The Dior Christal Amethyst is a chic statement of modern luxury.

TENGKU ELENA TENGKU MAHAMAD writes about Christian Dior’s latest timepieces.

A WATCH tells more than the time - it also speaks volumes about the wearer’s personality and lifestyle.

Such is the case with the two latest additions to Dior’s Christal range.

Decorated with 283 precious stones, the limited-edition Christal Amethyst is a chic statement of modern luxury. It comes with a mother-of-pearl marquetry dial that is set with 30 diamonds on its central ring.

Its outer ring has 60 pink baguette-cut sapphires on it. Both rings have a distinctive black lacquer outline.
This timepiece is made of 18-carat white gold and mounted with 108 baguette-cut amethysts on the bracelet.

The central rows of the bracelet are set with amethyst-coloured pyramids that are crafted from sapphire crystal. Amethyst, which is said to bring luck, prevent sickness and control emotions, also adorns the bezel. Each horn is set with four baguette-cut amethysts and a rose-cut amethyst on the crown.

The Swiss-made watch is engraved with an individual limited-edition number on its sapphire crystal case-back. The transparent crystal reveals the watch’s automatic winding mechanism inside.

The purple timepiece (Christian Dior once declared purple to be “the king of colours”) makes a perfect birthday gift as there are only 25 of these.

The other new watch is the Christal Tourbillon.

Watch aficionados will be pleased to know that the timepiece is the first of Dior’s creations to be endowed with a manual winding tourbillon.

Also of 18-carat white gold, it is adorned with 142 diamonds.

Its contrast of black sapphire crystals with baguette-cut diamonds is designed to cater for glamorous occasions.

The unidirectional bezel is set with 54 diamonds and another 43 in the central ring.

One of the distinctive designs of the watch is the black pyramid on top of the tourbillon cage crafted from sapphire crystal. The pyramid rotates every 60 seconds.

Master watchmakers used their finest know-how to assemble 165 fragile components into the timepiece to guarantee precision. The power reserve of the mechanism is close to 80 hours.

The transparent sapphire crystal is also used in the dial, which is tinged with smoky tones varying from grey to black.

The mechanical workings inside can be seen through the sapphire crystals and 12 transparent indexes.

The watch includes a single rose-cut diamond set on the crown.

The 42mm case may seem large compared with Christal Amethyst’s case of 38mm, but it doesn’t attract too much attention.

Flip over the case and you will see a number engraved on it that will remind you that you are one of the 10 proud owners of the exquisite watch. The bracelet comes in a black scratch-proof sapphire crystal and 44 baguette diamonds with a white gold triple unfolding clasp.

Since black is easily matched with any outfit, the timepiece can be worn at any time.

Dior Christal Amethyst and Tourbillon are priced at RM530,000 and RM1,680,000 respectively.

New Straits Times

3montres

Hublot’s stylish and exquisite timepieces are now available in Kuala Lumpur with the recent opening of its stand-alone boutique. DAZMAN MANAN writes.

Hublot Boutique by The Hour Glass in Starhill Gallery.

Chan says the boutique cements a mutually trusting relationship.
Asia is one of the most important markets, says Biver.
WHEN it comes to the perfect timepiece, Malaysians are always on the watch for the best. It’s been noted that there are many watch aficionados in the country who each own among the most outstanding watch collections in the region.

Hublot SA chief executive officer Jean-Claude Biver notes: “In the Swiss watch industry, Asia is one of the most important markets.” Which explains why the luxury Swiss watch brand recently opened the first Hublot stand-alone boutique in Southeast Asia. The boutique in Starhill Gallery is managed by The Hour Glass, one of Asia’s premier watch retailers.

