To hide or not to hide

Is it better to leave the past behind, or reveal all to your partner. PT finds out

SHOULD one keep a secret or should one let the cat out of the bag? Should tell the entire truth or just reveal a bit? The questions are many and there are multiple answers for all. That there should be no hidden secrets in a marriage is what our moral lessons preach. But, can we actually put it into practice?
Archana Nair, psychological cousellor advices, “How much you want to reveal to your partner totally depends on what you want him to know. The questions you should ask yourself first: will bringing up the past help or harm your relationship? A successful marriage is built on trust and understanding. If you have understanding, there is nothing wrong with revealing your past.” But image consultant Sanket Sharma disagrees, “My experience suggests it is better to hold back information as it may not go down well with your partner. Sometimes, things from the past can create problems in a marriage. Digging up how many boyfriends or girlfriends you have had may not be accepted by all persons.”
HR professional Shristi Chandra*, who has not shared her past relationships with her husband, says, “The past is history. Why dig it up and ruin what is alive and happening today. Ours was an arranged marriage. Although he is understanding and caring, I have left my past where it ended. I do not need to open those pages of my life again.”

PR professional Anupam Goyal believes there are some things that are better left unsaid. warns, “Do not lie. But do not reveal everything either. Jealousy, insecurity stem from such situations.” Yet, there are those who are ready to take the risk. Megha Priyadarshi, hospitality professional told her husband everything as it was. She says, “I always believed that honesty is a strong base for any relationship. And, I was determined to speak the truth. Today, he trusts me completely. It disturbed him at first, but once I convinced him that I have left my past behind, there were no issues.”

Jealousy and doubts do crop up at times, but it’s better to be honest. Business manager Abhishek Puppala, says, “I was always honest about my past with my wife. In fact, she reacted very casually when I confessed about my affairs. It didn’t lead to any arguments as she trusted me. At times, she is curious to know more, but I know it’s because she wants to know me better.”

( *Some names have been changed for privacy)

CINEMA IS IN GOOD COMPANY

Increasing corporate participation is changing the look of Marathi cinema. PT reports

CORPORATE ROLE: 

More and more marathi films are being sponsored by corporates

REGIONAL cinema is getting bigger. While some credit the growth to the influx of multiplexes, others assert that it is better quality cinema that’s drawing more crowd to the halls. A combination of both seems to be the reason for this growth, motivating deep-pocketed corporates to invest money in Marathi films. The market is poised to expand further with Eros International planning to produce seven movies this year, Zee Talkies announcing three projects, and Mukta Arts’ two under-production projects. Apart from these, AB Corp, Reliance Entertainment, UTV Motion Pictures and Ekta Kapoor’s production company, Alt Entertainment have shown a keen interest in Marathi films. Subhash Ghai from Mukta Arts credits the rise in the interest in Marathi movies to the government. He says, “As the previous governments of Maharashtra encouraged producers to make Marathi films by offering a lot of concessions and subsidies, corporate houses were ready to take the risk. This is a good sign, as four years back, there were only 20 Marathi films released in a year. Now, more than 100 movies are being showcased on the silver screen.” Apart from the two hit films, Vallu and Sanai Choughade, the banner has two movies under production including Savitricha Leki and Prarambh. With the rise in the number of multiplexes, the footfalls of families have increased. Kamal Jain, Group CFO at Eros International Media Ltd, feels this has led to corporates’ keen interest in regional cinema. He says, “When corporates target a particular business model, they look at recovery first. Since there has been a rise in the number of people wanting to watch regional movies, corporate houses are investing money here.” He adds, “The quality of cinema has improved, thanks to more money. The reach is extensive as we spend heavily on distribution and marketing of the movie. 

