these formats in the form of curated pop-ups in J@BGNQHRRSTƤDCVHSG"@KHENQMH@OQTMDRRDQUDCVHSG@ƥDQXLDSGHC@@MDJH UDMTDRSG@SG@UDMNSGHMFSNCNVHSGENNC@S@KKŕR@X@XNF@GNTRDNQ@ BGTSMDX!DSVDDMBNTQRDRSGDFTDRSRSNNJ@SNTQNESGD@QSVNQJNMCHROK@X ETQMHSTQDRSNQDʖ @SSGDUDMTD@MCSGDMSTBJDCHMSN@RTLOSTNTRSG@@KHNESQ@[email protected] #DKGHE@QDENKKNVDCAXOQTMDRSTƤDCFTIHX@R@MC@OOKDOQTMDG@KV@ 6GDM(MRH@+@BDV@KK@@MC/@QDRG"G@AAQH@RS@QSDC2L@KK%QX"NHS V@RVHSGSGDHMSDMSHNMNEBQD@SHMF@RL@KKTMCDQFQNTMCENNCRBDMDSG@S There probably hasn’t been a better time to be a foodie in the history runs parallels with all the commercial food available at restaurants. “At NEBHUHKHR@SHNMNQ@LNQDBNMETRHMFSHLDʖ6HKCKXBQD@SHUD@MCE@RBHM@SHMFKX SG@SSHLDHSV@R@MHBGDATSMNS@MXLNQD(MSGDK@RSXD@QVDBTQ@SDC@ANTS themed food experiences are being thrown at urban dwellers. There are DUDMSRŚR@XR"G@AAQH@ THE LEELA MAGAZINE | 52 | MONSOON 2015 Blind tasting sessions, “dinner with strangers” — Food Talk India’s curated experiences are exciting MONSOON 2015 | 53 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE 3QDJTQHNTRŗƥQRSDUDMSED@STQDC@CHMHMFDWODQHDMBD LNCDQM(MCH@MBTHRHMDVHSG,@RSDQBGDEƥM@KHRS1HRGH#DR@H “Nobody wants to settle for the common when the experiential beckons. Why B@MŗSENNCHDRG@UD@MNƤLDMT meal paired with boutique, KHSSKDJMNVMVHMDR6GX can’t they be served in an art F@KKDQXŚR@XR2HU@KNFM@SG@M 3QDJTQHNTRQDBDMSKXNQF@MHRDC@AHFONOTO@SSGD'NTRDNE+KNXCRHM&N@ MC HSŗR MNS ITRS 2L@KK %QX SGDQD @QD NSGDQR SNN 3GD 2DBQDS 2TOODQ 6GDMXNTOTSHSKHJDSG@SVG@SBG@MBDCNFNNCNKCE@RGHNMDCQDRS@TQ@MSR ENQ @ NMDC@X ONOTO NM SGD SGDLD Ŗ3GD /@K@SD .E /QNUDMBDŗ +@RS XD@Q DWODQHDMBDVHSGSGD,@RSDQBGDEƥM@KHRS1HRGH#DR@H@MCG@RQDFTK@QKXCNMD /QNIDBS ENQ HMRS@MBD HR E@LNTR ENQ SGDHQ LXRSDQHNTR UDMTDR HM VHKCKX G@UDSNƥFGSSGHRV@UD6DKKHSRDDLRSGDX@BST@KKXL@XG@UDRS@QSDCHSʖ ,TLA@HV@RAKDRRDCVHSG-DV8NQJA@RDC"GDE)DG@MFHQ,DGS@ŗRONOTO @MNƤLDMTENTQBNTQRDLD@K@S$KKHORHRBNLAHMDCVHSG@VHMDS@RSHMFSG@S NƤAD@SKNB@SHNMRNƤDQHMFENNCSG@SHRCHƧBTKSSNƥMCHMSGDBHSXŕENHD .KHUD RDS SGD A@KK QNKKHMF VHSG @ RODBH@K LDMT @S SGDHQ ,@G@K@WLH NTSKDS @S3GD3@RSHMF1NNL@MCHM)@MT@QXSGHRXD@Q"GDE1HST#@KLH@RDSTOGDQ ED@STQDCNMKXANTSHPTD$TQNOD@MUHMDX@QCR KKSGDHQDUDMSRVDQDRNKCNTS FQ@R+DA@MDRDOTCCHMFRONLDFQ@M@SDR@JDDSB2HKUDQ2ONNM&NTQLDSNM VHSG &N@ŗR E@LNTR &QDDJ QDRS@TQ@MS 3G@K@RR@ RDQUHMF @ O@QS NE SGDHQ JHSBGDM@S"DKK@Q#NNQ*HSBGDM@SSGD'NTRDNE3@KDR QS&@KKDQX KKSGDRD 6G@SHRCQHUHMFSGHRƦ@RGED@RSHMFLDMS@KHSXHRSGDTMHPTDMDRRNED@BG SGDNSGDQG@MCADKHDUDRHMLHWHMFTOSGDHQ$TQNOD@MSGDLDCLD@KRVHSG LDMT(SADB@LD@MHMRS@MSGHS3GDBNLAHM@SHNMNESVNAHFAQ@MCRCNHMF ideas were essentially experimental in nature. They allowed star chefs to DWODQHDMBD "NLO@QDC SN @ L@HMRSQD@L QDRS@TQ@MS SG@S JDDOR SGD R@LD @ QNTMC NE ANNJQD@CHMF NQ @ LTRHB ODQENQL@MBD #DKGHA@RDC "G@Q@MX@ RNLDSGHMF RONMS@MDNTR ETM @MC RGNQSKHUDC B@TFGS SGD @SSDMSHNM NE SGD CDUHRDMDVQDBHODRSQXNTSCHƤDQDMSDPTHOLDMS@MCSDBGMHPTDRSNHLOQNUD LDMT ENQ @MXSGHMF ADSVDDM RHW LNMSGR SN @ XD@Q SGDRD E@RS BG@MFHMF "GHC@LA@Q@L@RNBH@KLDCH@L@M@FDQ@MCENNCHDBGDEGNRSR3@AKD3@KJ DOHBTQD@MVNQKC@MCKN@MCADGNKCONOTORRSNQLDCHMSNNTQBNKKDBSHUD NKCQDBHODRDUDMDWONRDKNB@KENNCHDRSNBTHRHMDEQNL@MNSGDQO@QSNESGD PTHBJ LNUHMF BNMBDOSR JDDO SGHMFR EQDRG MC SGDM SGDQD HR SGD RNBH@K "HBHŗRSNřATHKC@FKNA@KB@MU@RNEENNCM@QQ@SHUDRŚ3GHRCHMMDQRDQHDRSXOHB@KKX HL@FHM@SHNM6GDMSGD3G@K@RR@ONOTOƥM@KKXVQ@OODCTODL@HKRVDQD world. CXM@LHB 3XOHB@KKX ONOTOR NQ RTOODQ BKTAR GNRS ODNOKD VGDQD řOQNFQDRRDRHMSN@RNQSNEKHUD@QSHMRS@KK@SHNMVGDQDD@BGO@QSHBHO@MSAQHMFR RDMS@MCLN@MRVDMSTO@ANTSHSNMRNBH@KLDCH@@MCADENQDXNTJMDVHS 3GHRSQDMCHSRDDLRHRGDQDSNRS@X1TJL@M2HU@KNFM@SG@MBNENTMCDQ XNT@QDLNRSKX@LHCRSRSQ@MFDQRVHSG@KNMFKHMFDQHMFSGQDDBNTQRDLD@K RNLDSGHMFSNSGDS@AKDRSNQHDRNOHMHNMRCQD@LR@MC@OODSHSDRŚ@RSGDXD@S SGD&DHRG@VNQSGXONOTOLDMTEQNL#DKGHŗR&TOOXAX HV@RK@TMBGDC NE3QDJTQHNTR,TLA@HŗRKD@CHMFBTQ@SNQNEF@RSQNMNLXDWODQHDMBDRVGHBG NMNƤDQSG@SENQBDRDUDMSGDLNRSƥDQBDHMSQNUDQSSNBNMUDQRD%NNC3@KJ @KKJHMCRNEENNCQ@MFHMFEQNL$TQNOD@M)@O@MDRD(MCH@M3G@H XTQUDCHB @MCNMBD@F@HMSGDEQDMYXRS@QSDC/DNOKD@SS@BJDCSGD3DMCDQKNHM3@S@JH QDBDMSKXNQF@MHRDC@L@RRHUDONOTO@SSGD'NTRDNE+KNXCRHM&N@R@XR #DKGHVGHBGRS@QSDCNTS@R@%@BDANNJFQNTOSNBNMMDBSODNOKDNUDQENNC @MC DUDM OTQDKX UDF@M !TS DUDM SGNTFG HS RNTMCR SDQQHAKX OQDSDMSHNTR @MC&TOOXŗR2HFM@STQD/NQJ!DKKX@MC!K@BJ"NCKHJDHSV@RFNHMFNTSNE “Nobody wants to settle for the common when the experiential beckons. now hosts events that are pivoted around this central idea of ‘dining with "G@Q@MX@L@XG@UDRNLDSGHMFSGDQD/QHX@MJ@2G@G@CDCHB@SDCONOTO E@RGHNM 3G@S V@R NMD C@X @MC SNC@X HR @MNSGDQ VGDM ONOTOR @QD MNS 6GX B@MŗS ENNCHDR G@UD @M NƤLDMT LD@K O@HQDC VHSG ANTSHPTD KHSSKD RSQ@MFDQRŗ!TS2L@KK%QX"NADKHDUDRSGDSQDMCHRLTBGLNQDř3GDQDHR@M @SSDMCDQ R@XR ř6G@S ( DMINX @ANTS DUDMHMFR KHJD SGDRD HR SG@S SGDQD HR NMKXCDQHFTDTQHMQDRS@TQ@MSRATS@KRNED@STQDAHFBGDERHMGD@CKHMD@BSR JMNVMVHMDR6GXB@MŗSSGDXADRDQUDCHM@M@QSF@KKDQX#HMHMFSNC@XHR outburst of people cooking simply out of passion and not just experience @KV@XR @ RSNQX ADGHMC DUDQX CHRG @MC @ AKDMC NE GHRSNQX GDQHS@FD ENNC (M,@QBGSGHRXD@QSGDBGHB3QDRQDRS@TQ@MSCHC@ONOTOHMSGD RH@C MNSITRS@ANTSENNCşHSŗRSNS@KKX@ANTSSGDDWODQHDMBDŚ3QDJTQHNTRK@TMBGDC NQOQNEDRRHNM2HLHK@QKX@K@QFDBGTMJNESNC@XŗRQDRS@TQ@MSFNHMF@TCHDMBD @MC@CHƤDQDMSATSHMU@QH@AKXHMSDQDRSHMFF@SGDQHMFNEODNOKDDUDQXSHLDŚ 5HKK@FD@MCSGDM+D!HRSQNCT/@QBB@E¤ƦDVCNVM%QDMBGBGDE,@QB!@XNM HM SGD BHSX SGHR )@MT@QX VHSG ARSQ@BS HM %NTQ "NTQRDR @ BTQ@SDC CHMHMF V@MSR LNQD SG@M ITRS FNNC ENNC 3GDX V@MS @ TMHPTD @MC DMF@FHMF THE LEELA MAGAZINE | 54 | MONSOON 2015 MONSOON 2015 | 55 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE 3GD!NGQH*HSBGDMFHUDR@M@TSGDMSHBƦ@UNTQNESGDENNCNESGHR,TRKHLBNLLTMHSX 2L@KK%QX"NŗR!NLA@X+NB@KONOTOAQHMFR together home chefs, bakers, venders, and food enthusiasts under one roof DWODQHDMBD@QNTMCHS@MCSG@SŗRVGDQDBTQ@SHMFSGDQHFGSJHMCNEENNC@SSGD EQNL NTQ O@RRHNM ENQ ENNC NTQ KNUD ENQ AQHMFHMF ODNOKD SNFDSGDQ NUDQ @ QHFGSRO@BDENQSG@SO@QSHBTK@Q@TCHDMBDBNLDRHMSNOK@XŚR@XR+@BDV@KK@ good meal and the sheer pleasure we get every time we see one of our 2L@KK %QX "NŗR !NLA@X +NB@K ONOTO AQHMFR SNFDSGDQ GNLD BGDER A@JDQRUDMCDQR@MCENNCDMSGTRH@RSRTMCDQNMDQNNEBQD@SHMF@LDKSHMF [email protected]@QDRL@KKBTQ@SDCBNMBDOSRENQ @M@TCHDMBDNESNCHMDQR3GHRVHKKMNSBG@MFDŚ ONHMS ENQ ENNC BQD@SNQR @MC SGDHQ E@MR !NLA@X +NB@K G@R RDDM DHFGS !TSGNVRTRS@HM@AKDHRSGHRLNCDK(EXNTFNAX,TM@E*@O@CH@SGD CHƤDQDMSDCHSHNMRONOOHMFTO@SATMF@KNVRRSTCHNR@MCF@KKDQHDR(SRDDR AQ@HMBGHKCADGHMC3GD!NGQH*HSBGDMHM,TLA@HŕSGDK@SDRSATYYVNQCNM @M@UDQ@FDNEODNOKDNUDQNMDDUDMHMF SGDNƤAD@SBTKHM@QXSQ@HKHMSGDBHSXŕMNSFQNVHMFHRMNS@MNOSHNM'D 6GHKD3QDJTQHNTR@MC2L@KK%QXBNMSHMTDSNCNSGDHQAHSSNAQHMFSGDRD DMUHRHNMR@3!*QDRS@TQ@MSHMSGDMD@QETSTQD(ESG@SG@OODMRGNVLTBGNE GHCCDMFDLRNTSHMSNSGDKHLDKHFGSVG@SŗRHMSDQDRSHMFHRSG@SSGNRD@SGDKL the intimacy of the experience of dining in a real Bohri household on their NESGDRDNMSGDEQHMFDRUDMSTQDROQDEDQSNJDDO@RNLDVG@SKNVOQNƥKD@MC E@LHKXŗRŗRHKUDQSQ@XADQDS@HMDC MCHESGDXCNMŗSFQNVVHKKSGHRDUDQAD RS@XNƤL@HMRSQD@LOQDRRVGDMHSBNLDRSNOTAKHBHRHMFSGDHQDUDMSRŖ/NO LNQDSG@MITRS@VDDJDMCGNAAX TORŗ @MC ŖRTOODQ BKTARŗ @QD E@RGHNM@AKD BNMBDOSR S@JDM EQNL SGD CHMHMF 3GD@MRVDQHR@MXANCXŗRFTDRR-NANCXL@XADL@JHMFLTBGLNMDX BTKSTQD HM SGD 6DRS @MC VGHKD SGD HMSDQDRS GDQD HR GTFD VNQCNELNTSG but the die-hard foodie is certainly having a great time eating his way with publicity on social media is the preferred mode of garnering participants DUDQXBNMBDHU@AKDLHWNEENQL@SRBTHRHMDR@MCO@QSMDQRGHORHMSGDBHSX%NQ @RNEMNV2@XR MI@KH!