Sneha May Francis takes a journey through Bollywood’s virtual world
Wouldn’t you love to become part of Amitabh Bachchan’s extended family? Barring a few genetic glitches, establishing a familial bond with the legendary actor is just a click away. Enter the virtual world of blogging, an area that opens up a whole new dimension of communication, threading thoughts and opinions on a personal level.
The image of having a conversation with an actor of such legendary stature will definitely see millions nod in the affirmative. But do bear in mind that chances of actually meeting the actor in flesh and blood or even being invited to his family parties may be remote, or non-existent. However, the mere thought of communicating with him one-on-one is nothing less than extraordinary.
This virtual reality eliminates scouting around for gossip magazines or watching entertainment shows on the telly. Now, all you need for your daily dose of Bollywood gossip is to log on to the blogs and read about it all, first hand!
The Bollywood dream
There’s this inexplicable charm that the world of glitz and glamour entices millions, leaving them with a desire for a large chunk of Bollywood. And it’s this craze that prompts the stars to setup these connections. Hollywood’s been there, done that; but virtual communication is still a fairly new concept in Bollywood.
The reasons for the need to establish such a deep link can be many. Some might look at it as the Indian gliteratti’s most befitting gift to their fans – an extension of themselves, in their own words, floating on the web for their followers to soak in. Or the desire to express their views could be an indication of the poor media projections actors are often subjected to. The postings, mostly personal with huge undertones of narcissism, work on many levels as the actors’ propaganda to shut off the media and communicate straight with the public. Also, it makes for cheap and good marketing stratergy. Actors can play their PR personnel and promote their films and themselves through the mere click of a button.
Meet the bloggers
One of Bollywood’s first to hit the blogging radar wasn’t an actor. Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap wrote about his initial struggles and how he finally succeeded in finding his spot in Bollywood with interesting tales like Black Friday, No Smoking and Gulaal. His blogs take a dig at film critics who’ve applauded or ridiculed his films, producing apt response for each comment. He’s a talented filmmaker, no doubt, and his writings speak of his incredible understanding of cinema.
Another filmmaker who’s creating quite a stir on the web is Ram Gopal Varma. A man buried in pointless controversies, his blogs too reflect his confused state of mind. And when there’s no topic of relevance, he pops up pointless reactions to vague questions. His blogs, most often, are engaging, but not of any consequence.
Sudhir Mishra is another one from the creative fraternity who takes a potshot at his critics. A filmmaker who has effortlessly blurred the line between commercial and meaningful cinema, Sudhir refrains from writing about his personal outings and restricts his views only to his films.
For a man of ‘many talents’, what with his ability to juggle effortlessly between TV talk shows and films, Karan Johar finds the word game a tad too demanding. Looks like the man has way too many obligations to invest time in his own blog. His last update dates back to an outburst after the Mumbai terror attacks on November 26, 2008.
There are numerous other filmmakers who are regulars on the blogging circuit, namely Santosh Sivan, Onir, Revathy and Kunal Kohli. Even the acting brigade isn’t far behind.
Leading the gang is Amitabh Bachchan. He’s impressionably regular with his writings. Barring a few pompous notes about his family, he opens up to his readers, whom he affectionately refers to as his ‘extended family’. There are personal photographs, tales about his pet dog, links to his recent interviews, etc. He also uses his virtual power to spit venom at the media, stressing the ‘inefficiency’ of the Fourth Estate.
Aamir Khan’s infamous blog about naming his dog after his contemporary Shah Rukh Khan, made for hot news a long time ago, even triggering a war of sorts between the two. But looks like all the bad publicity has forced the man to slow down on his thoughts. His posts are few, and sometimes consist of no more than four lines. His most recent blog, however, is a detailed description of a day out with his kids.
The beefy Salman Khan has been on a mission to try out different professions. After an attempt at painting, the actor takes on blogging, albeit for his TV game show. The only hiccup being the blog hit a limbo after the show went off-air.
Little known actor Rahul Khanna too had a shot at the written word. He started a blog in 2005, added a few thoughts till 2007, only to give it up completely. His namesake, Rahul (Bose), who might prefer to be known as an intelligent actor, has made little effort towards maintaining his blog. There’s one post for the year 2008 and none for this year. He also began writing in 2005, but his posts dried up soon after.
We even got an itsy-bitsy glimpse of DevD-starrer Abhay Deol on the web. His writings proved as entertaining and unconventional as the actor himself. But the portal’s poor design made navigation difficult and reading tiresome.
The word game extends to the female fraternity as well, even though the numbers don’t run into double digits. Shilpa Shetty, who was resurrected to fame post a British reality show, tries a tad too hard to fit in. Her writings are amateurish, with smiley faces pasted all over. And for those who’ve missed out on her IPL drama, she’ll even word it out for you.
The followers
While Amitabh Bachchan rules the roost with a massive fan following, the others aren’t far behind. Aamir follows close behind, with the number of comments running into thousands. Just like the Big B, he too responds to a select few comments. Ours, however, went unnoticed! Shilpa is still to gain online admirers, her comments mainly run into single digits.
And we have also been told that Amitabh Bahchan has been paid a hefty amount to keep his blog alive, but since there’s no evidence, we will remain tight-lipped.
For the love of cinema
There are numerous other actors who dedicate websites to promote their films. They throw in a few interesting personal tit-bits to lure in the crowd, but once the film is released and the promotion done, the site is forgotten. Case in point being, Anil Kapoor and Ajay Devgan who’ve used the web for their films – Gandhi, My Father and U, Me Aur Hum, respectively.
Blogging might still be in its nascent stage, but web portals have aways been a rage in Bollywood. These are either put up by fans, who’ve dedicated the space to their favourite stars, or it’s the actors themselves who manage it. Celina Jaitley, Mallika Sherawat, Ajay Devgan, Dino Morea and Lara Dutta are among the many who use the web to give their fans a sneak peek into their lives away from the spotlight. These sites are rarely updated and often offer nothing more than what’s already available in the media.
