Every once in a while, India’s hip-hop community produces something so raw and direct that it is hard not to marvel at it. Delhi-based rapper Kinari’s new album, Kattar Kinnar, is one such production that blends her unfiltered expression of life as a transgender artiste into rap. The holistic quality of the production with technical finesse and diverse elements of House, gaana and ballroom music only adds to it. The artiste is now setting out on a multi-city tour of Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai starting July 7. “This is the first-time people have responded en masse to my music,” shares the 25-year old from Delhi about the album that was released in April. She first broke through on the scene with the EP Queerbops in June 2023. This time around, she set her eyes on a larger goal — to experiment with music and genres. The result is an album that questions hip-hop’s hetero gaze with its direct, assertive lyrics in English and Hindi. This includes breaking out some uncomfortable truths about the transgender community itself. “There is a tendency among people to either disparage or elevate the community. We are either outcasts or absolute angels fighting for our rights. We are neither. We are humans, and have our flaws. And if I do not speak about it, who will?” she states calmly. The 12-song album also marks the rise of her new identity, Kinari — a departure from her earlier name, Finsta. The name is an evolution of the word kinnar, the Hindi term for transgender. “I simply used it to showcase the feminine with Kinari,” she says. An artwork for the album, Kattar Kinnar. Illustration Courtesy/Nonisha Negi While the lyrics of tracks like Baahar, Asli Girlpower or Hijar are in your face and powerful, it is the production that surprises you. With elements of Gaana (in Asli girlpower) or ballroom music (Rockbotom parichit) or folk and mujra (Madhuri), there are signs of a rapper coming into her own. The gaana influence — a folk form that arose from the slums and underbelly of Chennai — is a throwback to her own South Indian heritage. Citing the song, Rock bottom parichit she says, “The polyrhythm style of rapping is common in South India. I used that with House music. Similarly, with Madhuri, I turned to Devdas (2002). I wanted the Indian rhythms to go beyond samples. The melodies [in the album] might be Western, but the rhythm itself is inherently Indian.” Hip-hop accepts you, no matter who you are, as long as you speak the truth of your experience, she tells us. Her upcoming multi-city tour will feature appearances from Mumbai rapper Anjaan, Khabardar Revolt, Shreyas and Vedang, among others. But does that mean the hip-hop community is accepting, or ‘woke’? “We are only into two decades of hip-hop as a genre or industry in India. The social issues faced by the queer or LGBTQiA+ community, or even casteism dates back to a thousand years. To expect this fledgling industry to address it is naïve. As a queer artiste, I have had tough experiences. I have been fans of rappers before who have ended up using queer slurs in their rap. It leaves a bitter aftertaste. So, I now tread carefully,” she says. This also led to the creation of Meetha World, a series of rap gigs, with her manager, Mithran, to be independent. Yet, the rapper will not give in to self-pity. “I would love to say that I am on a crusade, and fighting a cause. No, this is a privilege. I am having fun. To have this opportunity to throw a party is a gift,” she shares. On July 13 At Veranda Underground, Pali Hill, Bandra West.Log on to sortmyscene.com Cost Rs 500 onwards
02 July,2024 09:49 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram IyengarPearl D’Souza: D’SOUZA is an illustrator whose work reflects themes of gender, mental health, and inclusivity. The natural world inspires her work too. Apart from working on creative projects as a professional, D’Souza indulges in making journals, flipbooks, and zines. She’s organised workshops in Goa and Mumbai, where she speaks about the history of zines and the DIY-culture, and guides participants on how they can make their own zines.LOG ON TO @pearl.dsouza on Instagram Hansika Jethnani: Poet and visual artist Jethnani’s zines explore ideas of migration, shame, ancestry, queerness, legacies of colonialism, and love. In 2018, at the University College of London, Jethnani co-founded Decolonising the Arts Curriculum zine which contains essays, poems, and artwork to open conversations on the way we approach creative and pedagogic practices. She conducts workshops on zine-making online and offline. “I enjoy making zines because there are no rules. Any theme, topic or medium can be [used] — I love the freedom and liberation in that,” she tells us.LOG ON TO: @hansika-jethnani on bazinega.in Himanshu S: Five years ago, Himanshu, along with Aqui Thami, founder of The Sister Library, had organised the first Bombay Zine fest. Himanshu has been making zines for over two decades now. When he began, he used to sell the zines at traffic signals or set up pop-ups on sidewalks. He has created reading spaces in chawls as well as had his work with Thami displayed at the Chemould Prescott Road Art Gallery. His leaflets and zines often contain typewritten pithy statements or tender instructions that read like manifestos. His store of zines on Chapel Road stocks