Me Shivaji Raje Bhosle Boltoy which is a highly acclaimed movie of today’s times is a good example of what corporate houses can make a difference.” The company is producing at least seven movies this year. Punha Dhakka with Mahesh Manjrekar is among them. Nikhil Sane, business head at Zee Talkies, believes that the biggest change brought by the corporates is that story lines are being experimented with. He adds, “We have been able to change the face of Marathi cinema with technical advancements, unexplored locations and digital films, among other things. Also, we have been able to streamline promotional activities, which include, outdoor, radio and print advertisements, and integration in the TV shows.” Priti Shahani, chief strategy and marketing officer, Reliance Entertainment, explains why corporates have entered the cinematic playing field. “The first reason is that it’s not an expensive medium, and has high chances of recovering the costs. Secondly, the film industry has some highly talented people. Lastly, TV channels show interest in regional cinema, leading to benefits for corporates.” The change in trend is being welcomed by the directors as well. Director Viju Mane says, 

“The corporate intervention has organised and disciplined the Marathi film industry. For my future projects, I am talking to a few corporate houses.” Director Umesh Kulkarni, who has worked with corporate producers, feels, “It has helped the film industry. We are now dealing with different subjects. A positive curiosity has developed for Marathi cinema outside Maharashtra as well.” The participation of corporates is turning out to be a profitable venture for all. The directors are smiling as they are reaching out to a larger audience. The audiences are glad since the content is becoming superior by the day. When the changes are for the better, who should complain? Nobody, we believe.

Let’s give it more time

Why are couples opting for extended courtship periods before marriage these days? PT reports

LOVE is in the air. Romance is blooming everywhere. And as couples in love wish that the courtship period never ends, many of them are extending the tenure of courtship to seven-eight years. 

This is so unlike the romances of yesteryear, in which such a relationship before tying the knot stretched for two years at the most. Each couple has their own set of reasons for extending the courtship period. Hear communications manager Bhavana Seth, who got married after wearing the commitment ring for six long years. “Although our parents wanted us to tie the knot soon after I finished my college, I wanted to buy some more time. So, I convinced them to get us engaged and went abroad for my masters. Meanwhile, my partner got busy with his career. After completing my studies, even I wanted to get some work experience and then consider getting married. This period, which was almost six years, helped us know each other and our respective families better. Today, the fact that I bond well with his parents and brothers is because we spent a lot of ‘informal’ time together,” says she.

Businessman Sahil Tanna credits his happy married life to his five years of courtship. He says, “It’s not that things wouldn’t have worked between me and my wife if we hadn’t spent those five years of courtship. But yes, those years formed the base for a long-lasting bond. Even though we met each other through an arranged marriage set-up, I like to call it a love marriage. I was really lucky that she understood when I told her I needed time before I could do the saat pheras. I wanted to set up my own business and couldn’t tell her how much time I would take to settle down, as it was a new venture. She stood by me throughout, without questioning even once about our marriage. The highs and the lows we saw during that time really helped us.” 

For most couples today, it could be their career aspirations that stop them from tying the knot. But there are other reasons that make them stretch their courtship period. Says consultant psychiatrist Dr Neville Misquitta, “There are many reasons why couples like to have a long courtship period. Sometimes, it’s because they want to ‘think it through’ before moving ahead. They want to be confident that they have made the right decision and keep postponing the final decision until they are sure.”

SLOW AND STEADY: 

Couples are spending time enjoying their courtship period

Psychiatrist Dr Amod Borkar, says, “The period helps them understand each others’ expectations and needs minutely, although there is nothing totally overwhelming about such stretched courtship periods. It’s just because of high expectations, and at times, the inability to understand your own needs and desires, that lead to confusion.” Whether it’s being certain about one’s choices or giving time to pursue your dreams, a courtship period can be the testing ground for a relationship. This is the time when you understand whether you are compatible enough to spend the rest of your life together. So, is it wrong or right to have a long courtship period? TV show host, former VJ and Arshad Warsi’s wife Maria Goretti answers, “It does not matter whether the courtship period is long or short. What matters is that you are together. There is no set rule, that if you have a long courtship period you will have a happy married life. What works for me might not work for you.” We agree! 