Other networks
Apart from the conventional portals, there are social networking sites like Facebook, Orkut and Twitter that are proving quite popular for the actors to project themselves and bond with their fans.
Looks like today there’s a considerable change in the way stars perceive their admirers. No more waiting, hours on end, for an autograph or even a snapshot. Now, the stars are willing to invite their fans into their lives for an indepth conversation. And judging by the tremendous response, we are sure the fans want more!
get linked
Aamir Khan: http://www.aamirkhan.com
Abhay Deol: http://passionforcinema.com/author/abhay
Amitabh Bachchan: http://bigb.bigadda.com
Anurag Kashyap: http://passionforcinema.com/i-smoked-classic-milds
Karan Johar: http://www.mynameiskaran.com
Ram Gopal Varma: http://rgvarma.spaces.live.com
Rahul Bose: www.intentblog.com/author.php?author=Rahul%20Bose
Rahul Khanna: www.intentblog.com/author.php?author=Rahul%20Khanna
Salman Khan: http://duskadum.blogspot.com
Shilpa Shetty: http://www.shilpashettylive.com/blog
Sudhir Mishra: http://passionforcinema.com/author/sudhir
Published in e+, gulf news (May 28. 2009)
Sunday, 24 May 2009
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
A taste for Thai
Give your tastebuds a wake-up call with the Thai Kitchen food, writes Sneha May Francis
Every cuisine has its signature dish, which is promptly placed on a pedestal, pushing the other lesser-known dishes into oblivion. It’s the Tandoori Chicken for Indian cuisine or Chopsuey for Chinese, making one wonder if there’s anything more on offer from that region. Thai cuisine has also suffered similar generalisations, with the fiery coconut red/green curry being declared the most obvious choice. But we were in for a revelation at the aesthetically decorated Park Hyatt Dubai’s The Thai Kitchen. With each dish, we discovered a culinary world beyond the typical Thai curry and rice.
The bustling contemporary interiors, complete with four open kitchens, each with its neat pile of pots and pans and ingredients, painted a colourful gastronomic image. Mesmerised by the chef’s juggling act, we found it tough to decide where to sit. The cool exteriors, which boasted panoramic views of the Dubai Creek, didn’t take much convincing though.
The uncomplicated menu was neatly divided into wok, salads, noodles, clay pots, fried, grilled, steamed and sweets. We were spoilt for choice but our lack of Thai culinary knowledge prompted us to opt for the set menu, which offers a little of everything.
Our two-hour long dinner saw an assortment of tiny flavoured dishes, making their way to our candle-lit table. The unpretentious tiny helpings made for perfect sharing, enabling us to try out a variety of flavours without compromising on tummy space.
Chef Supattra’s authentic spread had us floored. Blackened, crispy beef strips and a tangy sauce set the mood. Armed with our drinks – a reddish juice and plain orange juice – we were ready to tackle the fiery dishes. Our tastebuds were in for a rush of flavours, some timid, others flaming hot. Considering the helpings were teeny, tasting and choosing our favourites was a game we enjoyed immensely.
The Shrimp Toast with Seasame bowled us over with its tough crispy exterior and soft textured interiors. The accompanying sauce wasn’t overpowering: just enough to give it the much-desired twist. The Green Papaya Salad and Spicy Pomelo Salad looked pretty on the outside but was packed with a powerful spicy punch on the inside. For the faint-hearted, we suggest a spice check before placing your order. It was the Roast Duck Curry that floored us. The subtle dark, sweetened soy sauce perfectly dressed the thin slices of roast duck.
We had started off by saying that we’d give the coconut curries a miss, but the Green Beef Curry paired with a neat pile of chilled white noodles proved an interesting twist to the regular coconut fare. The Red Vegetable Curry was spot on, only proving why this concoction is such a rage across the globe.
Our lack of Thailand’s sweet inclinations could’ve made us skip the desserts, but a bite into the sweet dishes left us amazed at how simple mixes of tropical fruits and crushed ice turned into something so awe-inspiring. We relished the Sago with Pomelo, an enchanting milky coconut blend.
After savouring our huge spread in the most romantic setting, we decided we’d have to give this trendy spot a revisit.
What Thai cuisine where Park Hyatt Dubai, Dubai Creek; 04 602 1234Why For a spicy trip to the Asian coastCost Bill for two Dh530
Published in e+, Dubai (May 14th issue)
Making his mark
Legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan’s blue-eyed boy, Abhishek, believes there’s more to acting than just a glorified bloodline, writes Sneha May Francis
Here’s a man blessed with an envious star lineage, smart looks, and a gorgeous green-eyed actress for a wife. One would think his world couldn’t get any more perfect. But despite all these glorious frills, there’s something that’s eluded Abhishek Bachchan so far – recognition. The man is popular, no doubt, but very rarely for his acting escapades. Bachchan junior has had to work extremely hard to create a slot for himself in Bollywood without depending on his illustrious bloodline. It took him 17 films to prove he’s got the stuff that actors are made of, but he’s still a long way from matching up with his legendary parents – Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan. His happy act in Dostana might’ve helped garner some critical acclaim, but it wasn’t enough to wipe away the bad after-effect of his clumsy performance in Drona.
We caught up with Abhishek when he visited Dubai to showcase Delhi-6, a film he promised would be a revelation, but which we later found out to be a tad disappointing.
We rewind to our ‘10-minute’ interview slot.
The rush of sunlight at the hotel café set the perfect mood for our rendezvous, only this time we had other journos for company. The hustle and bustle is a given, considering Dubai rarely gets treated to Bollywood visitors.