“In recent years, Hublot has grown exponentially, phenomenal really, internationally as well as in the region. It is only natural that we seek to strengthen our presence in a stronghold such as Malaysia, which is in the heart of Southeast Asia. With The Hour Glass as our partner, with its top-notch reputation and strong retail experience, it is a match made in heaven. Most importantly, as long-term partners, they fully understand the philosophy of Hublot, what it stands for, what we are trying to achieve and the timelessness of its appeal,” explains Biver who was in Kuala Lumpur for the boutique’s official opening.

According to The Hour Glass managing director, Dr Kenny Chan, the company has been partners with Hublot from the very beginning, when it was first founded by Carlo Crocco to its present day, spearheaded by Biver. “We have followed the growth and success of Hublot with the same enthusiasm that we have watched our own retailing business grow through the years. I am proud that not only have we weathered through the many challenges of the watch industry and economic cycles, today, we are stronger than ever and this boutique only cements what is a mutually trusting relationship and friendship that Hublot SA and The Hour Glass have built through the decades”.
Occupying over 108 sq metres of retail space, the store is fashioned in the same stylish mien of the brand’s international boutiques and furnished in Hublot’s trademark monochromatic colours of black, white and silver. “The boutique is the epitome of cool contemporary minimalist luxe - much like the watches themselves,” observes The Hour Glass executive director Michael Tay.

The all-black bar counter, chandelier and secluded VIP lounge set the tone for customers who will find themselves affronted with an uncluttered yet intimate environment that is not about mere watch-buying, but the promise of a total luxurious retail experience.

It’s the perfect backdrop to showcase the robust and contemporary designs that make a Hublot watch so iconic. It created watchmaking history over two decades ago when it became the first luxury label to dare pair precious metals with functional rubber. Needless to say, it was a hit among watch lovers.

Today, the brand continues to successfully marry fine watchmaking finesse, honed from its roots in traditional horology, with cutting-edge technology, progressive research and bold use of materials, colours and designs that help propel the brand into one of the most exciting and fastest growing brands which is no mean feat in the highly-competitive watch industry.

That adequately explains the move by the LVMH Group, one of the world’s most important luxury conglomerates, to acquire Hublot SA in April recently. “Hublot, which is developing rapidly in high-end, luxury watchmaking, embodies the brand that complements most perfectly the watchmaking range of the LVMH group,” explains president and CEO of LVMH watch and jewellery business division, Philippe Pascal.

Hublot’s history began in 1980 when Crocco created the label’s watch in gold, fitted with a natural rubber strap. This was a first in the history of watchmaking, and has now become the pioneering inspiration for a very successful style of watchmaking.

The porthole-shaped watch case combining polished and brushed metal, the minimalist black dial, and the distinctive black natural-rubber strap came to symbolise the Hublot watch.

Members of royal families and celebrities were immediately enthusiastic about the brand. Crocco had taken a gamble, but in just a few years Hublot watches joined the elite of leading watchmaking brands.

“Three years of research were necessary to create the unique strap and to demonstrate the exceptional properties of natural rubber, which seems to regenerate when in contact with the skin. The two parts making up the strap are tailor-fitted at the time of purchase. They adapt instantly to the client’s wrist with ease and comfort, offering the wearer a unique experience,” Biver explains.

In the mid-90s, rubber became the focus of interest of leading watchmaking brands, as reflected by the large number of designs. This validated the choices that led to the creation of Hublot watches. “As far as the brand is concerned, rubber is not a fashion phenomenon, but rather the perfect embodiment of the philosophy, lifestyle and brand image it had developed from the beginning”.

Until its acquisition by the LVMH Group, the brand remained one of the last independent family-run watchmaking businesses offering a unique single-product concept. Unbounded creative freedom enables Hublot to preserve its unique personality and to widen its range with an impressive array of collections, some featuring specific complications, and some available only in limited editions.

Having become absorbed in his design work and many activities for the MDM Foundation, a charity helping deprived children around the world, Crocco set out to find the man who could take the helm of his watchmaking business. At that time in late 2003, Biver decided to take a year out to reflect and rest a little. “But I found it difficult to do nothing! It was then that I met Carlo Crocco, and we clicked instantly.”

