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The Hindu :

Audi Q7’s face-lift further highlights the car’s intrinsic features

Audi has recently released the slightly face-lifted Audi Q7 3.0 TDI. Mechanically, the refreshed Q7 is very similar to the outgoing model, which means the 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel still puts out 240bhp and 56kgm of torque and sends power to all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.

What’s new in this car is the new brake energy recovery system. It’s functioning is based on one principle, when you brake or when you are coasting, the kinetic energy you are carting is converted into electrical energy and temporarily stored in the on-board electrical system battery. When you accelerate hard, the stored charge in the battery supports the car’s electrical system, reducing the load on the alternator and marginally improving fuel economy. At least, that’s the theory. All Q7s now get this feature. The system works so non-intrusively that if you weren’t told about it, you wouldn’t realise it’s there.

On the exterior, the Audi has received new headlights and even sports Audi’s LED daytime running lights. The turn indicators are now LEDs, there’s the subtle redesign for the grille, notably the thick chrome vertical highlights, the front and rear bumpers and their under-protectors are marginally altered, the door mouldings are new as are the tail-lights, which are now LEDs.

On the inside, the small upgrades to the well-constructed interior allow it to keep pace with the ever-rising standards in this area. Improvements can be seen in the overall appearance and finish of the instruments and switchgear. What’s more is the new interior mood-lighting and the latest version of the MMI infotainment system which comes with a 10GB internal hard-drive.

We are happy that the designers at Audi haven’t tweaked around with the qualities we loved about the Q7. The functional interiors, the armchair-like seats and the smooth, refined diesel engine are exactly how we remember…More

The Hindu : y>

Slumdog effect Catch movies directed by Danny Boyle

Pix will be showcasing some of the best movies of British filmmaker-producer Danny Boyle in the ‘Danny Boyle Film Festival’ that starts today and will run till Friday. A number of award winning movies such as “Shallow Grave” (1994) “Slumdog Millionaire” (2009) and “Millions” (2004) will be showcased on PIX at 9 p.m.

“Shallow Grave”, which will be telecast tonight, is Danny Boyle’s directorial debut and a mix of comedy, crime and drama It tells the story of three friends Alex (Ewan McGregor) a journalist, David (Christopher Eccleston) an accountant, and Juliet (Kerry Fox) a doctor, who share a flat in Edinburgh.

They need a new flat mate and after a sequence of interviews (in which unwanted applicants are rejected with calculated cruelty) take in the mysterious Hugo (Keith Allen). When Hugo suddenly dies of a drug overdose, they discover he has a very large amount of cash in a suitcase. What follows is the unravelling of personalities of the three.

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

Iam considering buying the Fiat Grande Punto 1.4 Emotion, which I test drove after test driving a Maruti Swift. I liked the dashboard, quality of materials, robustness, build, drive quality and also the boot space in the Punto.But I read that the weight of the car affects its performance. Is ittrue of both petrol and diesel variants? Also, how has the market reacted to the Punto?

Murlidhar N Navada

Both the petrol and diesel versions of the Grande Punto are on the heavy side, so performance is not as good as it could be. However, neither versions are underpowered nor do they feel extremely sluggish. Of the range, the 1.4 has the best performance. The market likes the looks of the Grande Punto and its solid build, just like you have. Hence, if you like the Grande Punto after having test driven it, we suggest you buy it. As experts we can only point out that it is a solid car and you shouldn’t have a problem with it.A friend recently bought a Mahindra Logan. I think it’s a fine car except perhaps for the ergonomics. I too considered buying it until I happen to read its not-so-happy sales figure and about its poor resale value. Please advice if I can go ahead and buy the car.

