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The Hindu : y>Presence, performance, price, practicality… Toyota Fortuner has everything an SUV buyer looks for, writes Ouseph Chacko

The arrival of the Fortuner in India stirred up a frenzy. With 2,000 confirmed bookings so far, it’s clear that this SUV has enormous potential of being a hit in the big car market.

But, does the Fortuner live up to its perceived greatness? Has it really been worth the wait? This road test holds the answers.

Stationed next to an Endeavour, the Fortuner is taller and more broad shouldered. The Fortuner’s chest-level bonnet towers over you — the huge scoop on the bonnet that feeds air to the air-to-air intercooler, the skid plate that swoops into the bumper, and the terrific-looking headlights that sync into the grille demand much respect. The massive wheel arches, filled by huge Dunlop Mud and Snow tyres, a high waistline and a footboard to step into the car goes to show that this SUV means serious business. The high bumper line that shows off the massive 221-mm clearance is testament to the Fortuner’s off-roadability. The spare wheel on this car is mounted under the boot, as compared to the generic spare wheel-sporting tailgates of traditional SUVs.

A standard-fit five-speed manual gearbox delivers drive to all four wheels all the time. Independent double wishbones up front, a non-independent four-link setup at the rear and coil-springs all round keep the Fortuner’s 1,955 kilo kerbweight beautifully balanced. Brakes are discs up front and drums at the rear.

Once in the driver’s seat, the ‘high-roller’ feeling you get as you look down into other smaller cars is fantastic. The Fortuner’s seats are supportive and very comfortable. There’s good space, and it’s quite easy to get comfy behind the wheel — the seat adjusts (manually) for height and the steering for rake.

Quality of the plastics, switchgear and overall fit and finish are top notch. Equipment-wise, two airbags, ABS,…More

The Hindu : y>Women today are taking more care to knock off at least 10 years from their age as they head for the 40s, observes NANDHINI SUNDAR

Photos: R. Ragu and APThey’ve found the elixir of life Looking young made easy by Sreedevi and JLo

Eyelids heavy with eyeliner, hot pants so tiny it makes you wonder if they are something else, Madonna, 50, stares from the cover of her new CD. Her perfect body can give a 20-something enough reason to feel awkward. If you thought Madonna was a lonecrusader cheating on the years, a quick look at the likes of J Lo and Gwyneth Paltrow would show that the 30-something women seem more like in their twenties.

Does that mean women are now able to successfully knock a neat 10 years off their age? Is this a product of a new mindset that feels younger? Or is it just the effect of Botox and chemical peels added to the obsession of keeping slim and fit, whatever be your age.

An interesting fact here is that “youth” is surfacing not just in celebrities who can afford the best trainers, hairdressers and make-up artistes, but in women across the board who could be successful career women or simply home makers.

The young-ness is not just in looks but a mindset and an attitude, as compared to women of a similar age in the past. This manifests in both behaviour as well as physical strength, which belies the actual age.

Scientists believe that while longevity may be increasing, the physical ageing of the population may be getting delayed. They contend that the longer span of life psychologically prompts people to behave younger than they actually are. This would explain the youth syndrome not just in women but men too.

In a survey covering people in 42 countries, global research group AC Nielson found 60 per cent of Americans (who are by…More

The Hindu :

Kayla Stra, the lone female contestant in Jockeys has her task cut out

Tough contestant Kayla Stra

They love the speed, the adrenalin rush and the unpredictability of the equestrian sport.

Jockeys, who begin their day as early as 4.30 a.m. to exercise the horses, don’t really know what to expect in a race. Fortunes change in a fraction of a second and hence, winning is that much more magical. Animal Planet’s new reality series, “Jockeys”, gives us an inside view of their lives capturing the cut-throat competition and the power jockeys wield over their magnificent horses. Among the contestants is Kayla Stra, the lone female contestant who has more than 500 wins to her credit in Australia. “Being able to work with such beautiful, strong powerful animals is magical,” she says.

