Retropoplifestyle

Lakmé Absolute Grand Finale

Spotlight on the Future of Fashion

* Rimzim Dadu along with Saaksha & Kinni to be the Grand Finale Designers

* Rising Star, Talented Actor and Lakmé Ambassador Mrunal Thakur to be the showstopper

India’s cosmetic brand Lakmé will shine the spotlight on the future of fashion at its much-celebrated Grand Finale showcase at the upcoming edition of Lakmé Fashion Week. The brand announces innovative and futuristic designer Rimzim Dadu and young and emerging Saaksha Bhat & Kinnari Kamat to be the grand finale designers for the season. The showcase scheduled to be telecasted on 25^th October at Lakmé Fashion Week’s digital-first, season fluid edition will be inspired by the beauty brand’s theme ‘Spotlight’.

In line with the season’s theme, for the first time, rising star, talented actress Mrunal Thakur will be seen gracing the Lakmé Absolute Grand Finale virtual runway as the showstopper.

Designer Rimzim Dadu will be seen experimenting with her signature metallic cords and steel wires to explore new forms for festive dressing. The collection explores floral and geometrics. The play of light and shadow with signature textiles created in-house will continue to be an important part of Rimzim’s work. The collection will also include Rimzim’s debut line of clean, minimal yet statement lehengas, signature metal saris, short metallic dresses and sculpted tops for the upcoming festive season in shades of yellow gold, antique gold, fresh silver, black and rich emerald green.

Designer duo Saaksha & Kinni’s showcase will focus on Banjara – not just the tribe in itself – but the women who hold steadfast to their ancient mode of dress, perhaps one the most colorful and elaborate of any tribal group in India. This collection highlights the famous Banjara stone prints, their bandhani; thread work and iconic usage of mirrors and coins – the Lambadi. The range will see a colorful palette that honors the communities and their equally colorful heritage.

Quote

Rimzim Dadu,Lakmé Absolute Grand Finale Designer for LFW 2020

“It is an absolute honor to be the Lakmé Absolute Grand Finale designer this season. Lakmé Fashion Week has played a crucial role in my journey as a designer in the Indian fashion industry. In sync with the season’s beauty theme, my collection puts spotlight on sculpted metallics for the festive season. I am ecstatic to have the opportunity to showcase my signature style and bring my design philosophy to life.”

Saaksha Bhat & Kinnari Kamat, Lakmé Absolute Grand Finale Designer LFW 2020

“Working with Lakmé Fashion Week is always a pleasure – it is where we had our first show as part of GenNext and is a platform that has supported and encouraged our ideas and talent. Our collection is inspired by the theme ‘spotlight’ Through our collection, we are celebrating the strong, resilient spirit of the Banjara tribe and their zest for life. We are extremely thrilled about this association with Lakmé and it’s an honor to have the opportunity to showcase our collection as Lakmé Absolute Grand Finale designers.”

Mrunal Thakur, Lakmé Ambassador

Walking at the Lakmé Absolute Grand Finale has always been a dream for me and this season being the digital-first, season fluid edition is very special for me. I am thrilled that Lakmé this season has a fresh new theme that encourages everyone to be Spotlight Ready. I love bold eyes and the extra drama that it can add up to a glam look. The new Lakmé Absolute Spotlight Collection has become my ultimate favorite for every occasion and it’s impossible to pick one.”

Ashwath Swaminathan, Head of Innovations, Lakmé

“This season, the Lakmé Absolute Grand Finale will put the spotlight on the future of fashion. We are delighted to partner with talented designers Rimzim Dadu and the young duo of Saaksha & Kinni. We are also pleased to have Mrunal Thakur debut as the showstopper for the finale in continuation with the campaign for the spotlight collection we’ve just launched. We hope audiences will enjoy the #Spotlightready showcase.”

Show Schedule

Over 40 Designers Mark Virtual Presence

The pandemic has not dampened the spirits of the fashion fraternity as they get set to showcase at LMIFW S/S’21

The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), presents the first-ever phygital, Lotus Make-up India Fashion Week, spring-summer 2021, with DLF Emporio/The Chanakya as the luxury partner. It is scheduled from October 14-18, 2020.

This year, we have created a template that is free flowing, unfettered by seasons or trends.