@SQ@NE%NNCS@KJ(MCH@ř3GHRVGNKDATRHMDRRRSDLR GHRR@JD@SKD@RSL@XSGDƦ@RGED@RSHMFRSNQXBNMSHMTD!NM ODSHSʖ THE LEELA MAGAZINE | 56 | MONSOON 2015 POLKI I DIAMOND I GOLD I PLATINUM GAURI KE GAHNE JEWELLERS SB-54-C, Near Rambagh Circle, Opp. SMS Stadium, Tonk Road, Jaipur-15 Phone: 0141 - 4022561, 2708719 E-mail: [email protected] DRINK I M OQHK SGHR XD@Q SGD !DMF@KTQTA@RDC LQTS #HRSHKKDQHDR OTKKDC NƤ a sort of cheeky nutmeg against, well, folks who are pretty much curmudgeons when it comes to single malt whisky (read: the men who set down European Union regulations for malt whiskies, and, possibly, the Scotch Whisky Association). According to EU regulations, “adding anything SN@VGHRJXCHRPT@KHƥDRHSEQNLADHMFB@KKDC@VGHRJXŚ!TS LQTSV@MSDC to make the only single malt whisky in the world to have expressions of orange. So, around six years ago, it got in olorosso-sherry casks from Spain and matured wine in it along with orange peel — the oranges were from Coorg — for three years. Then, it chucked out the wine and the peels, and matured their single malt in the casks for another three years. The result is the Naarangi, a single malt that remains a single malt despite suspiciously ŕ@MCCDKHBHNTRKXŕQDLHMCHMFXNTNEODQG@ORNQ@MFDR3GDƥQRSA@SBG of Naarangi, about 900 bottles, in all has already been picked up by Amrut fans and connoisseurs across the world, and going by the reviews on the internet, it has been, like all of Amrut’s whiskies, well received. Here is a short review by popular website whiskynotes: “This is an interesting but E@HQKXRHLOKDCQ@LRKHFGSKXCHƤDQDMSEQNLVG@SVDDWODBSDC3GDNQ@MFDR are not taking the lead — instead you get a sherried dram with plenty of ROHBDR@MCGHMSRNENQ@MFDRŚ In 2004, Bengaluru-based Amrut #HRSHKKDQHDRTMUDHKDCSGDƥQRSRHMFKD malt to be made entirely in India. 1DBDMSKXSGDƥQLBQD@SDC@RHMFKD malt with expressions of orange. But Amrut has not just blazed new trails; all of its whiskies are consistently rated among the world’s best. Satyendranath Chatterjee charts out the brand’s success story. KNSNEODNOKDVHKKNEBNTQRDMNSADRTQOQHRDCSG@SSGDŖVNQKCŗRƥQRS single malt whisky with orange’ has come from Amrut. In its own way, the distillery, whose products retail in over 30 countries and which sells over 15,000 cases of its single malt annually, has been a pioneer. We mean, if you can get the world to sit up and take notice of your Indian single L@KS VGHRJX XNT @QD @ ANM@ ƥCD SQ@HKAK@YDQ 3G@S L@JHMFSGDVNQKC sit-up-and-take-notice bit happened way back in 2004. Prior to that Amrut Distilleries, among India’s oldest, manufactured brands such as Above: 3GDƥQRSA@SBGNE-@@Q@MFHŕ@ANTS ANSSKDRŕG@R@KQD@CXADDMRNKCNTS Right:-DDK@J@MS@1@N)@FC@KD"G@HQL@M@MC ,#NE LQTS#HRSHKKDQHDR 3'$+$$+ , & 9(-$ | 58 | ,.-2..- ,.-2..- MaQintosh and Prestige whisky, Old Port Deluxe Rum and Bejois brandy. In the early 2000s, Neelakanta Rao Jagdale spoke to his son Rakshit, scion NESGD)@FC@KD&QNTOVGHBGNVMR LQTS@ANTSƥMCHMFNTSGNVSGDHQL@KS || 3'$+$$+ , & 9(-$ 3GDQDK@SHUDKXBNNKVD@SGDQNE!DMF@KTQTLHFGSG@UD RNLDSGHMFSNCNVHSGSGDGHFGPT@KHSXNE LQTSŗRVGHRJHDR LQTS2HMFKD,@KS6GHRJX B@TFGSSGD@SSDMSHNMNEVGHRJX FTQT)HL,TQQ@XVGNG@CMHBD SGHMFRSNR@X@ANTSHS,TQQ@X VGNHRADGHMCSGD6GHRJX !HAKDHRRNQSNESGD6@QQDM !TƤDSNESGDVGHRJXVNQKC @MCHEGDSGHMJR@CQ@LHR FNNCHSOQNA@AKXHR SGDƥQRSDUDQ(MCH@MVGHRJXSNADRSNBJDC@S+NMCNMŗR'@QQNCRG@RNUDQ often been asked about the reason why Amrut’s whiskies are consistently 10 expressions, including Fusion, which uses barley from both India and rated among the world’s best, and he doesn’t really have an answer to that Scotland, with the latter being peated; Bourbon Cask, which is matured NMDř6GX@QDNTQVGHRJHDRRNFNNC(RTOONRDHSHR@CHƧBTKSPTDRSHNM HM MDV LDQHB@M .@J ADENQD ADHMF ƥMHRGDC HM @ ƥQRSƥKK ANTQANM B@RJ We use quality ingredients, we take our time, but, at the end of the day, I /NQSNMNU@@MTMRD@SDCVGHRJX@FDCHM LDQHB@MN@JA@QQDKR@MCƥMHRGDC think some kind of miracle takes place in the cask. That, and the climate in port casks from Portugal; Herald, a heated single malt, and Greedy HM!DMF@KTQTŚ Angels. (In the 2014 edition of the Whisky Bible, Murray rates nearly With its cool temperatures — relatively speaking, of course, all of Amrut’s whiskies very highly, and that means a score of over 90 out compared to other Indian metros — Bengaluru is more conducive to NE making whisky, but Jagdale says that the angels’ share — the amount of Rakshit is slight, soft-spoken and courteous to a fault. He took to whisky which evaporates from casks during maturation — is also pretty whisky pretty late in life, and is also a Newcastle football club fan. He GHFG @R LTBG @R ODQ BDMS ř!TS VG@S G@OODMR HR SG@S SGD Ʀ@UNTQ NE whisky would fare in the West. The Jagdales had accumulated enormous The Pot Still made their informed guesses, and they named nearly all of is also pleasantly modest about his distillery’s achievements, including SGDVGHRJXFDSRUDQXBNMBDMSQ@SDCŚ/KTR)@FC@KDR@XRSG@SSGDBNMRS@MS quantities of distilled spirit in their warehouses, and Neelakanta Rao was Scotland’s whisky-making regions. When they were enlightened about the the latest one. Naarangi, he says, was conceived by Ashok Chokalingam, changes in temperature along with the city’s generally dry climate also certain that they would make the cut abroad. So, Rakshit, then a student place where the whisky came from, their jaws, says Rakshit, dropped. It Amrut’s global head for single malt whiskies, and he was assisted by two of OK@XSGDHQO@QSHM@CCHMFBG@Q@BSDQSN LQTSŗRVGHRJHDR LQTSŗR&QDDCX in Newcastle, contacted Amrut Distilleries’ UK agent, and got the latter to might have been an informal dipstick survey, but both Rakshit and his SGDBNLO@MXŗRRDMHNQRS@ƤDQRř(SSNNJTRMD@QKX@XD@QSNFDSHSQHFGS(SV@R Angels, released in 2013, is a whisky that seemingly got better even as get him and his dram some time at the famous Pot Still pub, in Glasgow. father knew that they were doing something right, and in 2004, they @L@RRHUDBG@KKDMFDŚR@XR1@JRGHS MCV@RSGDQD@MXO@QSHBTK@QQD@RNM@R the angels kept taking their share of it. Amrut, says Rakshit, lost over 270 The owner of the pub didn’t need any convincing once he sampled the K@TMBGDC SGDHQ ƥQRS CQ@L LQTS 2HMFKD ,@KS 6GHRJX 3GD VGHRJX B@TFGS SNVGXNQ@MFDRVDQDBGNRDMř(RTOONRDHSHR@L@SSDQNEHMSTHSHNMŚR@XR litres of spirit that was matured in bourbon casks for eight years, but the miniature bottles that contained the single malt, and he was keen to the attention of whisky guru Jim Murray, who had nice things to say about Rakshit. “The fact that the product has been well-accepted means that we 144 bottles of the spirit sold out within minutes.) know what his customers thought of it. “It was a cool Wednesday evening, HS,TQQ@XVGNHRADGHMCSGD6GHRJX!HAKDHRRNQSNESGD6@QQDM!TƤDSNE VDQDQHFGSVGHRJX@MCNQ@MFDRCNFDKVDKKŚ but the pub still had its fair share of regulars, most of whom are very SGDVGHRJXVNQKC@MCHEGDSGHMJR@CQ@LHRFNNCHSOQNA@AKXHR2NLDƥUD Amrut procures most of its barley from north India (a few of its drams occurrence in the world of malt. “It is still in its infancy, though, and will knowledgeable about whisky. Our whisky was poured into their glasses, years later, he rated Amrut Fusion as the world’s third best single malt, and also use whisky from Scotland), and new American oak, sherry barrels, and S@JDSHLDŚR@XR)@FC@KD6G@SGDKD@UDRTMR@HCSGNTFGHRSG@SSGDV@HS @MCSGDXVDQD@RJDCSNFTDRRHSRNQHFHMŚR@XR1@JRGHS3GDBTRSNLDQR@S the little-known distillery from India was on a roll. Today, Amrut, which is bourbon casks are used to mature their whiskies. Rakshit says that he has will be worth it. 3'$+$$+ , & 9(-$ || ,.-2..- Next up is most probably, a triple-distilled single malt, again a rare ,.-2..