Biver took up his position as CEO in May 2004, becoming board member and minority shareholder in Hublot watches.

Under his leadership, Hublot revisited its founding principles: Biver relaunched the “fusion” concept. This meant the fusion of unusual materials such as gold and ceramic, tantalum and red gold, or even magnesium and titanium.

In less than a year, he met the challenge of setting up a new collection, which was presented in Basel in April 2005 and featured the Hublot Big Bang chronograph. It was an immediate success, and orders increased three-fold compared to the previous year.

A few months later, the Big Bang chronograph was already widely acclaimed and rewarded with several international Prizes: the prestigious “2005 Design Prize” in the “Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix” was one such notable achievement. It was followed by the “Sports Watch Prize” at the “Watch of the Year” ceremony held in Japan, and the prize for “Best Oversized Watch” of the Editor’s Choice “Watch of the Year” in Bahrain a fine tribute from the Middle East.

“In parallel with the Big Bang collection, we continue to manufacture “Classic” watches, which around 30 per cent of clients prefer. The total number of items produced stood at 24,000 last year”.

Since Biver’s arrival, Hublot has experienced spectacular growth, and the result for the end of 2007 was a turnover exceeding 150 million Swiss francs. As for human resources, their number has nearly doubled and now stands at 80 employees. Hublot owns two subsidiaries, one in the US and the other in Japan, and work started in Switzerland late last year to build a new plant which will be operational at the beginning of next year.

Early this year marked the launch of the first Big Bang designed exclusively for women, featuring a diametre of 38mm, a diamond-set bezel, but no chronograph. Subsequently, the new Big Bang Classic was presented at Basel 2008: this represents a development of the Big Bang towards a stylish, sporty attractiveness, while emphasising the traditional.

New Straits Times

Fully Faltoo
 

For those of you who never had enough of the short clippings of Fully Faltoo or Semi Girebal, there’s good news. MTV, long known for its spoofs on movies, actors and cricketers, has gone one step further now, by launching Fully Faltoo Film Festival.ῠ The success saga started off with Cyrus Sahukar taking a dig at Simi Garewal’s Rendezvous, in Semi Girebal. The spoof made him a household name. Says, Ashish Patil, GM, MTV India, “What Bakra did to Broacha, Girebal did to Sahukar. It was a resounding success in terms of brand, PR and viewership. The TVR ratings were three times the original and generated revenues worth four times the investment.”

This prompted MTV to experiment more in the genre of spoofs. Next came the 45-minute movie Ghoom, a spoof on Dhoom, which went on to become hugely successful and gained +1 TVR. It also beat Star Plus and FIFA World Cup in terms of viewership. Ghoom was released in 13 screens across five cities. And now MTV has a film festival dedicated to spoofs of films like Taare Zameen Par, Jodha Akbar and Chak De India.

Bechaare Zameen Par, the first among the pack, talks about the story of a ‘not so special kid’ (Sahukar) and his nikamma teacher (Rosemayor). Cheque De India aims to be a ‘painful tale of bankruptcy’ post Indian Premiere League and Jadoo Ek Bar is a tale of ‘love, loss and constipation.’ According to Patil, the most successful of film genres is not action, comedy, romance or drama. it is spoof. “It’s a function of investment and return. It is cheaper by definition and the return is much higher than the investment,” he says. But, how did MTV come up with the idea of spoofs? “Humour is core to MTV. We have tried different kinds of humour. Be it Chito Chat or Bakra - humour has been the main element in these shows. We thought of trying out spoofs on short scenes from movies in the beginning. This turned out to be a hit with the youth. Sholay was kept alive among Gen N because of the spoofs,” quips Patil.