“As the world slowly understands how to live with the pandemic, fashion too is assuming a new avatar by spreading its wings to encourage a new kind of customer, who is tech-savvy and unafraid to make bold choices with the click of a button. Every show for us is a Grand Finale and everyone is entitled to a front row seat. Despite the unusual circumstances the fashion industry has come together to showcase their most ingenious ideas at the LMIFW SS’21,” says FDCI Chairman, Sunil Sethi.

BookMyShow introduces ‘My Safety First’, a safety shield tag to facilitate a safe movie-watching experience for consumers

In a bid to help revive the entertainment ecosystem and unlock life, the feature will highlight the safety measures set in place by cinemas across the country to enable consumers to step out responsibly

After a long over 6-month wait and no-show, the Indian entertainment industry is finally set to kickstart from October 15^th. Even as the government has given the green signal for cinemas to open up with operating guidelines issued for the same, BookMyShow, India’s leading entertainment destination has rolled out ‘My Safety First’ feature – the first ever safety shield tag – across its web and app platforms, in collaboration with cinema partners all over India.

‘My Safety First’ will help create awareness amongst consumers on the various levels of safety and hygiene measures available across different cinemas listed on BookMyShow. Created using BookMyShow’s robust consumer and data analytics, this safety shield feature will highlight the best practices being followed by all cinemas across India. It will facilitate a safer and more secure movie-watching experience for users, right from the time of booking tickets to return to their favourite movies.

‘My Safety First’ tag will list the various safety indicators available across every cinema listed on the platform, such as in-cinema seat distancing, thermal screening, contactless security check, availability of hand sanitizers, daily temperature check for staff members, availability of packaged food & beverages, limited occupancy in restrooms, compulsory masks, social distancing in cinema premises, sanitization before every show, amongst others, enabling users to see the various safety measures employed by cinemas and make an informed decision before they step out to watch their favourite films on the silver screen.

Talking about ‘My Safety First’, Ashish Saksena, COO – Cinemas, BookMyShow said, “We welcome the government’s decision to open up the cinemas industry, with standard safety measures being followed across the entire value chain. To ensure a smooth implementation and safe experience for consumers, we, at BookMyShow, have been working along with our cinema partners to put forth a comprehensive guide for cine-goers with the ‘My Safety First’ safety shield tag. Customer experience and safety is at the forefront of everything that we do at BookMyShow, and through this feature, we aim to help millions of consumers using BookMyShow to make an informed decision for a worry-free movie viewing experience, even before they step out to watch a film. Together with our cinema partners, we are thrilled and ready to unlock life and welcome audiences to the big screen, yet again, safe and sound!”

Even as the out-of-home entertainment ecosystem is readying to welcome users back, India is gearing up to step out and get back to its favourite entertainment experience once the lockdown lifts, as per BookMyShow’s recent Covid survey report titled ‘Back To Out-of-Home Entertainment’. The survey, (conducted with 4000 respondents who were active BookMyShow transactors) found that 54% of Indian entertainment lovers are eager to get to theatres within 15-90 days of the lockdown lifting. The report put the criticality of safety measures squarely at the centre of users’ preferences as 98% respondents expected cinemas to implement strict safety and hygiene measures and 85% consumers preferred a contactless entertainment experience by purchasing their tickets online with the M-ticket & e-ticket option. .

BookMyShow’s safety shield tag ‘My Safety First’ is a natural extension of the safety expectations from consumers as gauged through this survey and its continued efforts to provide a safe experience to millions of Indians who use the platform for all their entertainment needs.

Since the start of the lockdown in March, BookMyShow has prioritised customer safety by changing tack swiftly and offering consumers a wide array of best-in-class virtual entertainment offerings across genres that they could experience from the safety of their homes. For a smoother and richer quality of experience, the platform launched BookMyShow Online, India’s first ever streaming platform for live entertainment that offers unique and interesting entertainment options for consumers across demographics.

About BookMyShow

Launched in 2007, BookMyShow, owned and operated by Big Tree Entertainment Pvt Ltd, is India’s leading entertainment destination and the one-stop shop for every out-of-home entertainment need.