The series is special, says Kayla, and reasons, “We don’t get the exposure that other sports get, and it’s such a fascinating business.” Kayla says it’s never been a big deal to be a woman jockey back in Australia, unlike in the US.

“In Australia, it was more accepted for women to ride as there were always one or two girls in each state riding. ” Kayla’s interest in the sport began in the early teens. “I left school early, when I was 13 and worked with the horses for extra money to keep me going. What inspired me were my passion for animals and my love for horses and racing.”

Being a jockey requires her to follow a strict diet.She stays fit by exercising her horses every morning, going for long walks and bike rides. The 500-plus victories in Australia gives her the confidence to take on the guys in the series. She recalls one of her favourite wins: “There was this horse called Navy Shaker. This occurred during my apprenticeship when I was riding for my boss at the time. The…More

The Hindu :

Many men shrug off household chores, saying it’s a woman’s domain. But they must learn to pitch in

NOT A CARE IN THE WORLD? Keeping house need not be only a girl’s job. Boys too must do their share

Raju uncle, my 65-year-old neighbour, makes filter coffee for his wife every day before she wakes up; he can cook when called upon to do so, buys groceries for the house, and does other chores week after week… all on his own, without being asked to. In fact, I have seen many elderly men with a similar attitude.

On the other hand, Raju uncle’s son, and many other men of his age, would rather starve than cook a meal themselves; they never ever venture into the kitchen, except, perhaps, to drop a greasy plate into the sink. And, I hear their mothers say with an air of pride: “My son can’t make a cup of coffee for himself”.

This attitude will not help any more. Mothers need to remember that the woman their son marries is most likely to be employed. She may be equally, better or less employed, but nevertheless, girls of the present-day expect their spouses to share the housework. She is not going to be amused if her spouse sits glued to the television, the computer or the newspaper, leaves her to do the housekeeping and tells her “That’s your job, not mine”.

To imagine that men can somehow bypass home chores and outsource their housekeeping is to ask for trouble. Like in the West, domestic help is soon likely to be in short supply in our cities too. Even if your son is going to earn wads of money, it might not get him trustworthy household help.

The point is boys need to experience what it’s like to do household chores. They need to be initiated into housekeeping so that they don’t snigger…More

The Hindu :

Mithun Chakraborty began to cook out of necessity and soon became adept at the art

Photo: Rajeev Bhatton a culinary journey Mithun Chakraborty loves to cook for his co-stars

We adore him for his pelvic gyrations. We admire him for his national awards. But we don’t know that Mithun Chakraborty is adept at cooking as well. “I honed my skills during my days of struggle and gradually fell in love with the art,” says Mithun Now he owns the Monarch Group, which runs a chain of hotels in Ooty and a school where youngsters are taught the hospitality business. “I give them a simple mantra: ‘We can never become the sweet home for our guests. Let’s try to become their second home.’ Courtesy is the key. A little pampering makes people friends for life,” shares Mithun as he sips his special mocktail, Pink Lady.

Mithun took to the art during his college days at The Scottish Church College in Kolkata. “I used to cook in my hostel room. It was illegal, but then, where there is a will…We used to collect money and I used to prepare daal, rice and boiled eggs.” Soon it became his hobby, something that stayed with him when he climbed the ladder to stardom. “I still cook once in 15 days for my kids. During outdoor shoots, I often cook for my co-stars. While shooting for ‘Luck’ in South Africa, Imran (Khan) and Ravi (Kishen) used to wait for my preparation. I do my own thing. I can cook Indian, Chinese… the main thing is, I keep trying,” he smiles. His physique can give the current generation a complex. “I stick to 2,000 calories a day and half-an-hour of vigorous exercise. Earlier I used to drink a lot of wine. Now I have become a lot more judicious. Three pegs of Bacardi at 8.30 p.m., that’s all. However,…More

The Hindu :

Pianist Chris Williams presented some legendary sonatas to a packed audience

Photo: V. Sreenivasa MurthyFlawless The highlight of the evening was Williams’s rendition of his own composition called Trees of India

The silence was mildly brushed aside by the soft touch of a white key as the pianist gently began his impeccable delivery of George Frideric Handel’s Chaconne in G Major HMW 435. Chris Williams, a British national residing in Bangalore presented some of the most legendary sonatas ever composed to a packed audience at St. Mark’s Cathedral recently.

