Bridge Of Change

A change so needed as the road to progress leads to an infinite abyss. As the road gets widened with hard concert dividing us and them. Green trees spread all over for peace and happiness. Travelling gets easier and the reach is all too easy. It’s like a runway depicting a Chinese way to economical progress. Bridge so new and unexplored stands tall for years to come. The long and tired journey leads to a bridge of peace, as we bank on the naturals for life. The ordinary now can lead to an extraordinary over bridge. The road down the bridge is an extremely welcoming experience. As we stand in a distance it all assembles into a racing success.

Rage to Ravage

Hey what a crazy night we had, finally ravage is revived. There was a sense of aggression all along. I felt it all came from the heart. As the dark clouds set in I could sense gasoline been played with all the energy one can demand, tight like hell. Karan lead on slither seemed so evil and to the point. Bass playing on man in the box was nailing. Uday deep felt vocals wonderfully pitched on lighting crashes, which is inspired by j krishamurthy. The best part about the gig was the mixed crowd presence, the age group varied from 60 to 5 and all seemed tripped. Ravage is on its way to rock jazz by the bay on 25 April 2009…
As uday says “be there or be square dude…”

Check out these youtube links …..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baJ4EwIEE4M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF5Wx5cRL48

Innocent cries.....

I am like a child
In this world of Innocent cries
As the innocence is captured by a soft toy
Done by the tunes of vulgar reality
Dancing to the tune of synthetic communication
How real are we and how real is a child's life
We wonder will innocence really exist.
But the child still cries

Interview With Kodu High Spirits....

Khodadad Irani (kodu) very gonzo styled, nonchalant, warm and friendly dandy. The adrenarche at the tender age of seventeen, exploring and investigating the very source of survival. Farming a hard mean of subsistence, belting and sweating for multinationals like Levis. Kodu’s heredity in the area of event management is brobdingnagian. Kodu’s and his family unit marshalled activities like bungee jumping, zakir hussian concert, dance festival, commonwealth, Pune festival the agendum is endless. Born with an innate talent for organising events in clubs and alfresco. “Our endeavour in events for the nonce is not so elated as the procedure is all set about”, says kodu. His erudition developed in pune. Kodu studied in educational institutes like Vincent’s, wadia’s and symbiosis.

High spirits and its evolution?

High spirits is our family heirloom. Burger king is also masterminded by my uncle. Earlier local hangout culture never prevailed. It was soiree all over in pune, absolutely no stamping grounds around. High spirits has changed it all.

Why sojourn at high spirits?

See basically it’s an easy going, insouciant stamping ground. High spirits is like a dynamo, along with live unison, we have themes that rock. Try out bladder bust, all unlimited beer and some bizarre shots to end it. Our ground is not for pocket pinching, it’s very reasonably priced, our visitors are young and innovative. We are here to provide them with a vantage time. Our kitchen is well equipped to provide three cuisine (Indian, continental & Chinese).

Friday night live?

Friday nights we conduct live concerts by global musical groups across the world. For high spirits space and time is of no concern. We radiate musical styles from rock to funk and fusion. Our pulse has always been off beat. Awe-inspiring bands the likes of Kundalini airport, Aurora Jane, shair + funk (credits is an endless chain) have performed at high spirits. We have an official tie up with blue frog.

Kodu the musician?

I am an abyss percipient from the forties to electronic trance. Lyrics and poetry makes a world of a difference to me. Internal evolution is more important than revolution.

Slump in Indian economy?

Downturn has not altered our condition. There has been a hold back on spending on expensive holidays and cars. But human souls do need a break & thankfully we provide the same.

Kodu gets wed locked?

Yes I am getting married soon, my to be wife is from Delhi, we got engaged few months back.

Kodu’s low zone?

Honestly never believed in low-lying. Always been so active and full of verve. High spirits is the highest I can ideate.

Mind that matters?

It’s mind over matter and if you don’t mind it really doesn’t matter. I am a jiffy, so it’s all so cool.

Terrorism?

The divide between rich and poor is very enormous . So many caste and religions. Fanatics are growing in numbers and we all are fast maturing mobile targets in time.

Interview With Tushar Bhatt, GM, Hard Rock Café Pune.

Having travelled and cruised and seen many horizons at such a young and progressive age. Tushar Bhatt, General Manager, Hard Rock Café, Pune at such a young age is so hard to believe. Tushar has been a chef for eleven years. He started off as a chef in Taj Air Kitchen and then travelling overseas to explore better opportunities, working for an international cruise and many catering restaurants. Tushar’s creative juice ran so high at the age of seventeen and his tender but strong mind all set to be a chef. He never believed in regular jobs and nine to five seemed so distanced. “Chefs have a status in hospitability industry”, says Tushar. He always prefers pre-openings to an established set up, as it sets a complete opportunity to layout systems, equipments, contracts, menu planning, kitchen layouts and much more. Having ability and an expert in Indian and continental food, he has been a great asset to Hard Rock Café. Having worked in JW Marriott and Taj with proven experience in hardcore practical training his experience stands tall as a youngest chef. Working with Taj Flight Kitchen and providing catering for thousands of people, has helped him a lot for international catering success. We had an informal talk with Tushar; here is what he has to say…….