HELP THE EARTH

What activities have been planned by the city’s organisations to commemorate the Earth Hour? PT checks out

CELEBRATING DARKNESS:
Puneites are doing their bit to help the environment

WHEN you were a child, elders at home must have told you to switch off the lights whenever you left the room. But did you follow their advice? Chances are, you didn’t, not because you wished to play a prank but since you were simply indifferent. Even as an adult in today’s times, many of us are guilty of keeping the television on while snoring away. We forget to switch off some other electronic gadget after leaving the room. Such a casual approach has impacted the Earth badly, which is why the need for an Earth Hour is even more significant than it might have been. Earth Hour is a global initiative in which the world demonstrates their will to defy climate change by switching off their lights for an hour. On March 26, the city will plunge into darkness for an hour at 8.30 pm. Hear Bhushan Salunke, co-ordinator for Youth to Youth Foundation, Pune who launched the initiative in Pune three years ago. He says, “This year, the theme is to go beyond the hour. The response to the Earth Hour has been good, and now we want people to switch off electronic appliances when not in use. Also, we want to engage the present generation in the initiative. Taking this global call of action further, we have started a plantation project in the city.” 

Green Energy Foundation is organising a poster campaign to spread awareness about the initiative. President of the foundation Sharmila Oswal highlights, “Many times, people are not ready to participate as it causes a lot of discomfort. So we tell them to at least switch off for five minutes, if not more. We have been organising programs in schools and colleges to spread the word among the younger generation. To get people used to the habit of switching off the nonessential electrical appliances, and organisation has come up with an interesting concept. Sanchita Jain, creative director of Happy Hands Foundation, gives the details, “We are putting up switches — electrical switches in a Switched On mode on different walls, streets, poles, trees, pavements...anywhere and everywhere across the city. The idea is to make people switch them off. This might motivate them to go home and do the same. It’s also to make people aware about the climate change.”
Many organisations are doing their bit. 

NDA too will pull out all plugs for the noble cause. Lt Gen Jatinder Singh AVSM, SM, Commandant NDA, says, “The lights will go off across the NDA campus for an hour, showcasing its support for a global movement against climate change. It is inspiring to see how a simple step as switching off lights for an hour can make a difference. These future military leaders will definitely play a significant role for the cause of a greener earth.” NDA has organised many green initiatives including cadets using bicycles 24x7, observation of only cycle’s day twice a month wherein all officers either walk or cycle to their place of work and tree plantation drives among others. 

Hotels too will participate in the drive. General manager, The Westin Pune, Anuraag Bhatnagar says, “Showing our commitment towards a greener planet, we have launched a campaign that starts on March 26. We have organised a drive to clean-up the Mula Mutha river bed along our hotel’s property once a month for the entire year. We will also be laying the foundation for an Herb garden in the hotel premises which will expand to include other aspects as the year goes by. Apart from switching of the lights at all our food and beverage venues, we are spreading the word through posters, videos and collage making competition.”
The O Hotel too is switching off the non-essential electronic appliances. Avijit Chaturvedi, vice pesident, (operation) confirms, “We are organising a candle-lit dinner at the hotel and will be participating in the Earth hour initiative.” Jaswinder Narang, general manager of Le Meridien says, “We have put collaterals in our lobby and in guest rooms to make people aware about the Earth Hour. 

Non- essentials will be switched off for one and a half hour from 8 pm.” Are you doing the same as well?

TALK PLEASE

When you need to discuss something with your partner, do it. Never ever assume that your partner understands what you wish to say 

YOU say it best when you say nothing at all, sang Ronan Keating once. That line discusses the essence of life. Right? Wrong. For, when you need to say something, you must do so for the sake of clarity. Don’t keep mum, lest there are misunderstandings, fights or other situations that could have been avoided long ago. Those who have experienced similar situations vouch for speaking up than remaining silent. Hear freelance writer Nivedita Ghosh, who expected her husband to help her with the daily chores but failed to voice it. “I expected my husband to help me with the day-to-day chores as it would get really hectic for me in the morning. But he would be busy either reading the newspaper or working on the computer. Weeks later, when I spelt it out to him, he said ‘Why didn’t you tell me? Of course, I can help you out’. I regretted not voicing my expectations since things would have been a lot easier.” Marketing professional Aloke Mahapatra recalls a similar incident where his wife expected him to help. He says, “Since the day she has told me that she needs my help, I do my bit to help lessen her burden. It’s better to keep things clear cut. Men are really not good at mind reading. Expecting that we will read your mind every time is just not possible.” Why just men, even girls fail to understand their partner’s silence at times. Hear businessman Manish Nerlekar, who regrets not voicing his tension with his wife. “It was a bad month at work. Important deals had not worked out, and it has affected our finances. I didn’t share these issues with my wife. One day, she went out for shopping with her friends and splurged on dresses and accessories. When I returned, she was displaying her new collection and it put me off completely. I screamed at her, and she didn’t understand where she had gone wrong. Later, I realised it would have been so much better if I would have told her about the money crunch,” says he.

