WhereCity- Mumbai Musings

WhereCity.com - Restaurants and Bars - Le Soleil Energy Cafe & Lounge

noreply@blogger.com (WhereCity Mumbai) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 09:22:00 +0000

A fitness-freak’s dream come true, Le Soleil, Energy Cafe & Lounge, has a mouth-wateringly fresh menu. Multi-grain pancakes, salads, paninis, ciabattas, wholewheat pizzas and wraps, vibrant high- energy drinks, pro-biotic yoghurt, tofu, oysters, water chestnuts, wheatgrass and flax-seed meals, all make their way into their extremely healthy food options. Hot favourites are the multi-grain fibre crunch (a salad of cous-cous, barley and unpolished rice, combined with cheese and vegetables); Read more...

WhereCity.com - Articles - Pune Highway

noreply@blogger.com (WhereCity Mumbai) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 09:15:00 +0000

Rage Production’s Pune Highway is a telling account of the dynamic of friendships. The play’s plot chalks out the aftermath of a murder on the Pune Highway. The victim’s three friends Promod, Vishnu and Nicholas find refuge from the incident at the squalid ‘Hotel Moonligt’, where they go through a spectrum of guilt, nostalgia, laughter, fear and aggression. To add to their woes, Promod’s fling Mona, daughter of politico Sanjay Mansekar threatens them with letting on their secret. What follows are a series of what-nexts.

Pune Highway, is a relatively gripping and lively play with many twists and turns punctuated with social commentary, language related jokes, one-liners and other devices used to elicit humour. While they work at one level, they also take away from the play’s main thread. The act has none of the urgency or murkiness that follows murder and you wonder if these three men have genuinely lost a friend to murder or if they are just three friends, making confessions and conversations, on a casual outing. Read more...

WhereCity.com - Articles - Sarnath Banerjee

noreply@blogger.com (WhereCity Mumbai) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 09:13:00 +0000

He spruced up Indian English Literature with his debut graphic novel, Corridor and charmed us with his whacky pathos and sunshine satire. The helmsman of the Indian Graphic novel, Sarnath Banerjee, talks about art, fiction, fact and form as his much anticipated text, The Harappa Files finally arrives in stores.

‘Corridor’ your first graphic novel took the country by storm. By then the genre was fairly well-known. What led to writing one?

I felt a certain existential restlessness that was characteristic of my generation who were trying to find form. What was being churned out was insufficient. My stories required a different language, that of image and text, without either of which the story would be tonally incomplete. Text and image could well bring out the restlessness symptomatic of my generation. That was my contribution to storytelling.

You have a distinctive comical-critical commentary at the crux of your texts. What do you attribute that to? Read more...

WhereCity.com - Articles - Have Fun With Fruits This Summer!

noreply@blogger.com (WhereCity Mumbai) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 09:06:00 +0000

One of the best things about summer is the abundance of fresh produce available in the markets. Fruits contain natural sugar and are packed with loads of vitamins and minerals. They are the perfect sweet treat which help to satisfy your sugar cravings, while at the same time keeping your weight in check. Try to incorporate as much colour as possible when you go fruit shopping. Brightly coloured fruits are full of essential nutrients and provide various health benefits. For instance, orange and yellow fruits such as lemons are rich invitamin C and help to boost immunity. Red fruits such as apples containlycopene which lowers the risk of heart problems. Green fruits such as kiwiare full of minerals which are beneficial for the circulatory system. Blue andpurple fruits such as plums are rich in phytochemicals which aid in disease prevention.

Here are some interesting ways to have fun with fruits this summer. Read more...

WhereCity.com - Articles - The Town Hall

noreply@blogger.com (WhereCity Mumbai) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 09:04:00 +0000

Amidst the various heritage monuments that dot the cityscape of south Mumbai,The Town Hall is perhaps the most royal and elegant. Its magnificent façade is awe inspiring and finds place in almost all tourist destination travel planners and Mumbai promotional brochures. Hardly anybody misses the pristine whiteness and imposing elevation of the building, with numerous stairs leading to it, in popular ‘Bollywood’ movies.

The building is neo-classical in architectural classification and is heavily influenced by Greek and Roman styles. Colonel Thomas Cowper of the Bombay Engineers is said to have designed it keeping in mind the ultimate purpose of the building. The building was required to house not only the civic offices but also a library and a museum. Colonel Cowper, however, did not live long enough to see his design evolve into a fine architectural piece in 1833.