Tushar and his home town?

I am born and brought up in Mumbai and I am very proud of that. My parents have been very creative in their field and also my brother presently is very active in television and media.

How did “chef idea” originate?

Always had a passion in creating things. Designing food to make it look the best always excited me. This interest and nag of creativity attracted me to the Hospitality industry. Over the years I've been a part of different fields of this industry - Flight kitchen, cruise lines, restaurants, catering companies, ecotel hotels, 5 star deluxe hotels, food courts and now free standing MNC.

What made you come back to India?

My career was going great guns, but I had to come back to India for some family reasons. I am happily married and I am a very proud father of a very cute eight month old kid.

What’s the difference you felt between Pune and Mumbai?

Difference is huge, the spending capacity and the frequency in which people party. In Pune, Monday to Thursday the footfalls are less. Where as in Mumbai there is a waiting even on those days. Weekends are business days all over. Difference in sales between the weekdays and weekends is enormous.

How do you make a difference?

It’s all about motivation. The motivational energy has to be constant from servers to managers and I am working on the same.

Has Pune grown?

Sure it’s grown as a matter of fact its growing faster than some metros. The crowd we pull in for weekends has changed, we could not imagine this few years back. Mundwa was on outskirts , now it’s mostly happening. The sheer size of the city has crossed its limit. Also the energy level is so different.

Live bands at Hard Rock Café?

Live bands kick on in March that’s very soon we promise. We have a great gig coming up on the 20th march 2009 that’s Kardinal Offishall. It’s going to be bigger than you can imagine.

Responsibility as a General Manager Hard Rock Café Pune?

I consider anything & everything as my responsibility. Since we are a franchisee, we need to adapt to the specification set by Hard rock café international. Adaptation of specification to training of staff. I have to follow standards that like hosting, retail, bar service, kitchen, sales and finance.

What’s your team?

I have the best team you can imagine. My team is my heartbeat. We don’t have waiters, we have servers. They provide customers with a complete experience. I don’t have 70 humans, I have seventy different key investments and assets. If Hard Rock is the heart my team is the heart beat.

How did Hard Rock Café happen?

Right from design and material used is approved by hard rock international. Once all is set and done an international hard rock team is flown in for inspection. All the instruments are originals, it’s amazing. There is something in this place that’s gives all a kick. Mystic I must say!

Instruments you enjoying playing?

The only instruments I have played is a walkman frankly. I enjoy Bon Jovi and any kind of slow rock.

Other then work who is Tushar Bhatt?

I am a photographer, dog lover, traveller and enjoy reading fiction.

Any low points in your young life?

I never let low points come to me; I am a very positive person. I never let negative energy take over. I don’t waste time on it. Life is too short make the most of it and enjoy.

What your future to be?

I see myself as an entrepreneur taking hospitality to even newer heights....

Lastly Mumbai terror attack what’s your feeling?

It’s like a bandage been ripped off a healing wound. I feel a lot for Mumbai, I love this city, it’s wonderful and given me a lot. I feel sad we have not reached anywhere, the investigation seems all fake. We are still stuck in this bureaucracy, no right decisions. It’s all about reports and reports which saddens me even further.

Vampires Of The Sun

I don’t understand death anymore, all seems so peaceful and quiet. A sudden unnatural death seems more willing for these conflicting minds. These minds of terror work on confirmation and completely intoxicated thoughts. Minds filled with contradictions, fear, conflicts and organizational belonging and belief.

These minds can only divide be violent, brutal and irrational. These minds are not free they are bound so hard only to break and let lose to kill and be killed. Carrying bullets and enclosing there identities with black mask and operating out of the dark so that light cannot be seen. Bags filled with death and life, by death I mean grenades, rdx, bullets and knifes, by life I mean dry fruits and water to survive.

Holding their latest automatic weapons firing at an positive and spirited organisation like cricket, is such a cowardice act. Cricket players looking for a positive day of cricket, land up getting shot and injured. I am sure the days of terrorist are getting brighter. They seem more comfortable as the light strike rather than the dark. I would like to name them the vampires of the sun.

As the vampires vanish and are never found, evidence getting washed out and confident statements were made leading to a conspiracy. Dark ages have surrounded all of us, hell resides on earth and dooms day is not far off.

Interview With Movie Director Ashok Gaikwad

Ashok Gaikwad from Real to Reel?