The performance was organised by the International Music and Arts Society.

He began his musical career as a chorister at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, and later studied at New College, Oxford and at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He has wonseveral prestigious prizes, including the Royal Philharmonic Prize for composition.

Masterfully replicating Handel, Williams rendered a flawless Chaconne with a repeated set of variations on a short key with a fine array of melodic progressions.Works of art

Alternating the masterpiece with crescendos and decrescendos, he gradually stirred the audience into the emotions of the lively music and climaxed the piece with a deft finish.

His next two pieces were works of art for the harpsichord by the Italian composer Domenico Scarlatti.

After briefly introducing the pieces, Williams sat back at the Spruce wood Yamaha Baby Grand Piano and played two of Scarlatti’s finest keyboard compositions. Both pieces carried dynamism evident of the era they originated from — the Baroque music era and each expressed different compositional outlines and a kaleidoscope of musical invention.

Expertly playing the black and white keys with elegant technique, Williams showed great style and control of dynamics in playing the masterpiece — Sonata in G Major Op. 78 in its four movements by Franz Schubert, with brilliance.

Recounting on the impact of the piece on his life, he said that the sonata comprised…More

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

I am confused choosing between Volkswagen Jetta and Skoda Laura 1.9 TDIs. From a maintenance / comfort / performance point of view, which one would you suggest for a long run?

Iqbal Khuraishi

We can understand your dilemma as both cars are quite evenly matched, and in fact, share lots of parts (both Skoda and VW are under the Volkswagen group). For us, the Jetta wins simply because its service quality is better than Skoda’s. The VW is likely to offer you a better ownership experience.I plan to buy a hatchback from the Maruti stable, preferably the Wagon R. I believe Maruti is going to refresh its existing model range and use the new KB-series engine in its cars, including the Wagon R. Is this true?

Arunav Chowdhury

Maruti did consider shoehorning the KB-series engine in the Wagon R, but the motor, which is all-aluminium and has twin cams, is too wide for the Wagon R’s narrow engine bay. As a result, Maruti is upgrading the existing F10D engine in the Wagon R to meet BS IV norms, which come into effect in April 2010.I had decided to go in for the Maruti Swift VXi until I test drove the i20 recently. Now I’m confused. My parameters for a new car within Rs. 5.5 lakhare decent mileage and very low maintenance costs. I travel around 20km daily in the city and around 400km onweekends, on the highway.

Lagnajeet Raut

Go for the Swift as it is overall a cheaper car to maintain and is better on the highway. But it’s a good idea to upgrade the tyres to 185/70-R14 (the same as on the Swift ZXi) for better control on the highway. In terms of maintenance, the Swift will be cheaper than the i20.I saw a Fiat Palio Adventure 2002 model which has clocked 80,000km. It is now with…More

The Hindu :

Bailou of Kolkata brings to Bangalore a range of contemporary textiles created by master craftsmen of Bengal

Re-visitng traditions Through weaves

Handcrafted saris in unique textures and patterns will be the highlight of Kumkum collection to be on display at Serenity store from September 3 to 5. The collection is brought to Bangalore by Bailou of Kolkata, which showcases handcrafted, yet trendy saris and scarves.

It is an attempt by Bappaditya Biswas, the designer to recreate old patterns in contemporary textures and colours. Drawing inspiration from old antique textiles, he adapts them to suit modern tastes. Elaborate jamdanis with sequins and tussar, matka saris, cotton khadis and resham silks are blended to create these textures. Elaborating on the sari collection, he says, there are a wide variety of designs and in vibrant festive colour palette. “We have introduced a new range in which we have first woven the piece, then block printed, and then certain areas are highlighted with the use of mirrors and embroidery,” he adds.