In any case, the man arrives, bang on time, dressed in a quirky white shirt, blotched on one side with a large blue eagle. It’s hard to ignore the bizarre shirt, but we try. It’s his well-toned body and cropped hair-do that’s caught our attention next. We speculate it’s for Mani Ratnam’s next flick Ravaan, but Abhi shoots that down with "that’s not the title of the film" before conceding, a tad reluctantly, that we are spot-on in our theory that it’s for the film. We ignore the curt response and quiz him about his association with filmmaker Mani, who gave his career the much-needed push with the rebellious Lallan in Yuva and the ambitious tycoon Gurukant Desai in Guru. "He’s (Mani) a dear friend and a mentor to me. I’d do anything for him. He doesn’t need to show me the script, he just needs to tell me when he wants to shoot. That’s the kind of love and respect I have for him," claims the Bachchan boy.
Since we’ve read enough about his "brilliant" sense of humour, we thought we’d put it to test it by asking him to pick one thing he doesn’t like about his Delhi-6 co-star Sonam Kapoor. But Abhishek stalls, looks uneasy and shouts out to Sonam, who’s seated around the corner, for an answer. When we protest, he blurts out a lame: "She’s always wearing flats. I don’t like that. She’s tall and should wear heels". We could comprehend what was really funny about that line, so we let the humour angle pass and allow Abhishek to hide behind his shades and mumble away in his husky voice.
We note his interesting association with Delhi-6 director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, who was supposed to launch Abhishek in Bollywood with Samjhauta Express. Fate, however, played spoilsport, leaving it to JP Dutta to do the introduction with Refugee. We prompt him to reexamine his career and ask how it would’ve shaped up had he waited for Mehra’s golden touch. But Abhishek doesn’t believe in looking back. "I only hope it’s the start of a wonderful collaborative relationship between Rakeysh and me, and that we go on to make some wonderful films," he adds.
It’s Zoya Akhtar’s Luck By Chance that we take on next. A film that narrates the smooth ride most star kids enjoy, contradictory to Abhishek’s tough real-life story. He accepts there are perks, but not enough to see you through. "Let’s be very honest. It’s definitely easy to get your foot in the door. There are millions of other actors who are hundred times better than us but don’t get an opportunity to make a film. But I do everyday. I’m blessed, I’m lucky and I’m thankful for it," he adds. But he disapproves of the negativity surrounding the inheritance of such a glorified status. "It shouldn’t be held against us. It’s not our fault. It’s a bonus that our parents have been in this industry. I don’t think anyone blames the son of a business tycoon when he takes on his dad’s business. So why are we being alienated?"
Abhishek claims he was warned about the harsh realities of the film world by celebrated filmmaker Yash Chopra. "He told him that people won’t spend their hard-earned money on you only because your dad is a superstar. Your father will only bring the public to your first show, after that you have to prove who you are." Abhishek went on to do just that. After 17 films, he’s finally getting a stronghold in Bollywood. And this star kid isn’t bitter about it: "Most actors don’t get more than one film to prove themselves, but I got 17! And I owe it all to my parents."
Considering he’s had a rollercoaster outing in Bollywood, we ask if there’s anything special he does to soothe his nerves before his film releases. "I have a disorder: I speak a lot. I meet as many journalists as possible. No, I’m kidding," he adds, hinting he’s got a funny streak after all. He quickly reverts to the serious tone and informs us that he watches all his films at the theatre. "Apart from Dostana, I’ve watched all my films in the theatres. Maybe not the first show, but definitely on the first day," he informs.
While on Dostana, we congratulate him for his brilliant act and confess our love for the character Sammer. "So did John!" he quips. Abhishek adds he’s won a nomination for the Filmfare Best Actor Award for the film as well.
We move onto his latest Bollywood outing – Delhi-6, a film touted as filmmaker Mehra’s semi-autobiographical film. Abhishek corrects us: it’s not semi-autobiographical but has "certain visuals which he [Mehra] had experienced before." We wonder if that’s not what "semi-autobiographical" means, but we don’t argue and allow him to continue.
He adds that Delhi-6 is a film that hopes to revive two things. "It makes you question yourself, which I believe is important. Secondly, it portrays today’s youth in a different light. A section that’s always been accused, wrongly so, of being very complacent and impatient. This film is a wonderful answer to all those accusations."
No interview would be complete without allowing the man to gush about his lovely wife. So we give in. He details how it’s great to work with his wife Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (who also stars in Mani’s Ravaan). "It’s wonderful. We are very professional but the great thing [about working together] is that the minute you wrap, you get to spend time with your wife," he adds.
Our 10-minute slot draws to a close, with just enough time for Abhishek to fill us in on his future projects. "After Mani’s film, I start work on Balki’s Pa, with my dad and Vidya Balan. And then a film with new director Abhinay Deol," he adds.
Looks like it’s about time Abhishek got his fair share of the big Bollywood bite. Considering he’s got another chance in Bollywood, we only hope he doesn’t take his second innings for granted.
Published as cover story in e+, May 14th issue
Here’s a man blessed with an envious star lineage, smart looks, and a gorgeous green-eyed actress for a wife. One would think his world couldn’t get any more perfect. But despite all these glorious frills, there’s something that’s eluded Abhishek Bachchan so far – recognition. The man is popular, no doubt, but very rarely for his acting escapades. Bachchan junior has had to work extremely hard to create a slot for himself in Bollywood without depending on his illustrious bloodline. It took him 17 films to prove he’s got the stuff that actors are made of, but he’s still a long way from matching up with his legendary parents – Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan. His happy act in Dostana might’ve helped garner some critical acclaim, but it wasn’t enough to wipe away the bad after-effect of his clumsy performance in Drona.
We caught up with Abhishek when he visited Dubai to showcase Delhi-6, a film he promised would be a revelation, but which we later found out to be a tad disappointing.
We rewind to our ‘10-minute’ interview slot.
The rush of sunlight at the hotel café set the perfect mood for our rendezvous, only this time we had other journos for company. The hustle and bustle is a given, considering Dubai rarely gets treated to Bollywood visitors.