I was a extremely dramatic child, busting with energy and emotions. Knowing at a very early age what to achieve, my path was crystal clear but cryptic. On a school stage with lights from heaven strike and just having my gender altered projecting a women in me, with tons of gold to hold, standing tall as the entire concert hall clapping so loud and long for me to still hear it.

A proven confidence in me ran so hard, I completely submerged myself studying theatre, movies and gathering information from my close ones. Forgetting that an educational system still exists, getting called and thrashed by my very royal and land lordish family seemed so insane.

Carrying enough information, decided to acquire wisdom and a shining future, I headed for Mumbai . Let me narrate a little bit about my big brother in Mumbai. My big brother was very well connected principled, hardworking and ran an automobile garage in chembur. Staying with him, moving with my dreams all over Mumbai and in plain words hoping for a break, I landed up meeting many studio owners. Finding some kind of connection, observing shoots all day long and attending night school got me rolling with lots of intellectual feeds to live on in Mumbai city.

Tagging with the unit for days, without any fees and also been treated as a family was euphoric.My impulse decision helps me a lot, landing up in Ooty for a shoot providing the unit with water, cigarettes, clapping around is all I did. But it’s all about observation. One day during a shoot, again I had my gender in question, wearing a female outfit (duplicate for Saira Banu) and in a runaway car was so abstract. Determined to complete the process in one take, which was very well appreciated by Mahesh kaul a very well known director of our black and white times. Nowadays it’s all about grey right. Getting a standing offer to assist Mahesh kaul was beyond my imagination. Working with him for five years and to be a part of his activity, I felt so privileged . Making many mistakes along the way I learned a lot. As my director used to say please make mistakes so one learns. Becoming his second assistant and making three movies, I decided to move on.

During that period Padosan (directed by Jyoti Swaroop) was in process, working with the unit was amazing. In a short time I became his chief assistant. As Jyoti Swaroop health was not up to the mark, been told to shoot independently for a dance sequence, I gained a lot of confidence. I had two masters Mahesh kaul and Jyoti Swaroop. After many years, I started worked with Raj Sippy and making twenty two movies with him as associate director.

Having been offered many half done movies, even Neetu Singh offered a few, which I refused. Suddenly out of the blue I met a producer who offered me an independent movie with Sanjay Dutt called Sarphira. All went well for about eight reels then the whole mission got canned for some time. Opening my eyes to the brand new commercial world of cut throat competition. Survival of the fittest that the name for the game.

Raj Sippy supported me a lot; I did many independent shots with many stars. Frankly I am a director because of Raj Sippy. In one of the shooting Rekha supported me so much that I had tears in my eye. Inkaar was a box office hit. Doing some independent work on Inkaar and others, Raj Sippy got superstitious and allowed me various independent shots in many movies, almost all did very well.

I was offered a movie called Qatil again a box office hit, providing Shakti Kapoor a hero’s role for the first time. After that I was offered one more movie by the same producer called Doodh ka kraz. Let me name a few movies I made.....
Do Chehre (2009) (coming soon)
Gair (November 5, 1999) (Released)
Maa Kasam (1999) (Released)
Raja Ki Aayegi Baaraat (October 18, 1996) (Released)
Fauj (1994) (Released)
Parwane (November 12, 1993) (Released)
Krishan Avtar (June 25, 1993) (Released)
Hasti (May 21, 1993) (Released)
Phool Aur Angaar (April 2, 1993) (Released)
Police Officer (June 5, 1992) (Released)
Sarphira (April 10, 1992) (Released)
Izzat (June 21, 1991) (Released)
Gunhegar Kaun (1991) (Released)
Doodh Ka Karz (August 31, 1990) (Released)
Qatil (1988) (Released)
Boxer (February 17, 1984) (Released)

Making twenty two movies out of which twelve movies are silver jubilee. Having no flops on my name is so relaxing and peaceful. I am so proud to tell you that, we had assistant like Madhur Bandarkar working with us.

At present I am working on a new idea moving around the concept of remand home, this movie is experimental.

Which director you have high regards for?

The most progressive director ever lived is Raj Kapoor . He was way ahead of his times. He changed in time. He made movies for the time. Movies like Mera Naam Joker were way ahead of that period. The first release was a flop; second release was a complete success. Such was the capacity of Raj Kapoor. I remember Bobby was a shocker to me. Raj Kapoor’s intellectual vision was endless.

Has the industry been shot at by terrorism?

Yes in a big way, so many well made movies stay underground because no one wants to invest. The contradiction is deep. Investors think twice and to top it all recession. Big corporate are slashing budgets, actors are demanding less. It’s a vicious circle and we are all caught in it. Also the hype is getting real.

Your last few words?

In this industry one meets so many characters with an open heart. this industry is so accommodative to all, even a mediocre person can do extremely well ,if he or she is passionate enough and willing to give it all that it takes. My best wishes to all.