Besides, there are vibrant abir saris, which are desi muslins that come in coarser counts. There is also a range of embroidered saris. You can also check out the fine Bengal cotton with traditional borders that come in modern hues. The bold and contemporary jamdani range on matkas with sequins make for party wear.

In scarves, they have double cloths, and simple weaves to suit the Indo-Western wear. The highlight of the exhibition is contemporary textiles created in rare blends of tussar, matkas, cotton and mulberry silks. “Weaves are our main focus and we try and bring the various effects of embroidery and prints through the skilled hands. It’s an experience of traditions re-visited through weaves,” says the designer. The exhibition is on between 10.30 a.m. and 7 p.m. for three days at Serenity, No. 8/1, 5th Main, Jayamahal Extension, Bangalore- 46. Call: 41279127/ 99026-24452 or e-mail:serenityblr@gmail.com

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The Hindu : y>Maya Ravan is a dance ballet that re-interprets the Ramayana

NEW LOOK Shobana’s Maya Ravan

Shemaroo Entertainment in association with Kalarpana has released the DVD of Shobana’s “Maya Ravan”, a musical dance ballet in English, in the spirit of the Ramayan.

“Maya Ravan” was unveiled recently in Chennai in the presence of MP Kanimozhi, and veteran film star Kamal Hassan.“Maya Ravan” is a path-breaking interpretation of the epic Ramayana. It ran to full houses and numerous standing ovations in India, USA, and the Middle East. It will move next to Malaysia and Singapore.

Choreographed, directed and acted by veteran Bharatnatya dancer and film actor Shobana and her dance troupe, “Maya Ravan” is narrated in English by Indian film artists like Naseeruddin Shah, Jackie Shroff, Milind Soman, Suhasini Maniratnam, Revathy, Rohini, Tabu, Sameer Soni and Mohanlal.

It is estimated that “Maya Ravan” will be available in 50 countries across platforms including DVD, mobile, VOD, IPTV and Internet among others.

There is also the thought of exploring the possibility of taking “Maya Ravan” to Broadway audiences in USA and Europe.

This is probably for the first time an Indian musical woven around the traditional form of art would touch so many people.The DVD is priced at Rs. 499 and is available with subtitles in five languages — English, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu.

They are also running a month-long “Meet and greet Shobana” contest, where five lucky winners will get a chance to spend an hour with her.

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The Hindu :

Author of two books, Kankana Basu has succumbed to the magic of writing fiction

WITTY AND HUMOROUSKankana Basu

With the late Bengali writer Saradindu Bandopadhyay for her paternal grandfather, Kankana Basu always had to field one question throughout her career as a commercial artist and an illustrator for books, ‘When are YOU going to write your first book?’

“My debut book of short stories, ‘Vinegar Sunday’, was written under extreme family pressure and mainly with the intention of getting nagging relatives off my back but, by the end of the book I found I had succumbed hook, line and sinker to the magic of writing fiction!” says the author of “Vinegar Sunday” and a novel “Cappuccino Dusk”, who also writes regularly for the Sunday Magazine of The Hindu.

Her debut book was written when she first sailed out with her husband.

“When I first sailed on the high seas with my marine engineer husband, I discovered a perfect state of enforced isolation with loads of silence, solitude and space. If I hadn’t gone on that voyage, I doubt whether, in the mad rush of living, I could have put my debut book together. Paradoxically, the very activities that rob me of writing time are the things that fuel my fiction,” she says. Fortunately, Kankana did not stop at that first effort though she had once almost decided to put an end to her writing career.

“Although ‘Vinegar Sunday’ gathered some generous reviews in the months following its release, the very first review was shockingly harsh,” she adds.Mercifully, the critic wrote back explaining each point of criticism and ended by saying he saw the glimmering of an interesting novel in her.

And that was to be. “Cappuccino Dusk” followed and when, at the behest of a journalist friend, Kankana entered the unpublished manuscript in the inaugural Man Asian Literary Prize and got Long Listed, she knew…More