The building that took 10 years and about 500,000 pounds to complete is at least 200 feet long and 100 feet deep. It is located in the prime Fort area of South Mumbai overlooking the Horniman Circle Gardens and the Reserve Bank of India. The Grecian portico with eight Doric columns forms the façade. A flight of 30 steps leading up to the building completes the royal look of this heritage monument. The Regency staircase in the building is divided by wrought iron and leads to the vestibule. The Durbar Hall personifies the majestic past of India as it was, while the easy chairs in the Periodical Rooms complete with matching footstools provide an unparalleled reading experience fit for the rich and the royal. Read more...

WhereCity.com - Articles - Horniman Circle Gardens

noreply@blogger.com (WhereCity Mumbai) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 09:02:00 +0000

Located in the Fort district of Mumbai, Horniman Circle Gardens is surrounded by office complexes that house some of the country’s premier banks. According to initial plans of the city’s planners, the garden was never meant to be there. It was merely a circle of stately buildings including Town Hall housing the Asiatic Library and the Central Library. Bank of Bombay (State Bank of India) was the first occupant of the first building erected in the Circle. Other buildings in the circle were completed by 1873.

The empty space was developed into the present day garden, due to the efforts of police commissioner Charles Forjett, Lord Elphinstone and Sir Bartle Frère. Trees were planted, walkways were laid out and the empty place was converted into a beautiful garden.

The garden was named after the then Governor, Lord Elphinstone and called Elphinstone Circle. Post independence, the garden saw its name change to Horniman Circle after Benjamin Horniman, an English journalist who was a leading advocate of Indian self-determination at the Deccan Chronicle. Read more...

WhereCity.com - Articles - Just Go With It

noreply@blogger.com (WhereCity Mumbai) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 09:00:00 +0000

Adapted from a French play ‘Fleur de cactus’, Just Go With is about plastic surgeon Danny Maccabee (Adam Sandler) with a foxy move for picking up women; he feigns an unhappy marriage. When he meets hot math teacher Palmer or ‘the one’ (Brooklyn Decker) however, he finds himself in a fix. When she insists on meeting his soon-to-be ex wife, Danny begs his frumpy assistant Katherine Murphy (Jennifer Aniston) to pretend to be his snooty, cheating wife. Things snowball with Katherine’s children and Danny’s cousin getting involved. The unlikely bunch takes their madness to Hawaii where the truth eventually spills out.

The duo Adam Sandler and director Dennis Dugan are not known for their serious cinema (Happy Gilmore and Big Daddy). They however, take their toilet humor to another level with Just Go With It and it is not even funny. The film has nothing, actually, going for it.

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself sitting stone faced as Danny’s cousin and Katherine’s fake lover Eddie (Nick Swardson) tries to give CPR to a sheep or when Katherine’s son poops on Eddie’s hand. Read more...

WhereCity.com - Articles - Rio

noreply@blogger.com (WhereCity Mumbai) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:59:00 +0000

Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) belongs to a rare species of bird known as the Spix Macaw. Neatly tucked into an urban lifestyle in snowy Minnesota with bookstore owner Linda (Leslie Mann), Blu is a far away from home — the jungles of Rio de Janeiro. Domesticated Blu, can brush his teeth and read a book but does not know how to fly.

Soon enough, Blu’s species is on the decline and he has to mate. Linda and Blu who have led a sheltered life, take the plunge and travel to Rio where Blu meets a female Spix Macaw, Jewel (Anne Hathaway). As cultures clash, it’s hate at first sight. The two bond however, while escaping the clutches of poachers who try to make a quick buck by selling exotic birds.

Rio starts with a bang. Exotic birds swoosh in front of your eyes, thanks to the 3D graphics. The rest of the film is in the similar vein — musical and fast-paced. Read more...

WhereCity.com - Articles - Game

noreply@blogger.com (WhereCity Mumbai) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:56:00 +0000

The game begins when reclusive business tycoon Kabir Malhotra (Anupam Kher) invites four strangers from around the world to the Greek island of Samos- his home. The players are a corrupt prime ministerial candidate from Thailand (Boman Irani), a Bollywood star with a dark past (Jimmy Shergill), a drug runner from Istanbul (Abhishek Bachchan) and a young journalist from London (Shahana Goswami). Each has a common skeleton in their closet.

But when the game turns into a closed-door murder mystery, Interpol cop Sia Agnihotri (Kangana Ranaut) is brought in to pull the plug and inspect the pieces. Can she fit the clues to the crime as well as she fits in those suits? Can we mute the screen when she reiterates the obvious and leads us down blind alleys?