works by artists from all over India.LOG ON TO @reluctantsuperhero on Instagram Kartika Bagodi: One of the most fascinating things about Bagodi’s portfolio is the experimentation with patterns. It’s noticeable in the colourful Very Indian Picnic as well as the intricate Book of Ladakh. Bagodi’s animated zine made during the pandemic is about the experience of the lockdown. It contains poetic lines accompanied with illustrations of the surroundings (trees and homes from the windows, clocks inside houses) as well as all things that gave the artist company.LOG ON TO lockdown-zine on crisprocks.com Riya Behl: Behl’s work is powerful as well as playful. Along with Devashree Somani, this multimedia journalist, runs Zinedabaad Collective to celebrate the culture of zines. Through the collective, she worked on a project which understands how zines can be used for participatory research, advocacy, and community building. As a journalist, she has worked towards amplifying marginalised voices, while as a zine-maker and as a marathon runner, has raised funds to support grassroots organisations doing impactful work.LOG ON TO @riyalising on Instagram Quick guide to make a zine . Fold your paperStep 1: Fold an A4 paper in half lengthwise. Then fold twice again, such that when you open it you have eight equal rectangular boxes made by the paper creases.Step 2: Once you’ve opened the paper, cut a slit in the centre (see the image).Step 3: Fold the paper into half now.Step 4: Pop up the centre and push the end pages towards each other (see the image). Voila! That’s an eight-page mini booklet! References to make a zine. Pic Courtesy/Wikimedia Commons . Choose a theme/topic for the zine. Gather your stationery and resource material (old newspapers, old picture books, print-outs of favourite quotes, etc.). Let your creativity flow (write poems, draw sketch-figures, frame your creative manifesto) Check out these zines 1 Bazinega Log on to bazinega.in/product-category/zines 2 Gaysi Family Zine Log on to gaysifamily.com/zine 3 Printed MatterLog on to printedmatter.org/catalog/tables/14688 4 Keke Magazine’s Zine Library LOG ON TO kekemagazine.com/zine-library/ 5 Zines on ArchiveLOG ON TO archive.org/details/zines 6 Papercut Zine Library: LOG ON TO papercutzinelibrary.com/virtual-library (Free membership) SIGN UP . Making Zines and Making Friends by Zinedabaad Collective and Agatsu FoundationAGE GROUP 12 years and aboveON July 7; 2 pm to 4:30pmAT Agatsu Foundation, Pali Hill, Bandra West.REGISTER Agatsu Foundation| agatsufoundation.org/event-details/making-zines-making-friends-with-zinedabaad
02 July,2024 09:20 AM IST | Mumbai | Nandini VarmaThe Internet is teeming with facts and theories about nutritious eating. While some are proponents of trending superfoods and elaborate diets, others advocate for simplicity. Dissecting fact from fiction can be challenging in this vast sea of information. There’s a growing conversation about the virtues of balanced, whole-food diets like the time-tested Indian diet. In their podcast, content creator, Raj Shamani and Krish Ashok, author and science communicator dissect some widely-circulated facts about the harmful effects of processed foods, common misconceptions, and debunking certain sides to the Indian diet. The concept of ‘ghar ka khana’ is widespread in India. There is compelling evidence to suggest that diets rich in processed foods, refined grains, excessive fats, and sodium can have detrimental effects on health, shares Ashok. Contrary to a common misconception, refrigerated foods retain their nutritional value, with minimal loss of micro-nutrients over time. The duo assure that refrigerated foods can safely be stored for up to a week, challenging notions that such storage diminishes nutritional benefits. Indian food which is prepared using salt, spices, and sour elements. These naturally preserve foods when properly seasoned. Leftover dishes stored in the refrigerator are healthier alternatives to ordering take-out, maintaining both taste and nutritional integrity. “Your body needs cooked food, but it is untrue that you don’t get nutrition from refrigerated food, claiming it unhealthy,” he explains in the podcast. Shedding light on the myth that food prepared in a microwave oven can lead to cancer, Ashok elaborates, “It emits less radiation than visible light. It doesn’t have the energy to change your DNA, because it is low-energy radiation. Only in India will you come across people who believe that non-ionizing radiation like the microwave can cause cancer, while choosing to not apply sunscreen, believing that sun rays can never harm.” The podcast also discusses how the average urban Indian middle class suffers from over-nutrition, which is an imbalance of nutrients. The typical Indian thali has five to six grams less protein compared to average meals consumed in the West. Less protein in the Indian diet remains a concern. The duo reminds listeners about the perils of consuming Indian spices in excess. Moderation is the key. The average consumption of spices used in our kitchens is acceptable; individuals don’t necessarily need to consume it separately just because it is healthy. “There is nothing like a superfood, or a supervillain in food,” claims Ashok. They sum things up nicely, “People overthink health and nutrition. What matters is the balance in the nutrients and your convenience.” LOG ON TO YouTube