However, funny man, Cyrus Sahukar feels, spoofs are not easy. “It’s original comedy and not mimicry. So you have to create your own character. Even if you are playing Shah Rukh you have to add your own elements or else it will be sheer mimicry. It’s extremely tiring,” says Sahukar. Ayushmann Khurrana, who plays Fakir Khan, in Cheque De India and Sahenshah Ek Baar in Jadoo Ek Baar agrees with Sahukar. “It is very difficult to execute the spoofs. We have to keep in mind that it is not slapstick yet the performance should match the original. I saw all Shah Rukh and Hrithik films and picked up their style,” quips Ayushmann, the winner of Raodies 3.

These films are also offering a good platform for Bollywood aspirants. Says Sambhavi Sharma, who plays Jadoo Bai, “I came into the limelight with Roadies but Jadoo Ek Baar, proved that I can act as well.” Apart from the viewers actors also seem to be having aῠ blast aboard Fully Faltoo.

Pa and bahu overshadow chota B
 

Why a 35-year-old Aishwarya Rai Bachchan insists on behaving like a giddy-headed teenager everytime she’s asked about her hubby Abhishek? A simple question by her ‘Pa’ Amitabh on how she felt when Abhishek proposed to her was greeted with a dramatic rolling of eyes as she called out to her ‘Babbyyy’ and then turns to her father-in-law, suddenly turns coy and says, ‘Paaa, I don’t want to get into that.’

All this was part of an hour long interview conducted in Big B’s den to promote their Unforgettables Tour which will be aired on NDTV Imagine next Saturday. But why was Abhishek sulking all through the interview? When his wife walked into the show, she gave her ‘Pa’ a tight hug and behaved like they hadn’t met each other in months. In comparison, she greeted Abhishek in a rather thanda embrace. Big B and his bahu share such a fabulous rapport that they virtually overshadowed chota B, who proceeded to display his annoyance with a scowl.

But there’s a limit to which one can tolerate pretentiousness, so the best thing to do is to channel surf and it was time to catch a quick episode of Ballika Vadhu, which not only sensitively addresses the issue of child marriage but manages to extract fine performances from all the artistes every single day. The little girl who plays Anandi is such a delight to watch. She has so wonderfully blended into her role that you tend to forget that you are merely watching an act.

There is a new entrant in the form of 18-year-old Gehna, who is married off by her poor parents to a man twice her age and he happens to be Anandi’s Tauji. There are bound to be more dramatic moments in the coming weeks but unlike the other soaps which drip with artifice, this serial is understated and very real.

In contrast is the episode in Aaathvan Vachchan which focuses on a mentally challenged protagonist - loud, over the top with excessive melodrama, the serial fails to elicit any kind of sympathy for Urmi, who is the lead character. Instead one has this strong urge to give her a few tight slaps everytime she screeches in the name of acting. This young lady needs to head to an acting school fast.

‘It hurt to be called a bitch’
 

After exiting from Big Boss, Sambhavna Seth speaks about her experience on the show to A.L. Chougule

Qῠ Why did you take part in Bigg Boss?
My father wanted to see me on TV. I knew it would make me famous but becoming popular was not the real motive behind taking part in Bigg Boss.

Qῠ You often cribbed about some participants making your life difficult though at times you were also quite loud and abusive. How did you cope up with group politics?ῠῠ
I went through a tough time and coped with galis and bad behaviour. Things started getting worse after a week. But I fought with the boys on girls’ behalf but later girls made me their target. Monica, Payal, Rakhi and Rahul turned against me and after that I joined the boys.

QWho didn’t you get along with?
Payal. It hurt to be called a bitch by her. She was very irritating and a compulsive liar. How could she call me down market when she herself has done C-grade films like Tauba Tauba? But despite her being so rude and abusive towards me I didn’t nominate her. But she did.