In any case, the man arrives, bang on time, dressed in a quirky white shirt, blotched on one side with a large blue eagle. It’s hard to ignore the bizarre shirt, but we try. It’s his well-toned body and cropped hair-do that’s caught our attention next. We speculate it’s for Mani Ratnam’s next flick Ravaan, but Abhi shoots that down with "that’s not the title of the film" before conceding, a tad reluctantly, that we are spot-on in our theory that it’s for the film. We ignore the curt response and quiz him about his association with filmmaker Mani, who gave his career the much-needed push with the rebellious Lallan in Yuva and the ambitious tycoon Gurukant Desai in Guru. "He’s (Mani) a dear friend and a mentor to me. I’d do anything for him. He doesn’t need to show me the script, he just needs to tell me when he wants to shoot. That’s the kind of love and respect I have for him," claims the Bachchan boy.
Since we’ve read enough about his "brilliant" sense of humour, we thought we’d put it to test it by asking him to pick one thing he doesn’t like about his Delhi-6 co-star Sonam Kapoor. But Abhishek stalls, looks uneasy and shouts out to Sonam, who’s seated around the corner, for an answer. When we protest, he blurts out a lame: "She’s always wearing flats. I don’t like that. She’s tall and should wear heels". We could comprehend what was really funny about that line, so we let the humour angle pass and allow Abhishek to hide behind his shades and mumble away in his husky voice.
We note his interesting association with Delhi-6 director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, who was supposed to launch Abhishek in Bollywood with Samjhauta Express. Fate, however, played spoilsport, leaving it to JP Dutta to do the introduction with Refugee. We prompt him to reexamine his career and ask how it would’ve shaped up had he waited for Mehra’s golden touch. But Abhishek doesn’t believe in looking back. "I only hope it’s the start of a wonderful collaborative relationship between Rakeysh and me, and that we go on to make some wonderful films," he adds.
It’s Zoya Akhtar’s Luck By Chance that we take on next. A film that narrates the smooth ride most star kids enjoy, contradictory to Abhishek’s tough real-life story. He accepts there are perks, but not enough to see you through. "Let’s be very honest. It’s definitely easy to get your foot in the door. There are millions of other actors who are hundred times better than us but don’t get an opportunity to make a film. But I do everyday. I’m blessed, I’m lucky and I’m thankful for it," he adds. But he disapproves of the negativity surrounding the inheritance of such a glorified status. "It shouldn’t be held against us. It’s not our fault. It’s a bonus that our parents have been in this industry. I don’t think anyone blames the son of a business tycoon when he takes on his dad’s business. So why are we being alienated?"
Abhishek claims he was warned about the harsh realities of the film world by celebrated filmmaker Yash Chopra. "He told him that people won’t spend their hard-earned money on you only because your dad is a superstar. Your father will only bring the public to your first show, after that you have to prove who you are." Abhishek went on to do just that. After 17 films, he’s finally getting a stronghold in Bollywood. And this star kid isn’t bitter about it: "Most actors don’t get more than one film to prove themselves, but I got 17! And I owe it all to my parents."
Considering he’s had a rollercoaster outing in Bollywood, we ask if there’s anything special he does to soothe his nerves before his film releases. "I have a disorder: I speak a lot. I meet as many journalists as possible. No, I’m kidding," he adds, hinting he’s got a funny streak after all. He quickly reverts to the serious tone and informs us that he watches all his films at the theatre. "Apart from Dostana, I’ve watched all my films in the theatres. Maybe not the first show, but definitely on the first day," he informs.
While on Dostana, we congratulate him for his brilliant act and confess our love for the character Sammer. "So did John!" he quips. Abhishek adds he’s won a nomination for the Filmfare Best Actor Award for the film as well.
We move onto his latest Bollywood outing – Delhi-6, a film touted as filmmaker Mehra’s semi-autobiographical film. Abhishek corrects us: it’s not semi-autobiographical but has "certain visuals which he [Mehra] had experienced before." We wonder if that’s not what "semi-autobiographical" means, but we don’t argue and allow him to continue.
He adds that Delhi-6 is a film that hopes to revive two things. "It makes you question yourself, which I believe is important. Secondly, it portrays today’s youth in a different light. A section that’s always been accused, wrongly so, of being very complacent and impatient. This film is a wonderful answer to all those accusations."
No interview would be complete without allowing the man to gush about his lovely wife. So we give in. He details how it’s great to work with his wife Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (who also stars in Mani’s Ravaan). "It’s wonderful. We are very professional but the great thing [about working together] is that the minute you wrap, you get to spend time with your wife," he adds.
Our 10-minute slot draws to a close, with just enough time for Abhishek to fill us in on his future projects. "After Mani’s film, I start work on Balki’s Pa, with my dad and Vidya Balan. And then a film with new director Abhinay Deol," he adds.
Looks like it’s about time Abhishek got his fair share of the big Bollywood bite. Considering he’s got another chance in Bollywood, we only hope he doesn’t take his second innings for granted.
Published as cover story in e+, May 14th issue
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Burgers versus veggies
It’s the battle of good versus tasty. But new age parental wisdom says your kids can have their cake and eat it too, writes Sneha May Francis
hen I was eight years old, I did not know the difference between white and brown bread. Probably because our options were limited then. But my mother would happily allow me to eat whatever I liked, simply because she wanted to avoid dealing with my tantrums. But the times have changed. Eating healthily is not just what the adults adopt to keep kids happy, but something that the tiny-tots can learn to appreciate too.
You would be amazed how 9-year-old nothings have a clear idea about their healthier preferences – it’s wholemeal bread over the white loaves. (Minus the butter, mind you!) But this doesn’t mean they are willing to give up their burgers and French fries for a portion of veggies. The kiddies are happy to take the healthy bait, only if they are allowed their occasional junk food indulgence.