Vinod Kumar

Yes, the Logan is highly under-rated and deserves to sell better. There have been several factors for the Logan’s lack of success but in our assessment the boxy looks and interiors, which are too basic, are the main reasons why buyers have been put off. The Logan has also become popular as a taxi which has damaged its image. Furthermore, the Logan is not a priority for Mahindra, which is concentrating on its SUV range. All these factors have resulted in poor sales and this has had…More

The Hindu :

The voice, guitar and keyboard come together to create chartbusters. Meet Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, who are on a musical overdrive

Photo: R. RavindranAWESOME THREESOME Musicians Shankar Mahadevan, Loy Mendonsa and Ehsaan Noorani

As youthful as “Dil chahta hai”, as perky as “Bunty aur Babli”, as sentimental as “Kal ho na ho”, as resolute as “Rock on” and as dreamy as Ishaan of “Taare Zameen Par”. The Amar-Akbar-Anthony of Bollywood music, Shankar- Ehsaan-Loy, and their work are as colourful as a Bollywood blockbuster.

Tunes without borders

“Hindi film songs were a hugepart of our musical diet duringour growing-up years. So, it’swonderful to make music inBollywood that has a globalpresence today. Tunes youchurn out in a Mumbai studioare hummed in Massachusettsand Melbourne. And top-ofthe-chart is certainly an excitingplace to be,” says Shankarwith a broad smile on his cleanshavenface. They were recentlyin Chennai to perform at the`Heal the World’ concert.

Despite a hectic recordingschedule, the awesome threesomehas not given up doingshows. “It’s rejuvenating to beon stage,” says Shankar. Theyare also furiously working on analbum. “We are keen to releaseit soon. It will be packed withcompositions straight from ourhearts,” says the nattily-attiredEhsaan.

Ask the first trio music composersof Hindi cinema if threeis good company, and the talland fair keyboardist Loy quips:”Going by our track record,aren’t you convinced?”

The three heads juggle withmultiple genres to come up withtunes that sometimes appeal tothe heart (”Maa” or “Kal ho naho”) and sometimes to the feet(”It’s the time to disco” or “Kajrare”). “When it comes to films,we always work as a trio. Then,we disband and do our ownthing. For instance, I do fusionconcerts with Zakir Hussain, U.Shrinivas and John McLaughlin.It’s another feeling to singclassical compositions. Theykeep you rooted. In fact, it’s along-cherished dream to spendan entire day in Chennai, duringthe December season, attendingkutcheris,” says Shankar.”Not one day, I can spend severaldays here,” chips in Loy,”tucking into my favourite idlidosa-sambar.”

Any…More

The Hindu :

Defying middle class conventions of what one must do after getting a degree in commerce, Vishwa Kiran leapt into the wonderful world of contemporary Indian dance

Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.ON A HIGH Nothing can beat teaching dance, says Vishwa

Twenty-two-year old Vishwa Kiran always had a passion for dance. Like every teenager, he took to Western dance naturally and also imitated dance moves of popular Bollywood numbers. Later he trained in Bharatanatya from the Kirans, in Kalari from DilSagar and kick boxing and jujutsu from Ashwin Mohan. But the dancing bug bit him seriously when he happened to watch a performance by Nritarutya.

“It was Indian contemporary dance. It was so beautiful that I just fell completely in love with the form,” says Vishwa.

“The form was fresh and appealing. It was contemporary yet rooted in Indian dance moves. I felt connected with it and it changed my whole life,” says this commerce graduate. But instead of taking up a related job, he decided to become a professional dancer.Happy teaching

Breaking away from the norm was not easy for him. “I come from a middle class family, and I have to support them. So it was not a very easy decision financially. Now I also teach dance with the Nritarutya dance company.”

Coming from a conventional background, he says it’s hard for him to explain his passion for dance to his peers and family. “Most of my friends are doing very well in their profession. That kind of hurts my parents. Yet, I am happiest when I dance. It’s just my passion that carries me through every day,” says Vishwa.

