Play it on!

Pune is witnessing a steep rise in the number of gaming pros.

THE energy and the mood when you enter a gameplex are contagious. The high-spirited cubicles of the gaming cafes are filled with youngsters who are hooked to their game stations for almost the whole day. Therefore, it does not come as surprise that the city houses 300 cafes which offer gaming alongside other facilities and there are more than 50 exclusive gaming zones. When one starts playing these games, it’s too tough to keep yourself away from a gaming station. “I have been gaming for the past 10 years. I still can’t get enough of it. I’m addicted to the virtual world. In Pune, there are a lot of youngsters, both guys and girls, involved with gaming. Virtually speaking, they love to wear the headgear and gun down terrorists,” says Esu Eshal, who has won an individual game in half-life tournament while his group secured the second position in a Counter Strike tournament held locally. But, is it just passion that draws so many people towards gaming? Lalit Nangia, from the clan Acid which has ruled country’s cyber waves, answers, “It’s a passion for many. But after some time, when you gain c o n f i d e n c e and are playing real good, then obviously you wish to take it a step further and participate in the various tournaments held. We had qualified for the World Cyber Games championship and if we would have won it, we could have brought home 40,000 US dollars. But, even qualifying for a championship of this stature is an achievement in itself.” Today, if you are to win the championship, you could win up to a whopping 250,000 US dollars, the official site states.

Winning a national cyber gaming tournament could get you anywhere between 5000 to one lakh. Some of present clans who have make their mark in national tournaments are Flawless Gaming, XcD, Team ALH, Team 300, Hawk, RG and 2easy. “Gaming thrives on tournaments, and there are regular tournaments which we conduct, both locally and nationally. Some of the teams which have gained the status of champions in the city are XCD, OT^B, Infamous, L0S, and DOD. It is a growing industry, and while it kick-starts as a passion, there are many who make a career in gaming,” says Himanshu Yagnik, business head of one of leading gameplexes in the city. The gameplex gets at least 60 walk-ins per day. Another reason why youngsters are getting passionately involved with the plethora of exciting worlds the virtual gaming offers is the challenge and the thrill it offers. Brainstorming, time management, alertness, terms that are often associated with a boardroom meeting, have a lot to do with gaming. Gaming requires huge amounts of skill, strategy, speed and adaptability. Explains Kamlesh Kelkar, owner of a gaming cafe in city, he says, “What keeps them so involved in the games are the challenges. Each day brings with it a new challenge. Every game is different- the map, the trap and you can never predict the next move. Each day you need a different strategy and a different plan.”

Gaming field is fast evolving in the city and with so many youngsters getting hooked to the virtual world of gaming, Pune is soon to witness a gaming revolution!

THE NEW DIMENSION

Theatre artistes in the city are exploring the visual medium for their plays.



VISUAL DRAMA: Artistes feel visuals help enhance the effect of plays

THINK theatre and you think dramatic artists and an elaborate stage. But can you relate theatre to technology? Today, it’s all about being innovative and creative. Theatre artistes are saluting this change, and embracing it by going techno. Theatre enthusiasts can get a slice of that with plays being staged with the help of visuals. When artiste and director Hina Siddiqui, saw the play Sex, Morality and Censorship, she was inspired to use visuals to tell her story too. “Last year, I saw them use footage of advertisements and movies to talk about morality and censorship. That's what inspired me. I think we were the first in Pune to use visuals for English plays.” She went on to use visuals for Sapphire Butterfly Blue and A Thousand Paper Cranes. She adds, “We used real-life footage to create a visual context for the audience. This made the problems more real and relatable to the audience. They could feel the emotions better and that took the play a niche higher; from being just a fiction to a true story." But it’s not just theatre artists who are loving this experiment with the new medium; it’s also the audience. As the images move, the visuals add an extra dimension on stage. As theatre enthusiast Arunima Sharma agrees,

“Visuals help in a better understanding of the concept. Recently I saw a play that had a slide show of images of real happenings in the background. It helped us feel the story better. Visuals definitely give authenticity and a real-life feel to plays.” Obviously, visuals have the capacity to include facts, figures and statistics something that adds credibility. Moreover images and facts on a screen, have a bigger appeal than people enacting them out. Also, visuals give you an opportunity to play around with ideas, something that made creative director Shiladitya Roy use them for his play, Darjiparar Marjinara. He says, “Visuals provide concrete settings and at other times just the perspective. For this particular play, I used static visuals which were more of an enhancement. The entire script was in the form of poetry. So most of the images were like metaphors leaving the spectators amazed.”