02 July,2024 09:15 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka GohilDo you believe in reincarnation? Ask a theist, and you’ll have a long list of theories, each with its own conditions and stipulations. Somewhere between these contrasting beliefs, you’ll find American novelist Andy Weir’s short story The Egg. “In this universe, it’s just you. You reincarnate till you live as every human being who has existed, or will exist,” Weir writes in the story. Today, a young theatre maker from Bihar will aim to simplify Weir’s philosophy with Shunya, a theatre presentation for those who wish to dive deeper into the subject. “I was in a trivial argument with my friends about a trip that we were planning in 2022. Halfway through it, I realised that if every person I interact with is in fact just me in a different timeline, like Weir states, I am arguing with myself,” director Siddharth Raj recalls. While the group laughed it off as a life-imitates-art moment, Raj believes it sparked the idea for an adaptation that people could resonate with. Unlike Weir’s story, where a man finds himself in the company of God, discussing life and death, the adaptation features multiple characters who meet in what looks like the afterlife, to settle scores. “I was struggling to build characters who had interesting backstories to them that could be unveiled as the play progressed,” Raj admits. The search ultimately led the director to two landmark pieces of existing literature — French philosopher-playwright Jean Paul Sartre’s 1944 existentialist play No Exit, and Marathi theatre pioneer Vijay Tendulkar’s 1967 courtroom drama, Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe. Both plays, Raj believes, feature characters that carry the weight of unsettled scores and unfinished conversations. Jean Paul Sartre; (right) Vijay Tendulkar. Pics Courtesy/Wikimedia Commons “In Sartre’s play set in the afterlife, we meet Estelle, a guilt-ridden woman who finds herself having to explain killing her child that she had with a rich older man. In Tendulkar’s feminist courtroom drama, on the other hand, one Ms Benare stands her ground after it is revealed that she’s carrying a child conceived out of an illicit affair. The men, in both stories, are left out of the narrative. In our play, we imagine how things would unfold if the men joined the conversation,” he elaborates. In the play’s debut performance today, these characters will be played by Raj’s contemporaries from Mumbai and Delhi. Siddharth Raj The overarching theme, Raj assures us, remains untouched. Weir’s story concludes with the realisation that the universe is an egg, and only when you have lived every individual’s life, will the egg hatch, leading to your true birth. “The essence of the play remains the same. Through the conversations, the characters come to a mutual understanding, realising that they’re up in arms with themselves,” Raj reveals. Andy Weir; (right) Actors Rohit Anand and Ayushi Gupta at an outdoor run-through of the play Before the director signs off to make his way to a final rehearsal, we take a moment to address the elephant in the room. As intricate and equally intriguing the concept sounds, will the audience truly be able to wrap their mind around it? Raj admits the concern. “I know I am presenting something that might be hard to follow for many. I urge people to focus on the emotion instead of dissecting the story and trying to make sense of it. When you put yourself in the characters’ shoes and feel their emotions with them, everything starts making sense,” he concludes. ON July 2; 9.15 pm AT Veda Factory, Aram Nagar Part 2, Versova, Andheri West. LOG ON TO insider.in ENTRY Rs 200
02 July,2024 09:10 AM IST | Mumbai | Devashish KambleThe warm, gooey comfort of cheese soaking into soft and doughy pizza sounds like a dream come true on a rainy weekend. Since the first Romans cooked up flatbread with olive oil and spices in 997 AD, the bread has been on an evolutionary journey. Recently, the USA-based digital creator Kyle Istook took it a step further by preparing a 12-cheese pizza with a mix of cheddar, provolone, mozzarella cheese, mozzarella pearls, aged cheddar, and ghost pepper cheese, among many other variants. While some feared for the risk of diabetes, others were thrilled at the result. But is there such a thing as too much cheese in pizza? We speak to a chef to understand the key to a good multi-cheese pizza. Keep it simple, and lightAbhishek Pednekar, executive chef, Woodside Inn, Andheri I think it’s a matter of comfort as well as flavour when it comes to multiple cheese toppings on pizza. The choice enhances the flavours as you get to experience different types of cheese in a single pizza. While the trend is going viral, it is not new. Most restaurants and pizzerias have it on their menu. We have had the four-cheese variation for over a decade now. Chef Abhishek Pednekar The key to getting it right is the choice of cheese. Choose according to their palate and texture. It is also important to have the accurate grammage of cheese. Avoid strong flavoured-cheese like blue cheese or gruyère with a distinct and strong taste that will overpower the other toppings. For a good combination, go with the trusted options of