“Teaching dance makes it all the more pleasant for me,” says this dancer, who takes care of the youth wing and also handles the PR of Nritarutya. He has been with this dance troupe for three years now and says: “There is no regret at all…More

The Hindu : y>Maverick percussionist Trilok Gurtu tips an interview upside down and tells BHUMIKA K.music means nothing to him, and that categorising music is just a matter of convenience

PHOTO: MURALI KUMAR K.PAEAN TO PERCUSSION Trilok Gurtu thinks he got lost in translation when he started out

He is the wandering minstrel of modern times. Flying from one exotic destination to another, leaping across from one music festival to the stage at another, telling his musical tales with the swish of his drumsticks and the flight of his fingers on the tabla.

I go expecting to meet a maverick musician and instead bump into someone very childlike and, incongruously, on a spiritual tangent with his music. His name is taken in hushed reverence and in the same breath as world music. Trilok Gurtu is one of those names that’s put Indian sounds in the limelight in Finland, Bosnia, Poland, Italy, Hungary, the UK and of course, the USA.

Dubbed one of the world’s greatest percussionists, Gurtu has collaborated with the likes of jazz fusion guitarist John McLaughlin, his mother and iconic thumri singer Shobha Gurtu, tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain, R.D. Burman (for Bollywood music), Tuvan throat singers, trumpeter Don Cherry, and now a Bhojpuri singer in his latest album “Massical”! So much so that he’s referred to as a “serial collaborator”, a tag he seems quite proud of.

“I need someone to play with!!” he says incredulously when asked about his reputation, between bites of sandwich and sips of coffee. Trilok was in Bangalore to perform at the Ballantine’s “Leave an Impression” Night at the Kyra theatre. “Playing solo is ok, but I think we are all one, our music is one.” But aren’t musicians very possessive about their work? “What is mine?” he starts off on a philosophical note. “My mother, if she were mine, would have stayed. But she left.” I try to veer him…More

The Hindu : y>The Chevrolet Cruze could be the game-changer for General Motors. Its sharp styling, trendy interiors and excellent performance are sure to appeal to many, writes Ouseph Chacko

Photos: Ashley BaxterLooks good, feels good It has a striking coupe roofline and is aggressive, sharp and taut

A car that is expected to take on the likes of the Civic, Corolla and the Laura simply must possess a knock-out factor. A look at the new Chevrolet Cruze, and you will at once feel that this car means business. The Chevrolet Cruze is merely the proverbial silver lining for General Motors and one thathas the potential to catapult the company from the sidelines of the industry right into the spotlight.

The styling that’s gone into the Cruze is the result of a development programme that saw 221 GM prototypes built and tested in various countries, to European standards. The best part about a car that was designed for Europe in particular means that the India-built cars will boast European quality, safety, refinement and dynamics. The Cruze comes in with a few key advantages — there’s a powerful diesel engine on offer and an equipment list we’ve only seen in cars that cost a great deal of money.

Though Chevrolet hasn’t announced prices yet, we expect it to be in the Civic/Corolla ballpark, which is a good starting point for a car that offers so much.

The Cruze is unlike any Chevrolet seen in India — it’s aggressive, sharp and taut; not words we would have associated with any Chevrolet in the recent past. This new-generation Chevy’s angular headlights, gaping split grille and sharp chin aspire to make a style statement. The striking coupé roofline with that steeply raked rear windscreen instantly grabs your attention. Keep looking and you’ll also notice the very BMW-like swage line that runs from the front wheel arches right up to the tail-light. The rear…More

The Hindu :

Shane and Falguni Peacock’s latest collection draws its colours from nature’s palette

The Cruise Collection essentially focuses on the upwardly mobile Indian, who travels a lot today and needs easy clothes

Toga trip Off-the-shoulder creations

Shane Peacock — the name conjures up visions of Bangalore of the 70s and 80s. And yes! Shane Peacock is one of our own, born in Benson Town.

It was interesting chatting with Falguni and Shane Peacock before their fashion show took off, in the balmy ambience of Olive Beach. Vivacious Falguni said they met when Shane needed someone to paint images of furniture on a collection he had designed in Mumbai in 2005. And then, as the beaten to death cliché goes, the rest is history.