The trend of using visuals is not new to theatre though. “It is just a workaround for elaborate Cyclorama settings which used to be the forte of Elizabethan plays. It is technology that has now lent its might to the stage. And we of course learnt it from the Bolshoi theatre in Russia,” Roy informs. While including visuals could help you enhance the act, it could also backfire. Director Sarang Sathaye warns, “Although visuals help interpret narratives, it should not be overused. It could kill your play. We need to do justice to the play by using it where ever necessary and creating a balance.” For a play titled Tichee 17 Prakarne, he has used the contrasting visuals and live cameras to add depth to the act.

Exploring new avenues and being different surely adds zing to a performance. While long narratives and influence of sutradhar has time and again added drama, the use of digital medium is indeed an interesting addition!

Haute winter

Designers suggest warm shades for a cool season

WINTER brings along with it a fresh breeze of fashion trends. It’s time to dig into the cosy jackets, sport those vibrant sweaters, and show off the long boots. It might not be very cold, but, we still love to team up a bright coloured sweater with a simple formal shirt, and put on those jackets for the evening party. It’s fun and it’s stylish apart from giving you a break from the routine. Also, the colours, textures and designs of winter wear are simply tempting. Just like designer Debarun Mukherjee who loves his long coats and turtle neck sweaters. He says “Even though it’s not too cold in India to actually opt for these winter wear, I simply adore my coats and sweaters. For me, it’s a smart option for a formal gathering. When teamed up with corduroys or Italian fit trousers they look great on men. For a casual look though, men could wear the evergreen ice-coloured denims and a bright coloured shirt. For girls, it could be a mid length skirt with tight fit jacket or a dried coloured shirt with multi-coloured scarf or muffler. Half sleeve jackets too look great on women.”

Winter is the season to experiment with colours and designs. You can try different stuff, mix and match fabrics and colours to give it an edgy touch. Designer Smriti Gupta suggests, “Make it funky and add the quirky element to your wear. People want to wear something that is comfortable and stylish.” Talking about her latest collection she says, “I have used embellishments and lots of geometric shapes including circles, checks and stripes. A constructed look is definitely not ‘in’. Opt for drapes.

Winter calls for more layers, and it’s also a great time to look good while getting all covered up. Designer Purvi Doshi says, “Winters are all about layering of the garments. Coats with falling lapels, capes and hoods are nice options for you protect yourself from the chill.” Those into Indian wear, she says, can opt for blouses with a hood and fabrics like gajji, raw silks and brocades that are not only classy but comfortable as well. For designer Vikramjit Choudhury, winter wear means a structured look, interesting buttons for jackets and zipper details.

On similar lines designer Sanjay Hingu suggests, “The silhouette this winter is going to be close fits for men. Europe has seen this trend for the longest time now, and we seem to be slowly embracing that change too. Bomber jackets, cardigans, close-fit jackets and even hoods for that matter will be seen in a new avatar.” Don those warm tones for a cool look is what the designers are suggesting. The ‘haute’ colours this season are dark shades. Vikramjit feels, “Shades like burgundy, navy blue, military green are good for evening wear. Daytime colours are beige and powder blue, which give you a fresh look.”

The designers are bang on with colours like charcoal black, greys, turquoise blue, chocolate brown, and aubergines. Designer Arpan Vohra feels, “Considering it’s winter, there is a burst of colours. Purple, fuchsia and even bright orange are the colours for the season.”

Gloves, mufflers, jackets, sweaters and shawls, stock up on all things stylish and trendy for this winter. As designer Arjun Saluja states, “Keep it chic and sleek. Winters are all about power dressing!” So wrap up and keep warm this winter season.

Hungry Kya? Eat healthy!

During winter, we tend to eat more. So, when the hunger pangs hit you, grab a ‘healthy’ bite.



HEALTHY WAY TO GO!

Reach out for the bowl of salad or fresh fruits when hungry.

AS winter approaches, we stock up on our winter wear, but what is more important is to stock up on healthy food items. As it gets chillier by the day, and the air becomes cooler and drier, health and well being should be first on your priority list. Dieticians feel that the season increases your appetite so you need to take care, eat healthy and stay fit. Rather than binge on fast food items and fatty foods, go the healthy way. “It is not unusual that during winter we feel hungrier and are tempted to over eat, but, it’s important to eat healthy and keep your waistline under control,” feels dietician Pooja Goel.