mozzarella, cheddar, brie, provolone or emmental. After that, it is all about having fun. The four cheese pizza Quick tip: I recommend a sprinkling of mozzarella, ricotta cheese, cheddar and brie in multiple layers before you bake it at home. Keep the topping simple with a spread of pizza sauce, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Avoid vegetable toppings for such a pizza. The main flavour is that of the cheese. Serve with some fried basil on top. Pizza-hop in the city: Take your pick Woodside InnThis popular destination has been a choice for foodies in the city for a while now. The four-cheese Italian delight is a pick for any night out with friends.AT Shop No.11 and 12, Link Plaza Commercial Complex, MHADA Colony, Andheri West. Also at Pali Hill, Bandra and Wodehouse Road, Colaba.CALL 7968158311COST Rs 795 onwards Queen Margherita’s PizzeriaCheese lovers, this all-cheese pizza comes topped with fresh buffalo mozzarella, house made garlic ricotta, and artisanal fior di latte mozzarella. AT Shop no B-12, Kamla Nagar, Chincholi Bunder Road, Malad West.CALL 9930917249COST Rs 375 Vivi Neapolitan Pizzeria Try a traditional quattro formaggi with its four magical cheese of gorgonzola, fontina and parmiggiano and ricotta to add a Neapolitan twist for your palate.AT Teen Haath Naka, opposite Raheja Gardens, Wagle Estate, Thane West. CALL 8828821594COST Rs 1,499 (for 2) Rocket Man Pizza If you are looking to push the boundary, try this aptly named Parmagedon (above) with a bountiful mix of parmesan, mozzarella and cheddar.AT Unit 3A, MAC Ronell’s Bungalow, Pali Hill, Bandra West.CALL 918355950643COST Rs 520 The Game RanchFor those in the eastern suburbs, this ranch serves an overdose of cheese with its four-cheese pizza filled with the delight of gorgonzola, mozzarella, chèvre and parmesan.AT Unit 2, B Wing, Delphi Building, Hiranandani Business Park, Powai.CALL 8976700971COST Rs 665 Francesco’s PizzeriaThis pizzeria crafts their four-cheese thin crust pizza (below) with mozzarella, cheddar, bocconcini, and parmesan.AT Sujan Chadha, Shop No. 7, Darvesh Grand 4th Road, Khar West.CALL 9152761933COST Rs 485 Emma’s Pizza KitchenGet with the millennials with this eponymous pizza topped with buffalo mozzarella, parmesan, EVOO cheese and fior di latte with oregano and their special sauce.AT Plot 19, Sector 30A, Proxima, Vashi. CALL 919321700467COST Rs 599 The Mad PepperoniIf you are feeling brave with dairy, try this delectable five cheese pizza with its fresh cow mozzarella, smoked yellow cheddar, smoked gouda, parmesan and cream cheese. AT Shop no 6, Belapur Sun City, CHS, Sector 15, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai. CALL 9930664041COST Rs 575 Si Nonna’sSourdough lovers, the No 4 (above) pizza on the range of their sourdough pizzas is made with fior di latte mozzarella, ricotta cheese, blue cheese, and aged parmesan cheese. AT B, Kamala Mills Compound, Trade World, Lower Parel. CALL 9136693001COST Rs 650
01 July,2024 09:15 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram Iyengar | Priyanka GohilEven as Mumbai’s skies are cast in various hues of grey, the colours of the sun (or sunsets) are coming to life in make-up palettes across the city and on social media. From eye shadows to gradient blushes, make-up lovers are letting their imagination take centre stage with their bold, ombre looks. To ace this trend, however, make-up artist Natasha Nyss emphasises picking one key feature and letting it lead the look. “Don’t recreate this on your eyes and cheeks at the same time. If you decide to highlight your eyes, keep the rest of your make-up relatively simple and understated,” she explains. Warm shades of orange, pink and red (above) with gold accents can best serve this look All eyes on youWarm and vibrant shadows form the essence of this look, says Nyss. “Choose shades of orange, pink and red, with gold accents, in a combination of matte and shimmer finishes. Use the mattes to define your crease and the shimmers to highlight focal points,” she adds. Make sure to use a primer to really bring out the depth of the colours. If you don’t have an eye-shadow primer handy, use a concealer instead. Highlight the eyes, while keeping the rest of the make-up simple Start with a light base colour, such as a yellow-gold, and use warm orange to create a gradient effect. Deepen the create and outer corners using a purple-red shade. Don’t forget to carry the colour to your bottom lid for a more cohesive look, advises Nyss. Add some shimmery highlighter to your inner corners, a dramatic wing and lots of mascara. Complement your eyes with a peach blush and nude or brown lips, sticking to warmer undertones. Natasha Nyss Cheeky but sleekA more recent trend combines various shades of blush with highlighter to mimic a similar effect on the cheeks. “Liquid products offer the brightest colour gradient and are also easy to blend into each other, without smudging. Start with a pink colour just above your cheeks and then build up to an orange hue. Add the liquid highlighter in a golden hue to the highest points of your cheekbones, and near the outer corners of your eyes. Blend carefully to create that gradient effect. To lengthen your face, you can also extend the pink to your temples,” says Nyss. A subtle eye-liner and glossy brown lips are the perfect companions for this look.