SPEAK YOUR MIND:
Expressing your thoughts can help your relationship blossom

Failing to express your concerns can lead to a lot of misunderstanding and create rifts between the couple. Sales manager Siddhant Jain narrates an incident, which led to a week-long tiff with his wife. “One evening, my wife came back home after a busy day at work. I could see that she was brooding over some issues. I really could not figure out what the problem was. Since she wasn’t talking to me, I thought she was angry with me. Her irritation led to unending fights. The reason behind her silence was something that had happened at work. Only if she had spoken about it, things would have been so much better.” Stress consultant Dr Sameer Bagewadikar feels that fake promises lead to unexpected expectations. He says, “It all depends on the time you give to each other. There has to be continuous communication to avoid misunderstandings in a relationship.” Stress consultant Dr Kunal Rasal adds, “If you don’t express your expectations, you will not get what you want.” Keeping quiet can lead to misunderstandings. But IT professional Snehal Modi has learnt a new lesson. Planning a surprise, at times, could also be a problem. She shares, “Every year on our anniversary, we plan the entire day. But, this year I thought of planning a surprise for him and he also was working on similar lines. 

The result: we ended up with two different surprises and both fell flat. I never thought that being mum about surprises could also ruin things.” Silence can be golden, but not always!

Sunny side of fashion

What is fashionably cool this summer? PT finds out

THE HAUTE LOOK:
Puneites are giving their wardrobe
a ‘cool’ makeover this summer

SUMMER is not only about the hot sun but it’s more about cool clothing for Puneites. The explosion of joyous, vibrant palettes, anti-fit garments and cool fabrics is ruling the Pune fashion scene. Hear actor Sampada Vaze, who vouches for bright colours this summer. “Yellow is my colour, it’s bright and very summery. My summer wardrobe is full of knee length shorts, flowing dresses and capris. I avoid wearing spaghetti and tube tops as they tan the body.”White will still be the coolest colour this summer. Actor Viraf Patel says that white dominates his summer wardrobe. He says, “From shorts, Tshirts to lenin pants, I love them to be in the colour white. Step it up with brown chappals, and you have a cool summer style.”

For women, dresses seem to be the favourite choice for the season. Ask Hotelier Neelam Seolekar what her summer wardrobe is filled with, and she says, “It’s loads of dresses for me. Whether it’s morning or evening, dresses are comfortable, chic and edgy. While pastels shades work really well during the day, nights can be splashed with bright colours. Linen, lycra and cottons are the best fabrics to keep you cool. I’m in love with the electric blue office wear that I have recently purchased as a summer wardrobe collection.” Even dancer Shefali Lahoti loves wearing dresses, she says, “Summer fashion is more about chiffons, loose comfortable dresses with floral designs and bright colours.” It’s bloom time, feels Shefali as lots of floral motifs can be seen on cool summer wear.

Designer Nivedita Saboo suggests, “For the summer season, you can play around with a lot of mul, linen and sheer tulle. Nude, pastel shades and bright colours will rule this season. My personal favourites are short tunics with leggings or slim trousers.” One summer-friendly outfit is the anti-fit garment, which is comfortable, stylish and loved by both men and women . Model Jesse Randhawa feels, “Linen pants and loose tops make for a cool summer wear.” Actor Rohit Chopra too prefers loose pyjamas, he says, “Loose pyjamas with tees give you a more chilled out look.” But if you want to go for something formal and traditional, fashion boutique owner Rasika Wakalkar suggests, “Backless and strapless blouses can do wonders for a formal evening party. Saris in fabrics such as mulkha, cotton, butter crepe, chanderi and light georgettes helps your skin breathe.” Rasika also suggests interesting bottoms for casual summer look. She adds, “Dhotis and crowned pants are not just young but will give you an edge over the others.”
How can a summer wardrobe be complete without accessories? Aviator sunglasses, chunky bangles, slim belts, scarves and statement neckpieces add to a cool summer collection. Feels model Amrita Thapar, she says, “Wearing white, while playing with a variety of accessories will jazz up your ensemble. I love my Bohomian bag and summer is just not cool without my aviators. I have a huge collection of these shades from all over the world.”
Looks like summer will definitely be cool with these haute fashion!