Eating out = eating well
Kids love their burgers and French fries, so you need to chalk out innovative ways to make them eat well. Parents claim it’s all about striking the right balance. If you allow them to have their burgers, then you could trade in some veggies and fruits as well.
Lama Khayer stresses how kids eat out a lot more than when she was little. "I’d prefer if my son ate at home, so I can monitor his meals. When he goes out, it’s only burgers he wants and you can’t stop him from eating them. I do allow him to eat burgers because it’s important that he enjoys what kids his age do. So it’s about finding a balance."Prabha agrees that children end up eating out a lot these days. "With my son, we eat out at least three to four times a week, which is quite a bit. It’s a challenge to keep him away from McDonald’s or Burger King. So we try to do a little bit of both. There are times when he gets to choose and there are times when we get to choose. Out of the four outings, two are fast food joints and two are regular restaurants," she says.
And if they aren’t game for the balancing routine, then some parents find fun ways to lure their kids to eat well. Lisa Burrows says, "My 9-year-old daughter loves to live off carbohydrates, even though she knows about healthy eating. So I have to bribe her to eat the right portions of fruits and vegetables."
Healthier options at home
Healthy eating habits should be taught at home, with parents initiating the first step to creating awareness. Celebrated chef Giorgio Locatelli claims variety is crucial while planning kiddies meals. "Parents should use a variety of ingredients. I don’t believe it when they say he’s a lazy eater; it’s because they have been lazy planning the meal. Kids will eat anything as long as you make it exciting," he adds.
Caroline Alexander agrees with this idea. There’s more option than the "classic meat and two veg" from the childhood days she recalls. "I try to give my kids as much variety as possible, offering food from all over the world, I’d like to believe. Probably more vegetarian food than what I was given as a child," she says.
Planning school meals
Often parents find it hard to plan their kid’s meals day in and day out, and wish the schools would provide hot meals. Caroline explains how she finds it tough to make her kid’s school meals different and nutritious every time. "But I do have my good days and bad". She recalls her time in the UK, when her daughter’s school would provide her with hot meals that were cooked on-site. "It was quite well-balanced. There would be vegetables and fruits, and even a pudding. But now Laila’s school doesn’t provide that." She would prefer to get more assistance from the school. "I think parents need a bit of help. It’s a lot easier to pay and know that your child is being provided wholesome, hot meals," adds Caroline.
Lama, however, feels schools do make an effort these days to ensure their kids eat well. "Before, we could pack anything in the kid’s lunch boxes, but now they check them. Even cornflakes, if they are chocolate-coated, are not allowed. This is definitely a good change." She explains that this uniformity helps eliminate peer pressure as well. "My son doesn’t come back saying my friend is eating chips so I want some too". Schools are keen on informing kids about healthy eating options. "Kids do learn about the negative impacts of junk food. They might not say no to it, but they do realise it’s not something healthy and would feel guilty before eating it, which is definitely a sign of improvement," says Lama.
The school Lisa’s kids go to also monitors what the kids eat. "They do check their lunch boxes regularly to see if they are eating well. We have letters sent back from school saying kids shouldn’t be given a lot of chocolate." She cites the example of some schools in the city that have initiated the smart card systems for kids, where those who choose the healthiest meals get prizes, money back or vouchers. "That’s a fantastic concept," she says.
The parents’ verdict is out. They believe children need to be taught the benefits of eating well early on. An occasional burger won’t harm them, but it should be coupled with a large portion of fruits and veggies. The trick is to feed kids the best of both worlds, only then will they stay fit and healthy.
(Published in e+, gulf news April 23, 2009)
Recipe for a healthy life
Sneha May Francis caught up with a few celebrity chefs who jotted down the perfect formula that allows you to dine out minus the guilt
Do you find it tough to let go and enjoy a lavish spread at swanky restaurants for fear of piling on the kilos? There’s no denying we have become a weight-obsessed lot. Calorie talk weaves into most of our daily conversations, with everyone showing their concern about staying fit and eating right.
Eat more fish, use olive oil, drink green tea… there’s an abundance of ‘what to dos’ available in print, dedicated exclusively to this way of life. Reports of new-found health theories always make headline news, forcing us to change our diets radically in keeping with the latest trend. Everyone wants to stay healthy without having to chew on carrot and celery sticks. So we decided to tweak our outing with celebrity chefs and ask them how to spice up our lives without having to clog our hearts.
The best way to go healthy? Go natural
Celebrated chef Gary Rhodes, who has put British cooking back on the gourmet map, feels healthy eating translates into eating with the seasons. After feeding many a hungry stomach across the globe, he’s found his way to Dubai with the Rhodes Mezzanine. "In England, I always use the English asparagus during May and June. We also have it flown over [to Dubai]. And since it’s that sensational, we need to do very little with it. Consequently, what we are giving our customers is just very great depth of flavour that a natural ingredient holds," he explains. Natural ingredients are the key to making it right, agrees executive chef at Grosvenor House, Garry Hollihead. "I stay away from canned products and work with natural ingredients," he says. Chef de cuisine in Maya restaurant Rubén Herrera concurs: "The more natural the food, the better it tastes".
Drilling the point home is Indian chef Vineet Bhatia of the popular Indigo spot. He claims healthy eating should begin at home. "Unfortunately when it comes to ordering out Indian food, it’s very oily, but that’s not how it’s cooked at home," he explains, stressing how clever technique will help "flavour and texture" the dishes without adding the calories. Neil Wilkinson, sous chef in Dubai Creek, feels, "More ingredients doesn’t mean more fat, it only has to be natural."
Chef Muthu of BiteRite Cafe and Restaurant talks about a concept where chefs design the recipes and send them to a nutritionist to modify them and then add them to their menu. "Customers can choose the recipes according to their needs."
Organic food – the flavour of the season
It’s the new ‘in’ thing. Everyone’s talking about organic, craving organic, and wanting to add a slice of organic to their daily diet. Supermarkets stock up exclusive shelves for organic veggies and fruits and it’s moving into the restaurant kitchens too.
