![Two elderly women murdered in Thane]()
*Thane:* Two elderly women were allegedly murdered by unidentified miscreants in Kalyan city of the district, police said on Sunday.
The duo, identified as Kamlabai Dudhkar (56) and her sister-in-law Leelabai Dudhkar (65), were found dead in their house at Khadegolavali locality on Sunday night, police PRO Sukhada Narkar said.
The incident came to light when the victims' relative reached their residence. The main door of the house was ajar, and the visitor found them lying in a pool of blood, she said. The house was found in a disorderly state, and things were lying strewn, raising suspicion of robbery, she said.
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"The RDDP 2034 proposes a departure from gender blindness to gender mainstreaming," states the introduction to the section. Urban planners and women's groups have called the move a step in the right direction, but suspect the said provisions will not be implemented in their true spirit. After all, the earlier Draft Development Plan, made public in February 2015, was met with staunch criticism, including for its lack of gender planning, by over 250 organisations. Now, the draft's overall objective is clear: 'To make women a much larger proportion of Mumbai's work force by providing opportunities that enhance their happy experience of working and living in Mumbai.'
"At the outset, this is a great move. However, the RDPP conceptualises 'gender' as participation in the workforce only," says Hussain Indorewala, assistant professor at Kamala Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture Environmental Studies, Juhu. "But there are dimensions to gender planning, such as leisure and safety, which have not been discussed in the RDPP," he continues.
Urban planners at Urban Design Research Institute (UDRI), who have been deliberating on the DP for the last eight years, are unsure that the 10-point objectives and the eight provisions are enough. Stating that the three-and-a-half pages allocated to gender in the two-volume 800-odd- page RDDP is nothing more than mere tokenism, a member of UDRI states, "Right from a watered-down understanding of gender ('Married women with small children should be able to go to work') to the lack of nuance in the provisions ('The city should provide a host of services'), there is a lot to be desired in the DP 2034; the mere allocation of space is not gender planning." Experts say that the challenge to comprehensive gender planning is the absence of enough women in the planning committee.
*Not just mommies*
Care centres, adhar kendras and women skill centres promised in each ward is a pretty big step, agree experts. It may not mean much for the urban elite, but for lower income groups, this could go a long way. But here is the primary struggle — all women do not want the same thing. Dr Armida Fernandez, founder trustee at Society for Nutrition Education and Health Action (SNEHA), says, "We talk about women in general but it is hard for women to come together. These provisions will have to be modified across the city, in each ward." She adds, "Whenever we think of centres like these, we develop those in areas where space is available. Instead, we have to do a need assessment in the city."*Boys playing in Bengalipura, a small slum pocket in Wadala. Here, young girls avoid playing outside. Creating open spaces, say experts, makes little sense to women if they aren't safe, free of alcoholics, drug addicts and street sexual harassers. Pic/Pukar*
It is easy to plan, but difficult to maintain these centres, she says. SNEHA, which has run centres such as these in low-income communities and informal settlements in Ghatkopar, Dharavi and Govandi, has found that these are most successful when women take ownership. These are potential oases for women and children; they get information on health, a room for youth to study, or counselling in cases of domestic violence — but only if the women say they want it. "We found much success with a crèche we ran in Kumbharwada, Dharavi, where they would leave their children and pick them up after work. This crèche was run along with local women — something the MCGM might want to keep in mind. Without community ownership, women think it is 'sarkaari', not 'ours'," says Fernandez.
The RDDP's thrust on workforce participation has blindsided several other infrastructural amenities for other categories of women. What about homemakers and single mothers? Dr Nandita Shah, co-director of Akshara, says that in Mumbai, there are a large number of single parent families, where women run the household. "Their struggle is more intense. We need to know how their needs can be addressed," she says, adding that RDDP's proposal to have women's hostels in every ward is a positive step.
Another group of women whose say matters is homemakers. "Women's workforce participation, as stated in the RDDP, was at 16.38% in 2011," says a young urban planner. "With such a low workforce participation, women spend more time at home and commute, by foot, to places nearby, whether it is the market or a school. With so much pedestrian activity, instead of building flyovers, we need to focus on safety of women pedestrians," she says. She recalls an incident in Kurla, in 2012, when a line of water tankers parked in a lane became the 'adda' for men to gather around. The result: women were molested as they passed by, even during the day. "These tankers were parked there because traffic density has increased and lanes are being used as parking space — something the DP draft does not address," she says.
UDRI observes that with FSI increase as proposed by the RDDP and the rise of SRAs, which seem like 'vertical slums', the condition of women is doubly sore. "When people suffer, women suffer the most," says the UDRI member. Imagine an SRA building with no water supply, such as that of Lallubhai Compound in Mankhurd, says an urban planner from UDRI. "Usually the woman is given the task of fetching water, and that applies even if she has to go up and down a high-rise," he says.
*Social mindsets need to change*
"We must remember that the RDDP is meant for physical transformation of the city and not a social one," says Indorewala. His words resonate at Bengalipura, a small slum pocket in Wadala, where young girls avoid playing outside. It's the same issue in Dharavi's Indira Nagar. The reason: Parents feel that these open spaces are unsafe for their daughters. "There are a lot of alcoholics, drug addicts and street sexual harassers in our area. How do you expect to send our girls out?" a concerned parent informed Afsana Khatoon Mehboob (19), a Barefoot researcher with NGO Pukar, who was doing a study on the lack of open spaces for children.*Nandita Shah*
The girls, too, said they'd only prefer playing outside if they had adequate security. "But, why are we putting restrictions on girls when someone else is actually the problem? Society at large has never let women be who they are," says Manasi Pinto, programme facilitator, Pukar. "What's the point of allotting centres only for women, when right outside these spaces, women will still continue to feel threatened?" she asks.