Sandwich is always a Good Idea

Homemade Bombay Sandwich filled with Veggies and Processed Cheese

Servings: 01

Ingredients:

· 2slices of multigrain bread (brown bread also ok)

· 2 teaspoon butter

· 1 teaspoon of coriander pesto

· 1 pinch Roasted cumin powder

· 1pinch crushed roasted black pepper

· 1 small onion, cut into thin circles

· 1 small potato, boiled and sliced

· 1 small beetroot, boiled and sliced

· ½ bell pepper, cut into rounds

· 75gms processed cheese grated

· Salt for seasoning

Method:

· Take the bread slices, apply the coriander pesto on one side of both breads.

· Put slice onion, potato, beetroot and bell pepper(capsicum).

· Sprinkle cumin powder, salt and crushed black pepper evenly.

· Spread the grated processed cheese evenly.

· Cover it with another slice.

· Apply soft butter on both the side of bread and place it under toaster or griller.

· Pre heat the griller or toaster, apply some butter on the griller by using brush. If required.

· Toast or grill it the bread become crispy.

· Serve it hot with home made green chutney.

Type of cheese used in making good sandwiches are below

Emmental

Gruyere

Monterey jack

Cheddar

Goat cheese

Courtesy- Chef Rupesh Khandekar, Chef De Cuisine, Hotel Sahara Star

Vidya Narayanan, CEO and Co-founder, Rizzle

· Considering the current situation, where apps are being denied (banned) what has Rizzle to offer?

Rizzle launched in a world where TikTok and other apps were very much present and made strong progress in India and in the US. While most other short video platforms have focused on song and dance and track-based recording alone, Rizzle developed its own unique identity. Rizzle has channels and episodes to make it suitable for short-series like content. RSeries is the main highlight of Rizzle where creators bring mini vertical series in comedy, drama, mystery, and other genres. Not only this, our in-app features like B-Rolls, Prompts, Collabs, etc are one of its kind and makes us stand apart from the rest.

· How is Rizzle different from other content creation apps and what’s the vision of the brand in India?

Our aim is to transcend the face of vertical short video space. As a 60-seconds original content app, Rizzle acts as a portfolio for all the talented and budding content creators where they can not only showcase their talent but also learn and hone their skills. As a part of RStudios, we are hosting free dance and acting workshops for anyone who wants to learn. We are constantly looking to add value to creators. Millions of people in India dream of being stars – Rizzle Studios will help them realize their dreams. Whether it is grooving to music as a hobby or taking the first steps to become a professional actor, we welcome people to join RStudios and be the star they can be.

We’ve carved a niche in the vertical short videos and vertical-series space (RSeries); it has also proven to be instrumental in providing a creative environment to digital content creators of all kinds. In a very short span of time, Rizzle App is lauded for its compelling features and also its foray into the otherwise untouched vertical-series space. With Rizzle, Indian short video users can watch interesting short vertical-series on their smart phones.

Another thing that sets Rizzle apart from the other short video apps is the video-to-video response. While most of the other platforms allow chats and comments, on Rizzle, you can only respond to the fellow creators via videos and that’s one of the steps that we’re taking towards creating a positive, uplifting entertainment space.

· Since the app focuses on episodic series, what’s ‘Akhri Dinner’all about?

‘Aakhri Dinner’ is a short, original web series based on the PUBG ban in India. It’s a blend of comedy and the relatable everyday reactions of all the PUBG addicts. For more details, download the Rizzle App and watch Aakhri Dinner.

· Do we hear that quite a few influencers/celebrities have also hooked on to be an app? Do you personally think that has an impact on the audience?

That’s correct! We have received a lot of attention from the B-Town and social media influencers. Karan Sharma, Sumit Kau, Nibedita Pal, Mannara Chopra, Gaurav Wadhwa, to name a few have been creating original content on Rizzle regularly and are extremely popular among the creators.

Splitsvilla fame Nibedita Pal, who is one of the most loved celebs on the Rizzle app said, “I like how Rizzle doesn’t have the comment box and instead has a response video feature which makes it stand out from the rest.” Nibedita can be seen creating videos on her makeup, painting tips, workout, etc. Sumit Kaul, who joined the app a couple of months ago said that “the kind of adulation you get from the Rizzle community is unseen anywhere else and I’m grateful for that”.

· Does the app also have an initiative of bringing about a change in the mindset of the audience through its ‘comments’ section being removed for the safety of women?