LIVING WITH A FUNNY GUY

Your man’s sense of humour can add oodles of joy and excitement to your life. PT speaks to some lucky women 

HERE’S some bad news for guys who lack a sense of humour. Research shows that girls in general prefer humorous men to those with good looks. If you are someone who can make her smile when she is low, or can impress her gang of girls with funny one liners, or can enliven any party, then boy, you stand a good chance of getting the best of the girls. And why not? Living with a ‘funny man’ can add life to a stereotype existence or splash colours even on the dullest of the days. Hear interior designer Ruchi Parikh, who is a happy girl because her husband has the knack of making anyone laugh. She says, “You just can’t get angry with him. Even when you are wild with anger, he will do something that would make you want to smile. I’ve never had a dull day since we got married as his funny one-liners make me fall in love with him again and again.” 

Who doesn’t love to show off his/her partner? And when she knows that her partner is someone who can enliven the atmosphere with his presence? Software professional, Niharika Emanuel, who fell for a guy whom ‘everybody’ loved. “I love the way he impresses everyone with his jokes and witty remarks. He is the life of all parties. With him around, fun cannot be far away. My life is full of fun-filled memories, thanks to him. He makes me forget all my worries.” When graphic designer Neha Sharma chatted for hours at a stretch with this average looking guy with a good sense of humour, she hardly imagined that they could get hitched. “Life has been full of bright colours living with him. He has this quality of making you smile, even if you are in the worst of moods. He has a take on everything in life, from the random piece of wrapper on the corner of the road to a speeding biker to even the politician of India. Every time I talk to him, I’m in splits,” says Neha. 

Life’s cool with a funny man around. But sometimes living with such a man can drive you crazy. Marketing professional Jessica Desai, gives the reason, “It’s very difficult to know the ‘real’ them because they have this habit of hiding their emotions behind their smiles. Whenever my husband cracks jokes on himself, it’s hard to decide if he is hurt or worried or is it really a joke.” Advertising professional Suruchi Pandit too feels that living with a funny man is not as rosy as you think. She says, “My boyfriend can hide his emotions very easily, and conceal it with a smile. Earlier, I could never understand when he was low as he was always full of life. But if you understand your partner well, then there can’t be any problems. Life can go on on a happy note.”

Life is not a bed of roses. But if someone can make you have fun while walking through the rough path, who would complain?

Anybody watching?

FEW TAKERS:
Cinema halls are trying their best to bring in the crowds, but in vain

 THE World Cup makes everyone smile barring the cinema hall owners. With the World Cup fever gripping the nation, multiplexes as well as single screen theatres are having a tough time attracting movie goers to the halls. This month has been a dud at the box office as the collection has been minimal, to say the least. To beat the heat of the situation, cinema are implementing innovative business strategies as they do not want their revenues to be affected badly. The ongoing examinations and the World Cup has resulted in the release of very few small budget Hindi movies. To bring in the crowd, Abhay Anant Bhalerao, unit manager at Fame, has recently started a Marathi Film Festival at his multiplex. He says, “We are screening blockbuster Marathi movies like Ideachi Kalpana, Harishchandrachi Factory and Zhenda among others. This is attracting a lot of family crowd. Though it’s been just two days so far we are getting a positive response.” Planning along similar lines, Esquare will have a Marathi Dhamaal Week. Suraj Sharma, manageroperations, says, “We will screen hit movies like Mi Shivaji Raje Bhonsle Boltoy and many others. Although we are continuing with the Bollywood movies that released earlier and the Oscar winning movies, we plan to screen these movies for the audience. It’s not a business plan as it will only increase our revenue by 10 per cent. Overall, the business has gone down by almost 50 per cent due to the exams and the World Cup,” he tells us. 