And is the game really over for our players? Read More

WhereCity.com - Contest - Win gifts and goodies

noreply@blogger.com (WhereCity Mumbai) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:04:00 +0000

World Cup mania is over....its IPL fever now...

Take part in the IPL contest to win gift voucher from BIG CINEMAS.

http://www.wherecity.com/contests/qnacontest.php?type=1&set_id=12

WhereCity.com - Articles - Pralay

noreply@blogger.com (WhereCity Mumbai) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 07:58:00 +0000

It was in the late 80s when the rock culture of the west slowly spread its tentacles in India. Then while most of bands played covers, there was one which stuck to writing and producing originals- Greek; the brainchild of Adam and Eddie Avil. After a couple of years, Greek was renamed Pralay. Fortunately, the passion and originality remained intact. From being banned at I Rock to being considered for a Grammy and being the inspiration for Anurag Kashyap'smovie Paanch, Pralay has come a long way.

Now, the band is back in action. Adam Avil, the lead guitarist/vocalist of Pralaytalks to us about his passion and future plans with the band.

You played at I-Rock last year after a gap of almost 10 years. What was it like?

It was great being a part of the 25th anniversary of I Rock. There were some 6000 people at the venue, the best attendant for Indian acts. I guess as it was a free concert. Nevertheless, the community knows we are back in the business. As the younger crowd yet needs to identify with our music we are going to play anywhere and everywhere.

The band has a complete new line-up except for you. Does the music change too?

The band has always been Eddie and me in terms of content. Our earlier line-up had Luke, Joy, Ulysses, Brian, Victor and Vishesh.Suraj Jagan sang mainly in the studio. The content and vision has always been from Avil brothers. Since Eddie is not part of the band now, the responsibility is doubled. The new sound is a little heavier with a lot of Indian classical riffs/vocals and arrangements.

Pralay was famous for its notoriety. Is the anger still the same or has it sobered down? Read more

WhereCity.com - World Cup Mania Contest

noreply@blogger.com (WhereCity Mumbai) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:06:00 +0000

Who was the Man of the Match in 1996 Indo-Pak World Cup match?

Click here to answer and win gift voucher from Shoppers Stop.

WhereCity.com - Articles - Yashpal Sharma

noreply@blogger.com (WhereCity Mumbai) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 09:51:00 +0000

Yashpal Sharma did not ‘accidently’ get into acting. His tryst with the stage began during childhood itself. “As kids my friends and I, used to be fascinated with Ramleela, so we made our own Ramleela mandali. I used to play Hanuman and even entertained the crowd dressed up as joker,” he says. Adolescent fancy with the craft still withstanding, Sharma soon realised that when it comes to performing all is not fun and games. “As I grew up watching serials like Katha Sagar, Bharat Ek Khoj, Tamas, Mirza Ghalib, I learnt that acting is not all about entertaining, it's something that touches you deep inside and gives out a message also.” Read more...

WhereCity.com - Restaurants and Bars - The French Loaf

noreply@blogger.com (WhereCity Mumbai) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 09:47:00 +0000

The French Loaf is nice roadside-cafe with few chairs and tables laid outside. The guys at the counter are quiet friendly and happy to help you choose the right dessert or snack. Apart from cakes, breads and cookies the cafe also offers delightful snacks, croissants, cro'wich, viennoiseries and coffees. Read more...

WhereCity.com - Restaurants and Bars - San Churro

noreply@blogger.com (WhereCity Mumbai) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 09:45:00 +0000

Legend says that Hernán Cortés introduced chocolate to Spain but commissioned only monks to manufacture it exclusively for the royal family. San Churro, the head monk, however, later revealed the secret of chocolate all across Europe. Read more...

noreply@blogger.com (WhereCity Mumbai) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:40:00 +0000

WhereCity.com - Articles - Krazy Electrons

noreply@blogger.com (WhereCity Mumbai) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 07:24:00 +0000

Redefining genres!

The Electronic music scene is buzzing these days and it’s not just west that is lending these eclectic tunes. India too has got some great Electronic artists and bands to call its own. One such group, making the clubbers groove, is Mumbai based Krazy Electrons. Within a year of its inception, Krazy Electrons is already topping the charts on global sites like Reverbnation and has a huge fan following on various social networking sites.