During the winters you wish to eat things that would help you keep your body warm. It’s only natural that one opts for sweets eats like Gud ke ladoo, Gajar ka halwa, Urad pak and Gur-chikki. But, it is suggested to eat one fat product so that you do not feel hungry often and your weight gain is under control. “Eating one Gud-chikki can give you a feeling of fullness and it is healthy as well,” feels Meeta Lulla, a city based Nutritionist. People start feasting on chocolates and sweets in the cold weather, but there are many interesting and healthy options that would help you stay fit. “Eat more fresh vegetables and seasonal fruits. Opt for eggs, bajre ki roti, nuts, almonds and jaggery,” advices Nutritionist Anuradha Imandar. It’s the best time to relish the Bajre ki roti and Sarson ka saag and hot badam milk. Sesame seeds are warmth inducing food. The cold and the dryness in the weather make you prone to illness. Lubrication of joints and skin tissues and keeping the immunity high is important. For this, fitness expert Rashmi Uttam suggests, “Eat foods rich in vitamin C. Amla and lemon should be a part of your diet on regular basis. One or two spoons of pure cow ghee should be had daily. It helps you keep your body warm.”

Increase portions of protein, by consuming more of eggs, chicken and fish. Milk and milk products are a good bet this season. While the cool weather will not let you enjoy cold beverages, you can take sips of hot kesar milk, coffee and masala milk. For those who love ice creams, do not hesitate to pick up your favourite flavour and enjoy a spoonful of it. They are not restricted to summers alone; icecreams can be enjoyed in winters as well. “As long as they don't aggravate your cold (if you have any) there is no problem. Plus, ice creams are not a ‘no-no’ even when you are suffering from cold,” tells dietician Neha Mehta. It is also good time to gorge on the bowl of salad and enjoy the hot soups. They are the best options for dinner. “Mix vegetablesoups, chicken soup and tomato soup are not to be forgotten,” tells Rashmi.

While you are watching your food intake and overall winter health regimen, don’t forget to hold that hot cup of coffee in hand, wear a stylish jacket and stand by window and enjoy the cool breeze.

Divine designs

The next big fashion event is taking place in Pune.

TOP-NOTCH designers are all set to woo Pune’s fashionistas with their collections at the second edition of the Pune Fashion Week (PFW) starting from November 18. With a brand new look and a never-before-luxury experience for Pune’s fashionconscious elite, the fashion week promises the best of production values and choreography to complement top-of-theline models and designers. PFW, which is to be held at Hotel Westin, has partnered with Avinash Bhosale Group (ABIL) and Baramati Textile Park to add value to this super premium event.Mentored by designers Vikram Phadnis and Nivedita Saboo, PFW 2010 will be led by Badal Saboo, MD, PFW from NIFT, New Delhi. He says, “Pune will witness a never before seen spectacle at the premium Pune Fashion week 2010. In the presence of various ace designers all under one roof, the PFW will offer a seamless display of fashion culture to the fashionistas.”

At PFW, one will witness the top designers’ collections and latest fashion trends. PFW will have more glamour and will see top models sashaying on the ramp. The fashion week shall also give the local designers a chance to showcase their collections. Pune’s very own Nivedita Saboo, Deepak Shah, and Seema Singh will set the ramp on fire alongside Rocky S, Vikram P h a d n i s, Satya Paul, N a n d i t a M a h t a n i , R a a ke s h A g a r w a l , M a n d i r a Wirk, Payal S i n g h a l , Surily Goel, Malini Agarwal and Sandeep Golecha.

With heavyweight designers and Bollywood beauties walking the ramp, the style quotient will be high this winter.

Money matters

How does one react when a distant relative or friend tries to enquire about your salary.

BE CREATIVE: Find different and humourous ways

to dodge the salary question



HOW much do you earn?” This is one of those much hated questions which everyone tries to dodge when asked at some point or the other. When marketing executive Anjali Phadke was asked the same question by one of her distant relatives, she was shocked and confused. Many times we face this situation which we cannot ignore. Neither do you want to spoil your relationship by being blunt about your inhibitions about revealing the ‘figure’ nor do you want to give a straight reply. So what does one do? IT professional Kinjal Jain suggests that one should come up with something creative. “When my aunt asked me how much I earned I just brushed aside the question by saying that it was enough to fulfil all my shopping desires.”