- || 3'$+$$+ , & 9(-$ CREATIVITY Artists on their Art Considered one of the world’s best contemporary sculptors, Italian Lorenzo Quinn is known for his ingenious creations of the human hand. The son of late Oscar-winning actor Anthony Quinn, he experimented with multiple disciplines, from painting to acting, before settling on sculpting as the medium of choice. Quinn, who was in India a couple of months ago, spoke to Nolan Lewis @ANTSRXLANKHRLGHRE@SGDQŗRHMƦTDMBD@MCVGXRBTKOSHMFHRLNQD challenging than painting. L He space’s grand opening, scheduled a few days later. The Gallery calling was to carve. A graduate from New York’s Academy of Odyssey will be introducing to India the works of renowned international %HMD QSR GD RGNVB@RDC GHR ƥQRS DWGHAHSHNM @R @ O@HMSDQ HM artists, and Quinn is here for its inaugural show. All around us are Following in the footsteps of his father, the Hollywood legend outstretched marble palms of various sizes suspended in mid-air that Anthony reach out to us, longing for a caress or touch that would deem them as delivered some powerful performances, such as playing the human, not stone. The human hand almost seems emblematic of Quinn’s young work. It features in many of his collections — and I ask him why. He tells Ŗ!DRS -DV me that the hand symbolises human potential; that we hold in our hands for his acclaimed interpretation of Salvador Dali. In short, his the power to create and destroy, to love and hate. Technically speaking, paintings were commendable and he was a good actor. So why did the human hand is every sculptor’s nightmare; being extremely intricate, the Italian ultimately choose the chisel over Hollywood’s limelight or it is most challenging aspect of the human anatomy to get right. the paintbrush? Quinn has three decades of art experience behind him. orenzo Quinn and I are seated on a bench in a corner of Mumbai’s Gallery Odyssey, whose newly whitewashed walls await the THE LEELA MAGAZINE struggled with Quinn, he violin-maker BSNQ | 62 | MONSOON 2015 many mediums explored Antonio before the Stravidari, art and realising of that acting even won his and the V@QCŗ @S SGD !H@QQSHY %HKL %DRSHU@K HM The Force of Nature is a series of sculptures, by Quinn, depicting a woman pivoting the world around with a piece of cloth MONSOON 2015 | 63 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE Musee D’Orsay, in France, is Quinn’s favourite museum You quit the big screen after your portrayal of Dali. Tell us more As an artist, I don’t understand abstract art. Life is so rich. Why say nothing when there’s so much to be said? My art is about symbolism. about it. I think I came into acting for the wrong reasons; for its mediatic DƤDBS @MC SGD E@LD ( V@RMŗS @R O@RRHNM@SD @ANTS SGD BQ@ES NE @BSHMF <RXU ZRUN KDV EHHQ LQƪXHQFHG E\ 5HQDLVVDQFH DUW :KDWśV \RXU as I am about art. I am a very impatient person and the process of take on it? becoming an actor involves a lot of waiting; waiting for an agent I was born in Rome. I still go back to Rome all the time, as my mother still to select you, waiting to get cast, waiting on your set, waiting for lives there. Rome is a living museum. You turn a corner and — whoa! XNTQ ƥKL SN QDKD@RD V@HSHMF ENQ XNTQ MDWS OQNIDBS ( V@RMŗS VHKKHMF SN — there’s a Michelangelo, a Bernini or a Rodin. It is mind-boggling RTƤDQ ENQ @BSHMF ( @L VHKKHMF SN RTƤDQ ENQ @QS @MC SG@S HR R@XHMF @ KNS and yet depressing. Depressing, because as an artist you see these 6GDM(V@ROK@XHMF#@KH(V@RLDRLDQHRDCADB@TRD(V@RƥM@KKXFDSSHMF masterpieces and you feel like you will never be able to do that and to play my hero. I used to be a surrealist painter. Researching Dali, in a reach to that level of expertise. Stimulating, because you at least try to sense, was easy because I was already a painter. He was my inspiration get a little close to them. You don’t sit back in your cocoon feeling like ATSVGDM(ADF@MOK@XHMFSGDQNKD(QD@BGDC@RS@SDNETMQDRS(SƥM@KKX you’ve achieved it. All you have to do is make a trip to any museum or a dawned on me that there was only one Dali and there could never be a street corner in Rome and you’re blown back to your humble beginnings. better surrealist painter. I was wasting my time. Dali was my catharsis, he made me sit down and think about what I wanted to do with my life. :KRDUHVRPHRI\RXUIDYRXULWHFRQWHPSRUDU\DUWLVWV" 3G@SHRVGDM(OHBJDCTOLXBGHRDKENQSGDƥQRSSHLD@MCADF@MSNRBTKOS ( SGHMJ )DƤ *NNMR HR UDQX BNNK ( @KRN @CLHQD MHRG *@ONNQ @MC )@TLD I had never sculpted before that… Plensa’s work. There are many contemporary artists I don’t like but won’t mention. Tell us something about how your creative process works. I am inspired by life. There is so much you can draw from life. :KLFKDUH\RXUIDYRXULWHJDOOHULHVRUPXVHXPVLQWKHZRUOG" It is an endless fountain of creativity. Wherever I go, whoever The work across Vatican City. It is more spectacular than any museum. I meet, rich or poor, irrespective of their status or religion, Musee D’Orsay in France is my favorite museum in the world because teaches me something that I can render in my work. I read a lot and they have an extensive collection. I grew up going to The Metropolitian there is always a phrase out there or a text that inspires me to Museum in New York and have fond memories in it. Galleria Borghese in translate it into a visual. Italy is very interesting. THE LEELA MAGAZINE | 64 | MONSOON 2015 ‘Gravity’, a bronze and carrara marble sculpture that DLOG@RHRDRSGDHLONQS@MBDNEƥMCHMF@A@K@MBDHMKHED MONSOON 2015 | 65 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE “Sculpting grounds you; painting is uplifting. Sculpting HRLNQDCHƧBTKSSG@MRJDSBGHMF in the sense that you are bound by the laws of gravity” Ŗ+@#NKBD5HS@ŗ@S/@QJ+@MDHM+NMCNM HRNMDNE0THMMŗRLNRSQDBNFMHRDCVNQJR From Quinn’s ‘Finding Love’ series Sculpting grounds you, painting <RXUZRUNKDVDOZD\VKDGDSKLODQWKURSLFPHVVDJHDWWDFKHG" complex. Ask yourself how many famous people are there? Many. HR TOKHESHMF 2BTKOSHMF HR LNQD CHƧBTKS Yes, my art always has a strong social message incorporated into it. I Hundreds of hundreds. How many famous children do you have? Not I guess it depends on the medium. A than sketching in the sense that you are recently created silver and leather bracelets called the ‘Give and Take’ many because people are always comparing them to their parents. gallery if it’s art, but the outdoors if it is bound by the laws of gravity. collection… Giving and receiving is a way of live. We have to learn to be When you are not known, your mistakes are not recognised. able to give without expecting in return, and those of us who receive A famous person is scrutinised from the beginning. He is expected to should remember to give more. That is the circle of life. be perfect. :KHUH GR \RX HQMR\ VKRZLQJ" ,Q D JDOOHU\RXURXWLQQDWXUDOVXUURXQGLQJV" a monument. Growing up, was art a large part of your experience? :KDW IDVFLQDWHV \RX DERXW VFXOSWLQJ DV I began drawing when I was seven-years-old; :KDWKDYH\RXOHDUQWIURP\RXUIDWKHU" :KDWDGYLFHGR\RXKDYHIRUXSFRPLQJDUWLVWV" LXƥQRS@QSDWGHAHSHNMV@RHM6NVʖ3G@SV@R My father was professional and dedicated. I guess he did things with 8NT VHKK G@UD SN RTƤDQ HMHSH@KKX ENQ XNTQ @QS -N NMD HR @M NUDQMHFGS almost 30 years ago. My earliest memories of art are the passion. He was very courageous and did things I would never be able RTBBDRR*DDO@SHS@MCXNTVHKKRTBBDDC KRN(LDDSRNL@MXS@KDMSDC artists with no business sense. Learn to market yourself as an artist. DPHGLXP" Sculpting is very expensive, which is why you have more (other kinds of) artists than sculpturers. I couldn’t Anthony Quinn long walks with dad through the desert on set. Dad was very restless SNOTSHMSNDƤDBS'DG@CRSQDMFSG@MCBG@Q@BSDQ'DV@RMNSCHOKNL@SHB Sculpting is very three-dimensional. Painting allows you to cheat. @MCVNTKCRJDSBGKNRSNAIDBSRHMSGDCDRDQS'DV@R@KV@XRCNNCKHMFNQ I, on the other