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The Hindu : y>Car and bike questions? We have the answers

I plan to convert my 1999 Daewoo Cielo to LPG. Please tell me which LPG kit will suit my car the best?

Saahil Kumar

When converting a car to LPG or CNG, look out for brands such as Lovato, BRC, Bedini and OMVL. Always go for a closed-loop kit, even though it might be more expensive. These kits are superior and hassle-free for everyday operation. Ensure that you get the kit fitted by an RTO-authorised installer. Since your Cielo is old, be sure to have the electrical system checked, as this could hamper functioning of the gas kit. Also, engines operating on LPG or CNG suffer from power loss. The shortfall is more apparent in CNG engines than in LPG. So, drive a Cielo with the LPG kit installed before making your decision.I own a Maruti Zen (2006) that has been factory-fitted with 145/80R12 size MRF radials. The company recommends a tyre pressure of 24psi in all wheels. However, the tyres look and feel under-inflated at this pressure. Air-filling stations recommend 30psi but this makes the ride bouncy. What should be the ideal pressure? My tyres have run 45,000km. When should I replace them? Also, I want to upgrade to bigger-sized tubeless tyres. Can I fit them on current rims? If I fit them on good quality alloy wheels, how much will it affect fuel economy? I am getting about 20kpl now.

Saran Varma

The recommended tyre pressure is 24psi but given the condition of our roads, we suggest you maintain at least 26-28psiif only one or two persons travel in the car. If the car is fully-loaded, say with four passengers plus luggage, and is to travel more than 60km at a stretch, then it is better to maintain at least 30psi pressure. If you have already covered over 45,000km on these tyres, then your ride…More

The Hindu :

Ajesh uses art to put human beings in their place

Photo: K. GopinathanART FOR ALL Ajesh is against exhibiting his work in art galleries

Ajesh was an electronics student before he told his father that he needed to change fields. He then enrolled at the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath for his B.F.A. “Though I’ve never really practised drawing, the very first drawing I did in class was complimented by my classmates.” Ajesh’s father being a vet, saw him surrounded by animals of all kinds.

Ajesh did not like the idea of the ‘Use Me’ dustbins designed with animals holding them. “The authorities told me that it was to attract children and encourage them not to litter. But I designed one which had a human. The idea came from the fact of how we would feel if we are put in their place.”

He is against exhibiting his work in art galleries, as he believes that art is for all. “It becomes restricted to an elite audience. So, I started painting walls and roads in lower-class colonies.”Don’t use them

After graduating in ’01, Ajesh started teaching art and conducting workshops in schools, besides participating in international art competitions. His art installations include “Urbanscape and Human Life”, “Why Use Me?”, “Vanishing Blues” and “A Bouquet for You”.

“The Vanishing Blues” was placed second in the ‘Bianale Sea Art Festival’ in South Korea amongst 26 artists from 18 countries. He also detests the idea of people plucking flowers to make bouquets in the name of love.

Growing up in Trivandrum amidst greens presented Ajesh with the natural love for nature. And he conducts environmental workshops for women and children, always using art. Having taught at an international school in Bangkok for three years, he doesn’t feel that children are any different in different countries. “The circumstances might be different socially and culturally, but they are still the same in…More

The Hindu : y>It looks stunning, especially with the hood down and is well-mannered on the road. Shapur Kotwal feels the wind rushing past as he drives the BMW 650i

Photos: Himanshu PandyaChill out It’s an ideal vehicle to go on long drives in cool weather

Open-top motoring isn’t exactly practical in India — a country where people cannot do without hitting the AC button. However, it’s the exclusivity that makes these convertibles so desirable. There’s no denying the charm of driving topless — in the right weather — and it is sheer desirability that forms the aura of the BMW 650i convertible. It looks stunning, especially with the hood down, and with the long silhouette, those mean-looking hooded brows, the super-wide ‘V’ on the bonnet and the gorgeous skinning results in the perfect interplay of curves and surfaces.The soft-top doesn’t take too much away from the design and the 6-series looks great even with the roof up.

The long doors of this car are made of aluminium while the fenders and boot lid are made of plastic to keep overall weight low. But at 1,935 kg, it’s far from the definition of being ‘lightweight’. This 6-series is powered by a large-capacity 4.8-litre V8 that produces 367bhp at 6300rpm through the rear wheels. It is built on a slightly shortened 5-series platform, with struts and a lower wishbone up front and a multi-link at the rear.