It’s definitely a step towards building a positive and inspiring community sans hatred and negativity. Our decision to completely do away with a comments section comes at a juncture when social media platforms across the world are grappling with issues of user safety, especially when it comes to female content creators. ‘Comment’ sections on social media apps have inadvertently become a playground for bullying creators. rizzle.tv

keeps the keyboard warriors and trolls away, and is focused on building a positive community that listens, speaks, argues, debates, and supports.

With the absence of comments and chat, creators are left with no choice but to show their face in anything that they create. This helps us in keeping the feed clean as creators are often accountable for their words. One of our most popular female creators Pratibha Mod said, “Rizzle App’s biggest asset is its positive community. If someone wants to give feedback on your content, they can only do so via video responses. Since they have to show their faces, they refrain from abusive or bullying language and are accountable for everything that they say. Our team is 24×7 available for their support and provides instant help in case of any problem.

· Who are your current competitors and what differentiates you from them?

There were several challenges for us competing with big players, of course. If you have deep pockets in this industry, you will make a dent. That’s just a fact. Companies like Triller and Sharechat are raising big money, and others like Instagram and TikTok already have deep pockets. Look at Instagram: the really popular creators will be successful because they have an established following. But just like it’s hard for a normal person to get visibility on YouTube, it’s hard to get noticed on Instagram. It’s so saturated. What’s appealing about TikTok, and why I think it took off, is that anyone can produce a video and if it’s good it can go viral.

But the TikTok ban in India and its muddy situation in the US has created a climate of uncertainty for creators. It’s given them a reason to diversify their presence across multiple platforms. Rizzle presents an opportunity for creators to showcase a different style of content and push their limits of creativity.

Our approach is rooted in the product, design thinking, and reimagining the future of video, rather than one that’s heavily dependent on celebrities or influencer marketing. We’ve made several bold decisions that deviate from the norm: we don’t allow text comments, for example, and require responses to be in the video. We also focused on original content first; until a few weeks ago, it wasn’t possible to upload pre-recorded videos on Rizzle. Our users had to create using the Rizzle camera. We’ve since opened uploads, but creators have to be cleared for original content first. And we’ve also integrated monetization via sponsorships. Some of these decisions have been instrumental in helping us build a strong community: our power creators create upwards of 50 videos a day and host Instagram Live sessions on “Rizzle Influencer Hour” and team together to create tweet storms about Rizzle every Monday.

Rizzle is democratizing content creation and leveling the playing field for everyday people like you and me to pick up their smartphone and efficiently create and host a talk show or series with episodic content. Our platform combines 60-second original, user-generated video content with a response system that allows the community to talk about what they’re viewing in real-time and at scale. Over a million videos have been created on the platform since it formally launched in October 2019 — and that doesn’t happen without deep user investment in the app’s growth.

We’re really focused on turning everyday creators into storytellers — and to usher short video entertainment into the next era. Think about how TikTok has married user-generated content with song and dance — that was once only the purview of musical artists and movie studios! In the same way, we’re democratizing short series production. Web series are currently made by very few creators, and even fewer outlets exist to discover that content. We want to change that.

About Rizzle

Rizzle, is the new content generation app which has now got a number of celebrities and has launched its new series ‘Akhri Dinner’ an exclusive web-series under the banner of RSeries made by No Filter, a Mumbai-based ad agency.

Lakme Fashion Week announces 6 Finalists for Second Edition of Circular Changemakers

~ The shortlisted start-ups will pitch their circular business models to an investor panel on Day 2 of Sustainable Fashion Day ~

The second edition of Circular Changemakers, India’s first investment readiness program for circular fashion start-ups presented by Intellecap’s Circular Apparel Innovation Factory (CAIF) in partnership with Circular Design Challenge -an initiative of Reliance Industries Ltd.’s R | Elan ‘Fashion For Earth’, United Nations Environment Programme and Lakmé Fashion Week- has announced a shortlist of six start-ups.

This season, the platform received over 45 applications from innovators across fibre/yarn, alternative materials, packaging, rental & reuse business models, traceability & supply chain solutions, wastewater treatment and circular inclusive businesses. Six start-ups have been chosen to make pitches to an esteemed panel after having gone through a rigorous online enterprise bootcamp to fine tune their business models, financial models, and presentations.