Qῠ So Bigg Boss was not a good experience for you?
It was a mix of good and bad. I enjoyed my stay there with all the interesting tasks. I also met some interesting people and made friends.ῠῠ

Lolo returns to small screen
 
By A.L. Chougule

She is not a stranger to television. While she was at the peak of her career in films, Karisma Kapoor had made her debut on television in a daily soap aptly titled Karishma -The Miracle of Destiny where she played the lead role of a woman of substance.ῠ That was six years ago. The show didn’t do well and shut shop after a year. Then Karisma got married and went on a sabbatical. Rumours of her comeback in films have been doing rounds for quite some time now but she is yet to sign a film. But Lolo is returning to television. She will judge television celebrities in a dance reality show. Keeping her company will be Arjun Rampal and Farah Khan.

What made Karisma choose TV as a comeback vehicle and not a Bollywood flick?ῠ

“This is not a comeback for me. I was on a long break and had not retired from work. In Hollywood it happens all the time. I don’t understand why we don’t differentiate between retirement and break,” says Karisma who looks as stunningly beautiful as she did six years ago. She elaborates further, “I started working at the age of 15 and did both masala and offbeat films for over 13 years and enjoyed both commercial and critical success. After marriage I needed a break. I wanted to concentrate on my family and child. I didn’t miss acting because my priorities had changed. Motherhood changes you a lot and makes you more mature and responsible.”

So while she was away from the hustle and bustle of showbiz, Karisma says she was getting lot of offers for films as well as reality shows. Why did she choose to do Nach Baliye over Chak De? “There have been several offers but I chose to do Nach Baliye because it’s a successful brand. I am a choosy person and Nach sounded like the right show. It has been consistently getting high TRPs.”ῠ

What she likes about Nach Baliye is that it’s a dance show with real life couples. “I have seen it before and liked the excitement and energy level of the participants. The emotions are real. I am looking forward to the shooting next week,” she smiles. Talking about judging, Karisma says she will be honest and fair. “I am going to discuss things with Farah and Arjun and we are going to be positive and encouraging,” she avers.ῠῠῠῠ

Recalling her experience of working in a daily soap six years ago, Karisma says she enjoyed her year-long innings on television. “Long shooting hours was a bit discouraging. But otherwise it was an amazing experience,” she says.ῠ Ask her whether she is keen on returning to films and quick comes her reply, “I have not decided yet. It’s a longer commitment.”

Balika hits the right chord
 
By A.L.. chougule

Child marriage is an off-beat subject that no channel would have even thought of attempting in the first place. But it is this very story that has become a subject of discussion and surprised everyone with its amazing success. No show in the past has delivered such robust ratings within a few weeks of its launch as Balika Vadhu has done. It opened with 0.9 ratings and three weeks later it made it to the top five shows of general entertainment channels. Since then it is at the number two spot.

What’s exceptional about Balika Vadhu is that it’s not the usual family drama of Kyunki, Kahani, Bidaai and Saath Phere kind. Also, the show’s launch coincided with the channel’s launch on July 21. In fact, going by the precedent, like Ramayan which became the channel driver for NDTV Imagine, Jai Shri Krishna was expected to give a head start to Colors. Instead, Balika Vadhu has become Colors’ channel driver show while Jai Shri Krishna is the number 2 show with an average of 3.5 TVRs. What’s the reason behind its phenomenal success? “The biggest reason is that it’s an out of the box story which has never been told on television. The overwhelming response is a result of the new concept. A child protagonist with an issue attached to it has grabbed eyeballs,” feels the show’s producer Sunjoy Wadhwa.

ῠAccording to the show’s story and scriptwriter Purnendu Shekhar, besides the new concept, Balika Vadhu has been a success because of its innocence. “A child protagonist is questioning the system in an innocent and un-rebellious way,” he explains.ῠῠῠῠῠ “Thanks to the wonderful direction, the show captures the issues and problems of a child marriage in a realistic way,” adds Purnendu.