Inox plans to blunt the impact of the World Cup and exams with eclectic content. It is screening the hit films of the three Khans, Aamir, Salman and SRK. A source from the multiplex says, “The movies — Dabangg, Ghajini, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and 3 Idiots — have been box office hits. So, we are bringing these films back to the silver screen. It is helping the revenue and also covering up for the lack of film releases this month.” Theatre owners are also resorting to reducing the ticket prices to attract more cinema lovers to the halls. Sandeep Shetty, cinema manager at Big Cinemas feels that they are helpless. He says, “There is nothing much we can do, since there are no releases this month. We are relying on the H o l ly wo o d flicks, which are now d o i n g reasonably well. Also, we have priced the tickets at a flat 100, which is increasing the footfalls.” City Pride too has reduced the cost of the tickets but in vain. Shailesh Joshi, programming manager, says, “Even after reducing the prices of the tickets, the response has been dull. The halls see only 50 per cent occupancy these days. That comes down to 30 per cent when India plays,” he adds.

Atamaram Jaswani, General Manager of Mangala says, “The occupancy has gone down badly. Only 15 per cent of the hall is full, forcing us to reduce the number of shows.” The cinema hall has reduced the number of film screenings from six to four. Suresh Talera, owner of Bollywood Kharadi says that no formula is nullifying the cricket fever. He says, “We have tried many game plans but nothing has worked. Reduction of cost, offering discount coupons for bulk bookings and screening hit films have not given any positive results.”
Plans are many, but the results leave a lot to be desired.

CRICKET IS A GAME!

Many World Cup based games are available online for cricket lovers. PT logs on..

GAME FOR MORE?
Cricket enthusiasts can now play their favourite sport online

SCORE a century. Be the man of the match. Win the World Cup. Virtually, of course. There are a wide range of games online and on your mobile handsets that have been specially designed to allow you to experience the real thrill of the gentleman’s game. The games are so real that you can actually sense the nervousness that players experience while being on the cricket field. Vaibhav Odhekar, business head Zapak Games, shares the company's game plan. “Now that the World Cup fever is on the rise, we have designed games that sports enthusiasts can cheer for. The official World Cup 2011 video game – Cricket Power, launched by our company gives the ultimate experience of playing and building your own World Cup game. With games following the World Cup schedules, and accompanied by authentic features like Powerplay, the world of virtual reality is simulating the real thing. On an average, our monthly users go up to 4.5 million. With the World Cup going on we can expect it to rise up to 6 million during the business end of the tournament,”says he.  

Another game in circulation is Ultimate cricket, which is a full-blown cricket game. Ask Farah Sayyed, creative director of Games2win.com, and she’ll tell you why cricket based games are more popular now. She says, “The World Cup takes place every four years on a huge scale. It has a tremendous fan following. The fervour is unbelievable! To let cricket lovers relive the same energy and competition as is there on the real field, we designed Ultimate Cricket. Right from the toss to the nail biting final over, the game will not fail to engage cricket lovers. On an average, a single cricket game gets around 12,000 plays per day.” Cricket is the biggest craze these days, and gaming companies are making the most of it. Vishal Gondal, CEO of Indiagames Ltd, says, “We have launched a variety of mobile and online games. The number of downloads — over a million online on wireless devices and 4 million on the online games — shows how passionate we are about the game.”

 There are also games that can keep you busy while you keep yourself updated through online score cards. Sreelesh, business manager, Sify Sports shares a few details. “We thought why not keep the user busy while s/he is watching the scorecard on TV. so we launched various applications where users can chat with other visitors who’re on the ‘Fun Zone’ and enjoy games like World Cup predictor, cricket quiz and cricket-based Jigsaw Puzzle. We get 10,000 page views per day,” says he. 