The finalists – Infinichains, BigThinx, Phabio, Twirl Store, Desi Hangover, Paiwand Studio will pitch their businesses to the eminent jury on 22^nd October, Day 2 of Sustainable Fashion Day of Lakmé Fashion Week. Each of these enterprises work at different segments of the value chain in an effort of making fashion truly circular.

InfiniChains® is a leading Blockchain based technology company that help brands deeply engage with their users and build lasting trust through transparency. They are building a pilot with Pratibha Syntex for the application of blockchain in supply chain transparency in the apparel & textile industry.

Phabio creates PHA (Polyhydroxyalkanoates) pellets from organic waste and/or by-products. They have created a sustainable loop that create plastics which comes from nature and goes back to nature. Phabio claims to be on-course to become the first PHA producing facility in India and to bring the manufacturing cost of pellets down to the price of traditional polymers.

Twirl.store has a mission to reduce cloth wastage, ensure women empowerment, conserve natural resources, and meet the clothing needs of the poor. Twirl.store is perhaps the only Indian platform which offers a distinct buy-back policy for all clothing bought from the store.

Desi Hangover’s vision is to be a global sustainable, conscious fashion brand that elevates underserved communities using the forces of capitalism for good. Their mission is to develop rural craft clusters through social innovation, ensuring a secure and sustainable livelihood for artisan communities in India.

Paiwand’s mission is to design for circularity and longevity by producing authentic up-cycled fabric and apparel by creating employment opportunities for handloom weavers, artisans, and unskilled/semiskilled workers. Within 20 months Paiwand has up cycled 700 kgs of waste from such designers and is still left with 2000 kgs of waste to add value to. Their mission is to repurpose 40,000 kgs of textile waste by 2023.

Bigthinx is an AI company operating in the $2.5 trillion fashion and retail industry, offering 3D mobile body scanning, clothing size predictions, virtual avatars, digital clothing, and virtual fashion shows, to address problems of clothing fit and look, e-commerce returns, and human body data. These avatars can be used to visualize clothing look and fit, to solve an additional 30% of the reason for clothing returns.

The investor & strategic partner panel comprises of experts from across fields namely, Ms Disha Gandhi, Associate Director, Aavishkaar Capital, Ms. Marieke Lenders, Head – Reweave Program, Enviu, Mr. Vineet Gautam, CEO, Bestseller India and Ms. Pinar Ademoglu, Investment Director, Sagana Capital.

Darshana Gajare, Lead Sustainable Fashion at IMG Reliance, said, “This year we have a very promising cohort of enterprises doing some incredible work across the value chain. Our vision for the Circular Changemakers platform is to enable strategic partnerships, through the online bootcamp curated by CAIF, we could already see great synergies for these startups to work together. We are eager to see how the entrepreneurs pitch during the final showcase at Lakmé Fashion Week.”

Vikas Bali, CEO, Intellecap said: “We are very pleased with the quality of enterprises in our cohort for the second edition of the Circular Changemakers Program based on their impressive work across the textile & apparel value chain. This program is a great example of a platform that can provide both the much-needed investment support as well as facilitate strategic collaborations for innovators with circular solutions to help them scale. The final showcase at the Lakmé Fashion Week will provide tremendous visibility to our promising enterprises and I believe will result in facilitating the required support.”

The shortlisted changemakers underwent a rigorous bootcamp by CAIF which focused on three modules, Capital Raising, Business & Financial Modelling and Investor Pitch Preparation, which were delivered by industry experts. Changemakers will get the opportunity to acquire strategic investments and partnerships through their pitch to a group of potential strategic investors from reputed impact investment funds.

Celeb Speak

Shweta Rohira- From Being an Artsy Kid to Artsy Chic

In a candid chat, Shweta Rohira- the Artist/Writer and Entrepreneur speaks to RetroPop Lifestyle about her journey and forthcoming projects.

Secret of this transformation…you look so radiant!

Hahahah there is no secret I have been working on my physical and mental fitness and the transformation just happened but it’s a continuing process and if a lifestyle now.

Tell us something about your current and forthcoming projects?

I have just shot a short film with Anant Mahadevan sir called “Zarina” which is to release sometime soon that’s the latest project besides that I have been enjoying my interview sessions called ‘chitter chatter’ with different professionals all from various fields.

What will you say about your journey and evolution as an artist as well as a person?