hand, am very diplomatic, because I have a name to You can always hide a hand behind a back when you’re drawing a chiseling something. I began painting by looking at him. I have always defend — his name. He never had a name and he was busy making one The Gallery Odyssey, in the Lower Parel area of Mumbai, threw open its ƥFTQD HE XNT B@MŗS CQ@V G@MCR 8NT B@MŗS CN SG@S VHSG RBTKOSTQD been drawing since I was a child. I always knew I wanted to be an artist. I for himself. doors recently, in association with the world-famous Halycon Gallery, A viewer can walk right around the back and spot your mistake. Sculpting ITRSCHCMŗSJMNVVG@SLDCHTLNE@QS(V@MSDCSNOTQRTD6GHBGQDLHMCR is perfectionism. me that I should paint more, I haven’t sketched in a while. @ƤNQCSNAD@RBTKOSTQDQSHKKLTBGK@SDQHMLXKHED THE LEELA MAGAZINE | 66 | MONSOON 2015 People often think that life is easier for famous people. For all SGD RTODQƥBH@K QD@RNMR XDR ATS ENQ @KK SGD CDDODQ QD@RNMR HS HR PTHSD MONSOON 2015 London. Its inaugural collection is ‘In the hands of Lorenzo Quinn’, which remains on display till 20th July 2015 | 67 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE HIGH ACHIEVERS and collated lesser known stories from far away corners of India. After several hours of internal SD@L CHRBTRRHNMR @ ƥM@K KHRS NE MNLHMDDR “I believe that a woman can achieve anything if she puts her mind to it. My core team is allwomen, and I am very proud of it,” said jury panelist Madhu Nair to Femina magazine was put to paper. The jury decided the winners in all the categories except the ones that were open to voting. Finally, 16 women walked away with beautiful Tangram trophies. The winners spanned a total of 12 domains, including business and entrepreneurship, sports, art, and education. Said Nair to Femina, “I believe that a woman can achieve anything if she puts her mind to it. My core team is allwomen and I am very proud of it. The nominees female The future is one of them deserves recognition for what she does. This is a wonderful list and I am so glad I documentaries along with her father, and long got to learn about so may incredibly powerful, hours of gazing at the night sky - hopeful of emancipated women.” reaching the space some day. One day, she went to a robotics workshop with her mother, +HUHZHSURƩOHWKUHHRIWKH and came out with a dream. At 12, she made extraordinary winners. her own robot. HEMANI KALUCHA achievements to her credit. In 2012, she and :LQQHU6FLHQFH,QQRYDWLRQ'LJLWDO9RWLQJ her team made AR-Jen, a robot that stimulated 'DQ BGHKCGNNC V@R ƥKKDC VHSG DMCKDRR SQHOR human actions. It was inspired by the story of to the museums, watching reruns of science SGD ,@G@AG@Q@S@ VGDQD QITM RGNNSR @ ƥRG Kalucha, now 17, already has a scroll of Madhu Nair, Director, Interior Design and Operations, The Leela, was part of the eight-person jury that selected some of the winners SUSHANT JADHAV/FEMINA Shravani Hagargi H[WUHPHULJKW receives her award from theatre veteran Arundhati Nag and Rajiv Kaul, President of The Leela Group VAIBHAV NADGAONKAR, VINAY JAVKAR/FEMINA are all achievers in their own right, and each Femina, in partnership with L’Oréal Paris, recently conducted the fourth edition of its annual Women Awards. The event, which cast a spotlight on relatively unknown female achievers, V@RGDKC@S3GD+DDK@,TLA@HVGHBGV@RƥSSHMFBNMRHCDQHMFSGDGNSDKFQNTOŗRBNLLHSLDMS SNV@QCRRNBH@KB@TRDR3GD@V@QCDDRRO@MMDC@Q@MFDNEƥDKCREQNLDMSQDOQDMDTQRGHOSN GD DCHSHNM NE %DLHM@ 6NLDM T There were two set of winners. One set The winners in the Reader’s Choice awards Awards, held at The Leela Mumbai, a was chosen by an eminent jury; the other, categories, like Face of a Cause, Social Impact, BNTOKD NE LNMSGR @FN DWDLOKHƥDC via reader votes. The jury comprised Kalpana Environment and Science and Innovation, were both the magazine brand’s and the hotel Morparia, CEO, JP Morgan India, actor Supriya chosen by Femina readers, through digital and group’s support for women empowerment. Pathak, Facebook fan page voting. Sixteen women were recognised for their designer exceptional achievements, and the occasion educationist also drew actors such Katrina Kaif, Aishwarya Nair, Rai, Sonam Kapoor, Nawazuddin Sidiqqui and The Leela Group, JC Letellier, MD, L’Oréal and analysis went into compiling the list.” Neha Dhupia. India, and Tanya Chaitanya, Editor, Femina. Femina contacted its bureaus across the country theatre veteran Ritu Kumar, Ashwini Director, Design Arundhati Nag, athlete and Said Chaitanya to The Leela magazine, Madhu “This year, our nominees were unknown, with Operations, barely any Google history. Hours of research Nachappa, and VAIBHAV NADGAONKAR, VINAY JAVKAR/FEMINA environment. Here, Apekshita VarshneyOQNƥKDRSGQDDNESGD@BGHDUDQR Winners Hemani Kalucha (left) and Swati Bedekar got their trophies from Aishwarya Rai Bachchan THE LEELA MAGAZINE | 68 | MONSOON 2015 MONSOON 2015 | 69 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE The other winners READER’S CHOICE JURY AWARDS )DFHRID&DXVH - 'U&DSW5LWX%L\DQL 2QOLQHLQƪXHQFHUř6KUDGKD6KDUPD She has been the face of awareness against The Founder and Chief Editor of YourStory, breast cancer. Biyani didn’t let her diagnosis a portal that covers the entrepreneurial of cancer leave her wish lists unchecked. ecosystem in India. 3GQNTFGGDQNQF@MHR@SHNM'HFGV@XR(MƥMHSD 6SRUWVř%KDNWL6KDUPD VAIBHAV NADGAONKAR, VINAY JAVKAR/ FEMINA MNODMV@SDQRVHLLDQSGDXD@QNKC awareness workshops across the country HRSGDƥQRS@MCXNTMFDRS RH@MSNG@UD while living her traveller dream. swum across the four oceans. In January, )DFHRIDFDXVHř %LQDODNVKPL1HSUDP she swam in the freezing waters of (FB fan page voting). The founder of Manipur Antarctica, becoming the world’s youngest Women Gun Survivors Network and Control swimmer to achieve the feat. Arms Foundation of India is the face of north- (GXFDWLRQř *LWDQMDOL%DEEDU east activism against violence. The founder of Kat-Katha, an organisation 6RFLDO,PSDFWř0DQMXOD3UDGHHS in Delhi that operates in brothels (Digital voting). Through her organisation, SNOQNUHCDDCTB@SHNMSN@MCETKƥK Navsarjan, has been striving to give aspirations, of sex workers. marginalised women of Gujarat a voice. /LWHUDU\&RQWULEXWLRQřLeena 2GDƥFGSRENQSGDHQQHFGSR@MCOQNUHCDR 0DQLPHNDODL counselling and rehabilitation to sexually VAIBHAV NADGAONKAR, VINAY JAVKAR/ FEMINA. she has conducted around 630 breast cancer )URPOHIW Rajiv Kaul, President, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, Madhu Nair, Director, Interior Design and Operations, Hotel Leelaventure Limited, and Ashish Rai, General Manager, The Leela Mumbai “If I was thinking about myself, I would be doing something else. Today, I’m happy because I’ve helped transform lives,” says Hagargi ƥKLL@JDQONDS@MC@BSNQ assaulted women. Kanavupattara, her publication house, has 6RFLDO,PSDFWř 'U5XNPLQL5DR OTAKHRGDCANNJRNMVNQKCBHMDL@@MC Actor Katrina Kaif and Satyaki Ghosh, Director, Consumer Products, L’Oréal India (FB fan page voting). The Executive literature. VJ Cyrus Sahukar and actor Neha Dhupia were the hosts for the evening Director of the Centre for World Solidarity 0XVLFDQG3HUIRUPLQJ$UWVř Sonam never had a dull moment in class,” she says. Hagargi wanted companies to employ strode forward. Hagargi provided them with (CWS), Delhi, she works against gender .DOUD “Since childhood, I got the right kind of female security guards. The sentence itself adequate self-defence training, along with NM HSR DXD AX KNNJHMF @S HSR QDƦDBSHNM 2NNM discrimination, and with Saheli (an She fuses various genres of music exposure, which most girls don’t, and so they met with astonishment and ridicule