Sameera Khan, co-author of Why Loiter? Women & Risk on Mumbai Streets, published in 2011 by Penguin India, says that though Mumbai is a relatively friendlier city for women, they still have to negotiate to access public space. "Women who give the appearance of being out without a clear purpose are not particularly encouraged."
Neha Singh, founder of the Why Loiter movement, which started in 2014 as an offshoot of the book, agrees. Singh and her team of girls would deliberately move out after midnight, only to receive cold stares from women, and leering looks from men. "The idea was that women in spaces become such a regular sighting that people don't find it odd," says Singh, adding that instead they found themselves struggling within these spaces. "I think mindsets need to change for any such planning to achieve complete success."
Shah says that the 'recognition of gender' in the RDDP is a positive step. "The fact that gender has got a special mention in RDDP in itself is a big deal. We have worked very hard to get land allocated. Now, we have to ensure that all of this does not stay on paper."What do women need from a city?*Sameera Khan, co-author of Why Loiter?: Women and Risk on Mumbai Streets, says:*
*1.* Access to safe and easy public transport
*2.* Better public toilets that are open 24/7
*3.* Low boundary walls for parks and open grounds as women often feel more secure in places where sight lines are clearly visible
*4.* No tolerance policy towards sexual harassment in public with quick response teams available to act on such cases immediately
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*'CAMPUS' WITH THE BEST STREET FOOD*
*
Dhaval Desai at Amar Juice Centre, Vile Parle. Pics/Tehniyat Fatima
*
*Mithibai College, Vile Parle*
Amar Juice Centre is the thirst-quencher for Mukesh Patel Engineering and MBA College, DJ Sanghvi and Bhagubai College, Mithibai and NM Colleges. Dhaval Desai, 19, says for years, the joke has been that these colleges don’t have a campus, but the road makes up for it. “But, the area has the best street eats.” The DJ Sanghvi student says Rs 100 will serve you the whole day. And you won’t be strapped for variety either.
Desai recommends:
*Pizza French Fries*
VJ Café on Second Road serves French fries that come in flavours like chipotle (Rs 100), pizza (Rs 130) and chilli cheese (Rs 100). “We usually share the food, so R50 per head is a cheap deal,” says Desai, popping a cheesy fry into his mouth.
AT: VJ Cafe, Shree Nataraj Building, NS Road No 2, JVPD lane, Vile Parle West
TIMINGS: 10 AM – 11 PM
CALL: 9833391625
*ICE PAAN*
The trail, Desai tells us, is incomplete without ice paan (Rs 25). The extra-large sized paan topped with gulkand, comes to us in a paper plate. We bite into it, and the ice crushes between our molars, as the cool ingredients take over the senses. Perfecto!
AT: Brijwasi Paan Bhandar, opposite Sahakari Bhandar, VM Road, JVPD Scheme, Juhu
*Pav Bhaji*
We are a democratic country, and the butter floats freely with all its might. The steamy pav drip yellow, and the bhaji is spicy and generous in portion. The steam idli and pav sandwich also fly off the shelves here.
AT: Amar Juice Centre, next to Cooper Hospital, Road No 1, Vile Parle West
TIMINGS: 10 AM – 1 AM
CALL: 23642205
*Onion and cheese kulcha*
We’ve heard of stuffed parathas, but the proposition of stuffed kulchas sounds tempting too. The hot onion and cheese kulcha (Rs 160) comes with black dal, chole and pickle. The naan tears easily, revealing a mixture of onion and cheese. The topping of coriander and dill lifts the taste. We gobble this with a lemon iced tea (Rs 80), a fresher version of those available at coffee shops.
AT: WTF, opposite Sahakari Bhandar, VM Road, JVPD Scheme, Juhu
TIMINGS: 10.30 AM – 12.30 AM
CALL: 26247917
*Ferero Rocher Milkshake*
Known for its mushroom, paneer and aloo wraps, the bestseller here is the Ferero Rocher Milkshake (R150). It’s the perfect drink for a sunny day.
AT: Ice ‘N’ Rolls, opposite Bhaidas Hall, near Mithibai College, Vile Parle West
TIMINGS: 10 AM – 11 PM
CALL: 26175528
*NEW MEETS OLD, BUT WITHIN BUDGET*
*
*
*SIES College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Sion(W)*
Third-year undergrad friends Reeba George and Anmol Dutta have distinct palates and agree to disagree on the rest. Together, they point out the best of what the SIES College lane has to offer. The area has a good mix of street staples such as cheap sandwiches and frankies. There was a time when Guru Kripa, famed for its samosas, reigned supreme. Fancier options serving Italian fare have opened now and smaller joints have improvised to cater to a clientele that likes to experiment.
*Rocket fries and red velvet ice cream*
Lots of cosy couches means lots of students lazing around over milkshakes. Their Italian menu and dessert counter rivals the Café Coffee Day outlet nearby, which we are told, is the nook for dates, whereas gangs of friends hang out here. “It has a wider selection than CCD and is a tad cheaper too,” says Anmol, adding that her go-to item here is the exotic burger (at Rs 100). “I prefer this over the exotic pizza, which at Rs 200, doesn’t fit my budget,” she explains. The rocket fries (Rs 100) come with a generous shower of peri peri masala. We wouldn’t mind a dollop of mayo either. The red velvet ice cream does its trick too.