01 July,2024 09:05 AM IST | Mumbai | Anindita Paul"Hello, I am Anxiety!” says a frail orange figure in its creaky voice, moments after mind workers wreak havoc on Riley’s Headquarters to make space for new emotions. In Inside Out 2, the highest-grossing release of 2024 in North America until now, emotions come to life inside the 13-year-old Riley’s head and spell out every decision she makes based on memories, beliefs and personality. As Riley hits puberty, the sequel introduces three new emotions apart from Joy, Anger, Disgust, Sadness and Fear. These are Ennui, Embarrassment and Anxiety. As if on cue, Riley wakes up in a grumpy mood, with frizzy hair, a messy room and her first pimple. This marks the beginning of the teen’s exploration into a world, where with threatened friendships, new aspirations, challenged beliefs and changing physique, Anxiety starts taking charge — eventually suppressing all emotions, quite literally in the movie. It leads to a panic attack. What is anxiety? “Anxiety is when the nervous system enters sympathetic nervous response, which is an alert or an emergency response that probes your body to run away and keep itself safe from danger,” explains Nikhila Deshpande, psychologist and founder of Andheri-based iTalkTherapy Counselling Centre. “In normal situations of fear, your body responds when it sees a lion. You enter a safe zone and start calming down when you have escaped it. However, in anxiety, the fear is perceived or imagined,” she explains, “Your body can handle stress response for half an hour, two hours or maximum one day. In case of anxiety, you are trying to run away from the same perceived lion for six months. Imagine what it can do to your body.” Teenagers, like (left) Riley, experience multiple physical and emotional changes Psychologist and founder of @evolvewithritika, Lower Parel-based Ritika Jain agrees. “Anxiety is often characterised by the ‘what if’ scenarios. The movie illustrates Riley’s fear primarily driven by her desire to make her parents happy and avoid being a bad person. Riley’s emotional landscape shifts to include anxiety, where she starts having intellectual thoughts about what might happen to her if she doesn’t do things. She is no longer just being in the moment; she is constantly thinking about potential future outcomes,” Jain suggests. Change your approach Nikhila Deshpande Despite this, Riley’s parents have very little role to play in the movie. As the child grapples with various emotions, she shuts herself from her mother. The mother, although furious, lets Riley be. Would that be a correct response while dealing with an angry teenager who is also growing increasingly distant, we ask. “Sometimes, as parents, you have to let your children simply know that you’re there for them. In Riley’s case, we see that the parents have already built a support system [in her tweens]. A teenager experiences multiple changes, both mentally and physically. When they behave differently, remember to not force your opinions on them. As a child, all decisions are made for them. But when they enter their teenage years, they believe they know everything. When you tell them they are wrong, they are bound to rebel. Change your approach. Don’t tell them that they were wrong, but instead that their behaviour was. It is often how you approach your children that makes a difference,” Jain explains. Anxiety is often a new emotion when one hits puberty To this end, Deshpande suggests two approaches parents must take. One, she says, is telling the children about the truth of lying when they are five or six years old. “Those are the years that children start gaining consciousness about the world around them. Start integrating moral values in them. Make them aware of how society functions, and show them how to navigate crises in times when their morality and beliefs are challenged,” she elaborates. However, for children in their teens, she suggests that parents should just be willing to lend a non-judgemental ear. “Children get confused when they reach their teenage years, especially when values are broken by the same people who taught them those values. For instance, they tell a child not to lie, but often, also ask them to answer a call and tell the caller that mom or dad is not at home,” she explains, adding that peer pressure takes this confusion to another level, and more often than not, teenagers end up giving in. Parents must create non-judgemental spaces for teenagers to open up instead of forcing their own opinions on them. REPRESENTATION PIC “Riley goes through a similar situation, when during a hockey match, she can either side with her friends who are switching schools after the camp, or with the senior girls who will help open a door for Riley’s aspirations in the sport,” Jain points out. Both agree that the first step would be to just listen. “A new opinion would often lead to anxiety and possibly a panic attack. Once you have established a safe space for the both of you, where the teenagers are comfortable sharing their opinions with you, that would be your cue to suggest how they could have done things differently,” Deshpande