It’s a hobby and a passion from childhood which became a profession. I always from being an artsy kid to artsy chic. It’s been a few years now that I have been painting and handcrafting projects on commission basis.

Writing, painting, acting… what’s nearest to your heart and why?

All three they are my forms of expressions and they are what complete me as an expressionist!

A multitalented person who is a writer, a painter .and an artist, any other option you would like to explore?

I think my plates are full and I m enjoying my buffet as of now not looking out to explore anything more but don’t know what future holds for me.

While selecting a career option- did you listen to your heart or brain?

Always heart!

Chitterchatterwithshwetarohira- is quite successful…what made you start your podcast show?

The idea of the show was to meet people during lockdown share their journey with everyone and enjoy a little chit chat.

The Best Memorable Moments of your life?

Well, there are too many to share but I think the most precious one is when I was on stage performing my play- ‘That’s My Girl’ and I had Waheeda Rehman Ma’am in the audience watching me. After the play ended, she paid me an enormous compliment –chota pataka so the memory gets more special.

What is Success according to you?

Success is achieving what you dream.

Do you believe in Destiny?

Totally everything that’s happening is destiny.

Any Dream project /profession?

Dream to perform with Sanjay Dutt and share the screen space with him.someday.

What about your Fitness regime?

Eat healthy and workout daily.

What is your Beauty regime?

I keep myself hydrated and regularly use my moisturizer and sunscreens. I always remove my make up before going to bed.

5 essentials in your closet?

Shorts

White shirt

Something in pink

Skater dress

Tank top

Casual look!

Shorts and tank top

Formal look!

Denims and a white shirt

Do you have any fear?

Hmmm, not able to overcome fear …aha!

Do you have any wish?

May the universe fulfil all my desire!

Any message for the readers?

Live one day at a time.

The Real Shweta…

Yes, that’s me always!

Sanil Sachar

The Writer Par Excellence Talks about his New Release, “And… Perhaps Love”

· The concept and basis of writing this book, “And….Perhaps Love”!

Anything and everything begins with Love. Love is literally the first emotion, energy and catalyst to our decisions. It’s also a subject that has no end, therefore making it the easiest subject to dive into but the hardest to figure out. “And…Perhaps Love”, therefore touches upon every shade of love through the varied styles in which each page is written! The name is derived from how each of us end up doing everything in our lives, prioritising much more than we can manage and after it all realise that maybe just maybe there is love we need to think about, hence, the name is just a reminder to all that do everything, and…perhaps love!

· What inspired you to write this book?

I’ve typically written books with darker material and around subjects where research is 99% of what makes up the book. In this case, while I researched a ton from personal experiences of others, a few pages from my own life and then adding fiction in the mix, the inspiration was evident; this book needed to be communicative and make readers a character in the book. I was inspired by the idea of creating this as an experiential book as much as I am excited about writing a ‘feel-good’ book which helps readers draw inspiration from themselves while they read it. We’re all in a world where the amount of love we used to get has fundamentally reduced due to the distance between several people, therefore, to speak about love, make it experimental where the reader can find themselves in the book and then add the twist of giving over 50 ways to read the same book, was as much an inspiration as it was a challenge.

· What is your Writing Process?

Organised chaos! That’s how I describe my style of writing…It was a lot of material I created over the years and then once I felt the compilation phase needed to begin, that’s where the experimentation started to take shape of removing any possibility of characters and simply writing a story that was characterless, so the reader could chose who they wanted to be.

· What did you learn when writing the book?

It’s harder to write about love in its purest form than I thought it would be. Simply because once you read it, it cuts through you like a knife over warm butter.

· If you can share some “behind-the-scenes” details that didn’t make it into your book!

If I share the behind the scenes that didn’t make it, what will I use as a sequel…? Haha! What didn’t make it and I am glad they didn’t were the characters from the book. To read this book with the character being exactly who the reader is, is a fundamental game-changer to the experience created within the book. I am glad they didn’t make it and the decision to let them out has reaped to a book with a billion faces.

· Was the character inspired by a real person?

Fiction is rarely fiction and often reality given another name, however, this book is inspired but several people, some of those I know and can’t name and many I don’ t know the name of! This book is a work of research in which strangers I have met from different parts of the world have shared thoughts and experiences that were translated into words. So, yes, a lot of this is inspired by real people

· Any tips you’d like to share with other writers starting out?