The Cruise Collection by Shane and Falguni Peacock, showcased at the Olive Beach’s Saturday night ‘Haute Compote Cruise’ was a revelation of the couple’s creativity. Every dress breathed class and lots of colour. And, every gown was finished to perfection. Being a shoe person, I noticed the dainty four-inch heels added to the swirl of the satins, chiffons, silks and georgettes, used to create the printed gowns. “The prints are driven by inspiration from nature,” revealed Falguni and you can see it in the delicate leaf patterns, the melange of pink petals; echoes of nature on every dress.

“Our creations are totally Western,” states Shane, “No pretensions of fusion. And our cuts are purely Western. Since we work with the Western market, that is a given. The Cruise Collection essentially focuses on the upwardly mobile Indian, who travels a lot today and needs easy clothes, which can be used both for dinner and the beach.” The off- the-shoulder toga-inspired range in deep blues and pinks were definitely the most riveting.

The couple have three stores in Mumbai, one in Delhi and are working on opening stores in London and Dubai. Presently their line…More

The Hindu :

Will her debut film be as fresh as Aamras? Rupali Guha has the answer

Gang of girls From Aamras

Just days before the release of her debut film “Aamras” (literally meaning mango pulp), director Rupali Guha was personally promoting her film, and we don’t mean the usual round of media interviews. “Along with my four girls (lead actors in her movie), I was at cinema houses trying to literally pull out our film posters from behind those of other movies releasing this week. And goodness, there are hordes of releases thisweek,” says the first-timer in Bollywood, who is also the daughter of legendary filmmaker Basu Chatterji.Tale of four friends

Physically pulling out her film’s hoardings must’ve hardly been on the agenda for Rupali even though she knew there were few takers for her story. “Aamras” is a tale of four friends who set aside social status to keep the bond of their growing years alive. The film’s cast is very fresh and includes Vega Tamotia (who has acted in Tamil film Saroja), newbie Natasha Bhardwaj, Maanvi Gagroo (who has appeared in Disney show ‘Dhoom Machao Dhoom’) and Anchal Sabharwal (whose show ‘Bhaskar Bharti’ is currently on air).

“I was inspired by my daughter Jona’s stories about her friends. This is an entirely new generation. In our time, our sisters and mothers were our best friends. But now friends are the ones shaping our kids’ character. I thought it was a rather intriguing theme,” says Rupali. For more than a year, she was the only one who thought so but later she was introduced to Sunil Doshi of Alliance Media & Entertainment. His production house Handmade Films had the small-budget “Bheja Fry” to its credit and he decided to back Rupali’s project. “Sunil is God for me. He said he wanted no stars and that he desired to work with a first-time director. The…More

The Hindu : y>

Our Theatre is back in the city with its second production – a play in Hindi titled “Naariyal Paani”.

The play is written and directed by Sandeep Shikhar and will be staged at Ranga Shankara on September 24 and 25 at 7.30 p.m.

The play is an attempt to create one human being’s intense experience of life. “The ‘small’ issues were the difficulties in directing this play — the smaller layers of the character, the smaller attitude of the character, the smaller gestures, and so on,” says the director.

Sandeep started theatre with Dastak Sanskritik Manch (Dhanbad, Jharkand). He trained as an actor at the Sri Ram Centre for Performing Arts, New Delhi and has also worked with Rajinder Nath in Abhiyaan. He has directed Surender Verma’s “Marnoparant”. His recent work in Bangalore includes playing Kena, the lead in Our Theatre’s “Beyond the Land of Hattamala” and acting in “Antaheen”, an adaptation of Sartre’s ‘Huis Clos’ directed by Manav Kaul. Sandeep has also worked in Mumbai writing screenplays and dialogues for films and television serials.

Our Theatre is a Bangalore based theatre company. Its debut production, “Beyond the Land of Hattamala” opened at Ranga Shankara this April 2009 to full houses.

Tickets for “Naariyal Paani” are priced at Rs. 100 and will be available onwww.indianstage.in or call 9900582259.

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