says. Jain believes that all emotions, including anxiety, are important. “It is okay to feel them all. They will shape your personality,” she signs off. And finally, trust Joy to find a way to come to your rescue, we say. TEEN SPEAK: What they thought of the film (From left) Sadness, Disgust, Envy, Anxiety and Joy in the movie I loved how the characters of the movie were meticulously created with the colour scheme matching the personalities of different emotions. Introducing Anxiety as a character for teenagers was a bold but a much-required step in a world where the emotion is still frowned upon. I have never had a panic attack like Riley till now, because I believe my parents have created a very safe space for me where I can share everything with them. But I do feel anxious from time to time when it comes to looking a certain way, and especially when you are put in a spot by your friends. The movie made me feel seen. Bhoomika Mittal, 17 The movie was awesome! Now that Riley is a teenager, her emotions have become complex. We have all been there, and I completely relate with it. It brought to the fore how sometimes anxiety leads you to making wrong decisions. The last sequence made me emotional. It reminded me how stuck one feels in such situations [sports competition]. Overall, it is a must-watch. Shreyas Gupta, 17 Case study: Why it’s important to share A 13-year-old started noticing changes in his body, such as the growth of pubic hair, and became anxious about growing up. He expressed that he didn’t want to grow up because he was unsure about what to expect. To help him, his mother shared her own experiences of growing up. She explained how, when she was his age, she felt uncomfortable as her body changed, particularly when people started noticing her developing hips. She, too, had wished she could stop growing up. However, she came to understand that these changes were a natural part of the growing-up process and that everyone goes through them. By sharing her story, she helped her son realise that it was okay to feel uncertain and that his experiences were normal. This reassured him and reduced his anxiety about growing up. Courtesy, Ritika Jain
01 July,2024 09:00 AM IST | Mumbai | Devanshi DoshiThe monsoon has arrived, and so has the dreaded monsoon frizz that can wreak havoc on the most carefully styled head of hair in a matter of minutes. The main culprit, experts say, is the humidity. “Each strand of hair is made up of three layers. The outermost layer, called the cuticle, looks like shingles on a roof. When this outer layer is compromised, it causes hair to lose moisture, making the hair dry and damaged. During the monsoon, the lost moisture is replaced with the moisture in the air which changes the shape of the hair, causing it to frizz,” explains celebrity hair stylist Drishya Bhagyanath. Dr Satish Bhatia, dermatologist at the Indian Cancer Society, Nariman Point, further adds that the excessive humidity also causes the hair strands to lose keratin or hair protein, and amino acids from its outer layer, adding to the fizziness. Hair that gets soaked in the rain has reduced tensile strength, causing it to break more easily. Although it may seem daunting, both our experts assured us that with being careful and with some TLC, it is possible to keep your hair looking and feeling healthy and groomed. Hair braiding at nighttime is a good idea especially for those with wavy hair; (right) deep-condition your hair to prevent dryness Mane control Use a hair serum containing CAPIXYL, peptides and scalp exfoliating agents that are water (not oil) based, advises Dr Bhatia. The increased humidity already causes your scalp to produce more oil. Follow this with a 2% salicylic acid exfoliation gel to get rid of excess oils, and shampoo it all off with any shampoo that suits your hair, he adds, pointing out that investing in expensive brands isn’t necessary. Finally, use a hair mask instead of a hair conditioner on damp, not wet, hair. Wash it off with cold water after 10 minutes. If your hair is dry and frizzy, he recommends whipping up a simple DIY hair mask using aloe vera, honey, glycerine and yogurt with a spoonful of coconut oil. Apply this to your strands for an hour and then wash off. Additionally, he recommends using products with anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties, such as tea tree and neem. Wash your hair more often to avoid an itchy scalp Hacks for your hair type . Straight hair can look limper and flatter during monsoons, says Bhagyanath. She recommends avoiding products that contain alcohol as they can dry out the hair more. An easy DIY fix is to use any talc on the scalp overnight, to avoid flat hair. . Wavy hair looks extra bushy and unkempt as the humidity prevents the hair strands from falling properly, Bhagyanath explains. Braiding your hair before sleeping can make it more manageable. . Curly hair is especially sensitive to the humidity. “Avoid brushing your hair when it’s dry. Use a heavy leave-in cream or conditioner instead of light oils,” says Bhagyanath. Dr Satish Bhatia and Drishya Bhagyanath What to do . Nourish your hair with regular