Lose the filter while writing. Disconnect yourself from who you are as a person and don’t judge what comes out naturally. What you find hard t write is often what needs to be written, so, push yourself to press the pen harder to the paper when you find yourself choking to write. Once you write, please do put it out in the public domain. If you are shy to for any reason, use an alias but put it out because words until they are read by people who don’t know the sentiment or the premise of the words will never help you grow. It is only readers that can teach you where you are growing and where you need to. Utilise their feedback and keep writing, one word at a time. Lastly, be patient and realise that you are not writing for the artist in you but the art in you.

· A final word of advice!

So much to share, that one final advice seems difficult to pick!

If I had to, it would be that while we all end up doing everything we do in life; we should remember never to lose the love for it, love in it and love to share it.

About the Book “And . . . Perhaps Love”

Each section in this book has a theme. Every page has a voice for every mood that shapes life. Turn to this book whenever you need someone to speak to. Turn to it whenever you want to be heard. Mostly, turn to it with no expectation because only then will it leave you with something you didn’t know you have.
As you’ll discover, none of the words are labelled with a subject. Simply because labels are fixed, leaving no room to breathe, amidst these dialogues, every word has its own freedom. It is for you to determine when to label them, what to label them and if you wish to label them.

Each turn of the page is a new chapter and an instance of life as you’ve encountered. “And . . . Perhaps Love” is everything you’ve experienced and everything you will experience.

About Sanil Sachar

With over 200 works of published poetry and short-stories, Sachar is one of the few Indian authors to be published in all forms of literature. Sachar’s work in the world of literature traverses through prose, poetry, short stories, scripts and couplets that have been critically acclaimed and received by readers around the world.

Known for his work on realism, Sanil has co-produced the New York Film Festival award-winning Bollywood film, “Mantra”, as part of his love and contribution to the world of art. As part of his work, Sanil is a highly acclaimed columnist, triple Ted speaker, addressing international audiences, apart from his material on innovation through creativity, with the likes of Google, JCB, TCS, and Wipro.

Young adults account for 60% of all mental health queries: Practo Insights

#TalkTherapy campaign to enable affordable online consultations and raise awareness

Practo, India’s leading integrated healthcare company, witnessed a sharp rise of 665% in the number of mental health queries since last year. This is almost 5x the growth witnessed the year before. More than two-thirds of the queries were from Indians in the age group of 21-40. While anxiety, stress, and panic attacks were some of the most commonly discussed topics, bipolar disorder and depression increased significantly in the last six months.

According to the Practo Health Insights (Oct 2019- Sep 2020),

● 35% of all queries were from non-metro cities, recording a growth of 1200% since last year

● 65% of the queries were from metro cities which grew by over 500% since last year

● 70% of all mental health-related consults came from men, while 30% were from women

● Most of the queries were from Bangalore, followed by Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, and Kolkata

● In Non-metro cities, most of the queries came from Chandigarh, Lucknow, Bhubaneshwar, Jaipur, Hubli, Kanpur, and Ahmedabad

COVID-19 and mental health

The last six months have presented a major challenge for people living with mental health conditions and there has been a drastic increase in the number of people screened for anxiety and depression. Online Consultations for mental health on Practo queries grew by 180% in the last six months alone. In addition to the already existing mental health conditions, many people are experiencing complex emotions due to stress, isolation, anxiety, grief, and more.

Practo #TalkTherapy

Perceived stigma and lack of understanding of the various disorders are two of the most significant barriers to patients’ access to mental healthcare. In light of this, and to ensure Indians have access to quality healthcare, Practo today announced the launch of an online campaign – #TalkTherapy. In addition to videos, collaterals and other efforts towards raising awareness, the company has introduced three new packages so Indians can consult with mental health experts seamlessly and affordably. Consumers can log on to the Practo app or go to the website to buy these packages:

Cost	Rs 599	Rs 999	Rs 1598
Sessions	1	2	4
Validity	One session	One month	Three months

Dr. Alexander Kuruvilla, Chief Healthcare Strategy Officer, Practo, said, “It’s important to reduce the negative stigma associated with mental healthcare. Telemedicine has played an important role in the mental health response, especially in the last six months, but its full potential is yet to be unlocked. The key is to talk and seek timely help, and with the launch of this campaign, we aim to do just that – encourage people to seek help, and consult experts affordably, safely, while keeping their privacy and anonymity intact.”