The 650i gets into its stride at around 60 or 70kph, after which acceleration gets progressively stronger, touching the 100kph in 7.3 seconds, 150kph in 14.1sec and 200kph in 25.8 sec. In reality, the 650i is more of a Grand Tourer than a speedy sportscar, and does an amazing job at it. It attainshigh velocities effortlessly, often even on less-than-full throttle, it has massive lungs and never runs out of breath and the sometimes lazy six-speed auto-box syncs perfectly too. You initially…More

The Hindu :

Bangalore Club For Kathakali and the Arts hopes to bring to the city the best of pure classical fare in music, dance, movies and art

BRINGING THE ARTIST CLOSE That’s the club’s aspiration (bottom) Meena Narayan

Meena Narayan is an artist, who is continuing her mother’s dream of promoting art in its classical purity. Together with a group of art aficionados; she has launched the Bangalore Club For Kathakali and the Arts (BCKA). It was recently launched with a Kathakali recital “Duryodhana Vadham” by the Janabheri Group from Kerala. She talks about the club and its goals.

Why the need for a club?

Not many focus on retaining the essence of classical art forms. With time we have seen a dilution in the classic forms of the arts in the name of fusion. Many of us still crave classical art forms in its purest forms. The pleasure of listening to pure Carnatic music without experimentation can be soothing. Our mission is to spread the message of this artistic world that seems on the periphery, in this frenetic pace, through regular concerts.

Why specifically a Kathakali Club?

It’s not just Kathakali. It’s other arts as well. The stress on Kathakali is because it is one of the most ancient of dance dramas and is very intricate. It is a highly stylised classical dance that takes years to perfect. Originating in the 16th Century, it was performed in temples, but is losing its importance because people just don’t seem to have the time for a three-hour drama. We are editing these plays to make them more concise withoutlosing originality; we are also giving out pamphlets to educate the viewer on the stories. Through our club we plan to financially help young as well as senior artists.

How will BCKA function?

Its aim is to cater to the needs of serious art enthusiasts. The main activities of BCKA will include music,…More

The Hindu : C.K. MEENA

The bright neon lights of malls pale in front of the warm haze that is Bangalore’s old market area

Photo: Bhagya Prakash k.BE NIMBLE BE QUICK Or Chickpet may just be a maze

There is a gas cylinder rushing at me full tilt. It sits on a low trolley with a flat metal surface. Next to the cylinder is a giant steel vessel filled to the brim with quivering curds, its surface protected by a skin of transparent plastic.

I have no time to raise my eyebrows. I have no time to place a thoughtful forefinger against my chin and consider the reasons why curds and cylinder should be travelling in this loose fashion. “Probably bound for a nearby restaurant” comes a fleeting thought before I sidestep the trolley and move on winged feet through the rivulets of people crisscrossing and intermingling on Chickpet Road.

You can take your malls and your company-issue coupons and stuff them you-know-where. Give me a bazaar, any time. Malls are seriously boring. They lull you into a trance. Chickpet Road commands your senses to stand up and salute it. It keeps you agile and welcomes you into a more human world. With its maze of lanes, Chickpet might remind some of Old Delhi. You weave your way through pushcarts and scooters, you duck to avoid head-loads of cloth bales, and you wonder where the recession went as shoppers throng wholesale stores that offer tempting discounts. But life moves at a steady though insistent plod here, not at the ferocious gallop of Chandni Chowk.

Chickpet Road is a long, uneven blade that slashes Avenue, BVK Iyengar and Balepet Roads before being vanquished by Old Taluk Cutchery Road. Chikkapeté is only one of the many “pets” that form part of an almost-300-year-old trading zone with areas demarcated for various kinds of merchants – merchants for bangles, cotton, rice and tin;…More

The Hindu :

Bipasha Basu shares the secret of her new fitness regime

PERFECT 10 Bipasha Basu: ‘Keeping fit is vital’

Did you know the dusky bombshell, Bipasha Basu, originally wanted to be a doctor? “I never set out to be model or an actor. I wanted to be a doctor, but was terrified of dissections and decided to settle for charted accountancy. Modelling happened by chance and acting followed suit,” she says over the phone.

Medicine’s loss is tinsel town’s massive gain. “I have enjoyed the experience thoroughly. I have never regretted my decision and am having a lot of fun.” The actor who sizzled on screen from her debut in “Ajnabee” says acting is tougher than modelling.

“You have to work on your look, your voice and expressions to match the character you are playing.”

Like all in the filmi fraternity, she is quite unhappy with the recent tussle between movie makers, distributors and multiplex owners. She says, “It is a lose-all situation for everyone. A lot of money is spent in making a movie and I feel that the producers and distributors should get their share of the profits. I do hope that a new revenue model is worked out soon and releases are not delayed unnecessarily. A mutually-agreeable compromise is needed urgently.” She adds, “One of my films has been completed. It shall be released soon, once this issue is resolved.”