oiling to prevent dullness and frizz. Consume a protein-rich diet that will help to reduce hair loss and dullness. Wash your hair more often to avoid an itchy scalp. Use a cotton cloth (or a t-shirt) to dry your hair instead of a towel . Layer your hair with anti-frizz products that coat the hair and form a barrier, preventing the moisture from the air from penetrating your hair. Dry hair attracts frizz. Deep-condition your hair to prevent further dryness and trim your dry ends . Cover your hair while travelling to minimise exposure to humidity, especially if you travel in rickshaws or trains What not to do . Don’t leave your hair loose when you step out; try a cute braid, sleek ponytail or a classic bun. Don’t colour your hair in monsoon season; the colour tends to bleed easily. Don’t tie your hair immediately after it gets wet in the rain. This causes breakage.. Don’t use hair styling tools. The moisture in the air can easily penetrate into your hair, making it frizzy
29 June,2024 09:25 AM IST | Mumbai | Anindita PaulNayanima Basu’s new book The Fall of Kabul is a detailed journalistic piece that pulls the readers right into the middle of the streets of Kabul, Afghanistan. In August 2021, Afghanistan was seeing a collapse of the Ghani government and a return to power of the Islamic fundamentalist movement, the Taliban. The book documents her 10-day stay in Kabul during that time, when she reported the events unfolding in the country. After landing in the city and facing numerous security checks, she spoke to the locals such as taxi drivers, grocers, women in salons, journalists as well as diplomats. In addition to this, she interviewed the notorious Afghan warlord and former Prime Minister, a task that “no other journalist [had ever been able to] pull off”, as she notes. What she witnessed was a city whose face had changed completely within the ten days. Pic Courtesy/Bloomsbury Basu lays a quick timeline of the past and reminds us of its recurrence and relation to the present events. She writes about the country turning into a major battlefield for the world superpowers—the US and Russia. Readers learn about the damaging effects of the US withdrawing their troops from the country and what their interference meant in the first place. She does not address these questions by arguments alone, but brings up real-life stories of what the locals believed it did to them. Gul Jaan’s story stands out. A woman at a beauty parlour, Gul, much like other Afghans, had held on to the hope promised by the US government. After returning to India, Basu discovered that Gul had had to shut her salon and flee the country with her family for safety, seeing her dream shattered. The book is a significant body of work. Not only does it give us an unobstructed view of the fall of Afghanistan, it also offers an insight into the risks that journalists undergo while reporting. Although the last few chapters could have done with a round of editing to read sharper, they stand as the starkest testimony to both. Basu also shows us what it means to be a female journalist reporting such events. She lays everything on the line and writes without digressing from the subject of on-ground tension and the subsequent violence. TitleThe Fall of KabulAuthor Nayanima BasuGenre Non-FictionPublisher Bloomsbury IndiaCost Rs 599
29 June,2024 09:20 AM IST | Mumbai | Nandini VarmaIf you’re a fan of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), an epic night awaits you to celebrate a game that has shaped fantastical worlds for half a century. The community is abuzz with the latest developments of this iconic game. There’s exciting news from D&D headquarters about the 2024 Player’s Handbook that promises standardised subclasses across all classes starting at 3rd Level, and hence this game night couldn’t be timelier. “For me, game nights are a trip back in time; when alliances were forged, rivalries born and buried, and memories were made in magic. Expect cheers of victory and groans of defeat, all accompanied by snacks that vanish faster than the dice can roll,” shares Shruti Iyer, the Dungeon Master for the event. “To share an analogy from video games, it’s an open-world Role Playing Game (RPG) where instead of fighting the dragon you can marry it. I remember one game where the Dungeon Master (the host of the game) had described four different groups of people at the restaurant where our characters were headed. The Dungeon Master (DM) had set up quests for me and my friends to go on, and all we had to do was interact with one. I decided that my character didn’t like the vibe of the place and left to explore the temple ruins the DM had mentioned earlier,” Iyer explains further. The upcoming revisions aim to refine the gameplay without a full edition change, consolidating a decade of feedback into essential new manuals. Although, the DM had not prepared for the same and had to make up a whole ancient pantheon of gods on the fly (in other words, we won’t be brainstorming on the new rule book), as shared by Iyer. Participants can share tales of their campaigns, create characters with unique abilities, and engage in strategy