Dr. Amrit Pattojoshi, Professor Hi-Tech Medical College and Hospital, Direct Council Member of The Indian Psychiatric Society, said, “In the midst of a global pandemic crisis, a lot of people are suffering from mental health problems. It is being reported that services to mental health are getting disrupted globally while the demand has been constantly increasing over the last few months. For a lot of people, things like loneliness and isolation are new experiences. When coupled with work stress and health concerns, everyone is suffering from some form of mental health issue. While in-person counseling sessions might not always be possible during this time, people can consult psychiatrists and psychologists via online through platforms like Practo. It is important to talk to a mental health professional at the right time so that it can be dealt with at an early stage.”

The insights report highlights important ailments and consultation related trends in the country. The information is aggregated, anonymized, and analyzed at scale. We hope these findings better equip our healthcare providers to understand disease patterns and address them effectively and help others become aware of their options when looking to address their healthcare needs.

Shangri-La Bospohorus, Istanbul launches world’s first Baklava Butler

A Memorable Experience for Dessert Lovers & International Foodies

With the long weekends and holiday season around the corner, people are making plans to travel and unwind and one place that surely tops the list is Istanbul. Guests traveling to Istanbul can look forward to a sweet and signature experience with the world’s first Baklava Butler at Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul. Perfectly curated for the foodie-obsessed and exclusivity-seeker, the Baklava Butler service is available for in-house guests only in the Lobby Lounge and at the IST TOO restaurant. Dressed in a traditional and stylish Turkish outfit, the Baklava Butler presents the historic sweet dish dating back to the Ottoman Empire. A veritable treat for the palate, eyes and camera lens, the Baklava Butler offers a one-of-its-kind experience for guests’ travel memories, culinary bucket list and Instagram feeds.

A Warm Welcome

Upon arrival at the retreat on the Bosphorus Strait, guests receive an ornate key to redeem the exclusive service. When presenting the key to a hotel staffer either in the Lobby Lounge or the IST TOO restaurant, the Baklava Butler will serve a portion of the classic baklava, rich in flavour and filled with Antep pistachio. The tasting is served with Maraş ice-cream, a traditional Turkish ice-cream made of clotted cream, prepared and cut from a vertical skewer. The Maraş Turkish ice-cream can be served either on the side or inside the baklava like a sandwich. The baklava served at Shangri-La Bosphorus is baked to order from a specialty shop in Gaziantep, known as the birthplace of baklava and Turkey’s Pistachio Capital. Gaziantep baklava bakers use a simple blend of honey, phyllo pastry, butter and crushed pistachio to make Turkey’s famous dessert.

Royal Delicacy from the Ottoman Empire- A trip down the lanes of history

During the Ottoman Empire’s reign in the Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean and Balkans, baklava took on elaborate forms throughout the region with written evidence in Topkapı Palace kitchen notebooks as early as 1473. In its early days, the dish remained so prized it was served to royalty. Now a milestone in culinary history, baklava was officially registered as a Turkish dessert with a patent in 2005.Making the rich, flavorful dessert is an art and takes years to perfect. Traditional Turkish baklava is made of 40 layers of handmade phyllo dough that is so thin one can read behind each layer when placing it against any text. Filled with chopped nuts, the baklava is sweetened with syrup or honey.

Enhanced Health and Safety Protocols- Stay with us and stay safe

Comprising a range of enhanced protocols designed to ensure the staff work with peace of mind and guests can confidently enjoy memorable moments. Shangri-La follows World Health Organization recommendations, or more stringent local directives where appropriate, ensuring its operational protocols are comprehensive. Concrete measures have been adopted at all Shangri-La Group hotels and resorts to combat the risk of contracting infections so that guests can feel safe when visiting its properties. The protocols include: increased frequency and full attention to the deep cleaning of all high-touch surfaces and areas used by guests throughout the hotels; use of medical-grade sanitizers and disinfectants approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency; increased cleaning frequency of air filters and air-conditioner systems to ensure optimal air quality; and safe dining, meetings and events with extra precautions to respect physical distancing and enhanced food safety norms.