Grosvenor House’s Hollihead confirms this trend has hit London, with more customers showing preference for organic food. He’s not alone in his observation. Wilkinson says the reason people are going organic is because it is natural. "People are constantly learning how to eat better, which makes us create different dishes by constantly experimenting with the flavours," he adds.
Most chefs agree that this healthy movement doesn’t mean they have to drastically rework their recipes. Italian celebrity chef Giorgio Locatelli, who stirsup his magic at Atlantis, believes it’s not the recipe but the ingredients that need more scrutiny. "I don’t really make an effort to change the recipe, but to choose the right ingredients which are produced in the right way. I’m a strong believer in organic food," he says
Develop a taste for the unusual
The white-capped men were unanimous in their observation about how more people are willing to experiment with a variety of cuisine. Mexican chef Herrera reasons it’s mainly to find a particular one that might use the best healthy cooking method. "Often people think Mexican cuisine is not healthy because they think the food is deep fried. On the contrary, our cooking is healthy. We try to minimise fat or oil as much as possible and use fresh ingredients," he explains. Wilkinson also notes the trend to try new things. But in his words, it’s often the same dish revamped in a different way, mainly because "people only go for what they know".
More to a dish than what meets the eye
The men in aprons identify this sudden trend in food talk and public concern about what we consume. It’s about whether the vegetables have been pumped with chemicals or pesticides that are harmful for the body. Locatelli believes it’s a good sign that people are taking more interest in their food and are no longer satisfied with eating straight out of the supermarkets. "Customers want to know where the food comes from, how the animal is being reared," he adds. Hollihead chips in with the traceability factor, which tracks where the food comes from.
Herrera agrees that people don’t eat and go. "They are genuinely concerned about what they are being fed. Especially when it’s red meat or fish, customers want to know where it’s coming from; if it is farm-reared or if it’s wild. Also some people like it 100 per cent vegan." Wilkinson says there’s an increase in demand for olive oil. "Now everyone wants to use olive oil instead of the heavy oils or butter, because they believe olive oil is lighter and healthier."
Sweet nothings on the dessert menu
For those who can’t allow a few scoops of white sugar into their diet, then there are healthier options. The trick is to tweak the ingredients so that it gives the desired effect with less harm to the body. Executive chef of Right Bite Chadi Fakhoury says it’s about eating clever. "For sandwiches we use wholewheat bread, egg whites, less salt and no fat at all. Even the sugar we use is either brown sugar or fructose, which is natural sugar."
With so many options around, it’s only natural that there’s way to our tummies without guilt. And feeding your tummy without mistreating your heart is a complete winner.
But all this health food doesn’t sound fun
Squashing the common misconceptions that anything healthy doesn’t taste good, Hollihead claims that’s not the case at all. "Of course, it can be tasty. It can be very clean, very simplistic and very fresh." Vineet explains how he works on making the dishes a bit more lighter. "We are very strong on fish in our menus because it’s healthier. We have seen a shift in people’s dining out taste, they all want to eat something ‘light’ and not heavy." But the fat trimmings are done away with without compromising on taste. "Instead of adding two tablespoons of ghee you use oil," explains the chef.
A healthy night out is all down to balance
It’s not like you gorge on fatty food everyday, so the men in white do allow a one-off indulgence. "The old French cuisine has cream but again, that’s not what you eat everyday," explains Locatelli. Rhodes reasons that one sweet indulgence once a month, 12 days in a year, can do no harm to your body. "We create our menus for our customers. I’ve had a lady come up to me and say ‘whatever you do, please don’t take the bread and butter pudding off the menu’. Now if I told you how much cream I use in that pudding you’d shoot me." Rhodes doesn’t slash the pudding off his menu, because he claims the trick is to balance your meal.
Fair enough. With a little reason, more natural choices and a balanced approach, it’s goodbye guilt and hello waiter.
Published in e+, Gulf News, Dubai (April 23, 2009)
Monday, 13 April 2009
Not picture perfect
Nagesh Kukunoor and Akshay Kumar team up but fail to thrill, writes Sneha May Francis
8x10 Tasveer
Rating **
In a nutshell
It is said that photographs capture a moment in time. This seems obvious, but it is the entire premise for Nagesh Kukunoor’s latest film 8x10 Tasveer. In it, the protagonist Jai (Akshay Kumar) has supernatural powers that allow him to mentally step into a photograph. It is this that helps him to solve the secret behind his dad’s fatal boating accident.
The tale
Jai has supernatural powers that help him travel back in time for a minute after a photograph is taken. An 8x10 photograph (tasveer) of his father Jatin Puri (Benjain Gilani) just before his death has Jai running from pillar to post to find the murderer. And the man can run: his athletic prowess is highlighted every few shots. He chases everyone and everything. His power is such that even the gigantic GMC Yukon is scared of a head-on collision with him!
Jai’s a forest officer who is so zealous in his work (to the point of jumping off cliffs to find clues on crimes against the environment), that he’s clearly not normal. So if that’s what Kukunoor wanted to tell us, he was successful.
Jai’s dad mouths a clue to his son just before he dies, suggesting wrongdoing. But it’s the eccentric cop ‘Happi, with an I’ (Jaaved Jaafri) who convinces him to look further. So begins the journey through the photograph taken by his mum (Sharmila Tagore) a minute before the accident.
The loopholes
^ We are told that all Jai needs to look into the past is an 8x10 photograph taken a minute before an incident occurs. The 8x10 size is stressed, to justify the title perhaps. But Kukunoor slips when introducing Jai’s unique power as he is seen reading the past through a mobile-phone picture. And it’s not an 8x10 mobile phone screen that Jai is peering into!
^ We do know that Jai’s lady love, Sheela Patel, played by the lovely Ayesha Takia, has a job, but what it is we don’t know, nor do we know how these two met.