discussions. They can collaborate to overcome challenges and interact with non-player characters (NPCs) to unravel plots. “D&D is a personalised storytelling platform; there is no correct way, or a guidebook to follow. That’s the fun of it; you can live in a role-playing world; the DM can craft an entire universe, and there is creative freedom. Everybody should be a part of such a game that is the future of next-generation games,” shares Rohan Mehta, event strategist, The Revolver Club. “Our events aim to offer communities and subcultures safe and inclusive spaces around India to discuss, experience and celebrate various facets of culture across music, film, and now, D&D,” he sums up. On Today; 6 pm onwards At Records Coffee, Pali Hill Road, Bandra West. Log on to insider.inFree Gamer-talk I often host games for new players, and a common complaint is that they are still coming to grips with their characters and the game itself at early levels, making them unprepared to choose a subclass at levels 1 and 2. Standardising all subclasses at Level 3 is a great move, allowing players to ease into the game before making their all-important subclass choice. For experienced players, they can use the first two levels as a build-up to level 3, adding great roleplay opportunities as characters figure out their subclass in-game. From both a DM and player’s perspective, this change seems beneficial. That said, I’d definitely want to play-test the first few levels before passing final judgment on the new rules.” Kshitij Naithani, 29 Kshitij Naithani and Aaron Misra As someone who hosts D&D sessions, I believe the new subclasses will introduce intriguing dynamics in combat and add more variety to role-playing. With the revamping of existing classes, I’m especially excited about the brand-new original subclasses for the Barbarian, Druid, and Bard. However, the feature I am most eager to try is the new weapon mastery skills. This addition promises to make combat more enjoyable and will add a layer of depth for players to explore. Overall, these updates will significantly enhance the gameplay experience, making it more engaging and immersive for everyone involved.” Aaron Misra, 20
29 June,2024 09:10 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka GohilWhat does it mean to be a world musician? Ask Valérie Chane Tef, a Réunionese pianist who formed a band in Bordeaux, France and recently rocked out a jam-packed concert in Mumbai. As winding as her journey might sound, when you ask her what’s driving it, she has it straight. “I carry my culture and the history of my people with me. Music is my way of putting the spotlight on my origins,” she shares. Braving Mumbai’s erratic monsoon on a working day, crowds gathered at a Lower Parel venue earlier this week to catch a glimpse of Tef performing alongside percussionist Eric Perez and bassist Thomas Boude at the World Music Day celebrations organised by Alliance Française de Bombay. “Having played a show in Mumbai once in 2023, I knew the crowd would be a delight to perform to. Bringing Fete De La Musique [World Music Day] to the city with my band Akoda this time was no different,” the artiste reveals. Thomas Boude While jamming to the band’s Creole jazz presentation, a deeper realisation might have eluded the audience — they were experiencing a part of their own culture that has evolved in a different environment. Stéphane Doutrelant, director, AF Bombay, explains, “Réunion Island, owing to waves of immigration, is home to a lot of Indians. The presence of Indian languages like Tamil and Hindi in Réunion Creole is a living proof of a unique cultural fusion and shared heritage; this must be celebrated.” Tef admits that the island’s multicultural history continues to play a major role in her journey and purpose as an artiste. “Growing up on the island, I was exposed to Chinese, Indian, French, and African cultures. When I started out as a musician, the first step was understanding how they overlap, and what being Reunionese really means,” she elaborates. Valérie Chane Tef This assortment of cultures reflects in the band’s compositions that take from native styles of Reunionese folk music and blend it with contemporary jazz arrangements using Western jazz instruments to shape a unique soundscape. The perfect concoction of tradition and modernity, believes Doutrelant. “Fusing the genres, while keeping the soul of their native island alive through Creole truly embodies what Fête de la Musique stands for,” he remarks. For Tef, the visit marked her first step towards a different kind of cultural exploration. “I spent my initial years as a musician exploring the Creole world. But it’s one of my goals to retrace my own roots. My paternal grandmother was born in Pondicherry,” she reveals. We nudge Tef about her plans to return to India to continue this exploration. “Indian music is so rich that I’d have to take time out to fully immerse myself in it. I’d need an artistic residency to do that,” the artiste hints as she signs off. Eric Perez Log on to Akoda on all music streaming platforms
29 June,2024 09:05 AM IST | Mumbai | Devashish KambleADVERTISEMENT