Vidya learns to drive
 
Vishal Bharadwaj is very strict about his character portrayals in the films produced by him. The director-producer sees to it that the actor actually learns the skills in reality and not fake it on screen.ῠ If Vishal made Saif learn the UP dialect including the expletives in Omkara the director has made Vidya take driving lessons for Ishqiya. Vidya was a complete phobic when it came to driving. She had acute road phobia. The very thought of driving a car would send shivers down her spine.ῠ But not anymore! And it is all thanks to Vishal Bharadwaj. Vishal saw to it that she mastered the art. She is now pretty comfortable maneuvering her car on the road. Vidya hasn’t stopped thanking Vishal for making her overcome her fears

Kangana makes Roshans unhappy
 

The makers of Kites are apparently not happy with Kangana Ranaut. Roshans roped her in for Hrithik’s next movie after she was strongly recommended by the director Anurag Basu. Priyanka is believed to be Roshans’ first choice for the film. The unit is stationed in the US for a long workshop before the film goes on the floors.

Kangana was supposed to join the unit around the same time the rest of the cast did. But even after the last piece of luggage and cargoed equipment arrived from India, there was no news of Kangana. Her director was getting frantic as he couldn’t reach her on her cell, and he was the one who was accountable when it came to the Roshans. Hrithik in particular is not happy with his leading lady because he felt his entire unit was left stranded for Kangana. Finally, Kangana did arrive days later, and her excuse was that she was unwell and had missed her flight, and then couldn’t get on another one for a couple of days. It of course didn’t cut ice with the Roshans, but they have let it pass as they don’t want to spoil the atmosphere on the sets, poor Anurag has had a lot of explaining to do to the Roshans, and some about professional attitude to Kangana as well.

Rani on a cold war with Shahid
 

Shahid and Rani are barely on talking terms on the sets of Yash Raj Films’ Hadippa. They were cordial to each other initially, but things got sour when Rani began teasing Shahid by calling him ‘Sir’ on the sets, because he had been teaching the students of FTII. But Shahid didn’t seem all that amused and started sulking, after which they patched up. But for some unfathomable reason, a cold war has set between the two again, with both not even looking at each other. This obviously makes it impossible for them to rehearse together before the shot.

A source from the movie sets laments, “It is difficult. We hope they start talking soon or at least before the promotion of the film begins.”ῠ But there’s nothing surprising about this turn of events, considering Rani’s track record with her co-stars. First, she had issues with Saif Ali Khan, then with Salman Khan during the filming of Chori Chori Chupke Chupke before they patched up. She also had a fight with Vivek Oberoi after he decided to publicly battle Salman over the Aishwarya Rai issue. For a while, she was not on talking terms with Aditya either. Chopra. And now, after her Dus Ka Dum Episode she seems to have rubbed Shahrukh Khan the wrong way too.

Priyanka pins hopes on Fashion
 

Priyanka Chopra’s not exactly making waves with any of her films, especially with the failure of Drona, her fourth flop in a row. But she hardly seems to be perturbed. One of her close aides reveal, “She is very confident of Fashion doing the trick for her.”ῠ She also held a special trail for Fashion recently at the Yash Raj studios because she thinks Fashion is her best work so far and she wanted the Chopras to have a dekko.
Her close friend SRK was instrumental in organising the trial for her at the studio. He also invited Aditya Chopra for the screening, who arrived with Rani Mukherjee in tow and there was an awkward moment as Priyanka welcomed her at the screening.ῠ These two actresses had become great friends not too long ago, till their relationship fizzled out, as it did with all of Rani’s friends.

Harman Baweja was expected to arrive but didn’t show up, which caused more speculation amongst industry insiders about their relationship status.ῠ Everyone who watched the film came out singing praises of the actress and Priyanka was left beaming after the show. Does this materialise into a film with Yash Raj, only time will tell.

Arjun all set to turn producer on Television
 

As TV stars make a beeline for Bollywood, film stars seem to be having a ball on small screen. Be it judging, anchoring or production, film stars can’t seem to have enough of it. The latest star turning producer on TV is Arjun Rampal. Arjun who is now judging a reality show, is keen on doing two shows, one fiction and the other reality. But the deal is yet to be finalised. “It is too early to talk about my productions till I sign them with the channel,” says Arjun.