^ Jai can only see a minute after a photograph is taken when looking into the past. So what would have happened if the photograph was taken 2 minutes before the murder? Pretty convenient, right?
^ The annoying cop Happi is obsessed with cleanliness but when he goes through files in his office, he rummages around without even wiping off the dust!
The lead acts
^ Jai: Aki looks dazed and his face is expressionless. His finest moment is when he mouths: ‘Everybody thinks I’m mad. Do you think I am?’ No comment.
^ Sheela: There’s nothing really in Ayesha Takia’s chubby-faced performance. Perhaps married life has made Takia dull.
Thumbs-up
^ Jaaved Jaafri is brilliant as Happi-with-an-I. But something falls short and we think the poor comic writing is to blame.
^ A good supporting cast – Anant Mahadevan, Sharmila Tagore, Girish Karnad, Benjamin Gilani. These artists’ controlled performances come with age and experience. They don’t falter. It’s only the length of their role and their poorly etched characters that let them down.
Thumbs down
^ For a thriller to work, it needs a tight script, crisp editing, eerie background music and slick special effects. But this film misses the mark on all of these.
^ The bad men are just not bad enough. There’s no sense of real anger or motive.
Track-ed
Aki lends his voice to the song at the end of the film. But after sitting through the movie we couldn’t bear to hear the man sing, so can’t really comment.
The turn-out
On a usually busy Thursday evening, and during the film’s opening night, the theatre was almost completely empty at the Grand Sahara, Sharjah. Telling?
The only reason to watch...
You want to spend around two and a half hours watching Ashkay Kumar running. Or you’ve had a fight with your spouse and were kicked out of the house.
*: Not worth your time
**: Barely watchable
***: Wait for DVD
****: Head to the cinema
*****: Stalk the cast
(Published in e+, Gulf News, Dubai: April 16, 2009 issue)
8x10 Tasveer
Rating **
In a nutshell
It is said that photographs capture a moment in time. This seems obvious, but it is the entire premise for Nagesh Kukunoor’s latest film 8x10 Tasveer. In it, the protagonist Jai (Akshay Kumar) has supernatural powers that allow him to mentally step into a photograph. It is this that helps him to solve the secret behind his dad’s fatal boating accident.
The tale
Jai has supernatural powers that help him travel back in time for a minute after a photograph is taken. An 8x10 photograph (tasveer) of his father Jatin Puri (Benjain Gilani) just before his death has Jai running from pillar to post to find the murderer. And the man can run: his athletic prowess is highlighted every few shots. He chases everyone and everything. His power is such that even the gigantic GMC Yukon is scared of a head-on collision with him!
Jai’s a forest officer who is so zealous in his work (to the point of jumping off cliffs to find clues on crimes against the environment), that he’s clearly not normal. So if that’s what Kukunoor wanted to tell us, he was successful.
Jai’s dad mouths a clue to his son just before he dies, suggesting wrongdoing. But it’s the eccentric cop ‘Happi, with an I’ (Jaaved Jaafri) who convinces him to look further. So begins the journey through the photograph taken by his mum (Sharmila Tagore) a minute before the accident.
The loopholes
^ We are told that all Jai needs to look into the past is an 8x10 photograph taken a minute before an incident occurs. The 8x10 size is stressed, to justify the title perhaps. But Kukunoor slips when introducing Jai’s unique power as he is seen reading the past through a mobile-phone picture. And it’s not an 8x10 mobile phone screen that Jai is peering into!
^ We do know that Jai’s lady love, Sheela Patel, played by the lovely Ayesha Takia, has a job, but what it is we don’t know, nor do we know how these two met.
^ Jai can only see a minute after a photograph is taken when looking into the past. So what would have happened if the photograph was taken 2 minutes before the murder? Pretty convenient, right?
^ The annoying cop Happi is obsessed with cleanliness but when he goes through files in his office, he rummages around without even wiping off the dust!
The lead acts
^ Jai: Aki looks dazed and his face is expressionless. His finest moment is when he mouths: ‘Everybody thinks I’m mad. Do you think I am?’ No comment.
^ Sheela: There’s nothing really in Ayesha Takia’s chubby-faced performance. Perhaps married life has made Takia dull.
Thumbs-up
^ Jaaved Jaafri is brilliant as Happi-with-an-I. But something falls short and we think the poor comic writing is to blame.
^ A good supporting cast – Anant Mahadevan, Sharmila Tagore, Girish Karnad, Benjamin Gilani. These artists’ controlled performances come with age and experience. They don’t falter. It’s only the length of their role and their poorly etched characters that let them down.
Thumbs down
^ For a thriller to work, it needs a tight script, crisp editing, eerie background music and slick special effects. But this film misses the mark on all of these.
^ The bad men are just not bad enough. There’s no sense of real anger or motive.
Track-ed
Aki lends his voice to the song at the end of the film. But after sitting through the movie we couldn’t bear to hear the man sing, so can’t really comment.
The turn-out
On a usually busy Thursday evening, and during the film’s opening night, the theatre was almost completely empty at the Grand Sahara, Sharjah. Telling?
The only reason to watch...
You want to spend around two and a half hours watching Ashkay Kumar running. Or you’ve had a fight with your spouse and were kicked out of the house.
*: Not worth your time
**: Barely watchable
***: Wait for DVD
****: Head to the cinema
*****: Stalk the cast
(Published in e+, Gulf News, Dubai: April 16, 2009 issue)
Curry talk
From the bylanes of Britain to the swanky Marina Walk, Indo-British fusion makes its way to Dubai, writes Sneha May Francis
There’s a curry house on almost every inconspicuous lane in Britain, each stirring up a delicious concoction of Indian and British cuisine. And it’s in these tiny kitchens that the popular Chicken Tikka Masala was created. The dish became the rage across the globe but for the robust Indian tastebuds it was a tad insipid. And this is probably why our gastronomic journey to The Rupee Room wasn’t excitingly flavourful.