It’s a well-known fact that one should never ask a man his salary. Yet there are people who just forget all manners and pop the question, directly or indirectly. Sometimes, the question is so direct and on the face that it’s very difficult to ignore. Ajit Khandekar, a media manager says, “Whenever I was asked this question, I would just wink at the person, say ‘it’s a secret’ and giggle. Though I genuinely don’t mind revealing the figure, it gets irritating when relatives or friends, who are distant to the point of being unknown, try to get too friendly or when aunts ask the question to start comparing the figure with their kids.” Sometimes, the question is thrown at you indirectly and you just don’t understand you to react. Sumita Dhar tried to ignore the question, but failed. She narrates, “Someone asked me this question by saying that when they were at my level, they earned a particular figure and wanted to know how much times had changed. Instantly I knew where the conversation was heading to so I tried to dodge the question by weaving various abstract answers around it. This went on for more than half an hour and neither of us would give up. At the end of it, we were both tired and irritated and ignored each other for many days to come.”

While it’s impolite to ask someone their salary, motivational speaker and corporate trainer Minocher Patel tells you to go the humourous way. He suggests, “There are many ways to reply but it should always be with a dash of humour. You could just say that ‘I haven’t got my salary for a long time now, so don’t remember what my pay is, or the company is planning to revise the salary and you are hoping for a raise.” Humour definitely is the best way to go, but when it’s an elderly person asking you, you have to give some sensible reply. Abhishek Choudhary, a media professional says, “My grand mother’s friend once tried to get to personal by asking me my salary. There were people around me and some of them definitely earned more than I did. I was really embarrassed to reveal my salary. So, I just said, ‘what ever I earn gets spent so please teach me how to save’. I wouldn’t say that this was a good reply because I had to spend the next few hours listening to tips and tricks to save money.”

Times will change and so will people, The ques tion of one’s salary will continue to be asked. But one can always come up with a quick reply to dogdge the question.

TOO CLOSE, TOO BAD!

Some friends whom you haven’t met for years can be really exasperating if you bump into them.

GETTING PERSONAL: Some people just don’t know

where to draw the line



OB N OX I O U S and irrit at i n g : these words fit the description of a person who makes unnecessary comments and gets too personal when you meet them after years. Such people have this weird quality of pretending to be too close and being ‘best of friends’ with everyone. It’s good to have people liking you and being friends with you, but these buddies are too loud and could land you in an embarrassing situation. Something similar happened with Reena Katariya, a website designer. She recalls, “I was at this mall in the city with my friends, where I bumped into this school friend of mine. At first, things were nice and we spoke about the good old school days. But, after this, it got a little personal. He asked me if I had a boyfriend and also forced me to having a cup of coffee with him. My friends were waiting for me, and he just wouldn’t stop talking. Why this was strange is since we were hardly the best of buddies in school.” When you find an old friend, many sweet memories return to your mind, bringing back the feel of those carefree days. Graphics Designer Sameer Joshi met one such buddy at a party, and was quite glad at first. He tells, “My happiness knew no bounds when I met this old neighbourhood friend of mine at a party. We had spent some really fun time playing cricket. Those were fun times. But, a lot had changed since then. I was now happily married. And a few things he spoke were really embarrassing. My wife knew I was notorious when young, but the situation there was awkward.” All of us have found long-lost buddies on social networking sites, and it’s fun to catch up with them. But, for homemaker Meena Singhi it was irritating. “I got this friend request from an old buddy and added him. We began chatting and it started with the usual ‘Hi, how are you’ and went on to ‘what are you doing these days’. When I told him I was a homemaker and wrote blogs, he started giving suggestions and saying that I was wasting my talent writing blogs. My question was if I was enjoying my way of life, what did he have a problem? I ended the chat there and ignored him,” she says.

Alumni meets at college is something that we look forward too. Cancelling all our appointments, we await the moment when we go to college and meet our college mates. It brings a smile on our face thinking of the days we bunked college, played pranks and had crushes. Ashish Mathew met one such crush at an alumni meet. “I had this small time crush on this girl during my college days. At that, time she was quite a babe. After so many years, I saw her at the meet. She still spoke like a kid, and she even mentioned to me that I had a crush on her. It was way too embarrassing, and my friends didn't let go of this opportunity to pull my leg,” he smiles.

Not all friends we meet are irritating. But once-in-a-while you tend to come across such buddies. Is it possible to like them? Well, that depends on you!

FOOD WITH A LITTLE TWIST

How can you change your child’s food habits to make sure that it has a healthy intake?



