I have no argument with people who adopt a vegetarian or vegan diet for health, religious, environmental or ethical reasons. But I object to proselytisers who distort science or the support for dietary advice offered to the more than 90% of us who choose to consume animal foods, including poultry and red meat, in reasonable amounts.

Such is the case with a recently released Netflix documentary called What the Health that several well-meaning, health-conscious friends urged me to watch. And I did try, until I became so infuriated by misstatements - like eating an egg a day is as bad as smoking five cigarettes, or a daily serving of processed meat raises the risk of diabetes 51% - that I had to quit for the sake of my health.

The argument

Please understand: I do not endorse inhumane treatment of farm animals or wanton pollution of the environment with animal wastes and misused antibiotics and pesticides. Agricultural research has long shown better ways to assure an adequate food supply if only regulators would force commercial operations to adopt them.

Nor do I endorse careless adoption of vegetarian or vegan diets for their names sake. A vegan who consumes no animal products can be just as unhealthy living on inappropriately selected plant foods as an omnivore who dines heavily on burgers and chicken nuggets. A vegan diet laden with refined grains like white rice and bread; juices and sweetened drinks; cookies, chips and crackers; and dairy-free ice cream is hardly a healthful way to eat.

Current dietary guidelines from responsible, well-informed sources already recommend that we should all adopt a plant-based diet rich in foods that originate in the ground, "fleshed out" with low-fat protein sources from animals or combinations of beans and grains. However, here too careless food and beverage selections can result in an unhealthful plant-based diet.

A large study recently published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology examined the relationship between plant-based diets of varying quality and the risk of developing coronary heart disease among more than 200,000 health professionals. The participants, who started the study free of chronic disease, were followed for more than two decades, submitting their dietary patterns to the researchers every two years.

Based on their responses on food-frequency questionnaires, the participants diets were characterised by the team as an overall plant-based diet that emphasised plant foods over animal foods; a healthful plant-based diet emphasising healthful plant foods; or an unhealthful plant-based diet. Any of the diets could have included various amounts of animal products.

Healthful plant foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes, as well as vegetable oils, coffee and tea, received a positive score; less-healthful plant foods like juices, sweetened beverages, refined grains, fries and sweets, along with animal foods, received a negative rating.

A logical conclusion

The more closely the participants adhered to a healthful plant-based diet, the less likely they were to develop heart disease in the course of the study. Those with the least healthful plant-based diet were, on average, 32% more likely to be given diagnoses of heart disease. In a prior study, the researchers found a similar reduction in the risk of Type 2 diabetes. The team, led by Ambika Satija of Harvards Department of Nutrition, concluded that "not all plant foods are necessarily beneficial for health."

In other words, you dont have to become a strict vegetarian to protect your heart. Simply reducing your dependence on animal foods, and especially avoiding those high in fat, is helpful. In fact, "a diet that emphasised both healthy plant and healthy animal foods" was associated with a coronary risk only slightly higher than a diet based almost entirely on healthy plant foods, the researchers found.

On the other hand, overdoing "less healthy plant foods" and less healthy animal foods like red and processed meats, the study showed, significantly increased the risk of developing heart disease.

The more plants and the fewer animal products you eat, the lower your carbon footprint. But to be truly beneficial, the plants you choose must be nutrient rich.

Short of becoming a vegan, you can improve your diet, protect your health and add variety to your meals with a few dietary adjustments.

Making veganism easier

For most, veganism as a concept, comes from a sense of responsibility: towards animals or animal products and towards the need for a healthier lifestyle. While many have considered turning vegan at some point, the most predominant reason why people dont go through with it, is because they consider it difficult to maintain a vegan diet. However, being conscious and keeping these few things in mind can help you become a vegan:

* Dont forget your proteins: Once you give up the meats, eggs and milk products, you may end up depriving your body of protein. While plant-based foods can provide you the required amount, remember to include adequate amounts in your daily
diet.

* Dont limit your food choices: Most of us assume that becoming vegan limits our food options. This, however, is a myth. There are alternatives for almost everything. For instance, milk can be replaced with soya or almond milk. Eggs and paneer can be swapped with tofu, and meats can be replaced with soya chunks or nuggets.

* Avoid processed snacks: It is easy to fall prey to the processed food available off the shelves, for mid-meal snacking. However, processed foods are usually high in sodium or sugars, which make them unhealthy. Vegan foods like sunflower/flax seeds and almonds are fuss free, convenient snacks that can be eaten anywhere and anytime.

* Drinking water is not passé: While veganism does increase your consumption of fruits, including those with a high water content, you must still strive to consume at least two litres of water every day. If you get bored or tired of drinking plain water, you can mix it up by adding slices of citrus fruits or add mashed fruits like strawberries, cranberries, or slices of cucumber.

* Start small: Going vegan can be a big adjustment for your body and can make you uncomfortable. Try starting your transition by being a part-time vegan - keep one meal/snack time in a day wherein you will consume moderate servings of non-vegan foods that you have been used to. Gradually decrease your cheat days from once a day to once a week and so on.

Madhuri Ruia
(The author is a nutritionist)

Eleven-year-old Ankit is diagnosed with autism and showed self-injurious and agitated disruptive behaviour. After six music interventions of listening to fast-paced classical music, he showed a decrease in baseline anxiety-related behaviour patterns. After two years, he now eagerly looks forward to music therapy sessions.
Music therapy is a process wherein music is used to resolve behavioural issues. Whether the patient needs help socially, cognitively, physically, emotionally, or developmentally, music can help achieve the required goal. It has been proved that the foetus responds to sound from the 24-26th week of pregnancy. While sounds are greatly altered as they pass from the outside world to the ear of the foetus, there is more than sufficient stimulation to be heard in the womb. Specific sounds heard by the foetus in the womb provide a strong foundation for later learning and behaviour.

The cognitive neuroscience of music shows that when making music, the sensory cortex, auditory cortex, hippocampus, visual cortex, cerebellum, amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and motor cortex are all firing at once and this relates to the multi-sensory experience of making music because each of these sensory systems is tied into a specific part of the brain.

Children who undergo musical training have better verbal memory, second language pronunciation accuracy, reading ability and executive functions. Learning to play an instrument as a child may even predict academic performance and IQ in young adulthood. One of the most significant benefits today is the positive potential of classical music, especially towards children with special needs.

Autism

Music can be an engaging and attractive intervention for children with autism. Research has shown that 80% to 90% of individuals with autism respond positively to music as a motivator. The application of music can be used to enhance attending behaviours and reduce distractibility, and to engage the child. Autistic children, though deficient in language, are generally able to process music as well as children their age who do not suffer from a learning disability. This often makes music of special interest to autistic child.

Down syndrome

Down syndrome is an autosomal abnormality caused by an additional chromosome 21. Children with Down syndrome have specific physical abnormalities from birth, and may have heart defects, visual impairments, and immune system deficiencies. One of the most important therapies for Down syndrome children is auditory therapy. Down syndrome children have great difficulty in auditory vocal processing. They have trouble learning to coordinate the movements of the lips and tongue that are required for speech. Music is a key element of the auditory therapy needed by Down syndrome children. Most music therapists use classical music in auditory therapy because of how it stimulates the brain and calms the nervous system at the same time.

Cerebral palsy

Here, brain damage is caused by brain injury or abnormal development of the brain that occurs while a childs brain is still developing - before birth, during birth, or immediately after. Cerebral palsy affects body movement, muscle control, muscle coordination, muscle tone, reflex, posture and balance. Research has shown that music therapy helps with alertness because the beat or rhythm of the music helps a child build connections within the brain that help them concentrate and focus.

Learning disabilities

Classical music provides benefit to all children because of its ability to create pathways in the brain, stimulate the brain and calm the nervous system. Improved ability to focus, concentrate and remain calm are positive affects for children with hyperactivity disorders, Aspergers syndrome and ADD. In addition, the stimulation of the brain and creation of new pathways may help these children to improve their ability to perform certain tasks, especially spatially related tasks.