WHERE: Café Istaa, 12A/1, New Sion CHS Ltd, Sion
TIMINGS: 10 AM – 11 PM
CALL: 24083376
*Gurukripa Sandwich*
Cheese and chocolate is the bottom line of the student appetite. A seven-minute walk from SIES College stand a bunch of snack stalls, where Reeba and Anmol pick their favourite combination. Sandwiches from
Gurukripa stall and juices and shakes from BM Juice Centre (BM translates into Bharat Mata). The chocolate sandwich went for a gooey overload, which we liked, and the chocolate milkshake was rich too.
WHERE: Gurukripa Sandwich and BM Fresh Juice Centre, TV Chidambaram Marg, Sion Circle
TIMINGS: 9 AM – 9 PM
CALL: 9967542410
*Mayo Frankie*
Spicy, packed with veggies and cheese, and dollop of butter, mayo frankie is a great hit. Right across the college, this is a hotspot to grab a quick bite and rush back to class, or munch on a snack as you purchased stationery. “It is easy on the pocket and the tummy,” says Anmol. Other student favourites here are panneer chilly cheese frankie, noodle frankie and manchurian frankie. “We usually sit and eat by the compound wall of a playground nearby,” says Reeba.
WHERE: Jalaram Stores, opposite SIES College, Jain Society
TIMINGS: 8 AM – 8 PM
*Lassi and samosa chole*
Reeba says that since every dish here is modestly priced, it works for students. The lassi, garnished with pistachios, was tasty, and mildly sweet. The samosa chole is great comfort food, perfect for the rainy season. “If you want to hangout here, you have to eat slowly, but who cares? Things are really cheap over here!” says Reeba.
WHERE: Guru Kripa Hote, SIES lane, Sion
TIMINGS: 8 AM – 11 PM
CALL: 24074188
*A saucy and tangy affair**Pics/Sayyed Sameer Abedi*
*KC College Churchgate*
How do you decide on the best eat-outs outside of college, when your canteen is unbeatable? Twenty-year-old Punya Jain, a final-year BFM (Bachelors of Finance Management) student, claims to have asked herself this question, a time too many. Then, she stumbled on a few good eateries nearby and realised that the search for great food, could never really end. Punya follows a strict Jain diet, and we thought it would clip her options. But, it is hardly an issue.
*Jain Pizza Fries*
All you French-fries fans out there, here’s a quick suggestion: Move on! At The J Café, banana fries is the in-thing. Custom-made for Jains, they are layered with pizza sauce, Jain cheese sauce and mozzarella cheese. The pizza fries (R150), served hot in a cone, are a winner from the word go. Started by Jai Vaswani in 2012, The J draws students in throngs. We got our order delivered in five minutes, but during peak hours, be prepared to wait. For non-vegetarians, there are some great sauces to be enjoyed with potato fries and smoked chicken sausage.
WHERE: The J, Vaswani Mansion, Dinshaw Vacha Rd, Churchgate
TIMINGS: 9 AM – 12 PM
CALL: 22844650
*Pasta Cheese Roll*
Biting into a sandwich stuffed with pasta is a different joy altogether. Prema, who runs Raju Sandwich Stall, is an experienced hand at sandwich-making since 1978. It’s his chutneys, however, that he is most proud of. We were served the pasta cheese roll (Rs 55) with green and red garlic chutney (placed artfully on the paper plate). The sauced-up pasta was soft, and melt in the mouths.
WHERE: Raju Sandwich Stall, Opposite KC College, Dinshaw Vacha Rd, Churchgate
TIMINGS: 8 AM – 9 PM
CALL: 9930599195
*Food re-invented*
*Ramnarain Ruia College, Matunga*
Hunger pangs often take a beating in the scorching afternoon heat, but, when three enthusiastic girls from Ruia College show us around their favourite eating spots, there was no stopping. Anushka Raote, and her friends, Rishika Ghosh and Ruchi Balakrishna — all second year Bachelors of Arts students — don’t attend lectures as often as they step out of college for some grub. “We are hard-core foodies,” Raote explains, promising to take us beyond the evergreen pav bhaji at DP (Durga Parmeshwari).
*Paani puri shots and Fruit beer*
“If you’re at Ruia’s and haven’t visited DP’s, then you probably have missed the best,” says Raote. We step into the Udipi joint, and see pav bhaji flying off the kitchen shelves. But, Raote and friends opt for the paani puri shots (R35) and fruit
beer (Rs 25). The paani puri was served in a shot glass and the girls enjoyed shooting it down, one shot at a time. The fruit beer, only made everything seem like one big ‘innocent’ party.
WHERE: DP’s Fast Food, 153, Nanda Deep Building, Lakhamsi Nappu Road, Opposite Ruia College Matunga Central
TIMINGS: 8 AM – 11.30 PM
CALL: 2414532
*Chocolate sandwich*
Subhash Sandwich Stall’s triple-layered chocolate sandwich (Rs 80) is mind-bogglingly good. Each bread slice is layered butter, chunks of cooking chocolate and Hershey’s syrup. The sandwich is then toasted and served hot heaped with a layer of chocolate shavings. We were licking our fingers, even after we had moved to the next stop.