“While studying engineering in Delhi, I used to listen to Daft Punk, Chemical Brothers and Paul Van Dyk and was always intrigued by the electronic sounds and fx. I started learning the nuances of this genre and played as DJ at Club Elevate in Delhi. But the idea of producing music live was something that drifted me towards laptop based music. I always dreamt of forming an electronic band,” says Chatty (Chaitanya), a laptop musician. Read more...

WhereCity.com - Articles - The Psychic Plumber and Other Lies

noreply@blogger.com (WhereCity Mumbai) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 09:43:00 +0000

India’s foremost graphic novelist, Sarnath Banerjee, along with musician Ashu Pathak put together what is perhaps the city’s most orgiastic celebration of art. Showcased at the Blue Frog studios, “The Psychic Plumber and Other Lies” coalesces Banerjee’s graphic art with Pathak’s music in an unrestricted free-play of meanings.

Banerjee’s work comprises of both sequential panels as well as solo pieces of art. Introducing the work, read more...

WhereCity.com - Articles - Kumud Mishra

noreply@blogger.com (WhereCity Mumbai) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 09:41:00 +0000

“I didn’t come to Mumbai to become a film star. My sole interest lies in doing very good work,” declares Kumud Mishra. He is recognised as one of the finest actors on the Mumbai stage in our day.

Kumud’s connection with the stage goes back to his school days. It started when he was in the sixth standard in Military School, Belgaum. His father, a military man in addition to being a consistent performer in Ramleela, was a great influence during Kumud’s adolescent life. “Inter-house drama competitions were periodically organised,” read more...

WhereCity.com - Articles - Ali Rangoonwala

noreply@blogger.com (WhereCity Mumbai) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 09:40:00 +0000

The Plunge into Professional Photography Ali Rangoonwala got his first camera when he was thirteen. His father, who was an advanced amateur photographer, had sparked his initial interest in photography. His first semi-professional camera was bought at the age of sixteen. Ali landed his first assignment with a huge international name – National Geographic. He had acquired, at eighteen, what counterparts spend many prime years lusting after. He was ecstatic, because for the first time he thought play could be turned into work. Shooting the timeless palaces of Rajasthan, Ali knew in his heart that this was what he wanted to spend his life doing. Read more...

WhereCity.com - Articles - The Art of Speaking

noreply@blogger.com (WhereCity Mumbai) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 09:38:00 +0000

Ever felt dumbfounded while standing in front of a crowd or nervous while addressing a meeting or even apprehensive to speak out at a family gathering?

It is not unusual to feel this kind of tension- the butterflies in your stomach, literally cold feet and hands, a certain enveloping numbness. No, it is not out of the ordinary. It is normal, but it does stop you from being a confident person that you can be. And from being the successful individual that you have the potential to be. Read more...

WhereCity.com - Articles - 127 Hours

noreply@blogger.com (WhereCity Mumbai) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 09:35:00 +0000

‘There must be some kind of chemical that makes us different from animals’, sings the title track of the film. For the next 90 minutes, and 127 hours of Aron Ralston’s life, we are going to discover exactly what that is. Read more...

WhereCity.com - Articles - Burlesque

noreply@blogger.com (WhereCity Mumbai) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 09:33:00 +0000

This is the kind of film that has mass appeal. Teen queens and women will love the sequins, raunchy costumes and OTT make-up; these are the kind of shiny beads-n-cotton candy fabrics that haunt the dreams of little girls. Men will love the titillating song-n-dance routines with barely hidden flesh. There’s a campy story somewhere in the background read more...

WhereCity.com - Articles - Nipponzan Myohoji Temple

noreply@blogger.com (WhereCity Mumbai) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 09:31:00 +0000

A few paces away from City Bakery, the Nipponzan Myohoji temple has an aura of serenity that is distinct from the heat, colour and aroma of a classic Hindu temple. Interestingly, the roof is architecturally similar to the shikaras or pyramidal roofs of Indian temples. The coolness of the marbled interiors complements the warmth of the sepia-coloured stone façade and endows the temple with a feeling of in-utero tranquility, akin to some of the classic marble Jain temples. Read more...

WhereCity.com - Restaurants and Bars - Bakersville

noreply@blogger.com (WhereCity Mumbai) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 09:26:00 +0000

The new kid on the Spoon food court, Bakersville is a bakery-kiosk that serves varieties of croissants (butter, mushroom cheese, Thai chicken, chocolate), puffs, muffins and tarts (chocolate, lemon, assorted fruit). Their range of eggless desserts will please staunch vegetarian palates; choose from cookies, fruit or chocolate pastries and cakes (cranberry, mixed berry, mocha, tiramisu) in half or one kg options. Read more...