He confesses that he is now enjoying his stint as a judge on Nach Baliye. “This show is entertaining. Among all dance-based reality shows, Nach Baliye is the best and that makes all the difference,” says Arjun who had received offers for reality shows earlier. “Yes, I was offered to be on Bigg Boss 1. But I wasn’t keen at all,” says the actor. Though Arjun looks at TV as another means of entertaining the audiences, it was Farah who convinced him to be a part of Nach Baliye. “Even Star TV was a little anxious about what I can do on the show, but Farah convinced me and the channel that we can have a lot of fun. So here I am,” says Arjun.

Harsha wanders on a new pitch
 

After checking out cricket grounds for a while now, popular commentator Harsha Bhogle has switched on to a different field. He will play anchor in BBC World News’ Travel India, which is a six-part series of journeys to India’s spiritual sites, places of scenic beauty, urban business centres and underdeveloped rural areas. The series showcases contemporary India through a unique insight.

Harsha starts his journey from the desolate Rann of Kutch and makes his way to Bikaner. Moving on, he reaches the Golden Temple in Amritsar before traveling to Kashmir where he visits the Wagah. He then travels to Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, where he visits the holy city of Benaras.ῠ Harsha’s journey continues to Bihar and West Bengal, where he meets the tribes of Sunderbans, then onto the new world IT hub of Hyderabad, before traveling to Kanyakumari. Then he heads to Nashik for wine tasting and a crash course in wine making. He then travels back to Mumbai to wrap up his adventure, the trip takes a full circle back to the point of the origin.

Flow like the river
 

Ustad Shujaat Husain Khan, the sitar maestro from Imdad Khan gharana, is carrying forward the legacy of his father Ustad Vilayat Khan, but with a contemporary twist. He has recently launched his new album titled Call Of The River. The album depicts six different moods of the river and captures its musical journey through hills and plains. He says, “This album depicts my imagination as an artiste and the way I look at a river. It has six tracks starting from Utpatti, the birth of a river reflecting the tranquility of the atmosphere.

Next is Utsav, which depicts the river in a very energetic mood flowing through the hills and making a noise. Ranjha shows the colour of love and Benares was composed to represent a mature river where both birth and death is celebrated at the same ghats. I have also composed something called Thehrav, where I have portrayed the maturity and deepness in a river. The last composition is Samarpan, the stage where the river completes it journey.”
The album, he says, is not purely confined to the sitar, but it has an amalgamation of instruments like the guitar, piano, flute and tabla with modern techno sounds. His 19-year-old son Azaan has played the guitar in this album.

He says, “My father did not come up with any album still people remember him. People have accepted me as I am and they know me by my voice. Meri awaaz hi meri pehchaan hai. My album Lajo-Lajo and Hazaron Khwaishen in the past have got rave reviews.”
The artiste comes from a family where music flows in the blood and he was only three when he started playing the sitar. His father played a very important role in his life, as he was not just a dad, but his teacher as well.

So how different was his childhood from other children? He answers, “Growing up was not easy for me. I was under constant pressure because I had to carry forward the legacy of my family. My father was no ordinary musician, we both had difference of opinions at every stage and it got difficult at times. People always compared me to him and technically I have played in a way which is very different from my dad. I have developed my own style, which is a mix of modern and classical. And finally people have accepted me for who I am.”
The artiste is a very private person and doesn’t believe in commercialising his music. Music is an integral part of his life and when he is not composing music, he is busy teaching his students. He says, “It makes me happy when I see young people dedicating themselves to classical music and becoming successful.”