Bipasha is currently working on the modalities of the Reebok Bollywood workout, created in collaboration with Shaimak Dhavar. The actor who burnt up the screen with her “Beedi Jalale” item number in Vishal Bharadwaj’s “Omkara” reveals: “I have been following this new workout routine and feels that it is not only fun, but helps you lose weight, as you are having fun. You do not feel exhausted after every workout.” She says, “Like in any other industry, keeping fit is vital. I feel this…More

The Hindu : y>

REGAL TOUCH The Royal Bride collection

As a tribute to India’s royal legacy, Varsidhi has launched its new bridal collection, ‘The Royal Bride’. The collection features traditional weaves and heavy embroidery combined with contemporary cuts to make a regal statement.

Every sari and lehenga from the collection drapes decoratively and is embellished with silk ribbons, frills, decorative borders, sparkling threadwork, sequins, gold zardosi, crystals, beadwork etc.

Mr. L N Singhvi, Varsidhi MD, unveiling the Royal Bride Collection said, “Our designers have studied the craftsmanship of the wardrobes of the royal families to create these garments.”

The collection blends materials to create original garments that drape decoratively over intricately hand-embroidered underskirts. The blouses are also worked at the front and sleeves. The ensembles are available in a wide range of designs, patterns and contemporary colours. Varsidhi has outlets in Commercial Street and Jayanagar 4th block. Call 41478989 or 41330615 for more information.

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The Hindu : y>Rajiv Krishnan, who has adapted Basheer’s short stories for stage, tells AYESHA MATTHAN the writer looked at every person and occupation with great dignity

PHOTO: BHAGYA PRAKASH K.Truth be told Rajiv Krishnan: ‘Basheer wrote about real situations’

“Basheer lived several lives,” reveals director Rajiv Krishnan about the legendary writer Vaikom Muhammed Basheer (1908-1994) from Beypore. Rajiv, of Perch (Performers in Chennai) has brought two plays featuring Basheer’s stories to the city. Rajiv watched a play in Paris directed by Peter Brook called “Le Costume” adapted from Can Themba’s short story.

“It was a deceptively simple and poignant story and moved me.” “I found in Basheer a great short story writer,” recalls Rajiv. Scriptwriter and actor Paul Mathew who plays the writer in the play and Rajiv went through several translations and the original stories in Malayalam and re-translated the stories. “We found the script’s English to be too Anglicised.”

Their first play “Moonshine and Skytoffee” based on “Love Letter” and “The Cardsharper’s Daughter” evolved in ’04. “We went to Basheer’s house and used elements like the tea shop. We felt that a seamless narrative would work better as the suspense would not be lost.” During their later visits to Kozhikode, they got to know Basheer’s family, interviewed people and spent a lot of time looking at the costumes. “We got to know Basheer better as a person, more than as a writer. His life would have been more interesting than his stories.”

Rajiv points out that many might feel that Basheer is anti-feminist, but that’s not true. “Right from his wife Fateema Bibi who was feisty and powerful to Saramma who was a strong and opinionated character, from dowry to inter-religious marriages, Basheer wrote about real situations and real characters, even though they might seem far-fetched.”

Like Mandan Muthappa, the pickpocket. “Unlike many of us, he had the ability to see every person and…More

The Hindu :

Pay Rs. 4.10 crore for the Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe and be in the lap of luxury

SMOOTH OPERATOR This Rolls Royce’s refined detailing aims at making life quiet and comfortable

In 2006, Rolls-Royce unveiled the lavish two-door Phantom saloon, the 101EX concept. Almost a year later, Rolls-Royce announced a convertible version of the 101EX, dubbed the Phantom Drophead Coupé. And now, the 101EX gets yet another prestigious variant— the Phantom Coupé.

I found it hard to shut out the voice in my head that euphorically kept telling me, ‘you are now approaching a car of the highest degree of attainable luxury’. Let me begin by telling you about a certain conspicuous button instead of the car’s enormous lap of luxury. It’s a small little button on the steering wheel, designed to be as innocuous as possible, as if the designer was aghast at the very thought of this sacrilege being there in the first place. You see, this little button launches the motorcar into sports mode! ByRolls Royce standards, it’s the first of its kind. Each gear is held longer, and kick-down is faster. This Phantom variant is designed for those gentlemen who prefer insertingthe Rolls key into the ignition of their Phantom, instead of handing it over to a chauffeur.

The powerhouse under the bonnet is the same 6.75-litre V12 motor that powers all BMW-era Rollers, which produces 453bhp and 73.41kgm of torque. The company claims that it’s faster than the BMW 750Li in the 0-100kph sprint (our BMW tests recorded time was 6.38 seconds!), managing to touch 100kph in 5.8 seconds.

I decided to test this claimed figure for myself. As I introduce the accelerator pedal to the floorboard, I know that the big V12 under the bonnet is gradually going ballistic, but behind the steering wheel there’s just a hush. There’s no thunderclap, and no gruff vocals from the twin…More