Arriving at the bustling Marina Walk we find a neat outdoor eating area. The picture-postcard view of the anchored yachts was inviting, but the weather didn’t permit sitting outdoors that night. So we headed to the tastefully decorated interior and found a nice corner by the large glassed-off kitchen where the chefs entertained us with their acrobatics.
Once seated, our courteous waiter arrived with the menu. We skimmed through the neatly divided list to pick our favourites. Our hungry tummies made us act fast, rather too impulsively perhaps. I know gluttony is a sin, but it’s extremely tough to reason with a growling tummy.
We started our meal with a Tandoori platter, a lavish spread of assorted kebabs – Malai, Botti, Reshmi, Seekh – along with Tandoori Chicken and Rupee Room naan. We were taken aback by the pure monstrosity of the spread. The thought of the rest of the order that had yet to make it to our table had us worried! The collection of neatly arranged meat chunks worked wonders on our tastebuds. The spiced and succulent pieces of meat were cooked to perfection, each retaining its unique flavour. The spread of tantalising pickles complemented them well. Though we would have loved to clear the platter, we had to restrain ourselves from filling our tummies before the other dishes had arrived.
Thankfully we had enough time to sip on fresh orange juice and soothe our tastebuds before our waiter appeared with the steaming hot mains. Our seafood instincts had prompted us to pick the Jhinga Dum Masala, which didn’t deserve the slots we had reserved in our stomach. The large jumbo prawns didn’t quite blend in with the delicious dressing. The prawn meat needed to be marinated for longer in order to retain the spicy tang. The Rogan Josh also missed the mark. The meat tasted insipid, and we longed for a more zesty and tangy tomato base. The Indian bread accompaniments, however, were impressively soft and fluffy.
We talked ourselves into the Prawn Dum Biriyani, only because we’d heard rave reviews about it. But it failed to impress. The prawns weren’t flavoured enough to blend in with the spiced rice. I think the essence of a good biriyani is its spiciness, which was missing here.
It’s customary to finish a meal with a sweet dish. So, despite a rather stuffed stomach, we braved the Rasmallai and Gajjar Ka Halwa, and are glad we did. The sweet dishes truly made our meal burp-worthy! The milky cottage cheese bowl and the steaming hot carrot pudding were the best we’d ever tasted.
We sat a while longer at our table, and were weighed down by our stuffed tummies. In hindsight, we let our tummies rule our minds and perhaps we didn’t need to order so much food. Oh well, next time!
The rupee room
What Indian cuisine
Where Marina Walk, North Podium, 04 390 5755
Why For a nice kebab treat with a view over the spectacular Marina Walk
Cost Bill for two Dh490
(Published in e+, Gulf News, Dubai for April 9th issue)
There’s a curry house on almost every inconspicuous lane in Britain, each stirring up a delicious concoction of Indian and British cuisine. And it’s in these tiny kitchens that the popular Chicken Tikka Masala was created. The dish became the rage across the globe but for the robust Indian tastebuds it was a tad insipid. And this is probably why our gastronomic journey to The Rupee Room wasn’t excitingly flavourful.
Arriving at the bustling Marina Walk we find a neat outdoor eating area. The picture-postcard view of the anchored yachts was inviting, but the weather didn’t permit sitting outdoors that night. So we headed to the tastefully decorated interior and found a nice corner by the large glassed-off kitchen where the chefs entertained us with their acrobatics.
Once seated, our courteous waiter arrived with the menu. We skimmed through the neatly divided list to pick our favourites. Our hungry tummies made us act fast, rather too impulsively perhaps. I know gluttony is a sin, but it’s extremely tough to reason with a growling tummy.
We started our meal with a Tandoori platter, a lavish spread of assorted kebabs – Malai, Botti, Reshmi, Seekh – along with Tandoori Chicken and Rupee Room naan. We were taken aback by the pure monstrosity of the spread. The thought of the rest of the order that had yet to make it to our table had us worried! The collection of neatly arranged meat chunks worked wonders on our tastebuds. The spiced and succulent pieces of meat were cooked to perfection, each retaining its unique flavour. The spread of tantalising pickles complemented them well. Though we would have loved to clear the platter, we had to restrain ourselves from filling our tummies before the other dishes had arrived.
Thankfully we had enough time to sip on fresh orange juice and soothe our tastebuds before our waiter appeared with the steaming hot mains. Our seafood instincts had prompted us to pick the Jhinga Dum Masala, which didn’t deserve the slots we had reserved in our stomach. The large jumbo prawns didn’t quite blend in with the delicious dressing. The prawn meat needed to be marinated for longer in order to retain the spicy tang. The Rogan Josh also missed the mark. The meat tasted insipid, and we longed for a more zesty and tangy tomato base. The Indian bread accompaniments, however, were impressively soft and fluffy.
We talked ourselves into the Prawn Dum Biriyani, only because we’d heard rave reviews about it. But it failed to impress. The prawns weren’t flavoured enough to blend in with the spiced rice. I think the essence of a good biriyani is its spiciness, which was missing here.
It’s customary to finish a meal with a sweet dish. So, despite a rather stuffed stomach, we braved the Rasmallai and Gajjar Ka Halwa, and are glad we did. The sweet dishes truly made our meal burp-worthy! The milky cottage cheese bowl and the steaming hot carrot pudding were the best we’d ever tasted.
We sat a while longer at our table, and were weighed down by our stuffed tummies. In hindsight, we let our tummies rule our minds and perhaps we didn’t need to order so much food. Oh well, next time!
The rupee room
What Indian cuisine
Where Marina Walk, North Podium, 04 390 5755
Why For a nice kebab treat with a view over the spectacular Marina Walk
Cost Bill for two Dh490
(Published in e+, Gulf News, Dubai for April 9th issue)
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