WHERE: Subhash sandwich stall, Advocate TV Parameswaran Marg, Matunga
TIMINGS: 9 AM – 6 PM
CALL: 9867837622
*Low variety, great value*
*NATIONAL COLLEGE Bandra West*
Bandra houses some of the city’s most exciting eating joints. And when we say this aloud, the two SYBCom students, who’ve joined us for a food tour, react contrary to our expectations. There are fewer options for students like us, who are always low on cash, say Murtuza Najib and Priyance Kothari. But millennials being millennials, they have managed to snuff out some eateries that are as good on the tummy as they are on the pocket.
*CHILLY CHEESE TOAST*
Jay sandwich occupies the sidewalk outside the college, but according to our fellow foodies, the joint is so popular that it has become a landmark in the area. It sees crowds at all hours, and according to signboards, all customers are accorded equal status. It reads, ‘we will not serve you in your car. You will need to get out of your car and come to the counter’. Set up in 1986 by Jay Patil, the two-feet square stall boasts an extensive menu, right from the original sada sandwich to a students’ favourite, masala toast. On the suggestion of Kothari and Najib, who are regulars here, we order a regular square-sized chilli cheese toast. For Rs 90. Gulp. Patil offers an explanation. “It used to be about R40, but the price of vegetables has soared. But it hasn’t affected the flow of students,” he says. The sandwich has a generous amount of grated cheese on top and between slices, which are slathered with delicious mint chutney and butter. It’s on the spicer side, but take one bite and you’re guaranteed to get a sense of why Jay sandwich is what it is.
WHERE: Near National College, 32nd Road, off Linking Road, Linking Road, Bandra (West)
TIMINGS: 8.30 AM – 8.30 PM
CALL: 26058493
*COMBINATION FRIED RICE*
Just 50 metres away is Ravi Rice. Set up in 2001 by Ravi Jadhav, a local from Pali village, Ravi Rice has been around longer than most students and staff. Najib tells us that he found out about the eatery from his elder brother, who used to study at Raheja College and would come here for a pocket-friendly meal. The stall serves Chinese right off the wok, with rice, noodles or a combination of both ranging from R40-80. It also allows the quintessential ‘one-by-two’, lessening the cut into one’s pockets. We order a half plate of combination rice, fiery-looking schezwan rice with chunks of chicken and egg for R40. The portion is unexpectedly large, and can be easily shared by two.
WHERE: Next to MMK College, Linking Road, Bandra (West)
TIMING: 9.30 AM – 8.30 PM
*PANEER SHWARMA*
Our next stop is further down, near Rizvi College. If you’re looking to venture beyond Linking Road, we suggest you take a short rickshaw ride to Yummies off Carter Road. Nestled in a quiet corner, beyond Salman Khan inspired Bhaijaanz, Yummies has a varied clientele right from college students to TV actors and Bollywood celebrities like Salman Khan and John Abraham. “While John likes the iced tea, Salman likes the schezwan rice,” says Elton Fernandes, who runs the shop with his brother, Maldin. We order a Paneer Shwarma for R100, which is stuffed with schezwan gravy and generous chunks of paneer. Try it if you dig spicy fare.
WHERE: 36A, Rajan, off Cater Road, Rizvi Complex, Bandra West
TIMING: 10 AM – 11 PM
CALL: 26040040
*The road to temptation*
*KPB Hinduja College Charni Road*
There is something for every appetite on the Girgaum and Charni Road stretch. Walk down the road beyond Saifee Hospital, and every lane cuts to a different surprise, and new treat. Nimai Gandhi, a final-year BCom student converted into a “foodie” after he joined college. “There is so much out here, you can’t resist the temptation,” he says. Indifferent to the extra calories he could be piling, Gandhi has to bite into the masala toast each morning, ending the day with his favourite milkshake. We couldn’t resist the binge either. But, before you head here, be warned — almost, every eatery owner is either christened Raju, or has named his stall after the popular name.
*Chocolate milkshake*
At the entrance of Khau Galli is Shalimar, unarguably Girgaum’s most popular juice centre. While fresh fruits hang from the stall, it is the chocolate drink that draws most of its patrons. By night, Shalimar has over 10 service boys, serving the cold milkshake to people who line up outside. It is sold at R50, but you can always split it with two friends, and still enjoy a glass, just as full. Sprinkled with chocolate chips and confetti, it’s served cold with ice.
WHERE: Shalimar Juice Centre, Khau Galli, Tata Road No 2, Charni Road
TIMINGS: 9 AM to 1 PM
CALL: 9769432671
*Sev Khamani*
This dish is sweet, tangy and as simple as food could get. Sold for just R10 a plate, Gandhi and his friends, usually walk that extra distance from college to Khau Galli in Girgaum, to gorge on it. Its owner — another Raju bhai — specially procures the khamani (made from dhokla) from Surat. It is fried with oil, rye (mustard seeds), hing (asafetida) and curry leaves, and served hot with sev and fried chilis.
WHERE: Sainath Roxy Snack, Khau Galli, Tata Road No 2, Charni Road
TIMINGS: 7.30 AM – 6 PM
CALL: 7506807034
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In 1999, Luxembourg photographer and Author Rob Kieffer took a ride on a hot-air balloon. He landed with a series of 30 photographs of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg which will be on exhibit at Piramal Art Gallery this month.
*Rob Kieffer*
Titled Luxembourg — A Photographic Journey by Hot-Air Balloon, it involved Kieffer and his pilot team floating over the Oesling region in the Ardennes, the Guttland and Luxembourg city centre, the Minette area in the South and the Moselle valley with its vineyards in the East.