HEALTHY AND WISE: Just a little experimentation
and your unhealthy food can turn out to be healthy yet interesting

A DILEMMA many mommas face these days is how to keep the food healthy and interesting for their children. Kids throwing a fit when they are served something they dislike is a common sight. Many a time, you give in to their ‘unhealthy’ wishes and take them to their favourite burger joint, half-heartedly. Even when you go to a restaurant, your child ends up choosing the dish which isn’t good for his health. And you wonder why did we come out? Pastas, pizzas and burgers top their list of favourite foods. But, what if you could make these very food items healthy? Nutritionist Naini Setalvad suggests, “A simple bhel can be made with loads of tomatoes, potatoes and onions for the crunch and you can replace the sev and puri with cucumber. The deep-friend and oily veg pattice can be grilled. Stock whole wheat burger buns, pastas and sandwiches instead of the ones made with maida. The mayonnaise of the burger can be made with hum curd. Use lots of vegetables and, if you are stir frying a dish, make sure you do it just before serving it.”

Just a few changes in the items you stock at home, and you have a healthy platter. Mother Krishna Dalal says, “When I go for grocery shopping, I look for healthier versions of every thing. I buy a whole wheat bread, or rice noodles. I make sure I have loads of green vegetables at home and keep experimenting with them to make a tempting dish for my children. I might have failed once or twice. But most of the time my kids have loved them.” Cheese and butter are a child's weaknesses. They love the toast with butter, garlic bread with cheese, sandwiches should have cheese, wraps with cheese, pizza with extra cheese, and the list is endless. So, how do we make it healthy? “We all love cheese and, for children, any dish with a topup of cheese is too good to resist. But, you could use paneer instead or if they just can’t do without it, try the cheese made from cow's milk or skimmed milk,” says Anuradha Inamdar, a nutritionist.

It does not come as a surprise that kids love Chinese food. The noodles are one of their most liked items. Dietician Amita Mistry tells, “Replace the maida noodles with rice noodles or wheat noodles which are easily available in the market. Add loads of vegetables and cook it with minimal oil.” Make your child’s favourite dishes at home. The pizzas and pastas when made at home are better than the ones you eat at a food joint. “You can always work on making it healthy. Using chopped spinach while you make pasta will give your child his dose of green vegetables. And when you make pizza, add all kinds of veggies and use a generous spoon of sauce,” says Sangeeta Pillai, nutritionist.

You could always have an alternative for ‘unhealthy’ food, and create a healthier and nutrition-rich meal. Try turning the boring roti and sabzi into a vegetable wrap with loads of salad leaves, tomatoes and onions for the crunchiness. Your kids will love it. It’s all about giving the regular food a twist, making it look interesting and giving your old recipes a new look. Just a few changes here and there, and you have a healthy version of fast food. Moms are the best cooks after all!  

Diwali in tinseltown

How are the stars celebrating the festival of lights?

CELEBRATIONS GALORE: (Clockwise)
Shankar Mahadevan, Purab Kohli, Jesse Randhawa, Pooja Chopra,
Koena Mitra, Mandira Bedi and Mugdha Godse

LIGHTS, crackers and crackling attires. Fun, food, friends, parties and full-on dhamaal. Diwali is all this and much more. It's a festival which brings with it, loads of joy and enjoyment and grips everyone in its fervour. Even the otherwise busy stars make sure that they take time out from their busy schedule to enjoy the festival of lights to the max. Pantaloons Femina Miss India World 2009 Pooja Chopra who is busy shooting in Chennai is going to have a blast this Diwali. She tells, “When I asked my director for a two day off for Diwali, he said that instead of that he would get my h o m e here. He has org a n - ised a p a r t y on the tallest tower in Chennai, and called my family here. It’s going to be great fun as all the cast and crew of the movie and my f a m i ly will be able to spend it together. P l u s, we will have the fire crackers from all over the city bursting at our eye level.” For Pooja it’s going to be half day at work and the rest, a big party.