(The author is a child mental health practitioner & a musician)

Has your vision blurred off late? Are you ignoring it thinking it might be a temporary inconvenience? Think again. A person experiences a mini stroke also known as transient ischaemic stroke, before suffering from a stroke. The symptoms and the underlying causes are same in both cases, but not permanent in case of TIA, which disappears in few minutes or hours. The patient experiences loss of vision in one eye after TIA, and can gradually lose vision completely.

Vision loss happens when the blood vessel supplying oxygenated blood from the eyes and brain gets blocked. A blockage in the vessel can initially manifest as transient or complete vision loss. The other disorders that can accompany are damage to the eye nerve and a part of the brain that processes the eye signals, thus resulting in stroke.

Symptoms

The nerve fibres in the eyes cross over each other, which means that the left eye is controlled by the right side of the brain and vice-versa. Any loss of vision in the left side of the visual field of each eye is an indication of stroke or lesion on the right side of the brain.

Multiple patterns of visual field loss are a signal of multiple strokes and can affect central, peripheral or both vision. The following symptoms with the eyesight and vision are sufficient to confirm an upcoming stroke:

* Sudden decrease in vision is caused by the damage to the tissues and nerve fibres that transmit signals from the eyes to the brain. As the transmitting distance is longer, the blood flow can be disrupted at any point, causing sudden blurriness or decrease in vision.

* Double vision occurs when the damage is caused to the nerves that are responsible for movement and alignment of the eyeballs. This not only lead to vision defects, but also problems in decision making, judgements, logical reasoning and processing complex information.

Lets look at the types of vision loss:

Hemianopia: Here, half of your line of vision is affected and you may also experiences blindness. Decrease in the ability to see properly in the right vision field is an indication of stroke.

Quadrantanopia: Here, the loss of vision is limited to quarter of the visual field.

Scotoma: The area of vision loss is smaller compared to the other two, but the spotty vision signals stroke on the opposite side of the brain.

Tunnel vision: This is an indication of a bilateral stroke affecting both the halves of the visual fields. The connected nearby areas in the cortex disrupts the blood supply causing loss in peripheral vision.

Treatment

Every minute that the stroke goes untreated, the average patient loses 1.9 million neurons. Golden hour of stroke is the first six hours. Medications prevent the extension of the blood clot in the area, taken along with blood thinners. But for some patients whose condition keeps deteriorating, an emergency procedure to open up the blood vessel is required to restore the blood flow.

Dr Vipul Gupta
(The author is director, Neurointervention, Artemis - Agrim Institute of Neurosciences)

There is absolutely no denying the fact that a healthy mouth is of utmost importance. However, does that also mean that it guarantees a healthy heart? The idea of a relationship between oral health and the heart has been around for over a century. However, in the last 20 years a few health authorities have taken this relationship seriously enough to endorse dental care as a means of bringing down the risk of heart disease.

Dr Ann Bolger, professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of California, believes that the oral cavity can be a good warning sign for the presence of an underlying heart condition. It is believed that there is a link between serious gum disease and atherosclerosis, which can lead to heart disease.

Gum diseases such as periodontitis and heart disease have common risk factors such as age, diabetes and smoking. Granted that these pooled risk factors could clarify why diseases of the blood vessels and oral cavity can occur simultaneously, there is some data that suggests that there could be an autonomous relationship between these two diseases.

Gum disease affects 80% of Indians and many a times a condition like this can go unidentified. Here are few cautionary signs for gum disease:

Bright red, tender to touch or swollen gums

Gums that bleed while brushing or flossing

Gums that seem to be moving away from your teeth

Persistent unpleasant breath or a foul taste in your mouth

Teeth that are wobbly or moving away from each other

The preventive care for gum disease is to schedule semi-annual dental check-ups and get professional cleaning.
Dr Aarti Sharma-Kapila

(The author is GM, quality and dental administration, Clove Dental)

Its always fun when friends come over, more so when you rarely get to meet your college friends. So when it is the holiday season and you all get together, plans invariably begin days in advance. It was no different this year. My harried friends were discussing plans for their week-long stay in the city. Places to visit, friends to meet, things to do and much more. The internet worked overtime to give us options for day-long picnics. After a while, it got so tiresome that our WhatsApp group just went silent. It was not because we ran out of ideas, it was a clear case of planning fatigue. Finally, we settled for a small fort nearby and had a blast travelling the half-hour distance. We spent more time enjoying the journey.

In a bid to get everything done on a grand scale, somewhere down the line, we lose the charm of simple living. Whether it is shopping, parties, vacations, picnics, weddings or parenting, we want everything to be larger than life, different from what others have done, memorable for everyone involved, and just so special. My fondest memories of family time are not about exotic vacations, but of earnestly listening to my father talk about his business experiences over dinner. What he shared not only enlightened my mother about her husbands business and its state-of-affairs, it also educated us about worldly matters. Not a rupee spent, but plenty earned.

Stop looking at others

Instead of just doing what we like and want, we are frantically wondering what our friends and acquaintances are doing, in a bid to plan something bigger and better.

The same attitude is reflected in our children when they insist on visiting the same place their friends had been to for holidays or demand an expensive birthday party or gift.

Same is the case with weddings. Big fat Indian weddings are the norm, while simple family affairs are passé. Ask any newly engaged couple about their pre-wedding preparations, and more often than not, youll get to hear about their pre-wedding photo shoot. So much fuss over how the look and feel should be, costumes, photographer and props that some of us would any day have spent that time just looking into the beloveds eyes and loved him more. I have even met someone who already has elaborate plans for the pre-wedding shoot, exotic wedding locale and even the honeymoon destination, while she is still waiting for the right man to come along!

This worrying trend certainly raises some pertinent, thought-provoking questions:

Why has simple lost its charm suddenly?

Does it have anything to do with our lives being played out for the social media?

Does every moment have to be picture-perfect or selfie-worthy?

Should we not enjoy our special moments just by themselves rather than try and frame each one and hang them or rather post them on the walls for the world to see?

Why should the world know what we ate, how much it cost, what we are wearing, where we bought our outfits from and which occasion we wore it for?

All this creates unwanted pressure on our minds, as we all want to be under a self-created spotlight at all times. Instead of just living in the moment and cherishing it, it becomes more like a chore of "see, I did this" and then further "did you see what I did?"

Dont complicate matters

The tendency to dramatise and publicise everything percolates to our personal lives. We start exaggerating lifes trivial problems. Things like the behaviour of our family members, which is easily acceptable, starts troubling us. Expectations from family and friends billow up. Our relationships with parents and spouse become so complicated that every word, every action is seen through a microscope. We look for hidden agendas, search for excuses, find faults, and in general make situations worse than they actually are. Instead of complicating matters by adding colours to them, we can easily shrug them off.

Recently, I heard a colleague note that we have lost the charm of serendipity by using too much technology, maps on phones have made "losing your way" redundant. Which makes one think that in fact, the simplest joys of life are so easy to find. Just think about it:

Life is not as complicated as we make it out to be. The drama is out there in the nature, in the world. In the bigger scheme of things, what really matters is to play our role in life to the best of our abilities and bow out.

All our frowning, fretting, scheming will only create ill will around us. Is it worth it? Trying to change people and circumstances never actually works. What works best is to smile and work towards a peaceful co-existence.

Simplify matters. Let go. Accept things as they are. We must realise that when a situation is not complex, why give it undue importance and aggravate it? Solve the problem if you can, and if you cant, you wont be able to do much any way.

The secret to a happy and healthy life is simplicity. I have always been a fan of the very Indian adage "we are like that only". Its a simple way to accept all our idiosyncrasies and shrug them all off in a few words. Enjoy them, even.

Indians are known to extol the virtues of being simple in thoughts and deeds. Being lavish and ostentatious is not something that comes naturally to us. Putting other peoples needs before us is the first virtue we all learnt. Instead of living for others, when did we start living for others to see?