every lessons on how to maintain a register or keep came the complex interplay of physics and organisation she founded) has helped amend SNFDSGDQ'DQA@MC3GD2Tƥ&NRODK end up being uninterested.” But a lot of girls time Hagargi spoke; people thought she was an eagle’s eye on the surrounding. Companies motion engineering. Kalucha and her team 12 laws pertaining to domestic violence and /QNIDBSG@RGDKODCQDUHUD2TƥLTRHBHM from her school would be trying out robotics BQ@YX -N ƥM@MBDR MN RS@Ƥ MN RTOONQSDQR were equally hesitant, but Hagargi told them to employed various tiny robots to represent pornography. the modern circuit. after her, isn’t it? “I am still trying to convince but young Hagargi didn’t give up. She started try out their services for a month and decide CHƤDQDMSBTKSTQDR@MCL@JDSGDVNQKCGDQHS@FD (QYLURQPHQWř 1LVKD%RUD 'HVLJQDQG$UWVř'U$OND3DQGH them,” she laughs. Safe hands 24x7 in 2009 to provide security for themselves. Most clients came back. And site Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. Kalucha (FB fan page voting) She is the founder She is the Consultant Arts Advisor and and housekeeping services by employing and when uneducated women sought work from desires to use robotics creatively- “to build of Elrhino Eco Industries in Assam. It is a Curator of the Visual Arts Gallery at the aerospace engineering from The University of training poor women. Hagargi, she started housekeeping services for social awareness and bring people together,” wildlife conservation-linked waste recycling India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. She has Princeton this fall. she says. project that doesn’t just employ villagers to curated several exhibitions in India and make paper using rhino dung, but also helps abroad. interacting with the visually impaired at an protect the valuable one-horned rhinoceros. institution, she and her friends were appalled (QYLURQPHQWř/DNVKPL1DUD\DQDQ by the lack of recreational facilities for the Kalucha will begin her graduation in “At that time, Deshpande foundation institutions, hospitals, malls, etc. believed in me and paid for our incubation For Hagargi, there is no bigger joy than SHRAVANI PAWAR HAGARGI charges,” she recalls. From the `RDDC seeing meek, timid women turn independent. (GLWRUśV&KRLFH:RPDQ:H/RYH ř Winner, Business & Entrepreneurship money Deshpande Foundation put in, Hagargi “If I was thinking about myself, I would be doing %DGHU6D\HHG -XU\FKRLFH has now grown a big, fruiting tree: Safe hands something else. Today, I’m happy because I’ve (Digital voting). The founder of a cooperative A lawyer, she has been advocating for Hagargi found herself at a crossroads early 24x7’s current turnover is 2.6 crore. helped transform lives.” visionless. They decided to spread some called SWaCH (Solid Waste Collection Muslim women’s rights for several years. in her career. She had done her graduation in But it has been a tough tread. “Women happiness by making a sensor-laden air hockey and Handling), which works with the Pune 2GDQDBDMSKXƥKDC@/(+HMSGD,@CQ@R'HFG social work with a single-minded objective: themselves were not willing to wear trousers, SWATI BEDEKAR game for them. government to handle the city’s waste and Court to stop the practice of kazis issuing working for women empowerment. She had an parents told me that I’m spoiling their Winner, Science & Innovation stop it from polluting the land. CHUNQBDNQS@K@PBDQSHƥB@SDR idea to help rural women out of their misery, daughters - the complaints kept pouring in.” )%)DQ3DJH9RWLQJ an otherwise geeky subject fun. “My robotics the passion to slog for the purpose, but she had But for every woman who hesitated, there .MD SGHQSX ƥUD JL EQNL 5@CNC@Q@ HM @ QTQ@K coach made science so interesting that we no backers. were several women of self-help groups who hamlet, Bedekar saw a girl sitting on a stone. She is a thoughtful teenager. While Kalucha credits her mentors for making THE LEELA MAGAZINE | 70 | MONSOON 2015 MONSOON 2015 | 71 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE VAIBHAV NADGAONKAR, VINAY JAVKAR/ FEMINA Art for your Floors Among the celebrities who attended the event were actor Sonam Kapoor and cricketer Zaheer Khan “Women have told me that they have no option but to tolerate the violence because they’re sick,” says Bedekar Combaitore-based girl was menstruating and would sit there Arunachalam set to our environment. According to a statistic, till dusk. Later, she would water the stone up units NMD R@MHS@QX M@OJHM QDPTHQDR XD@QR SN and walk home. In rural Rajasthan, she saw in Gujarat and employed women to make decompose. This led Bedekar to develop an women sitting on mud. In the heart of Mumbai, napkins of highest quality, keeping the incinerator that burns the napkins to ash, which Bedekar saw construction workers insert rags cost as low as `2. But most importantly, can be used as a fertiliser. It is aptly named in their vagina to absorb menstrual blood. she started talking — through seminars, Ashudhinashak and is already in place at New rags would replace the old ones and bhajans, garbas, and songs. A sarpanch drove several institutions in Gujarat. often, the old rags would be left inside. GDQNTSNEGHRUHKK@FDATSRGDBNMSHMTDCSNƥMC “I have seen so much that now I want to Bedekar, a science educator by profession, had ways to spread awareness. “When dialogue ƥW SGHMFR PTHBJKXŚ !DCDJ@Q R@XR RNQQNVETKKX already known that girls drop out of school is triggered, a solution always appears,” she She believes that violence against women once they hit puberty. But this startling lack of believes. would stop if they practice better hygiene. hygiene in India compelled her to look deeper within the problem. Studying the model set up by sanitary social Muruganantham, napkin entrepreneur (unholy).” But the real ashuddhi has been When she enquired, she found that the she manufacturing The awareness is abysmal. “Women still “Women have told me that they have no option think that they menstruate to remove all the but to tolerate the violence because they’re dirt from their body. That they are ashuddh sick,” she says. THE LEELA MAGAZINE | 72 | MONSOON 2015 The Carpet Cellar “Persian Kashan -Pashmina Carpet” 1, Anand Lok, Khel Gaon Marg, Siri Fort Road, New Delhi - 110049. 7HO(PDLOLQIR#FDUSHWFHOODUFRP:HEVLWHZZZFDUSHWFHOODUFRP KWWSVZZZIDFHERRNFRPWKHFDUSHWFHOODU KWWSVWZLWWHUFRP7KH&DUSHW&HOODU '6XOWDQSXU0*5RDG$GMDFHQWWRWKH6XOWDQSXU0HWUR6WDWLRQ1HZ'HOKL7HO (Herbal Washing & Restoration also undertaken) 23(1$//'$<6$07230 THE AESTHETE Samyukta Nair Samyukta Nair, The Leela Group’s Head of Design and Operations, recently unveiled her latest personal venture, Dandelion, a line of stylish sleepwear fashioned purely from cotton. Vintage-inspired robe, pin tuck camisole set, printed nightshirt — the handcrafted nightwear label is available online, at designer Pernia Qureshi’s Pop Up Store. Nair talks to us about how Dandelion came about, her style aesthetic, and more. How do you describe your personal style? Who are your style icons? Clean and classic, with a dash of lightness. I’m very Grace Kelly and Maharani Gayatri Devi, for embodying timeless elegance no-nonsense in my approach, and nothing appeals — those pearls and large lashed eyes are transcendental. Audrey to me more than a direct and simple style. I am Hepburn, for her grace, a tremor of European chic. drawn to a piece of piano solo from Philip Glass Beyoncé has enough voltage to light up a small or one of Rothko’s giant canvases — that same sensibility informs my style. city, as much as siren as she is now a devoted mother, her music is legend and