For people who are always on the go, mobile games are a great option. Salil Bhargava, CEO, Jump Games talks about his cricket-based mobile game. He tells us, “The official game for World Cup 2011 for mobiles has an option of three different game modes - quick play, World Cup 2011 and challenges. There is also a special action cam view to give real life experience of enhanced batting, bowling and fielding controls.” But that’s not all. If you think your predictions are as right as Paul the octopus, then here is a game for you. Nitin Mathur, senior director- marketing, Yahoo! India explains, “Predictopus by Yahoo! Labs is an attempt to allow users to channel their inner Paul and show cricketing expertise by making all the right predictions about the World Cup. It is an interesting and engaging game that allows you to even win great prizes.” 

So now you can put yourself in Sachin’s ‘shoes’ or experience the real action of playing in a stadium. All you have to do is log on and take strike.

MIDNIGHT CHILDREN

As the night falls, fun begins in these colleges. PT takes a quick peak into the activities

NIGHT OF GOOD TIMES: Students enjoy after college activities

THE clock strikes five and smiling faces come out of the college campus preparing to forget their regular drill and just chill. But if you thought that the clock marked the end of learning at college, then you are wrong. For colleges these days are organising fun activities in the after-hours for students. Shivang Dhruva, founder-director of FAD international, came up with the idea of organising night activities during a casual talk with his students. He says, “The students told me that their minds were at their creative best during the night. So I thought why not do something productive in those hours. Hence, we came up with the idea of ‘Art by night’, an art party which began at 7 in the evening and went on till 7 in the morning.” Around 40 students painted a 50-feet long canvas by throwing buckets of colours on the canvas. “Later the students created their own design pieces out of it. We broke the traditional ways of teaching and mixed education with entertainment and enthusiasm.” Shivang feels that activities like these help improve the interaction with faculty.

These late night activities are about loads of fun, coupled with loads of learning. They are the perfect platform for students to work on their hobbies and develop them. Parag Shah founder-chairman of Flame speaks about the various workshops they organise for students to hone the skills of their choice. He says, “Fun begins after college here, as there are a variety of workshops that we organise for the students. Depending on the hobbies of their choice, from painting, dance, music to photography and creative writing among others, they can attend the workshops. It is an excellent stress buster.” For Vinita Chopra, communication faculty at International School of Business and Media, working late in the night prepares students to get accustomed to the corporate environment. She says, “We also organise various seminars where students get to interact with well-known personalities. Our sessions usually take place at night and these late night sessions help students to get used to the work timings.”

After-college hours are the best time for extra curricular activities. Shobha Dhanwatay, assistant professor, PR and Corporate communication at Symbiosis Institute of Media & Communication (UG), feels “Recently the students presented a street play which was a part of the night activities. Knowledge-based seminars, photography workshops and club activities that take place after college hours, give students a chance to show off their latent talent.” 

College is fun, be it day or night. And if the night can get alive in such interesting ways, we aren’t complaining!

She’s the boss

LEADING THE WAY: Women acts as compassionate and understanding bosses

They are at the top. And they are the bosses of all they survey. PT talks to women chiefs who have made an impact.

THEY have the right style of leadership. They also display a special warmth that is absent in most men. Women bosses, whether great ladies of history or more contemporary pioneers, have always made a difference to their colleagues and companies through hard work and single-minded goal of perfection. And every woman has a story to tell. Lila Poonawalla, who holds the post of director in various local companies, feels she has been able to understand her employees better. “As a woman, you are able to understand their body language, psychology and emotions much better. We are a more focused, and stable lot. While there were some men who didn’t want to work under a lady, after seeing others’ progress, the reason for taking a woman as the head of a company is clear.” But to get to the top, women have to prove themselves time and again. Architect Gauri Naik Navare says, “Initially, it wasn’t easy for me to break into the construction field as it’s dominated by men. But now that I have made my mark here, it feels great. It has been a good experience.” Naik Navare says she has been able to influence a lot of women during the course of her career. And she believes that women bosses are a class apart. “I would say women are better bosses as they have more patience, understanding and listen to what others have to say,” says she.