Years ago, after facing some problems at work, I approached my boss and fumed about why life was so complicated? His simple retort was, "How is it complicated? You are making it seem complicated." What I was doing actually was linking too many things to unrelated issues and creating a woollen ball of a problem out of it. I had grown fond of creating many such balls at once and playing with them. The moment I started seeing them as separate issues, they all fell off like loose strands of hay. We love to portray our lives as really complex.

We fear that if we lead a simple life, we may not appear as appealing and dramatic as others who have complex lives. The gloss that the media portrays is always over-the-top, for they have to appeal to all the senses of viewers who consume the content.

Can you imagine watching a soap like Buniyaad, which was about Everyman, in todays day and age? However, life is not a TV soap or a movie. A dinner plate must be simple but nutritious; it cannot be full of exotic dishes every day. A vacation must be meaningful and a time well spent.

A wedding is for the couple to unite and their families to come together, not for the whole world to have a free-for-all gala time. Birthdays are occasions to celebrate amidst warmth, not a race of one-upmanship.

Plan simple, be simple, live simple. It will not only ease our lives, it will also avoid unwanted conflict and stress on our heart and the planet.

It has been a long-standing grouse of Bengalureans that there are not many places that cater to the green-lovers in the city. The hunt for good vegetarian places in the city has turned into a perpetual one of hide-and-seek. One such hidden gem is Punjabi Nukkad which serves authentic North Indian cuisine that will satisfy any foodie.

The menu starts off with beverages which include options like Punjabi lassi, Masala lassi and different varieties of shakes. The Punjabi lassi is giant-sized and a good try for those craving a sweet taste of the North Indian state. There are a few options in soups for those looking to start their meal in the proper way.

Next on the list are the Tandoori starters. With choices like Paneer tikka, Veg seekh kebab, Veg platter and Malai paneer tikka, which deserves a special shout out. With a good mix of textures and flavours, any item in this section is a safe bet.

There is also a section called Chinese starters which has items like Crispy chilli potato, Honey chilli potato and Gobi manchurian. Despite being titled as starters, this section also lists Vegetable fried rice, Veg chowmein and Paneer chowmein. The dishes provide value for money though they dont exactly give a competition to the true blue Chinese versions.

For the main course, they have an extensive selection of gravies and accompaniments. In gravies, select from Dal Makhani, Malai kofta, Paneer butter masala, Dal tadka and more. The dishes have a homely feel and taste so dont go there expecting fancy stuff. Portions are generous and more than sufficient for one person. The paneer based curries command a loyal fan following in the area and entice one with their aroma and flavour. The stuffed mushrooms are recommended

Among the Indian breads, the Chur-chur naan and Butter garlic naan are highly recommended. They also have a few options in rice such as Veg biryani, Navratan pulao and Vegetable pulao.

For those looking to get an authentic taste of Punjabi, opt for the Parathas which are some of the best items on the menu. These are served along with curd, butter, pickle and chutney. The Aloo Onion paratha and Yaraan da paratha are favourites among the customers who come there for their flavourful taste.

In their meal combos, try out the Amritsari kulcha, which comprises Amritsari kulcha, Channa masala, raita and salad. There are also a few thaali options for those who are craving a fulfilling and wholesome meal.

Though the place has delivery also, the service leaves a lot to be desired. It is better to visit the place in person and enjoy the dishes.

Punjabi Nukkad is located on 112/1, Lakedew Residency, Haralur Main Road, HSR Post.

Looking for a quick grab or catching up with a friend? If so, this cosy cafe can be the best spot for it. Located away from the bustling streets of Indiranagar, Melting Spot has been offering specialities for about six months now.

The ambience is kept simple with a white decor. The lights attached to the roof makes the gastronomic experience a soothing one. The menu is an elaborate one with options ranging from Italian food like pizza, pasta, nachos and different kinds of bread to Indian delights like pav bhaji, rolls, Bombay vada pav, tawa pulao and chaats.

You can choose your food according to your mood. If you are looking for something light, go for nachos with cheese dip and chunky salsa. The cheesy dip is mouthwatering and is a perfect match for it as the salsa enhances the taste.

You can also try out their chaat section. The Dahi puri and Bhel puri are a complete sell-out. Peri-peri French fries is another light eat that one can try out.

However, if you are in for something more filling, pizzas can be a good choice. Treat yourself to Tandoori paneer and you will not regret. The soft cottage cheese added with capsicum, red paprika and loads of cheese will surely leave you asking for more.

If Indian dishes are what you want to explore, go for the Dabeli. This Kutch delight will take you on a spice tour. The Butter tawa pulao is another option that you can ask for if you are a rice lover. The spices and the rice are mixed to well and the slight tinge of chilli enhances the taste.

The quantity is quite filling, so be careful while ordering your favourites. Wash down the food with thick shakes like Oreo overload and Chocolicious.

This cafe is also popular for its stoned ice creams. So, trying out one of them wont be a harm. The Dry fruit delight will be a good choice if you are a dry fruit lover. You can also indulge in their other fruity flavours.

Melting spot is located at #188/1, 6th Main Road, Defence Colony, Indiranagar. For details call, 9742061338.

Bollywood is introducing many new faces in its movies these days, of which some are well-known names from the South.

The reason for the migration is for better exposure and nation-wide recognition.

Kriti Kharbanda in Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana, Parvathy in Qarib Qarib Singlle, Padmapriya in Chef, Raai Laxmi in Julie 2 and Dulquer Salmaan in Karwan are some of the names that one may recognise due to their innings down South. But what do loyal fans think about their move to another industry?

Shravanthi Venkatesh, a psychologist, says, "I think these actors are just doing what they can to grow in their career. While Sandalwood films and other verticals of South Indian films have great scope right now, venturing into other fields seems like a safe bet for them."

She also adds that most South Indian actors are better at grasping new languages, which is an added advantage.

"I am also a theatre artiste and Ive seen many of my friends struggle to make it to the film industry. Even though some of them are already working in Sandalwood, there are many other aspects of filmmaking that they consciously take interest in for the betterment of their growth. I guess the well-established actors are also trying to do the same."

Even though the trend of growing across film industries is increasing on a daily basis, only a handful have made a name for themselves.

Regina John, an MNC professional, opines, "While it is a good thing that many of these Southern actors are trying to make their mark in Bollywood, it is somewhat concerning for their fans and films buffs. The main reason for this shift is the difference in the story treatment and content in industries. While many Southern films have been hailed for their exceptional storylines and cinematic execution, only a handful of Hindi films make this cut. The only reason why these stars would want to work in Bollywood is because of the larger reach and bigger budgets."

Many movie buffs and fans are happy to see some of their favourite actors venture into other industries, but they have a few pointers for them.
Shine Thattil, an HR professional, says, "Actor Parvathy is known for acting in some of the best films in the Malayalam industry. Qarib Qarib Singlle also has good reviews because its an unusual script. So it truly depends on the kind of scripts the actors take up. Its best if they dont opt for any commercial films but do quality content, just like they do back home."

She also adds that they should continue doing films which helped them gain recognition.

"No matter how popular they become, they should still continue working in their respective industries. South Indian films should be their staple food. Having said that, as a fan, I am thrilled these actors are making a name in Bollywood. They are good at what they do and the world needs to recognise that."

Actor Mayuri Kyatari is selective about the kind of films she wants to work in. For her, the focus is always on quality of the projects.

The actor, who was last seen in Kariya 2, will be seen in an interesting role in her next project Nanna Prakara in which she goes by the onscreen name Vismaya. "It is a crime-based story and I play an orphan. Although it is not the lead role, it is important in taking the story forward. We have just begun shooting for the project," says Mayuri.

The young actor is cast alongside Priyamani and Kishore. Mayuri is thrilled that she has been chosen for this project. "I was thrilled when I read the script because it is a thoroughly engaging one. Im happy to work with Priyamani and Kishore. They have proved their talent on a national scale," she adds. She has also worked on another project with Sanchari Vijay.