so is she. Samyukta Nair CLASSIC DRESSING ROBE What’s the one thing that you really What are the places, from across the globe, you like to shop at? I’m as happy at my favorite haunts at Chor Bazaar (for furniture or bric-a-brac) as I am splurge on? morning in something so revealing that our families don’t know where to BNLENQS@AKD(RBNTQSGDBNTMSQXENQOQHMSRSG@SƥSHMSNSGDCDRHFMO@KKDSD Anything vintage, my vice being vintage KNNJʖ.M@CHƤDQDMSMNSDSGDAQ@MCCQ@VRCHQDBSKXEQNLLX@MSDBDCDMBD — I’m often raiding my father’s address book (he was hugely successful Chanel bags and Yves Saint Laurent oussy- my grandfather, and, later, my father, made their names in textiles when he started one of the largest lace companies in India) and I work with and fabric. younger designers to come up with prints that are raring for young Indian bow blouses. audiences. It’s hugely exciting, and also a responsibility I take seriously. at the Bon Marche in Paris. The vintage stores and What’s your vision behind Dandelion? boutiques of New York’s East side, with its young The idea was to create a fun and chic sleepwear brand designers and individual voices, win my trust. I follow a How involved are you in the nitty gritties of creating Dandelion products? +RZGRHV'DQGHOLRQUHƪHFW\RXUSHUVRQDOVW\OH" lot of Scandinavian designers from Sweden — Monica that made it easy for women to feel at home in their I think of Dandelion as a brand that will be a part of every Indian woman’s My personal style philosophy, as I mentioned, is clean and classic. To that, Förster, who creates chairs, comes to mind. Harvey ANCHDR HM RNES E@AQHB @MC Ʀ@SSDQHMF RHKGNTDSSDR ( wardrobe. My designers are already working on the next line. We spend I would add comfortable. Sleep in style, and wake beautifully. This is a @L DWSQDLDKX Ʀ@SSDQDC SG@S #@MCDKHNM G@R FNMD @ RHFMHƥB@MS SHLD HM NTQ RKDDOVD@Q ŕ ODQG@OR DHFGS GNTQR @ C@X 6GX brand I am absolutely committed to nurturing and growing. Come and try when you’re in London. Bombay Electric, Le Mill from strength to strength, and recently style icon Sonam B@MŗS VD JDDO SGD CDRHFM BGHB @MC RHLOKD @MC Ʀ@SSDQHMF SN ENQL @MC for yourself! and Pernia’s Pop Up Shop — I have these three Kapoor wore Dandelion on a recent jaunt to Cannes. I am excellent stores in Mumbai on speed dial. told she lounges in them in her down time. Nichols and Portobello Street Market are worth scouting What are some of the products/accessories you How did the idea for Dandelion come about? can’t do without? It came about in my conversations with women who told me that there was no nightwear that was stylish yet I believe a wardrobe would be incomplete without wearable. I had to respond to this need because a basic structured jacket from Helmut Lang, the alternative — the Great Indian Nightie — RHLOKDBKD@MƥSSHMF SQNTRDQR EQNL /GHKKHO Lim, button down shirts from Equipment, is essentially a giant tent. I wanted to work @MCA@KKDSƦ@SREQNL"GNKD3NADGNMDRS with fabrics that were sensitive to Indian I am equally at home in something my skin and our complexions. Moreover, my mother would have given me — there’s team of designers are extremely alert something very special about being in to the fact that sleepwear needs to be Stockists the company of an heirloom pashmina, relevant to the Indian cultural context – !NLA@X$KDBSQHB,TLA@HŞ+D,HKK,TLA@HŞ!NLA@HL*NKJ@S@Ş LDSGXRS"GDMM@HŞ/DQMH@ŗR/NO4O2GNONMKHMD For orders and enquiries, kindly email at [email protected] or call +91 98201 82366. and the air of history it carries. Fishmouth Short Set THE LEELA MAGAZINE | 74 | MONSOON 2015 I mean, we are not going to wake up in the Nair admires Monica Förster, a Sweden-based chair designer MONSOON 2015 Bombay Electric is one of Nair’s shopping haunts | 75 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE 2- /2'.3 + 4-"'/ # Concept designer cakes S3GD+DDK@XNTQBDKDAQ@SNQXB@JDHRFHUDM@M@QSHRSHBSNTBG Y ou may have attended some wedding whose invitiation card was impressively personalised — perhaps it had some element of the family heirloom of the groom or bride, or perhaps it had a design NE SGD AQHCDŗR E@UNTQHSD JHMC NE R@QH 6GDM HS BNLDR SN VDCCHMFR SGD BTRSNLHR@SHNM@RODBSNEBNTQRDHRMNSITRSKHLHSDCSNSGDHMUHS@SHNMB@QC S the nuptial ceremonies hosted at The Leela properties, it’s not uncommon SNRDDB@JDRSG@S@QDCDRHFMDCSNL@SBGVHSGSGDBNRSTLDRNESGDFQNNL AQHCDENQHMRS@MBDSGHMJ@B@JDSG@SQDƦDBSRSGDBNKNTQ@MCRSXKDNESGD AQHCDŗRCQDRRVHSGHSROQHMSR@MCLNSHER The pastry chefs at The Leela also enjoy personalising your marriage @MMHUDQR@QX B@JD @R @KRN XNTQ JHCŗR NQ SDDM@FDQŗR AHQSGC@X B@JD (M SGD O@RSBNTOKDNELNMSGRSGDXG@UDL@CDB@JDRSG@SG@UDED@STQDCONOTK@Q B@QSNNMR EQNL ,HMHNM SN 6HMMHD SGD /NNG L@MX XNTMF ANXR KHJD SGDHQ B@JDRSNADRG@ODCKHJD@B@Q BNMRHCDQ@AKD@LNTMSNESHLDFNDRHMSNBQD@SHMFSGDRDB@RDR@MC NQCDQR@QDSXOHB@KKXOK@BDC@SKD@RS@VDDJADENQDSGDBDKDAQ@SHNMC@X Heavenly scent T here’s a Kailashpati (Courpita Guianensis) tree at the main !TCCGHRSR@RVDKK BBNQCHMFSNRNLD!TCCGHRSSDWSRSGD!TCCG@V@R entrance of The Leela Mumbai, planted in 1990, which arrests the ANQMTMCDQSGHRJHMCNE@SQDD@MCřSGDRVDDS@QNL@SHBAKNRRNLREDKK @SSDMSHNMNEHMBNLHMFFTDRSRVHSGHSRBNKNTQETKƦNVDQR*@HK@RGO@SH @QNTMCKNQC!TCCG@@RGDSNNJGHRK@RSAQD@SGŚ(S@KRNBNLLDLNQ@SDR SQDD HKKTRSQ@SDC @ANUD HR NE RHFMHƥB@MBD SN 'HMCTR 3GD ODS@KR NE SGD )DVHRG -DV 8D@Q ENQ 3QDDR @MC SGD RG@L@MR NE L@YNM RDD HS HSRƦNVDQRKNNJKHJDSGDGNNCNE@M@F@RDQODMSVGHBGOQNSDBSR@ @ROQNUHCHMFOQNSDBSHNM@F@HMRSDUHKROHQHSR-@SHUDSNSGD L@YNMH@M shivalingam (which symbolises Lord Shiva and which is worshipped ENQDRSR"NTQOHS@&TH@MDRHRHRBK@RRHƥDC@R@Q@QDSQDD@MCƦNVDQHM HM SDLOKDR @MC GDMBD SGD R@HC M@LD "NTQOHS@ &TH@MDMRHR VGHBG (MCH@6GHKDHSRƦNVDQR@QDTRDCHMODQETLDRSGDG@QCRGDKKRNEHSR is also referred to as cannonball tree, is considered sacred by EQTHSR@QDTRDC@RBNMS@HMDQR THE LEELA MAGAZINE | 76 | MONSOON 2015 MONSOON 2015 | 77 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE "'$%ŗ2".1-$1 ' 43$/1./$138 Chef Surender Mohan "NQONQ@SD"GDE@S3GD+DDK@S@KJR@ANTSGHRE@UNTQHSD cuisine and creating a special menu for Bill Clinton Dream What’s the best compliment you have ever received from a guest? .MDDUDMHMF(V@RB@KKDCAX@FTDRSVGNV@RCHMHMF@S)@L@U@Q@S3GD+DDK@ ,TLA@H'DV@MSDCSNKDSLDJMNVSG@SSG@SV@RNMDNESGDADRS(MCH@M homes meals he had eaten, and the dal especially reminded him of the dal made AX GHR LNSGDQ 3GHR BNLOKHLDMS RSQ@HFGS EQNL GHR GD@QS V@R UDQX RODBH@K The Leela Residences at Bhartiya City, in Bengaluru: T SHABNAM SIRUR SGDGNSSDRS@CCQDRRENQKTWTQXHMSGDBHSX “Every food, irrespective of the cuisine, has three courses: anticipation, consumption and remembrance. This is what we serve at Jamavar” he much-anticipated launch of The Leela Residences at Bhartiya City, JHSBGDMR EQNL (S@KX CDCHB@SDC ATSKDQR @MC KHLNTRHMD NM B@KK SN L@JD HM!DMF@KTQTMD@Q'DAA@KV@R@GHFGOQNƥKD@Ƥ@HQCQ@VHMFSGDVGNŗR SGD GNLD NVMDQŗR KHED RTODQ BNMUDMHDMS NMB@KK HMGNTRD ƥMD CHMHMF VGNNESGDBHSXEQNLBNQONQ@SDSXBNNMRSNBQD@SHUDGD@CR3GDRDKHLHSDC RDQUHBD ANS@MHRSR BNMBHDQFD CDRJ ODQRNM@K SQ@HMDQR @O@QS EQNL NSGDQ You have spent a decade as a chef at The Leela Mumbai? How has ENQLD3G@S@RHCDNMDNESGDLNRSLDLNQ@AKDDWODQHDMBDRV@RNQF@MHRHMF edition world-class lifestyle residences, in the 125-acre integrated city, QDFTK@QRDQUHBDR the journey been for you? @MC OQDO@QHMF SGD DMSHQD LDMT ENQ SGD ENQLDQ 42 /QDRHCDMS !HKK "KHMSNM HKKTRSQ@SDSGDƥMDRSHMKTWTQX@MCGNROHS@KHSXNMD@RRNBH@SDRVHSG3GD+DDK@ Located strategically, Bhartiya City is a mere 25-minute drive away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hat are the must-try dishes at The Leela Mumbai’s restaurants? 