For Pratima Kirloskar, president of an innovation society, attitude is everything. “Everything is interwoven – your attitude and the actions based on your attitude. When people know that you cannot be bought or deterred, they have confidence in you. The biggest compliment for me would be the mimicry of this positive attitude.” Aruna Katara, president of an IT management institute, started her life from the bottom of the pyramid. And she learnt and grew with her team. “There were times that my subordinates were like my seniors, giving me advice.” Katara has realised that, more than the numbers game, the quality of the product that one provides makes the real difference. “The quality of work is more important. And that quality comes when there is a direct connection with the employees. These are the values I’m trying to pass onto my faculty.” Though only three years old in the business, Damini Oberoi, director of a hotel management institute and PR company, is enjoying her journey. These three years have brought her respect and love from employees and students. “Age has been an advantage when it comes to new thoughts and ideas. I have become the peacemaker between the senior management and the junior staff. But I’m still learning to become tougher when it comes to work.” 

Women bosses possess a rich perspective and the right vision, too. Our conclusion: We need more women in leadership roles. And, the time is now.

SIX-FIGURE TATTOOS

Did you know that a tattoo can cost you one lakh, or even more? PTgoes tattoo-hunting, and comes back with astonishing facts of figures



COSTLY AFFAIR: A big tattoo of your dreams

can make you shell out a bomb



 EVERYBODY wants a tattoo, it seems. A few among such tattoo seekers are willing to spend a bomb to get one. Confused? Head straight to a tattoo parlour in the city, and you are sure to meet someone who is willing to spend a six-figure amount to get a visual inked. Hear Jennifer Menezes, an event management professional, who is going under the needle to etch a Buddha on her back. “The tattoo is still underway. A few more sittings, and I will have my dream tattoo inked on my back. It’s a figure of Buddha sitting on a lotus. The tattoo is going to be with me forever. So I’ve chosen a theme that shows who I am.” But that’s just the aesthetics part of it. Probe her about the economics, and she says, “It’s costing me a whopping 1.50 lakh. And you know what, it’s a gift from a friend.”

There has to be something about a tattoo that’s making people endure this pain and dole out so much money. Celebrity tattoo artist Sameer Patange, who has inked the likes of Hrithik Roshan, Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt and Ajay Devgn, has explored the dark mysteries of a tattoo many times. Patange believes that if you want your entire arm or back to reveal your dark fantasies, then you have to shell out money. “One of my clients is addicted to dark themes. The tattoo on his back had a castle with a path leading to a graveyard. To add to the feel was the dry barren tree in the background. It was so intricate that it cost him above a lakh.”

Fascination for dark themes and horror flicks resulted in a tattoo for IT Professional Irfan. “I love tattoos. It gives me an adrenaline rush. I got a face of a devil inked on my back. It’s very detailed and structured. I spent about 1.3 lakhs. Every time I look at it, I know it’s worth every penny spent on it.” Most tattoos that cost over a lakh cover the entire back or arm. Making one takes up a lot of time as well. Tattoo artist Andy explains, “We start with the outlines, proceed to do the detailing and then follow it up by filling in the dark and light colours, in that order. For a client of mine, I made a huge Spartan warrior. It cost him over 1.3 lakh and took more than four months to complete.”

Many sittings and a lot of patience result in that perfectly inked tattoo. And that might even mean working on it for a year, and that too in four to eight-hour sessions every day, with a 15-day gap after each session. Called body suits, tattoo artiste Sabby agrees that these extensive tattoos are all about detailing and, hence, the big moolah. “The bigger the piece, the more detailed the tattoo is. I’ve done a few such tattoos myself that have cost more than a lakh. The entire process takes more than a year. It starts with a free-hand drawing on the paper as per the shape of the body. And for each back it’s different, as the body suit has to fit perfectly.” Tattoo artist Nirmal Bihani, who has recently started working on a full back tattoo, agrees “The current tattoo that I am working on is a dragon. It’s a complex tattoo with elements like water, fire, flowers and fish. The price for the same will easily exceed a lakh.”

Whether it’s religious sentiments or an angel coming out of the genie’s lamp, a big price is what one must pay if a big tattoo is what one’s looking for. And once you get it, flaunt it and leave it to the world to decode the story.