For model-turned-actress Mugdha Godse, it’s a day to spend only with family and friends sans work, come what may. A similar story goes for actress and TV anchor Mandira Bedi. She says, “Diwali is always at home. I have decorated my home with 21 diyas, and they will be there for all the five days from Dhanteras to New Year. On Dhanteras, we buy a silver coin each year and a puja will take place on the day of Diwali.” So what is the diva, who's known for her ravishing saris, wearing for Diwali? She says, “I always wear sari, so, to make it different I am going to dress up in a salwar kameez.” Music composer Shankar Mahadevan too has a fantastic and musical five-day plan for Diwali. “It’s a family and friends-centric Diwali. Each day of Diwali is celebrated at a different house and each day brings with it a different cuisine. A card party is alsoplanned.While the kids will burstcrack-ers, we will listen to m u s i c and have jam sess i o n s. ” Does he win at the card party? “I won a lot of money last year, I hope the same happens this year. You win some, you lose some, but what’s important is the spirit,” he adds.

For Model Jesse Randhawa, it's a cracker-free Diwali. “It’s my first Diwali with Sandeep. We will have a Laxmi puja and havan. We shall meet family and friends. I don’t believe in crackers, but I will light a phuljhadi for shagun. The best part about Diwali are the lights. I have adorned my balcony with violet lights, and it’s simply gorgeous,” she says. But if you thought t h at Diwali abroad is no fun, ask Actress Koena Mitra, who says, “I am in LA and I will be going for a Diwali mela in NYC. It’s surely going to be a unique celebration for me.” While it’s celebration time for these celebs, it’s time to 'work hard and party later' for model-turned-actor Purab Kohli. “I am tied up with work at the moment and I have nothing planned for Diwali as of now.”

With the light from crackers, diyas and lamps, this Diwali, the stars are ready to shine more. Are you ready to add sparkle to the night?

Play of words

While plays in Marathi, Hindi and English are quite popular, drama lovers are also getting to watch plays in other languages.



GOING REGIONAL: City theatre lovers are getting a chance

to witness many regional language plays

LIGHTS, action, drama... The stage is set, and the artists are ready. There are no retakes here. That's theatre and actors at their best. But, how is it different? The fact that the city is also witnessing plays in different languages, showing that we wish to enjoy the best that the stage has to offer. While Marathi, Hindi and English theatre are quite a rage with drama lovers, Sindhi, Bengali and Gujarati plays are also going houseful. Rajesh Mehta, a diehard theatre fan, says “It’s really fun to watch plays in the language I am most familiar with. Being a Gujarati, I totally enjoy the staged performances. I can relate to the actors and the concepts.” Pune’s Gujarati Mitra Mandal has been getting plays for the Gujarati families in Pune.

“We organise at least four plays in a year. And all of them go houseful. In fact, last Friday we featured Chal mann Mauj karile, a Gujarati play which is a part of a Mumbai theatre group. Another play in the pipeline is Kanji Virudh Kanji starring Sachin Khedekar. Puneite Taruben Shah, a playwright, says, “I have written at least 20 nataks, and all have been thoroughly enjoyed by the audience. After having received an overwhelming response in Pune, some of them have been staged in other cities as well. My latest offering, Maa Baap Ne Bhulsho Nai, was staged recently in Pune, Ahmedabad and other cities too." The response to plays has been such that Pune’s Dishari group, a platform for Bengali plays, is organising a theatre festival. “This year, we are going international. A prominent group from Dhaka is going to perform at the three-day festival. B i b a s h Chakraborty’s Jagakhi Churi and Aneek theatre’s Punor Janmo are also the part of the theatre fest. Dishari is also staging Agni Jal, whose original script was written by Girish Karnad. It has been translated by Bibash Chakraborty,” informs Madhumita Ghosh, festival coordinator.

Aakorik, the Bengali theatre group which staged Bristi O Katha and Nana Ranger Din recently, is more about audio-visual performance based on light, sound and poetry. “We, as a theatre group, stage poetic drama taken directly from Bengali and Sanskrit literature. A major chunk of our works involves productions from classical texts. I also direct musicdriven plays,” says creative director Shiladitya Roy. Sindhi plays also have their share of audiences in the city. Prem Advani, an 81-year-old organiser, says, “Sindhi plays in Pune are enjoyed not just by Sindhis but also non-Sindhis. Changu Mangu 420 which was staged this October was well received by the audience. Aayo Navo Zamano is another play that we are planning to bring to the city." What is the most interesting, perhaps, is that the city has theatre connoisseurs who enjoy Sanskrit plays. Says Prasad Joshi, a professor of Sanskrit, “In January, we have a competition in which students from all over Maharashtra stage acts in Sanskrit language. This draws huge crowds, and is one of the biggest events for us.” Pune is known to be a cultural melting pot. And with so many vernacular plays making their way to city, theatre lovers have a reason to smile.