1DRHCDMBDRNƤDQ@RSTMMHMFUHDVNESGHRNODM@QD@ ( V@R @L@YDC @S GHR JMNVKDCFD @MC O@RRHNM ENQ ENNC S SG@S SHLD SGDQD (ŗCRSQNMFKXQDBNLLDMCSGD1@@MŔ£Ŕ)@L@U@QVGNKDRTBBTKDMSKDFNEK@LA V@R @M NOONQSTMHSX SN GD@C SGD K@TMBG NE )@L@U@Q HM !@MF@KNQD VGHBG ( BNNJDC HM SGD S@MCNNQ @MC #@K )@L@U@Q AK@BJ KDMSHKR RHLLDQDC RKNVKX SNNJNUDQ@MCSGDQDRS@RSGDXR@XHRGHRSNQXʖ6DRNNMNODMDC)@L@U@QHM NUDQMHFGS@S)@L@U@Q%NQ(S@KH@ME@QD+D"HQPTD2HMF@STQDŗR1@UHNKKH!TQQ@S@ !@MF@KNQDSNNVGHBGV@RENKKNVDCAXSGDNMDRHM,TLA@H&N@-DV#DKGH @MCSGDCDKHBHNTR/DBNQHMN"GDDRD"Q£LD!QTKDDB@MMNSADLHRRDC KRN @MC"GDMM@H SGD)@O@MDRDENNC@S"HSQTRHRVNQSGSQXHMF !D HS ENQ ATRHMDRR KDHRTQD NQ ƥSMDRR SGDRD GNLDR G@UD RNLDSGHMF ENQ DUDQXNMD $@BG QDRHCDMBD BNLDR ƥSSDC VHSG RS@SDNESGD@QS !NƧ CTQHMF GHR RS@X @S 3GD +DDK@ &N@ HM %DAQT@QX ,Q "KHMSNM V@R LNRS @OOQDBH@SHUDNENTQDƤNQSR What’s your favourite kitchen tool? ,X E@UNTQHSD SNNKR @QD LX S@RSHMF RONNM @MC SGD OHMBG NE LX ƥMFDQ ŕ 3URƩOH VHSGNTSSGDRDLXENNCVNTKCMŗSS@RSDSGDV@XHSCNDR "GDE2TQDMCDQ,NG@MG@RLNQDSG@MSVNCDB@CDRNEDWODQHDMBDHM (MCH@MBTHRHMD@MCG@ROK@XDC@UHS@KQNKDHMRDSSHMFTOSGDQDRS@TQ@MS (left) Dinesh Nair, Co-Chairman and MD, The Leela Group (left-right): Sasi Madathil, Snehdeep Aggarwal, Chairman and Founder, The Bhartiya Group, and Arjun Aggarwal TO BOOK YOUR LUXURY LEELA RESIDENCE AT BHARTIYA CITY, BENGALURU, call on +91 80 4932 6900 or email at [email protected] More info at: leelaresidences.bhartiyacity.com5HRHSLeela Residences Experience Centre on location, near Hebbal THE LEELA MAGAZINE | 78 | MONSOON 2015 If you had not been a chef, what would you have been? )@L@U@Q@SU@QHNTR+DDK@OQNODQSHDR'DBNLOKDSDCGHRCHOKNL@HMENNC ,X O@QDMSR HMRSHKKDC SGD U@KTD NE GDKOHMF ODNOKD HM LD RN HE ( G@CMŗS OQNCTBSHNMHM#DKGHADENQDRS@QSHMFGHRB@QDDQ@S@MNSGDQQDMNVMDC ADDMEDDCHMFODNOKD(VNTKCG@UDADDMHM@OQNEDRRHNMVGDQDXNTRDQUD GNSDKFQNTO,NG@MVGN@KRNNUDQRDDRSGDBTKHM@QXETMBSHNMR@S SGDOTAKHB 3GD+DDK@,TLA@HG@RVNMMTLDQNTR@BBNK@CDR'DHR@KRN@Ŗ2S@Q "GDEŗNM3GD+TESG@MR@ HQV@XRO@MDKENQOK@MMHMF@MCOQDO@QHMF What is your favourite cuisine? LDMTREQNLSGDJHSBGDMRNE)@L@U@QENQSGDHQƥQRS@MCATRHMDRRBK@RR (DMINX)@O@MDRDBTHRHMDŕHSHREQDRG@MC@TSGDMSHBKHJD(MCH@MBTHRHMD3GHR O@RRDMFDQRSQ@UDKKHMFADSVDDM(MCH@@MC&DQL@MXŞ G@RKDCLDSNRDSTO@)@O@MDRDNƤDQHMFHM"HSQTR MONSOON 2015 | 79 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE www.theleela.com MEETINGS IN INDIA, BEST CURATED BY THE LEELA. Breathtaking settings | Inspiring themes | Up-to-date meeting facilities | Meetings Concierge for bespoke planning To know more about the ‘Rewarding Meetings at The Leela’, promotional offer, call The Leela Reservations Worldwide (Toll Free) India: 1800 1031 444 | USA: 8556 703 444 | and Resorts: New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Gurgaon, Udaipur, Goa and Kovalam. UK: 08000 261 111 | Hong Kong: 800 906 444 | Singapore: 1800 223 4444 | +91 124 4425 444 (Private lines) | Email: [email protected] | The Leela Palaces, Hotels OENOPHILIA EVENTS In Memoriam On 17 May, at 11 AM, The Leela employees, at the various properties, observed a two-minute silence as a mark of remembrance and respect for the late Capt. C.P.Krishnan Nair, who passed away last year. Later, all the GMs gave a short speech, sharing their memories 10 things Champagne, the utility of decanting a wine, and more. third is Chardonnay, which is white. CNBTLDMS@QX ƥKL BGQNMHBKHMF GHR QDL@QJ@AKD KHED @MC @ RODBH@K RS@Ƥ KTMBG 3GD HCD@ ADGHMC SGD BNLLDLNQ@SHNM V@R SN AQHMF @KK served in glasses with a larger surface area, employees (old and new) together in one forum to deepen their to expose the wine to the air. resolve to carry the Founder-Chairman’s legacy forward and uphold KV@XRRDQUD"G@LO@FMDHMƦTSDRRN@RSN the values he stood for. MNSKNRDHSRDƤDQUDRBDMBD 6. /QHBD RHFMHƥDR PT@KHSX HM VHMDATSXNTB@M@KRNƥMC@LOKD labels that are complete value-for Glitz and glamour In April, Grazia India celebrated its seventh anniversary at The money-products. usually Leela Mumbai, with a 70s-themed fashion party, also hosting NMKX B@QQHDC NTS ENQ ƥMD @MC the Grazia Young Fashion Awards, an annual event that picks older wines, to enhance the DWBDOSHNM@K S@KDMSR HM SGD ƥDKC NE RSXKD 3GHR XD@QŗR O@MDKHRSR sensory pleasure of tasting, and were renowned names from the industry, such as Saket also to remove sediment left by Dhankar, Aparna Badlani, Tina Tahilani and Sujata Assoumal, only from the region the tannin. among others. Besides the categories that recognised great of 8. A good time to vacation in work in fabric innovation, accessory design, creative labels, etc, France. Other sparkling the wine regions of the northern there also was a set of glamorous popular awards to highlight wines cannot be called hemisphere is July and August; in 7. 1. Champagne are blended to make a of the late founder, which was followed by a screening of a short 4. Wines that are higher in tannins should be 5. you should know about wine How many kind of grapes grapes: Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The comes Champagne, in India, Rajiv Kaul, President of The Leela Group, and media mogul Vineet Jain stylish trendsetters. and March. considering 9. Wine at home should be stored the humid climate, wine should be served cooler than room is the southern hemisphere, February Champagne. 2. In Decanting temperature, with red wine at 17°C, white at 12°C, and Champagne at 6°C. 3. Champagne is actually made from three grapes. Two of them are red in a cool, dark place, with a constant Mughal history temperature. Between 8°C and 13°C is In May, The Leela Mumbai hosted the performance of Mehernama, a ideal, preferably not in your kitchen fridge. play that revolves around Noor Jahan and emperor Jehangir, a play 10. A glass of red wine (120 ml) is about 80 that has travelled all across the country. The story, which is a mix calories, and a glass of white wine (120 ml) of love story and political intrigue, was highly appreciated by the is approximately 70 calories. audience members, including Priya Dutt and Zeenat Aman. Aishwarya Nair Food & wine merchandising, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts Vivek Nair, Chairman and MD of The Leela Group THE LEELA MAGAZINE | 82 | MONSOON 2015 MONSOON 2015 | 83 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE ACCOLADES EVENTS Nature care T he Leela Group celebrates The World Environment Day on June 5 annually at all its hotels, and this year was MNCHƤDQDMS S3GD+DDK@ Mumbai, the employees participated in ‘Green Walk-Plant a Sapling’ initiative, in which trees were planted in and around the property. The group is continuing the legacy of its FounderChairman, the late Captain C.P. Krishnan Nair, who had been globally recognised for being a committed environmentalist. The Leela Palace New Delhi, Presidential Suite’s Sitting Room The best of T the best GD+DDK@/@K@BD-DV#DKGHƥFTQDRHMSGDVNQKCŗRSNOGNSDKRNEKHRSHM1NAA1DONQSŗR,@X issue. This fantastic property, which opened its doors in 2011, drew critical acclaim for setting new global standards of luxury in the hospitality industry. Another of the group’s city properties, The Leela ,TLA@HFNS@OOQDBH@SDCENQHSRENNCŕSGDGNSDKŗR+D"HQPTD2HFM@STQDVNMHMSGDB@SDFNQXŖ!DRS(S@KH@M in Mumbai — Fine Dine (suburbs) at Times Food & Nightlife Awards 2015. GUEST SPEAK The ESPA at The Leela Udaipur Suresh Raina Cricketer Prince Andrew Duke of York Catherine Carlton Mayor, City of Jennifer Lopez Actress and singer Menlo Park, California Geet Sethi T Nine-time world champion in billiards Travel + Leisure India & South Asia hosted its India’s Best Awards 2014 at The Leela Palace New Delhi The Leela Palace Bangalore The Leela Kovalam The Leela Palace Udaipur I have travelled to many 5 star and 7 star hotels all over the world, but I must say, The Leela Palace in New Delhi tops my list of best hotels. 