Mukesh Parpiani, of Piramal Art Gallery, calls it a commendable feat. “Back in those days, the world was slowly being flooded with Cool Pix cameras, and the digital age had not taken over like it has today. When you are shooting from a hot-air balloon, think of the wind, the movement and the challenges,” says Parpiani.
Today, we have drone cameras that zoom over our heads at weddings and events. “Closer home, we had late Gopal Budhe, who took shots from helicopters,” he adds.
The pictures above will be up on display, and have also been documented in a comprehensive illustrated book.
*
WHERE:* Piramal Art Gallery, NCPA, Nariman Point
*WHEN:* June 22-30, 12 PM – 7 PM
*CALL:* 22029483
*MOSELLE*
This area was pictured in late autumn while the grape harvest was underway along the Luxembourg Moselle River. The Schengen Treaty, named after the Luxembourgish wine-growing village, is situated on the triangle border of Luxembourg, Germany and France, and has facilitated cross-border activity
*GUTLAND/GOODLAND*
This is a view of Mullerthal. It does not actually reveal much, with the popular area of ‘Little Switzerland’ being more accessible to hikers. Only in a few places does the foliage open up to reveal a glimpse of craggy sandstone formations
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Ali Fazal recently asked his father, Feroz, to shift to Mumbai from hometown, Lucknow, to stay with him.*Ali Fazal*
As Ali is tied up with his busy schedule, his dad was lonely and decided to suprise him by visiting him on the sets of his film, Tadka.
The actor has never had his family drop in while shooting.
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*Death Stranding*
Hideo Kojima after parting ways with Konami and Metal Gear Solid, re-established Kojima Productions and showed off the trailer for his PS4 exclusive game Death Stranding at E3. The game features Walking Dead actor Norman Reedus. The game will be an action title but nothing significant was revealed, except for some cryptic messages on Twitter about the game. Needless to say the game will be something you haven’t experienced before.
*Out in:* TBA
*Video link:* http://bit.ly/1S8m8Q7
*Prey*
Bethesda showed off the new Prey at E3 this year, the trailer shows a man living a mundane life. Till the scenario changes and you wake up in the year 2032 on the Space Station Talos 1, only to come face to face with a bunch of shadowy monsters and a another version of yourself. The game will require you to use weapons and special powers to fight back and survive the ordeal.
*Out in:* 2017
*Video link:* http://bit.ly/1XsUqWb
*Dishonored 2*
Steampunk Stealth is back with Dishonored 2, the new game happens 15 years after the Dunwall Plague. Emily Kaldwin follows her father’s footsteps to become an assassin and claim her title. The game is said to be more challenging than its predecessor and, playing Emily, will grant you new powers that can be upgraded in a variety of ways. Out in: November 2016
*Video link:* http://bit.ly/1ZVmMGI
*God of war*
Three years since the last original God of War game, the developers bring back Kratos, albeit an older softer version who is struggling with rage issues. Kratos has a son and since all the Greek gods are dead, the new game features Norse gods instead. In the trailor, Kratos teaches him how to hunt, while he kills Norse beasts.
*Out in:* TBA
*Video link:* http://bit.ly/1YvKY3K
*Watchdogs 2*
The first Watchdogs disappointed players when it was released in 2014. It was supposed to narrate the story of a hacktivist taking on corrupt officials, but fell short of its potential. The new gameplay trailer shown at E3, has a new protagonist and features several ways to finish almost any mission. Missions are also available through the city and you can pick and choose what you want to do, and how you take the story forward. The concept is still the same but this time, the developers Ubisoft seem to have gotten their act together with the gameplay.
*Out in:* November 2016
*Video link:* http://bit.ly/1UzscHb
*Forza Horizon 3*
Forza Horizon will be out with a new release, which will be available on Windows 10 PCs and Xbox One. The open world game, set in Australia, will let you seamlessly join multiplayer matches. The game features 350 cars. The game has different game play styles and an ease of getting into multiplayer with your friends along with some of the featured cars.
*Out in:* September 2016
*Video link:* http://bit.y/28JlxjI
*Mass effect Andromeda*
The original Mass Effect by Bioware pegged the lead Commander Shepard as a hero. In Andromeda, you play a younger person on his way to becoming a Hero. The game concept builds around the concepts of exploration and relationships, with a new place and race. The trailer shows a bit gameplay and wonderful alien worlds.
*Out in:* March 2017
*Video link:* http://bit.ly/1S8mkPp
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Prateik Babbar is flying off to London for a diction course for actors.*Prateik Babbar*
This is not part of his preparation for starting anew in Bollywood, but readying himself for international projects.
After he featured in a commercial with Indian skipper MS Dhoni, Smita Patil’s son is gung-ho about giving acting another shot.
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*Accused Dinesh Yadav being taken to court*
Speaking to mid-day, the survivor complained that eunuchs and male commuters entering ladies compartment is the most common form of harassment, but there is hardly any action from the police to address the issue.
"I have been a regular commuter of long distance trains. I have marked that between Kasara to Kalyan, transgenders board train and demand money from the commuters. In some cases, these transgenders have even assaulted passengers. Had there been any police control then this menace would have reduced and not continued,” she said.
Rekha is at present recuperating in Fortis hospital in Kalyan. A resident medical officer from Fortis hospital claims that Rekha suffered head injuries and is now out of danger.
Meanwhile, the Dombivli Government Railway police registered a case on Thursday night and have arrested Dinesh Yadav, 30, who hails from Uttar Pradesh. The accused has been sent to police custody till June 20.
The accused arrested in the case has told police that the crime was not done intentionally. “The accused has told investigating agency that he was returning back from funeral of his relative. Post the funeral, he had gone in depression. It was in depression that the accused took this extreme step,” said one of the railway police officials.
Dinesh Yadav, 30, is a resident of Kopri in Thane were he resides with his wife and two kids. "After attending a funeral of his relative in Uttar Pradesh, he was returning back to his residence in Thane," said a police officer.
Yadav works at a telecom firm where he does the verification process after a SIM card is issued to a customer.
The accused, who has been arrested by Dombivli GRP, and his wife, have confessed to the crime and allegedly state that it happened in a state of anger. "He claims that the girl irritated him by complaining to the railway police force and other passengers about him being in the ladies compartment," said a police officer.
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Our first stop is diagonally across the road from the Tiwari Bros showroom opposite Opera House. Don’t take the French Bridge, but go under it and stop to the right. Bharat Gothoskar and Rohit Lahoti from Khaki Tours point out that here lies the Devdhar School of Indian Music, set up by Vishnu Digambar Paluskar (after whom the chowk is also named).
*This lane, says Gothoskar, would be the narrowest lane in the city measuring just 22 inches in width. Will you fit in?*
“Up until then, all musicians in the country would work in the gharana system, which required them to live with the guru and learn music full-time. What this school did was introduce the kind of music classes we see today. It also made it possible for women, at least from Girgaum, to walk up to the class and take lessons,” Gothoskar says.
Walk on French bridge, and on the right is the Raut bungalow, which you will get time to ogle at. Behind it is the Sharda Mandir High School, which Gothoskar says, stands where once the home of Rukhmabai Devi stood. Married at the age of 11, Rukhmabai continued her education at her parental home and refused to consummate her marriage at the age of 22. This was in 1884. Her husband, Dadaji Bhikaji, says Gothoskar, filed a case for restitution of conjugal rights under British law.
Rukhmabai defied the Privy Council’s order to ‘return’ to her husband and wrote to Queen Empress Victoria, who dissolved the marriage and passed the Age of Consent Act. This raised the age of consent for sexual intercourse for all girls, married or unmarried, from 10 to 12 years in all jurisdictions. Its violation was subject to criminal prosecution as rape.
Near the Raut bungalow is the Mathuradas bungalow, which, Gothoskar says is the birthplace of Sumati Morarjee, born to Mathur-adas Goculdas and his wife Premabai in 1909.
Sumati was the first woman in the world to head an organisation of ship owners, Indian National Steamship Owners Association, traditionally a male bastion. “She headed the Scindia Steam Navigation Company as well,” Gosalkar says.
*Pics/Sayyed Sameer Abedi*
The next stop is the Harishchandra Goregaokar Marg, where a series of houses and wadis were built by the man himself. “The Goregaokers were landed families who moved to Mumbai in 1800s as the city was then booming,” says Gothoskar. Harishchandra, he adds, built several homes for his sons and the families still live in these. This nugget isn’t about them, however. The Hemraj Kripal chawl in the lane, is where great Marathi author, Padma Bhushan awardee Purushottam Laxman Deshpande (better known as Pu La Deshpande) was born.
*PS:* We haven’t spoilt the walk for you. There will be many more secrets to unearth.
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Oh right! I have also played Queen Elizabeth. How could I forget that?" wonders Nadezdha Bazhenova, 29, when we meet her at the Andheri West office of Red Entertainment, a 13-year-old artist management firm that provides Bollywood and international acts to wedding and corporate events in the country. Nadezdha, or Nadiya, as she is called around the office by those who find her Russian name convoluted, is a weekend away from leaving India where she has, besides working as a pianist, also served as a living statue.*In April this year, Nadezdha dressed up as Queen Elizabeth I for the launch of a construction project in Kharghar*
Living statues are a common sight on the streets of Europe, but they have also found their way as entertainers at Indian weddings and corporate galas. Some times donning the garb of gladiators, at other times turning into Grecian goddesses. However, a pianist trained at Ukraine’s Kharkiv National Kotlyarevsky University of Arts (or the Kharkiv Conservatory), Nadezdha says, of all her travels, India has been the first time where a job has required her to don costumes and stand in a pose for two hours at a go. She smiles, as she crosses her legs, her very Indian kurta falling over her thighs gracefully, "It’s all part of the Indian experience. And I love India, as you can see."*A shot server entertainer from Red Entertainement*
India, of course, is not the sole claimant of the ‘living statue’ experience (an Internet search will tell you it’s a popular trend worldwide, especially in the UK). But, here, you can take your pick from water fountains (which has women in Grecian or Venetian garb fitted with water pipes and heavy make-up which make them look like statues with water spouting from their backs and hands), mermaids, Venetian women who will greet you at the entrance, male gladiators and elusive Martians. At a minimum of R15,000 per artist (in a Gujarat firm it went up to R75,000) for a two-hour performance, you can take your pick.
Nadezdha’s Queen Elizabeth — she wasn’t sure, but we later confirmed that it was Elizabeth I, not II — was among a slew of other characters, such as a gladiator and Queen Isabella who had to create an ‘international’ ambience for the launch of a property in Kharghar this April. It was among her toughest and most interesting assignments, she thinks.*Nadezdha Bazhenova Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi*
"The gown was heavy and it had a long cape. It came with the inner skirt (crinoline) which adds the poof to the gown," she says. What’s tougher than donning a heavy costume for two hours is having to sit in it with heavy make-up while being ever-smiling. Often, the guests at the event want to come up and take pictures or, worse, selfies. "At some events, the crowd is controlled and will even ask you for your permission to step near you or take a selfie, but sometimes they get curious about you," says the 29-year-old.
When the crowd gets too close for comfort, the firm’s managers and security step in. "We rarely have a problem on hand. However, once in Jaipur, when the crowd at a wedding went out of control, we had to cancel the show," says artist manager Ritika Gupta. Which is why the artists are always accompanied by a manager, a make-up artist and added security personnel. It’s this team that also ensures that the artists manage to get a water and loosening up break. Is there a scheduled time? "When the managers see that you’ve lost the sparkle in your eye," Nadezdha chips in.
The Elizabethan assignment was particularly tough because of the heavy costume and make-up. It required sitting outdoors and battling mosquitoes. "If you focus on the mosquitoes, you don’t end up smiling, and then you are not offering joy to the people who have come to see you," she adds. Nadezdha sees herself as an entertainer and whether it’s her piano playing or act as an Egyptian royal, she thinks her her job is to bring joy to her audience.
The audience, she says, is almost always overjoyed when she dons the shots dress.
The server, typically a woman, is fitted with a metal skirt i.e. a set of metal hoops in increasing diameter held together by rods and made pretty with a lace trim (always a saviour). The hoops are essentially testtube holders that balance tubes with alcohol. "The skirt has to be fitted tight and it is heavy with all that liquid you are holding up. When I wore it, I also had to wear an uncomfortable wig and walk in heels. The smile had to be on. As a shot server, your job is to create atmosphere at a party," she says, explaining the deftness with which test tubes of booze have to be handed to guests. "I remember once," says Nadezdha, who has played this role four times during this stint, "a woman who was very drunk fell on me. Fortunately, the shots in my kitty were over." She pauses and laughs, "I must have been having a good day because I politely asked her if she was fine."
But, unlike the seedy nature of the job as suggested in 2014 by a blog, later republished by a popular website, Nadezdha seems to have bagged a good deal. Her contract lists her duration of stay, pay and accommodation in an Oshiwara flat. Food and travel for work are also taken care of. A contract typically lasts for eight months, and the wedding season at the end of the year sees the maximum number of applicants from Europe, largely Russia. Since the artists seldom fly down before the season starts, how does the firm ensure that the fits are right?
"Well, the artists hired are usually a certain body type. Those are the ones we hire and the ones the clients want," says Gupta. So, thin, tall and white works.
Dharmesh Surana Jain, of the Andheri West-based EventsYug Worldwide, which started providing living statues as part of its acts catalogue last year after seeing the soaring demand, says costumes are difficult to make in India because of the material and stitching and are sourced from abroad.
Client demand is also why trained harpist Jessica Browning from America was never called upon to be a shot server or Queen at a Venetian carnival. At less than 5’5", she was too short for the job. Men are rarely hired, but when they are, they are also usually white. On the rare occasion when a man’s face can be hidden with a mask, an Indian model can be hired.
While Nadezdha and her colleagues are contracted for specific roles, whether pianist or harpist, their contract specifies that they could be asked to fill in for other performers if the need arises. They can however, say no. We ask her if she has ever refused.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/jun/19local-train-s.jpg*File Pic*
Claiming that existing train services are more than enough for Mumbai, a senior WR official on condition of anonymity said, “Every time we run additional service there is a huge revenue loss incurred.”
The headway between two trains is 4 minutes on the Churchgate-Virar route.
In fact, worried with increasing losses and to make commuters aware about the fiscal position of the Indian Railway, the administration has started printing approximate loss in percent below every ticket sold to the commuters. From June 17, the railways began mentioning the loss percent on the rail ticket. In the ticket bought for local trains, the ticket states that they cover only 36 percent from commuter fares while long distance trains recover 57 percent from fares; rest they absorb as losses. Meanwhile, from June 1, the railways began charging 0.5 percent more on first class tickets and season passes.
According to an internal study made by the Railways, they are charging 14 paise per km from those using second class general compartments and 37 paise per km from the first class commuter using the suburban trains.
"We want to show people that we are operating suburban system at subsidised fares," said Ravindra Bhakar, chief PRO, WR.
The situation is such that the WR were not able to operate 3200 services on time in April-May wherein it was delayed by 5 minutes or more.
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Saqib Saleem and Taapsee Pannu have been bonding on-screen as well as off it.*Saqib Saleem and Taapsee Pannu*
Before a recent shoot for a music video, Tum Ho To Lagta Hai, the two spent a lot of time together to get their chemistry right for the romantic video.
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Her birthday is a month away, but Priyanka Chopra’s zillions online fans have already kickstarted the celebrations.*Priyanka Chopra*
The actress turns 34 on July 18 and, like every year, her fan groups have begun collating heartwarming messages, creative videos and picture collages of the star.
This year, her fans are keen to make a difference.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/jun/19Nathalie-Obadia-s.jpg*Nathalie Obadia, Ursula Krinzinger, Mithu Sen and Shireen Gandhy at the Art Unlimited Section of Art Basel*
Sen's vitrine of personal belongings was sold in the first hour of Unlimited's opening to a prominent collector based in the Swiss mountains, who has a keen interest in furthering Indian artists.
Hande's video paean to Mumbai was again sold on day one to a Malaysian collector, who owns a private museum. Her Midas' touch is not running out, we say.
*Music on dad's lips*
Singer Abhijit Ghoshal, known best for impressing judges and audiences on SaReGaMaPa, believes music is the best wheel to bring about social change.*Abhijit Ghoshal*
His new song, Meri Pyaari Gudiya, is one he hopes will do that. Ghoshal, who is father to two young daughters, decided to write the piece to spread awareness about female foeticide and education of the girl child.
"Music has the power to bring about change," he says. Ghoshal adds that with this song, he was hoping to write a lullaby that could be sung by fathers to their daughters. "My daughters love it when I sing it to them," he says. We wish other dads spread the love, too.
*Blood korma for Nawabi energy*
Last year, when we had booked at table at Sahib Room and Kipling Bar at St Regis (then Palladium Hotel), we had interacted with Chef Angad Rai, who told us stories of growing up in Lucknow.*Chef Angad Rai*
The menu had left a delicious mark on our memory — especially the khubani (apricot) ka halwa. Rai has now moved to Westin as Chef de Cuisine for Indian restaurant, Kangan.
His travels across the erstwhile Mughal states of Rampur and Awadh translate into his food. "My menu focuses on Mughlai cuisine. I'm also doing a Kashmiri seb (apple) ki sabzi and guchchi ki biryani," says Rai. But it's the Taar Korma that has a story to it.
"When a Rampuri nawab fell sick, the khansama invented the taar korma, to help him regain his energy. It is also called blood korma for its red colour, but no, it doesn't use blood as ingredient," he signs off.
*Sex co-operative on screen*
Last October, Mumbai-based author Aditya Kripalani wrote Tikli and Laxmi Bomb, a sensitive novel about two Mumbai prostitutes who start a co-operative of sorts to protect the interests of fellow sex workers. Seven months later, the 35-year-old is set to take his narrative to screen with the same title. "A film always has more reach than a novel.*Aditya Kripalani*
While the book helped me delve into the characters, with the film, I have the opportunity to flesh them out better. I can experiment with Marathi and Bengali, which I couldn't in the book because it was meant for an English-speaking audience," he told the diarist over the phone from Moscow, where he is vacationing.
The film, he hopes, will inspire women to ask themselves, "What if we started something of our own, by women, for women?" It's currently being crowd-funded on the Wishberry platform. So if you like what you see, pitch in.
*Miserable in England*
British author and journalist Brigid Keenan believes she is an Indian at heart. In her new book, Full Marks for Trying: An Unlikely Journey from the Raj to the Rag Trade (Bloomsbury Publishing), Keenan, who was born in Ambala in 1939, writes of how she was never at home in her own country, England. "Deep down, there's always been a tinge of anxiety, almost guilt — a feeling that I don't really fit in," she writes in the book.*Brigid Keenan*
Keenan, who describes herself as the last of the British Raj babies, had to unceremoniously leave with her family in 1948. "We were heartbroken when we came back (to England)," she said in a telephone chat from the UK. "To this day, I miss everything about India." To make up for it, she and her husband spend a month in India, every year. And now with the book, her home beckons again.
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This is something Riteish Deshmukh should remember. After declaring that he would never act in a sex comedy, he went on to do Great Grand Masti, which releases next month.*Riteish Deshmukh*
The actor has been saying that he agreed to be part of the film only because of director-producer Indra Kumar.
Induji, as he is known in the industry, told him that if he wasn’t a part of the sex flick, he would not make it.
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Looks like the only way Kareena Kapoor Khan can divert attention from questions about her imaginary motherhood is to talk about hubby Saif Ali Khan’s daughter Sara.
*Kareena Kapoor Khan*
There is still speculation that Bebo is indeed in the family way.
As Sara has been making a splash with snapshots on social media, there is growing buzz and a lot of curiosity about the youngster’s Bollywood debut.
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Sanjay Leela Bhansali may have begun working on his next film, Padmavati, with buzz that Ranveer Singh will headline the cast. But it is not exactly a subject he hasn’t tackled before.*Sanjay Leela Bhansali*
In 2008, Bhansali had directed a musical titled Padmavati, for the French opera, Theatre du Chatelet.
The filmmaker was able to win accolades despite a cast consisting of mainly French artistes, who could not comprehend English.
Years later, he is retelling the story of the queen of Chittor, Rani Padmavati, and Allauddin Khilji, who was smitten by her beauty.
Reported by Mid-Day 15 hours ago.
Game Developer Barbie, a new Barbie in Mattel's line of unique dolls, has hit the market and is poised to inspire a new generation of girls to start developing the future of video games.
Reported by MailOnline India 12 hours ago.
*Thane (Maha): *A 31-year-old woman from Kalyan has accused a police constable of repeatedly raping her for over three years on the pretext of getting married to her following which he was booked, police said today.
*Thane:* Two elderly women were allegedly murdered by unidentified miscreants in Kalyan city of the district, police said on Sunday.
Few students at Thane centre who were set to appear for first ever Common Entrance Test (CET) for admission to law colleges in Maharashtra were denied to give the exam as the photo-identity and documents they had brought were not from the approved list of documents.
Lee Kaplan, 51, was arrested in Festerville, Pennsylvania, after police raided his home and found the hoard of supposed captives. He is also accused of fathering two children with one of them.
Reported by MailOnline India 13 hours ago.