Ustad adds funky edge to sarangi
 

The 33-year-old sarangi maestro Kamal Sabri is one of the finest musicians India can boast of even at the international level. The artiste belongs to the Sainia gharana of music and is known all over the world for his unique style and breath-taking performances. He is the son ofῠ legendary sarangi player Ustad Sabri Khan. He is ready with his new album Meditation On Strings that willῠ soon be released by Sa Re Ga Ma.

Talking about his album, he says, “This is the first time that three generationsῠ are playing together for an album. I have played the sarangi along with my father and nephew Suhel Yusuf Khan.”ῠ He has participated in a number of prestigious festivals including the Harballabh Music Festival in Jalandhar (Punjab) where his recital earned him the much-coveted title of ‘Ustad’ in 2005, the Tansen Samaroh in Gwalior, Swami Haridas Music Festival in Mumbai and the World Peace Concert in the capital.

He says, “Sarangi was earlier known as a Saurangi, an instrument with hundreds of colours, which dates back to the 13th century. We belong to the Sainia gharana from Moradabad and my family spread this music all over the world. I was blessed enough that I could carry forward the tradition to the next level. And to make sure this blessing stays with me I offer namaz to Allah to create taseer (an impact) on my music.”

Kamal has travelled widely and has made a mark on the international stage. He brought glory to the country at many international festivals like the Art of the Bow festival in Geneva among others.

He says, “I think a lot of youngsters are showing interest in learning more about our age-old musical heritage.”ῠ The musician also composed music for Hollywood movie The Big Question. “It is about a troubled man who bursts into a child’s schoolhouse. He chases out all the boys and lines the girls up. Then he begins to shoot them one by one. Will he be forgiven by the parents? The film explores The Big Question through astonishing acts of forgiveness, courage and will,” he adds.ῠ He says, “My next album will be called Sarangi Funk, a contemporary sarangi-based album. It is not just for serious classical listeners, but also for the younger generation.”

I had a fetish for chocolates
 
Chow ‘n’ tell: Jhansi, anchor
I am a foodie with a fetish for chocolates. I just need a small excuse - be it for happy or not-so-happy occasions, to turn to chocolates, especially dark chocolates. However, after putting on a lot of weight, I have now cut down on my chocolate intake. I even end up eating bread with chocolate syrup and ice cream, thanks to my sweet tooth.

I’m not only fond of eating sweets but also preparing sweet things. So, whenever, I check out books on painting, I buy some cookbooks too. I love experimenting and am not fussy about food. I usually like to bake dishes, which include chocolate fudge cake, cookies and preparing baked potatoes and spinach.
My favourite world cuisine also consists of baked items, namely baked Lebanese potato and baked beans. However, Russian salad is another of my favourite. This mixed fruit and vegetable salad is healthy and yummy. The creamy white sauces used render the salad a unique taste.

Back to cooking, my aunt is a great cook and since she had no daughters, she used to pamper me with food since my childhood. It amazed me how she would prepare chutneys out of anything - fruits, vegetables like brinjal and cucumber. They taste great.ῠ In the city, my favourite eateries include Ohris, Our Place for their paneer and Punjabi by Nature for their sarson ka fish and dal makhni. I’m also a street food lover and like to gorge on bhel puri.

I also appreciate idli sambar of Chennai, meen fry of Kerala, parathas of North India and khakras of Gujarat.ῠ When I travel abroad, I like to eat various kinds of bread and salads. USA has the best variety of bread, while I enjoyed eating the ice creams and cakes of Australia though some of their cheese had a metallic taste. I have also tasted the Middle-Eastern hummus but didn’t like it much.ῠ Though I’m fond of non-vegetarian, on board the flight to Bangkok, I made a mistake by choosing non-veg from the menu. I had expected chicken, but what actually was served was a duck wing and a brinjal stuffed with cheese. In contrast, the vegetarian platter looked quite colourful and inviting. Such experiences don’t deter me from trying out new cuisines whenever I get a chance. After all there’s only one life. So I love to enjoy all kinds of dishes, but try to cut down on junk food and cold drinks.
 
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