"It is a very mature role. I liked the role because it has given me the chance to explore another facet of the actor in me. The role is also challenging in a lot of ways. Working with Sanchari Vijay has also been an interesting experience because the actor knows exactly what to do," she adds. While films are going great guns, Mayuri has also appeared in an independent music video titled Girl Not A Sin. The song has been made in English and Hindi.

"The English version is out and has garnered good reviews online. The video talks about the power of a woman and showcases her in very strong light. The Hindi video is slightly more flamboyant," adds Mayuri. She also says that acting in a video was a whole new experience. The actor also confesses that she is drawn to any subject that can be easily connected to reality.

"I am a little slow when it comes to signing projects and I like to keep it that way because I then have the liberty to choose the subjects that I want to work on," she signs off.

Shuttling between movie sets could be taxing for many but actor Neha Patil is loving this phase of her life. She believes that her passion for acting is what keeps her going. With her latest release, Samyuktha 2, having hit the screens on Friday, the actor is keeping her fingers crossed.
In a candid conversation with Tini Sara Anien, she talks about the movie and more.

What is on your mind right now?

I am really excited about Samyuktha 2. This is a story unlike any other and it is the first time I will be seen in a thriller movie. I am sure the audience will like the film.

What attracted you to the project?

I am scared of horror stories. This is exactly why I knew that it would be a really challenging experience. The fear I have for such stories helped me perform realistically in the film.

How different was the experience?

I play the role of a medical student in the movie. Apart from the unique characterisation, the fact that I was acting with veteran actors like Devaraj sir and Sparsha Rekha maam was very exciting. It was a blessing to work with them as they belong to a different league of actors. I learnt the importance of patience from Devaraj sir and Sparsha Rekha maám taught me about the nuances of varied female roles.

How was your chemistry with Chetan Chandra?

Chetan is a very humble and hardworking person. Though he is generally
reserved, he was jovial with the technicians and kept cheering them. He would pull pranks on me sometimes by wearing scary wigs and masks and I would scream out.

How prominent is your role?

I will be seen throughout the movie and my role adds to the suspense element in Samyuktha 2.

A role you want to work in....

I would consider myself lucky if I got a chance to work on a character
similar to Nityas in Mynaa.

Whats next?

I will soon be seen in Gara, directed by Murali Krishna and Nanagu Ninagu
Something Something by Akash Gubbi. The shoot for both these movies are almost done. While Gara is a suspense-based movie, Nanagu Ninagu... has a romantic story.

How hard is it to shoot for different movies at the same time?

It can be really crazy to work on different stories at the same time. It was hard but I loved it. I am glad that I am busy. I hope lady luck stays with me.

With a boom of young talent in the industry, how do you hope to stand out?

My confidence, will to act without inhibitions and aim to keep learning,
will make me stand out. I am a dedicated person. I would even be ready to do an item number if it is relevant to the story.

What makes for a successful movie formula?

The story matters a lot. Its only after this that the actors and the production banner comes into the picture.

The party has just begun for actor Samyuktha Hegde. After a rollicking debut in Kirik Party, she appears as a college-goer in her latest release College Kumar.

The actor, who has been busy with the promotions of the film, feels that this role has taken her back to her college days. The project also delves
into the relationship between a father and son and explores the changing equations between
them. In an interview with Nina C George, Samyuktha talks about her role and the making of the project.

What impressed you about College Kumar?

The movie explores the issues between a father and a son. I am paired opposite Vikky Varun. My character is that of a girl who is attracted to Vikkys character because of his rebellious attitude. The project is a mix of interesting genres and makes for a good
watch.

Tell us about your role.

She is someone who is drawn to men who are dominating and smart. In this film, Vikkys character picks up a fight with people for the smallest of things. He is very organised and doesnt tolerate nonsense.

On working with Vikky Varun...

There is never a dull moment when Vikky is around. He manages to crack a joke on just about everything. I am always bursting out laughing when I am with him. Our off-screen friendship has added a lot of life and colour to our onscreen chemistry.

What is your take on the father-son relationship in the movie?

In the film, both the father and the son hold on to what each of them believe is right. They are never willing to compromise. It also shows how this generation doesnt completely agree to what their parents say.

How do you handle controversies?

I had a little trouble handling date issues with the crew of College Kumar. I was upset with the way the whole issue was handled. But after that incident, I dont let silly things affect me.

How do you handle criticism?

I dont let negativity tie me down.

What is your criteria for signing a project?

I look at the director and cameraman first before signing a project. The actors may be good but if the cameraman doesnt know his job, then the whole purpose is lost.

How do you handle fame?

I dont let fame get to my head. I still want to be an ordinary girl who can eat street food and walk around just like anybody else. Nothing lasts forever. I also believe fame is a very temporary thing.

What do you do when you are not working?

I hope to start my own YouTube channel which will be based on dance. I give equal importance to both dance and acting.

This year marks yet another landmark for Deccan Herald with the launch of the first edition of Deccan Herald Inter-Collegiate Theatre Fete 2017, in collaboration with Sandbox Collective. It provides a brand new opportunity for aspiring theatre-makers and theatre practitioners.

This year, the Deccan Herald Theatre Festival provides a new platform - a launch pad - to help college-going students hone their talent, and even showcase it at a professional theatre festival.

Auditions for participating colleges will take place on November 11 and 12 at Rangoli Metro Art Centre, MG Road.

Three top contenders from among these college teams will get a chance to perform on December 4 at Alliance Francaise de Bangalore as part of the Deccan Herald Theatre Festival 2017.

Vijay Suriya. A star in the Kannada television serial Agni Sakshi, which has recently completed 1,000 episodes on air. The serial will have been on the air for four years in December, and there are no signs of it grinding to a stop - instead, the pivot for the storyline continues to revolve around the romantic onscreen pair of Siddharth and Sannidhi, played by actors Vijay Suriya and Vaishnavi. The debate about whether their on-air relationship is continuing off-air in real life continues to be the hot debating point among the viewers. Were these stories true? Vijay says that people need something to celebrate in life, and this pairing caught the publics imagination and set it on fire.

A great start

Suriya had a dream debut in Crazy Loka, a Kannada film directed by Kavita Lankesh in 2012. He worked alongside the immensely popular Crazy Star Ravichandran, Avinash, Daisy Bopanna, Harshika Poonacha and others, and also had a dance number with Ramya. But the offers he was expecting after that did not come his way. "At that point in time, the industry did not have the space or story for a college student, which is what I played in the film. Things are different now after films like Kirik Party," he says.

Suriya dropped out of Bengalurus Christ College after completing his PU. "I was not interested in academics. And I did not want to waste my time." His parents supported his idea, and he enrolled in a film-making course at Subhash Ghais Whistling Woods Film School in Mumbai, after which Crazy Loka marked his film entry. He started off quietly in Sihi Kahi Geetha & Chandrus TV serial Parvati Parameshwara, playing "a really small role."

He could not get his dialogues right, and the episode director had to give most of his lines to his co-actor. He had come with great expectations after completing his professional acting course, but he was not prepared for the instant reaction mode. He was a little taken aback with the directions for quick, on-the-spot reactions. He returned home troubled with serious doubts about his career choice, and the fact that his parents Lalitha and Nagaraj had paid over Rs 13 lakh for the acting course didnt help.

Strangely enough, this one role in Parvati Parameshwara had him getting 20-25 calls for various characters. "I kept refusing, although my mother told me not to run away from work," Suriya states. He was at a theatre watching Kung Fu Panda when he got another call for an audition. He actually told the caller the truth - he was watching a film and would not be able to make it. "My mother blasted me and asked me to call back immediately. It was only then that I realised that the call had come from Kavitha Lankeshs associate director Karthik, and the audition was for Crazy Loka," he reveals.

This was a pattern that would keep repeating in his life - running away from acting offers that would ultimately catch up with him. It was three years since Crazy Loka and he had just a few modelling assignments. He was sitting at a cafe with his friend Lakshmi Anand, a former Miss South India winner who was into modelling and fashion. She received a call from a production manager telling her that they were looking for a new face. Suriya was not interested, but she sent his pictures when he went for a washroom break. The team liked his pictures. "By then, I guess I was once again a new face," he said with a wry smile. And that was how he was cast as Siddharth in Agni Sakshi.

He explains, "A lot of things that I was shying away from got back to me somehow… I kept running away from TV. But at the end of the day, it was from Agni Sakshi that I got my recognition." His mother was convinced that his casting as Siddhu (Siddharth) in Agni Sakshi was not a coincidence. He was named Siddhu after his grandfather Siddhalingaiah.

Looking ahead

Suriya seems to have a very philosophical head on his 27-year-old young shoulders. He says he has realised that you can never get what you want in life. "You will have to deal with what you have. And that took me four years to understand. That line about the grass being greener? Its very true," he says.

What about that elusive thing called luck? "I believe in destiny. But luck? There is a point in everybodys life where they have yoga (ability) or luck, which will show you a path. To go in that direction you need yogyathe, which is hard work. And love for your work. Thats how one should make use of a lucky break."

Apart from Agni Sakshi, Suriya is working in two Kannada films: Kadhdhu Muchchi and
Lucknow to Bengaluru. He has also just started hosting Comedy Talkies on Colors Kannada.

As for romance in his life, he says he is single right now. While he is open to the idea of that status changing, he says he is not very serious about it at present. "Like it happened in Agni Sakshi, falling in love after marriage seems much more beautiful. I think Ill stick to that."

Destiny might change that script. But one thing is clear - he has grasped his break and is working hard to go where it will take him.

Irrfan Khan has surprised himself more than anyone else. For someone who never thought he could make it as a star, "with my kind of face", his name is now famous not just here in India but around the world. The man is nonchalant about himself, his life, career, and everything else. But after his first true-blue solo hit in Hindi early this year, Hindi Medium, he is perceptibly a lot more relaxed, confident and more on terra firma about everything in life.

After all, it is also not every time that an actor gets the privilege, without being able to demand it, of doing two light-hearted romances with messages back to back. "I am not a big star who wishes and chooses certain genres at any given time. But I am choosing lighter roles to save my energies for a really intense film I will be doing soon," he reveals.

On a lighter note

Of the two films, the recently released Qarib Qarib Singlle is definitely lighter, a rom-com with an old-world charm, as Irrfan puts it. The actor is not nervous at all about whether this film and he will be accepted by the audience, but he is definitely curious. "I want to know how they will receive me and this film. It is a coincidence that two successive films of mine are like that, maybe because film-makers and then the people felt that this man can even do romance," he says with a mildly mischievous grin.

Even more interestingly, in both films, his leading ladies are unconventional faces for Hindi cinema. The former had Pakistani heroine Saba Qamar, and this one has Malayalam actor Parvathy Thiruvoth. But both have admitted to having grabbed the chance to work with the actor who has done films like The Namesake, Lunchbox and Paan Singh Tomar.

"I was excited about the relatable character I was playing," he says, describing the relationship shown in the film to be like the old-world romance that he was exposed to while growing up, in both real and reel life. "When I say old-world, its not about the fact that we are both shown as middle-aged when it all begins," he explains further. "Those were times when the simple words I love you did not come so easily. It would take time and slowly you would get to know the girl. Like Raaj Kumar in Pakeezah, who tells Meena Kumari not to soil her feet by keeping them barefoot on the floor. His soul has reacted to her, but he barely knows the woman otherwise."

Does it bother him whether a film works or not? "Of course it does! Expectations from every film are always natural, but one cannot dwell on it. Before every film, there is a strange curiosity and anxiety, but then I realise that thinking about it does not change anything because the audience decides whether it should accept or reject a film after watching it. Ideally, we actors must vanish for a week after a release and come back and find out what happened," he explains.

He adds wisely, "Over-thinking only creates anxiety. Let me give you an example - stay out the whole day doing what you want, or sit at home in front of the news on television for an hour. See your manastithi (mental status) on both occasions. At home, you will find a strange anger rising within you. So, the best thing is to leave things to God and the audience."

Irrfan is also all praise for his QQS director, Tanuja Chandra, who has not yet given any hit in her career. "Its a new chapter now in her filmography," he says. "Its now more personal and delicate, and there are more relatable characters," he says.

The success formula

Having done so many big international films like The Warrior, Inferno, Life Of Pi and more, how does he look at humbler films like these? He explains, "All films are equally important to me. A story is never small, though the budgets may be small or big. It is not as if the 100-crore-film or international movie has a greater impact. Any film made from the heart is important. I act in every film from the heart too."

How does he choose his varied films? "There is no formula or system I follow," he replies. "I do every kind of film that fires me, but one thing I never do is think of the business a film will do," he replies. "By the grace of God, I have never been short of work in 20 years, in films or on television earlier. I just prayed that I get work that I like, and I think that has started happening now. I had no fear of getting work, but only about whether I will be able to reach the people with the kind of films I want to narrate."

When asked, Irrfan has a different take from the norm on doing intense and light roles. He says, "An intense role is taxing. It drains your energy and consumes you more, so you have to rewind and detox later to refresh yourself. When you are doing a comedy, you are already in a playful mode at work and so comedy is never taxing."

However, for obvious reasons, Irrfan prefers sync sound. "The fear that I have to bring back the intensity months after a shoot while dubbing later is very intense. Dubbing can be very difficult for an intense role," he explains.

What, for him, is the difference between an actor and a star? "There isnt much of a difference. If an actor entertains, gradually he is called a star, but I do try and stay far away from stardom," he smiles.

Irrfan has just completed the international film The Puzzle and is all set to star in Amazons political satire, The Ministry. Here, at home, he is doing films with Honey Trehan, Homi Adajania and Vishal Bhardwaj. About his Amazon debut, he simply says, "This is the first such satire on the digital medium. The script and series are being done by mature people, and its been quite a while before we did a theme like this: I remember a Manoj Kumar film made almost 50 years ago in which the song Ek Tara Bole was bitingly satirical."

Finally, a personal query. In all our conversations, this time and in the past, we have noticed the actors tendency to use pure Hindi words not in common usage, like manastithi, achambit (surprised) and parichit (familiar) instead of commoner Hindi or Urdu substitutes. There must be some background that has made his language so rich. "I think every language has its own beauty," he ponders, smiles and replies. "I am familiar with Hindi, Urdu and English literature, but I do not think in English. But I love this freedom to use mixed languages and pity those who have limitations of expression. That is the beauty of our culture - diversity in all aspects."

N Padmakumar, fondly known as Paddy, quit a successful career in advertising to write, direct and shoot a multi-lingual feature film, A Billion Colour Story, on what he sees as the growing intolerance in the country, a subject he feels very strongly about.

The film is narrated by 12-year-old Hari whose parents, Imran and Parvati Aziz, are film-makers. They have relocated from Australia to India so that Hari can be introduced to the many splendid colours of their country. But they discover making a film in India is no easy task, especially when financiers back off, and they are forced to sell their house to proceed with their shooting. Through their search, thereafter, for a rented apartment, Padmakumar reveals unpleasant truths. The inherent religious biases present in both Hindus and Muslims makes house-hunting for a non-practising multi-religious family a Herculean task. Using gentle humour, the writer-director exposes the double standards of both communities.

An agnostic himself, Padmakumar is of the opinion that offensive religious rituals of all religions need to be banned. "Religion is a private matter and dogma must not be thrust upon anybody," he believes. "Basically, the fabric of the country is one of inclusion but when political agendas of various hues sow seeds of divisiveness, it is dangerous, and we need to remind ourselves that we are not born as bigots."

Warm and touching, the film has been appreciated and awarded at numerous film festivals, within and outside India. We catch up with its maker to find out how it evolved:

When did you write this story?

In October 2015, in a 10-day burst.

What triggered the outburst?

It was a desperate need to try and get people to connect with their better, deeper selves. It was born out of a fear about the kind of world my own children would grow up in. All around us, germs of mistrust and intolerance seemed to be spreading, and the din was becoming cacophonic. The film also sprang from my belief that art of any kind must have a purpose beyond mere art, chronicle our times, show a new way perhaps, and explore a new, progressive, humane conversation.

Though you have shown intolerance of various kinds, your underlying tone is an optimistic one.

The need of our times is a new kind of heroism - the heroism of acceptance, forgiveness and tolerance of the other, the heroism of optimism in an era of rancour and division. We need stories of peace rather than revenge dramas, more stories of real-life heroes than superhero sagas, stories that reinforce our faith in each other instead of in a mythical messiah who may never arrive to save us. I have always believed in the hero that resides within each of us, and my stories will always reflect this.

What made you narrate the story through a 12-year-old Hari Aziz, who has a non-practising Muslim father and a non-practising Hindu mother?

A childs view of the world is always unprejudiced until it begins to get sullied by adults and their biases. By making this family an example of inclusiveness in its inherent form, I thought Hari Aziz would be symbolic of the India I dream of, but which is threatened by divisive elements. Haris innocence and uncoloured vision was something I expressed through the choice of shooting a major portion of the film in black and white. The idealism of his parents, who are Indophiles and religion-agnostic, is something I thought would be best conveyed through their childs outlook
towards his country.

Unlike your protagonist, you were fortunate to have actor-producer-director Satish Kaushik offering to come on board as co-producer.

I had already shot the whole film. Satishji, who acted in the last schedule as a stereotypical commercial film producer, came on board after that as a co-financier. It worked beautifully because he is an absolute fount of optimism and positivity. He was able to reach people who knew what we could do with the film.

He is the tall, strapping, good-looking Punjabi guy from Delhi who created a flutter when he won the coveted Mr India title in 1996. Cut to 2017: he is a recognised telly star and a corporate grooming expert. For Sachin Khurana, work spells sheer manna, as he goes about his hectic schedule every day.

"I play Anand, the progressive thinker, the uncle of the main lead in the serial Un Dino Ki Kahani," says Sachin with a smile, as we chat on the sets of his latest show that kicked off on air recently. It is an urban middle-class setting in Ahmedabad in the 90s when social media was still in its nascent stages. "Its a key role as it brings the main characters together and also adds a touch of open-mindedness to the proceedings in the serial," he says.

What made him sign on was the pivotal characterisation of his part, as well as the whiff of nostalgia that came along. "It has been an amazing experience, reliving the fashion sensibilities of the 90s by wearing high-waisted trousers and form-fitting shirts, with audio cassettes and old-fashioned television sets with knobs in the house. A sharp shift from the flatscreens and Bluetooth these days," he smiles.

Khurana has made his mark through several serials earlier, including Avinash IPS, Salaam Zindagi, Aapki Antara, Chandramukhi, Saat Phere: Saloni Ka Safar... His repertoire brings in his stalwart ramp presence in over 500 fashion shows on domestic and foreign turf, more than 200 advertisements, and a clutch of silver screen specials in Dasvidaniya, Ankur Arora Murder Case, Unforgettable and Pyaar Mein Twist.

But spinning off his rather magnetic presence, Sachin has also been taking sessions in corporate grooming. He recently shot a series of videos to train the multiplex personnel at PVR. "I played out the demeanour to be employed when say the projector whimpers, or someone misplaces a bag, or a person is sozzled... there are genteel, firm ways of handling such situations adroitly. So, soft skills go well beyond simply dining etiquette and time management," he asserts, and adds with a laugh, "These days, more importantly, you need to know what not to wear to work!"

So, which city is his favourite, Delhi or Mumbai? "Delhi for food, family, fun, and Mumbai for assignments, its cosmopolitan mix and fabulous culture," he grins. Prod him about what he is reading other than scripts at the moment, and he retorts, "Documentaries on harmful food intake. I am slowly making a shift towards vegetarianism; it is certainly a healthier way of life."

Isnt it tough, especially considering his passion for butter chicken? "Not really. There are brilliant protein houses in broccoli and dals for bodybuilding, and I find if vegetarian food is cooked well, it is more delicious than meat," he reveals.

Whats also keeping him busy in his spare time is social media as he is, by confession, a manic phone buff and an avid web addict. There are lots of interactions with fans through his Facebook page and Twitter account, and Sachin loves every second of the applause and appreciation that is flowing in for his latest show.

Living in the moment is a realisation Sachin counts as his biggest learning. "I believe in making the most of today as life is too short and unpredictable. Time rolls on so fast, it is unbelievable. Travel, love, live, laugh," he says. "I have grown up with a sizeable amount of attention since my early days, but I have my head firmly planted on my shoulders. Otherwise, it is just so easy to get carried away in the glamour world," he shares.

Whats his daily anthem? "I work out thrice a week at least at the gymnasium, or do weight training and a high-intensity workout. But my best solution to everything, even snapping out of a low mood, is to go for a run," confesses Sachin, as he readies to sprint off for his next shot. Clearly, nothing succeeds like action.

This is a mostly complete inventory of the times that sweet, sad Sam Smith cried over the course of two hours on a couch at the Chateau Marmont hotel, California, on a Friday morning: he cried when he talked about the house he grew up in; when he reminisced about a crush who turned on him; when he talked about his first voice teacher. He cried when he talked about writing Pray, a song from his new album, The Thrill of It All. He cried when he talked about the children he met in Mosul, Iraq, on a recent humanitarian mission, and then he looked down at the sparrow tattoo he got on his arm when he returned home, with Be good, be kind written in Arabic beneath it, and he cried again. He cried talking about how much he cried when he watched the movie Inside Out. And he cried when he talked about love.

Its been more than three years since his first studio album, In the Lonely Hour, flung the planets brokenhearted face down upon their beds anew with its wet-pillowed, dark-soul despondence. Its been that long since his lovely, million-faceted voice called out to the bereft, the forsaken and the rejected and announced itself as this generations avatar of romantic despair. Its been almost that long since he became a real, live pop star: a four-time Grammy winner with five Top 10 singles, an Oscar winner all with one measly LP, less than an hours worth of music, to his name.

In troubled waters

In 2014, Smith did something revolutionary. He came out publicly as gay just as soon as his album was released. He was not going to leave the question of his sexuality to guesswork or rumour. He thought this was very enlightened, a gay pop singer just integrated into stardom without the waves and the hand-wringing and the controversy. The handful of out gay pop stars before him - including his idol, George Michael - mostly endured lengthy "are they or arent they?" periods before they publicly acknowledged that they were gay.

In the Lonely Hour was a little more than a half-hour crying jag about longing for a man - a straight, married one he was in love with whom he never so much as kissed. Nearly every song was about this: Stay With Me, the sad song about wanting a man to stay even when its clear hes not in love; Good Thing, the sad song about deciding that hes stayed too long waiting around. And, on the deluxe edition of the album, a cover of Whitney Houstons How Will I Know? which was not a sad song until he sang it.

He told Rolling Stone that he "had to be careful" so that straight people could sing along with his music, too. "I am not Sam Smith, the gay singer," he said at the time. "I am Sam Smith, the singer who happens to be gay." He gave an interview where he talked about Grindr and Tinder, the hookup apps, and how sad it was that all the possibility of love and serendipity came down to a swiping culture, and saying this offended some in the gay community too.

He accepted the Oscar for best original song for Writings on the Wall from Spectre, referring to an article hed read in which Ian McKellen had "said that no openly gay man had ever won an Oscar. If this is the case - even if it isnt the case - I want to dedicate this to the LGBT community all around the world."

Well, he woke up the morning after the Oscars to an assassinations worth of ridicule, including from an openly gay man who had won an Oscar. Sure, he quickly realised, the Oscar thing was wrong but the other stuff: why was it taken so badly? So what if he didnt like hookup apps? Hadnt people seen him, dressed like a 1950s lounge act, complete with a pompadour? What exactly about him seemed modern? He never said he was the spokesman for gay people. "Im not the most eloquent person," Smith says now. "I didnt get the best grades in school. I mean, Im just good at singing."

His parents signed him up for voice lessons when he wouldnt stop crooning throughout the house. He had a manager from the age of 11, then another, then another, each promising him that he would become very famous very soon. It didnt happen. He moved to London, where he tended bar. One day, he met Jimmy Napes, who introduced him to his eventual managers, who in turn introduced him to the electronic duo Disclosure, with whom he recorded the vocals for Latch, Disclosures single - and his breakout - in 2012.

The rest - the album, the tour - it all happened fast. He woke up the day after the Oscars, saw the chaos online, apologised, and slunk off. Why wasnt this working? People loved his music, but they were turning on him. He couldnt bear being thought of as a traitor to his people - he was so open about everything! Then, one day, he went to Australia for a show, and afterwards had a talk with his publicist there, a gay man who lives with his partner of 18 years. The publicist took Smith to the Stonewall, a gay bar in Sydney, for a drink one afternoon. He decided to help educate him, taking him to a gay bookshop.

"My mind just went," Smith said. He read the memoir Holding the Man, which blew his mind. He watched Paris Is Burning. He still has Tales of the City on his night table. Next, the Australians introduced him to drag. "I lived in a village in the middle of nowhere as an openly gay man from the age of 10 years old," Smith said. "I didnt meet another gay man until I was 19 when I moved to London. I just went gay clubbing a few times with some straight friends and with some girlfriends of mine, and then I became famous. I never got an opportunity to find my people in the gay community and find my friends."

Then he found George Michael. He had always been a fan of his music. He was 15 when he saw him in concert. But now, reading and watching interviews with him in his last years, after Michael came out, Smith found him to be a great mentor. "I just feel like Im going to offend someone every time I open my mouth," he said. "I feel like George Michael had a way of being authentic to himself and honest in a way that was warm."

Back at the interview in West Hollywood, he leaned back on the couch, looked up at the ceiling and blew a stream of breath out through pursed lips. "People forget but no one learns about gay history in school. Nothing. So I didnt know anything about my history as a gay man and then words like spokesperson are being thrown at me when Ive just brought out my first album," he said. "It scared me because I was like, I dont know anything about being gay, really."

Baring his soul

Some of the tracks are about Smith himself, including Burning, a sad song about pining for a man who has left; and One Last Song, a sad final ode to the man who was the subject of In the Lonely Hour. But he can now recount actual relationships in his songs. Hes still never been in the kind of magical Notebook love he longs for, he said, but about a year ago, he had a five-month relationship that took three breakups before the breakup took and which is the subject of Too Good at Goodbyes, the first single off the new album, which is in the Billboard Top 10 as of this writing. Hes been dating the actor Brandon Flynn, from Netflixs 13 Reasons Why, seeing where that goes.

Backstage at the Hollywood Bowl, Smith drank a cup of Throat Coat, and then took a Gaviscon for acid reflux. He sang through a cocktail straw while holding up a tissue to make it move with his breath to strengthen his throat muscles, something he learned from an opera singer. He motor-boated his lips. He was ready for the show. The next day, the news media would pick up a statement he made about feeling as much like a woman as a man, and social media would get on him for being too casual about gender fluidity when he identifies as a gay man. One day he will get it right, he said, his eyes shiny with big, sad Sam Smith tears.

The New York Times

Thirteen years ago, after receiving the worst critical thrashing of his life for the film Alexander, the Irish actor Colin Farrell came up with what he felt was a brilliant plan to cope with the humiliation. "Where can I wear a ski mask and not actually be put against the wall by a bunch of SWAT cops?" he recalls asking himself.

The answer: Lake Tahoe, where Farrell spent the next few days masked and drunk and fighting the urge to apologise to potential moviegoers for wasting their money and time. No anecdote fully captures a persons complexities, but this one helps explain the widespread fondness for Farrell. A sensitive scoundrel is hard to resist, especially a movie star with the wherewithal to admit that a public excoriation was, in the end, a good thing.

"I was due for a kick in the arse. I really, really was," Farrell, 41, said during a recent interview. "Because I was annoying. I had so much, so quick. I was so cocksure."

Farrell has undergone a metamorphosis since then and continues to shapeshift. A decade ago, he was playing the generic action hero, or trying to, but the big movie star suit was not a good fit - for his films, or for him. He drew middling reviews and cemented a reputation as a badly behaved bed hopper with an insatiable appetite for alcohol and drugs. After finally flaming out, he entered rehab the moment his last big film, the 2006 Miami Vice, wrapped.

But rather than lick his wounds or hold out to come back big, Farrell came back soulful and small, turning in performances in the 2008 indie In Bruges and the low-budget Crazy Heart that drew accolades. Lest anyone get too comfortable, Farrell has veered sharply left again, into rigorous art house territory, starring in the Greek director Yorgos Lanthimoss The Lobster, from 2015, and now The Killing of a Sacred Deer.

Farrell met to chat in the cocktail lounge of his hotel near Piccadilly Circus in London, where he has been staying while filming Disneys live-action Dumbo, directed by Tim Burton. He has spent most of the past year on film sets and was aching to be back home in Los Angeles with his sons, ages 14 and 8.

"I say this as someone who is really aware of how fortunate I am; the worlds smallest violin should not play for me," he said. "Im just ready to step away from all of it. I really just want to go on a hike and see my boys and go on a road trip."

Before Dumbo, which he said he liked working on very much - "there are fire eaters and guys walking on balls and trapeze artists and Tim Burton running around with a stick. Its genius" - Farrell was in Chicago filming Widows with Steve McQueen, and before that working on Roman J. Israel, Esq. with Denzel Washington. And before that was The Killing of a Sacred Deer, which was shot last summer in Cincinnati and, of Farrells recent films, has perhaps affected him the most.

David, his Lobster character, was doughy, inward, guileless and desperately lonely, all of which felt especially poignant coming from a live wire like Farrell, who said he felt great liberation in being so contained. "There was no attempt and no desire, as written, to be in any way cool, any way interesting, any way suave," he said.

But Steven, the heart surgeon he played in Killing, is cunning and arrogant, and by the end of the production, Farrell said, he felt very depressed. He was drawn to the part by the same tug that drew him to The Lobster, finding brilliance in the twisted worlds Lanthimos creates. And in Farrell, Lanthimos said he found a true creative partner.

For all his work on big films, Farrell has long preferred smaller films anyway and the specific stories they can tell. When Martin McDonagh approached him to play a hit man for In Bruges, basically throwing him a lifeline, he almost turned down the part. Hed been in a string of bad movies and was still feeling the lingering burn of his Alexander the Great movie.

For Farrell, it was a shaky time. He was scant months out of rehab, having finally caved to his familys pressures to get straight. Asked what hastened his bottoming out, Farrell quipped, "Just existing." But really, he added, it was the intensity of sudden fame, which came fast after Joel Schumacher cast him in Tigerland (2000) and then Phone Booth (2002).

"Getting all these platitudes and things being said about you, and all these gifts, it wasnt in my DNA to believe any of this stuff," he said. "You try and match the hype, but I never believed it."

He was glad that those days were behind him, he said, not least because sobriety has made him a much better dad. His first son, James Padraig, was born in 2003 (Jamess mother is the model Kim Bordenave), and initially, Farrell figured hed be his sons friend. "Cause thats what a six-month-old grub needs," he cracked, "a 27-year-old drunk, high friend."

He had his second son, Henry, with his former girlfriend the actor Alicja Bachleda-Curus. Farrell shares custody of his sons and says he cant think of a decision he has made in the last dozen or so years without thinking about how it would impact them.

Now his life centres on the boys, his home in the Los Feliz neighbourhood of Los Angeles, yoga ("I said I love it, I didnt say Im doing it"), and saunas ("very purifying"). "He was a wild guy, and now I think hes channelled all of that into his family, and his work," said the director Dan Gilroy, who said he cast Farrell in Roman Israel in part because he knew he could hold his own with Denzel Washington.

Farrell said he planned to take a long break, and he was open to whats next, be it action heroes, even though he loathes guns ("Hate em!") or, in the vein of Lanthimoss films, more unsexy roles, even if he might be somewhat alone in characterising them that way.

The New York Times

ARIES
Mar 22-Apr 20
You are in an excited mood this week. There could be some expensive purchases. But dont go on an impulsive spending spree as you may regret it later. Some episode in personal relationships might take centre stage later and also demand significant time and energy. Lucky Gem: Red Coral; Lucky Colour: Crimson; Lucky Number: 9

TAURUS
Apr 21-May 21
The domestic environment keeps you preoccupied now. There could be an ongoing repair work that is frustrating. A surprise visit from a loved one sets your heart aflutter, but you may have to deal with some dilemmas too. Money matters are not favourable now. Lucky Gem: Diamond; Lucky
Colour: Green; Lucky Number: 6

GEMINI
May 22-June 21
The week opens up with a bit of travel and sibling issues. There may be some brainstorming around taking up a new office space or moving to a new house. You will need to accommodate differing opinions. Matters related to children may involve significant expenses. Lucky Gem: Emerald; Lucky Colour: Yellow; Lucky Number: 5

CANCER
June 22-July 23
You may come across a spot of luck as the week begins. There could be a promotion, gain of money or added perks. You are able to establish yourself as an expert in your area of work and this boosts your morale. You may be required to undertake a short-distance travel. Lucky Gem: Natural Pearl; Lucky Colour: White; Lucky Number: 2

LEO
July 24-Aug 21
You make a definite attempt to improve your physical appearance as well as public image. You take measures to embrace a new lifestyle change. Some may be joining a new place of work: a change that brings in financial strength and a greater sense of security. Lucky Gem: Ruby; Lucky Colour: Orange; Lucky Number: 1

VIRGO
Aug 22-Sep 21
You might be chasing a deadline at work, trying to finish a task in good time. Some may be away from home and actively planning completion of pending tasks so that they can get back to their loved ones with a peace of mind. Some may look into a new work suggestion that offers greater independence and is also to their liking. Lucky Gem: Emerald; Lucky
Colour: Blue; Lucky Number: 5

LIBRA
Sep 22-Oct 23
There are get-togethers. Some may also receive a gift or money. The health of a loved one could make you anxious. But you are able to get a grip on things pretty soon. There could be a dramatic change of appearance and people notice an increase in your charm and charisma. Lucky Gem: Diamond; Lucky Colour: Sky Blue; Lucky Number: 6

SCORPIO
Oct 24-Nov 21
The week will be all about how you handle crisis and divergent opinions with ease at work. A lack of empathy and a new cultural environment at a new project could lead to misunderstandings. There are increased interactions with people and travel to distant shores later. Lucky Gem: Red Coral; Lucky Colour: Maroon; Lucky Number: 9

SAGITTARIUS
Nov 22-Dec 21
You could be wrapping up a stint at an old place of work, or moving away from a project after spending some significant time on it. While goodbyes are definitely difficult, there could also be excitement about something new on the platter. Pay attention to your health. Lucky Gem: Yellow Sapphire; Lucky Colour: Purple; Lucky Number: 3

CAPRICORN
Dec 22-Jan 20
There may be difficulty in concentrating at work as personal issues invade your mind. Decide whether you want the overwhelming relationships to keep disturbing you, or you may want to draw clear boundaries! A long-distance travel plan may be drawn up. Lucky Gem: Blue Sapphire; Lucky Colour: Dark Blue; Lucky Number: 8

AQUARIUS
Jan 21-Feb 19
The week could bring some kind of closure to a troublesome relationship. You realise that there is enough support from loved ones to see you through this tough period. Relationship with in-laws may be a tad bit rough too. Avoid arguments and sparring anyway. Lucky Gem: Blue Sapphire; Lucky Colour: Black; Lucky Number: 8

PISCES
Feb 20-Mar 21
You could face some concerns while finding suitable help for a specific assignment. There could also be a dent in your profitability because of the same. Its an exciting time for those in the creative fields as a new partnership or offer to collaborate comes their way. A legal matter may keep stretching for a longer time than anticipated. Lucky Gem: Sapphire; Lucky Colour: Sea Green; Lucky Number: 9

When Ganesh Devy, a former professor of English, embarked on a search for Indias languages, he expected to walk into a graveyard, littered with dead and dying mother tongues.

Instead, he says, he walked into a "dense forest of voices," a noisy Tower of Babel in one of the worlds most populous nations.

He discovered that some 16 languages spoken in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh have 200 words for snow alone, some of them ornately descriptive like "flakes falling on water," or "falling when the moon is up."

He found that the nomadic communities in the desert state of Rajasthan used a large number of words to describe the barren landscape, including ones for how man and animal separately experience the sandy nothingness. And that nomads, who were once branded "criminal tribes" by British rulers and now hawk maps for a living at Delhis traffic crossings, spoke a "secret" language because of the stigma attached to their community.

In a dozen villages on the western coast of Maharashtra, not far from the state capital Mumbai, he discovered people speaking an "outdated" form of Portuguese. A group of residents in the far-flung eastern archipelago of Andaman and Nicobar spoke in Karen, an ethnic language of Myanmar. And some Indians living in Gujarat even spoke in Japanese. Indians, he found, spoke some 125 foreign languages as their mother tongue.

In focus

Devy, an untrained linguist, is a soft-spoken and fiercely determined man. He taught English at a university in Gujarat for 16 years before moving to a remote village to start working with local tribespeople. He helped them access credit, run seed banks and healthcare projects. More importantly, he also published a journal in 11 tribal languages.

It was around this time Devy had an epiphany about the power of language.

In 1998, he carried 700 copies of his journal written in the local language to a dirt-poor tribal village. He left a basket for any villager who wanted to or could afford to pay 10 rupees for a copy. At the end of the day, all the copies were gone. When he checked the basket, he found a large of number of currency notes - "grimy, crumpled, soggy" - left behind by the tribal villagers who had paid whatever they could afford from their paltry daily wages.

"This must have been the first printed material they saw in their life in their own language. These were unlettered daily wage workers who had paid for something they could not even read. I realised this primordial pride and power of the language," Devy told me.

Seven years ago, he launched his ambitious Peoples Linguistic Survey of India (PLSI), which he called a "right-based movement for carrying out a nation-wide survey of Indian languages as people perceive them."

As the indefatigable language hunter turned 60, he undertook 300 journeys in 18 months across the length and breadth of India to search for more languages. He paid for his trips using money he earned by delivering lectures in universities and colleges. He travelled night and day, revisiting some states nearly 10 times, and religiously kept a diary.

Devy also forged a voluntary network of some 3,500 scholars, teachers, activists, bus drivers and nomads, who travelled to the remotest parts of the country. Among them was a driver of a bureaucrats car in the eastern state of Orissa who kept a diary of the new words he heard during his extensive travels. The volunteers interviewed people and chronicled the history and geography of languages. They also asked locals to "draw their own maps" on the reach of their language.

"People drew maps shaped like flowers, triangles, circles. These were maps of their imagination on the reach of their language," says Devy.

By 2011, the PLSI had recorded 780 languages, down from the 1,652 languages counted by the government in 1961. Thirty-nine of a planned 100 books carrying the findings of the organisations survey have already been published; and some 35,000 pages of typed manuscripts are being vetted for publication.

Loss of words

India has lost a few hundred languages because of lack of government patronage, dwindling number of speakers, poor primary education in local languages, and migration of tribespeople from their native villages. The death of a language is always a cultural tragedy, and marks the withering away of wisdom, fables, stories, games and music.

"I feel sad every time a language dies. But we have suffered heavier losses in other diversities - like varieties of fish and rice," he says, sitting in his home in Dharwad. "Our languages have survived tenaciously. We are truly a linguistic democracy. To keep our democracy alive, we have to keep our languages alive."

The New York Times