3G@MJRSN@KKSGDRS@Ƥ members for making my stay perfect. I wish for the continued success of The Leela Palace Bangalore. We sincerely appreciate the beauty and kind hospitality at The Leela. I hope to return with my family very soon. Thank you for the most beautiful stay. THE LEELA MAGAZINE Wellness paradise | 84 | MONSOON 2015 The Leela Ambience Gurgaon. The ESPA at The Leela Mumbai The Leela Udaipur was declared ‘The Best Thanks for your warm hospitality, and for the superb Chinese food. Destination Spa’ at this event.; this is the sixth such accolade the resort has won in the past four years. On the other hand, the food at The Leela Palace New Delhi’s ESPA was declared the ‘Best Spa Cuisine in India’ by wellness solution provider GeoSpa at its asiaSpa Awards 2015. MONSOON 2015 | 85 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE /$12/$"3(5$ 2."( +(-#$7 Combating poverty Christel House, founded by American entrepeneur-turned-philanthropist Christel DeHaan, is a global NGO that transforms children from BPL families into contributing members of society. By Sabiha Ghiasi C GQHRSDK A Swede in India #D'@@M BNENTMCDC 1DRNQS "NMCNLHMHTLR (MSDQM@SHNM@K 1"( SGD VNQKCŗR ƥQRS U@B@SHNM DWBG@MFD BNLO@MX HM SGD ŖR HM SGD 42 4MCDQ GDQ KD@CDQRGHO 1"( Sula’s vineyards in Nashik grew into a renowned global enterprise with NƧBDR HM BNTMSQHDR 2GD RNKC NƤ 1"( HM Cecilia Oldne, who is global brand ambassador and international business head 1996, and since then, has devoted her time and @S2TK@5HMDX@QCRS@KJR@ANTSDWOKNQHMFU@QHNTRENQLRNEXNF@@MCGDQKNUDENQSH@Q@R ƥM@MBH@KQDRNTQBDROQHMBHO@KKXSNOGHK@MSGQNOX C Christel House, an NGO DeHaan founded in oming to India wasn’t a culture shock for me because I have such a XNTQAD@TSHETKBNTMSQX6DG@UDNƧBDR@BQNRR(MCH@ATSDUDMHE(ŗLMNS 1998, educates children from families whose strong connection to Asia and Thailand, where my grandparents lived travelling on work I do love to pack my bags and do weekend trips. income falls substantially below the poverty for 30 years, and where I have a second home. My grandfather Axel Oldne ( BNLD EQNL 2VDCDM VGHBG G@OODMR SN AD NMD NE SGD BKD@MDRS was recruited as the Chief-Flight Operations at Thai Airways, to help them places in the world. India is such a gorgeous country; I think we do it a KHMDHM(MCH@2NTSG EQHB@SGD42@MC,DWHBN where it was established. VHSGSGDRDSTONER@EDSXRS@MC@QCR@MCSGDƦHFGSCDBJSQ@HMHMFOQNFQ@L DeHaan recalls lowered eyes and lack 6GHKD SGDRD @QD SVN CHƤDQDMS BNTMSQHDR SGDQD @QD BDQS@HM RHLHK@QHSHDR of self-esteem in the children she met when, between Asian cultures, and I came here with a sense of knowing what to expect… (ƥQRSLDS1@IDDU2@L@MSSGDENTMCDQ@MC"$.NE2TK@5HMDX@QCR@S I’m passionate about my job because wine-making is an art that requires a lifetime to perfect in 2001, she was visiting slums in Bangalore, VGDQD"GQHRSDK'NTRDRDSTOHSRƥQRS(MCH@BDMSQD 3GDX RONJD MN $MFKHRG VDQD L@KMNTQHRGDC and had a number of mild health problems. a wine exhibition in Cape Town, in 2004. While it was a brief meeting, he Christel House in Bengaluru has 1,065 students They have goals and dreams and plans to achieve them. They are caring, respectful, ethical, independent, and responsible, and know they have a responsibility to make the world a better place left quite an impression on me: that was my introduction to the beautiful disservice by not keeping it clean. Besides that, as a professional in the Holding a pencil or a crayon was, for them, a world of Indian wines. Little did I know that three years later he would alcobev industry, it breaks my heart to see the high taxation imposed on far-fetched dream. invite me to spearhead his dream of building a brand that would become wine and the rules and regulations that govern its advertising: India has Today, though, many of these children, Christel House has another centre in India $UDQX XD@Q 3GD +DDK@ /@K@BD !@MF@KNQD GNKCR @M DW@LOKD NE VNQKCBK@RR VHMDR L@CD HM (MCH@ ( ITLODC @S SGD NƤDQ one of the highest taxes and duties, and most stringent rules in the world. after being aided by the NGO, have successfully at Lavasa, near Pune. Here, 327 students are the city’s most talked about annual fundraising because I love challenges, I’m free-spirited and the idea of travel always 3GHR HR MNS ADMDƥSHMF @MXNMD HM reached the 12th grade and beam with self- enrolled in kindergarten through 5th grade, gala, for the NGO. The hotel invites current DWBHSDRLD(ŗLO@RRHNM@SD @ANTS LX INA ADB@TRD VHMDL@JHMF HR@M @QS particular, not even the health- BNMƥCDMBD 3GDX G@UD FN@KR @MC OK@MR SN and one grade is added annually. and prospective Christel House donors, high- that requires a lifetime to perfect. conscious consumer. achieve them. DeHaan visits India once 93 per cent of its graduates are studying, a year to stay updated on the successes of working, or doing both. 85 per cent are her students. pursuing higher education and are on track to receive monetary assistance and mentorship. children singing carols before hotel guests. OQNƥKD LDLADQR NE !@MF@KNQDŗR CHOKNL@SHB community and The Leela’s corporate clients. $MNTFG @ANTS VNQJ SGNTFGʖ (ŗL @M D@SDQ @MC KNUD ENNC 8NT VNMŗS If, by any chance, you’ve notice that, though, because I also exercise a lot. On weekdays, I wake ever seen my photographs in the up every morning at 6.30 a.m. and head out for a class at a yoga studio media, you may have noticed Christel House in Bangalore presently in Bandra. Over the years, I have explored many forms of this discipline: that I often wear a tiara. I’ve had has 1,065 students, including those who Incidentally, Christel House and The Leela RTOONQS ENQ GDQ NQF@MHR@SHNMŗR LHRRHNM 2GD RGS@MF@(XDMF@Q'@SG@2HU@M@MC@@MCDUDMSGDLNCDQMUDQRHNMRRTBG a penchant for them ever since I are participating in the College and Careers Palace Bangalore have worked together since GHFGKX U@KTDR SGHR O@QSMDQRGHO 2GD @KRN @RONVDQXNF@$UDMVGDM(ŗLSQ@UDKHMF(ŗL@KV@XRNMSGDKNNJNTSENQ@ was a child. I have a big collection; Program. This College and Careers Program 2011. The hotel has held numerous events hopes that one day, some of Christel House’s class or a yoga teacher. My yoga mat goes with me wherever I do and even SGD L@INQHSX NE SGDL @QD SNC@X aims to guide students for success in university, for the NGO, including exhibitions of student graduates will be among the Leela Group’s from India. I’ve been a trend setter technical schools or the workplace. Graduates artworks and Christmas events with the most valued employees. HE(B@MŗSƥMC@BK@RR(VHKK@KV@XRCNLX@R@M@R@MCLDCHS@SHNMQDFTK@QKX I’m pretty big on meditation, too -- they are cerebral exercises. I’m a big fan of Goa, especially of the eateries like Ku, La Plage and 2TQ+@,DQ(@KRNKNUDSGDLNTMS@HMRNE(MCH@(SHRRNL@FHB@KOD@BDETK and picturesque up there. Work has allowed me to travel and see most of Cecilia Oldne has been part NE2TK@@MCA@RDCHM(MCH@ since 2007. The former sommelier, who has studied in London, is one of the most recognisable faces of the country’s alcobev industry HM SG@S RDMRD $UDQX SHLD @ FHQK wears a tiara at an event I’m at, LXEQHDMCRSD@RDŚ.GKNNJʖ2GDHR doing a Cecilia.” graduate from university. | 86 | MONSOON 2015 group’s way of demonstrating its ongoing Support Christel House in India$G?GFLGOOOAF;@JAKL=D@GMK=GJ?GJ=E9ADGF;@JAKL=D@GMK=NKFD;GE .AKALGF=G>L@=AJ;=FLJ=K=DD9@9DDA*G9< 'Ì =FMJ*G9<#=FFMJ(GKLNA99?9DMJ9F?9DGJ= 9KLæçãåâê#9JF9L9C9 ,=Dáéáãéåçæêêêçæêèêâããâääâåå9Páéáãéåçæááä — As told to Nolan Lewis THE LEELA MAGAZINE DeHaan believes that this is the hotel MONSOON 2015 | 87 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE