My love for cooking began after I got married. But the real interest began when our first child was born. In order to give her healthy yet tasty food, I started making different kinds of dishes. I love churning out different dishes using the same ingredients.

I was 15 when I made my first potato curry. That was the easiest thing I could think of at that time. Thanks to my mothers excellent cooking skills, I got the interest naturally.

To understand how one curry can be made in so many ways interested me a lot. A few of my friends and I used to stay in a house when we were in college. So we cooked together. Coming from different parts of the country, it was a great way to taste different traditional dishes.

I remember the first time I baked, it was a disaster. However, my family still finished the entire dish as they saw the effort I had put into making it. My family has been very supportive that way.

My husband is a foodie and is a great cook. He constantly appreciates my cooking and also gives his inputs too. On weekends, we both cook together and have a good time. We even got a few earthen pots to cook special vegetable dishes.

Cinnamon is my favourite ingredient and I use it in most of my dishes. For me, a proper set of knives, an earthen pot, a kadai and mustard oil are the must-haves in the kitchen.

I have a secret recipe diary, where I have been collecting newspaper cuttings of published recipes since my college days. I usually refer to them and try something for a special occasion. I also follow different blogs and try recipes that are being shared.

Today, I am sharing the recipe for Beetroot Coconut Ladoo. Most kids and even adults are not fond of beetroot. But beetroot is exceptional in its nutritional value. It is low in fat, full of vitamins and minerals and packed with powerful antioxidants. Hence, in order to make beetroot a part of ones diet, try this yummy ladoo recipe which uses beetroot and coconut. These ladoos can also be served as dessert for guests and can be stored in the fridge for seven to eight days.

Ingredients

Tightly packed freshly grated coconut - 2.5 cups
Ghee - 2 tsp
Sweetened condensed milk - 1 tin or 400 gm
Cardamom powder - 2 tsp

Desiccated or fresh coconut for coating - 1/2 cup
Beetroots - 2 medium sized
Note: 1 cup is equal to 250 ml

Method

Sauté two cups of tightly packed fresh grated coconut in two tsp ghee/unsalted butter. This step is done to get rid of some moisture of the coconut. Make sure to not brown the coconut. Keep on stringing the coconut while sautéing and put off the flame after four to five minutes.

Take two medium sized beetroot and grind them in a mixer. Now with the help of a sieve separate the juice from the pulp. Keep the juice aside. The pulp can be added in flour to make chapatti or can also be added in curries.

Now separate the sautéed coconut into two halves.

Take the first half in a kadai (wok) and add half of the condensed milk into it. Stir well and cook this mixture on low flame till the mixture begins to thicken. Keep on stirring continuously.

Add one tsp cardamom powder and stir well. When the mixture begins to leave the sides of the kadai and when you see some coconut fat from the sides switch off the flame and take it out in a plate. Allow the mixture to cool.

Now, take the other half of coconut and put this in the kadai too. Add the remaining condensed milk and the beetroot juice into this. Add one tsp cardamom powder. Cook this mixture on a low flame till the mixture begins to leave the sides of the kadai and you see the coconut fat. Switch off the flame and take it out in a plate. Allow the mixture to cool.

When the mixture has cooled completely, make small balls from the beetroot mixture. Keep these ladoos aside.

Now take the coconut mixture and divide it into the same number of portions as the beetroot balls.

Take the coconut mixture and flatten it. Place one beetroot ball inside it and cover it with the coconut mixture to make a perfect round ladoo.

Coat this mixture with the desiccated fresh coconut by rolling the ladoos in to it.

Repeat this step with the remaining mixture.

Coconut beetroot ladoos are ready to be served.

Nutritional Info:

Beetroot is of exceptional nutritional value. It is low in fat, full of vitamins and minerals and packed with powerful antioxidants. Beetroots are also an excellent source of folic acid and a good source of fiber, manganese and potassium.

Coconut is a complete food rich in calories, vitamins, and minerals. The important saturated fatty acid in the coconut is lauric acid. Lauric acid increases good-HDL cholesterol levels in the blood.

Prachi Tripathi

The Grammy verdict is out, with no Indian artiste on the list. Musicians in Bengaluru arent really surprised. And no one should be, they tell Metrolife.

M R JAGADEESH
Composer and founder of band MoonArra
"The Grammy is an American award which has caught the imagination of people worldwide. It is driven by American music companies. For an Indian album to win the award in the world music category, it needs to be published in the States. We have a lot of non-film and independent music produced in India. But for it to get recognition there, it needs processing in the States. So it will take some time. However, creating music goes beyond awards!"

HARISH SIVARAMAKRISHNAN
Vocalist, Agam
"Indian music needs to be heard more widely in its true form in the Western world. Their exposure to Indian classical and folk music is limited, despite many of our greats performing and collaborating with musicians there. Some amount of cultural stereotyping creeps in and anything that doesnt fit that narrative doesnt get picked up, even if there is a collaborator from the West involved. Lastly it seems nearly impossible to get your voice heard as a solo producer from India, making purely native music.

PRAKASH SONTAKKE
Vocalist, instrumentalist and Grammy winner
"We really need more by way of promotion. Independent music exists in all pockets but has no
consolidated group to promote it, like there is in Bollywood. What we also need to do is create good videos for independent music. Not many here know how to apply for a Grammy. You should keep applying, but then, it involves a lot of money."

Box:

Grammy goes to....
Album of the year: 24K Magic (Bruno Mars)
Song of the year: Thats What I Like
Best pop solo performance: Shape of You (Ed Sheeran)
Best pop vocal album: ÷ (Ed Sheeran)
Best rock performance: You Want It Darker (Leonard Cohen)
Best R&B performance: Thats What I Like (Bruno Mars)
Best rap performance: HUMBLE. (Kendrick Lamar)
Best country solo performance: Either Way (Chris Stapleton)

A popular stand-up comedian once thanked his stars he was born in India. He didnt really have to think too hard for material; half an hour of the daily news was enough to provide fodder for a dozen or more shows.

Now who can refute this, especially in the light of minister Satyapal Singhs take on Darwins theory of evolution: "None of our ancestors has seen an ape turning into a man."

That he thinks evolution is as quick and snappy as instant coffee would have been funny had it not been for the fact that he heads a department overseeing the functioning of Indias education system.

Clearly, he knows his mythology more than his science. He had earlier called for IIT students to be taught about the pushpaka vimana, a mythical flying chariot mentioned in the Ramayana.

So unless he had the privilege of hitching a ride in the contraption, it is safe to say he doesnt always go by the principle of seeing is believing.

Politicians and science have had a somewhat troubled relationship. Time and again, they have blurted out things
that make dead scientists squirm in their graves and existing ones scratch their heads.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed the elephant head of god Ganesha was a shining example of plastic surgery. Devnani Vasudev, Rajasthans education minister, extolled
the cow as the only animal that exhales oxygen.

As if this were not enough, he claimed cow dung has enough vitamin B to soak up radioactivity. That left the populace wondering about what was better: standing in front of the cow or the back.

There are more such gems. BJP member Shankarbhai N claimed cow dung and urine could treat cancer while Union minister Radha Mohan Singh wanted farmers to try their hand at yogic farming to send out vibrations of peace and love across the land.

Ignorance does not discriminate between parties.
Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress stalwart, said people do nothing but produce babies during power cuts. Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit said Rs 600 a month was enough to feed a family of five. And Mamata Banerjee, firebrand chief minister of West Bengal, attributed a rise in rape cases to free interaction between men and women.

The list goes on.

Oh, and in other news, the hands of the Doomsday Clock stand at two minutes to midnight, closer than they have ever been. Just saying!

The food culture of Bengaluru is to die for, chefs at the two-day Young Chef Olympiad (YCO) say. John Wood, internationally renowned Michelin-star executive chef, is no stranger to Indian food. If theres one dish he really cant get enough of it is black dal."It is a simple dish, and if cooked right with the right amount of spices, nothing can match up to it," he says. John believes a combination of Indian spices can change the dynamics of a dish. "Arriving at the perfect blend is a challenge in itself," he says.

Scott Baechler, who has worked as executive chef at The Four Seasons Whistler, Canada, is currently a culinary instructor at the Canadian Food and Wine Institute, Niagara College. He thinks Indian dishes have multiple layers that can be deciphered only by those with multiple skills. "The young generation is more informed, with a diverse palette. They look at Indian cooking and Indian food as an art form that requires a lot of thought, imagination and dedication," reasons Scott. He feels his cooking is incomplete without curry leaves.

Scott is also an admirer of black dal, especially with naan. "This is the first dish that I ordered when I got off the plane and landed in India a few years ago," he says.The food scene in India is alive and vibrant because of the presence of smaller restaurants, Scott believes. Andreas Muller, program director at the International Culinary Institute (ICI) of the Vocational Training Council (VTC) in Hong Kong, is in Bengaluru for the first time.

"Indian food is popular in Hong Kong. We have a mix of pocket-friendly and posh Indian restaurants there," he says. He describes north Indian food as heavy, spicy and robust when compared to what is served in the south. "Theres really no Indian dish that I havent tried. Every dish has a unique flavour," he adds. He loves turmeric for its medicinal value.

"Also, it enhances the flavour and keeps cholesterol in check. I add a pinch of turmeric to all dishes," he says. He confesses he is floored by the open and authentic food culture of India, and Bengaluru in particular.

Under the new Swacch Bharat Mission system, cities are ranked, like star hotels, by the number of stars they get.

Citizens are wondering how the new system will work. But they know where the city is lacking.

The most common complaints are irregular door-to-door waste collection, clogged stormwater drains, unswept roads, and the lack of an efficient grievance redressal system.

Shilpa Narendra, a high school teacher from Chandra Layout, points out that the roads are spick and span just before elections, but otherwise, are strewn with dry leaves.

She is also concerned about the return of plastic. "When the ban came into effect a couple of years ago, vendors in this area were careful not to use plastic bags, but no one seems to care now," she laments.

Waste collection is a constant worry, says Shreevalli Prasad, customer care head at a hospital, and resident of Sahakarnagar.

"The door-to-door collection does not happen in time. Sometimes the workers dont turn up at all. This leads to people dumping waste on empty sites and creating piles of waste at street corners," she says.

Waste storage bins are placed by businesses, but there no public bins are around. Most people dont carry plastic and other waste back home, which means they litter public spaces, Shreevalli observes.

In Mathikere, homemaker Ranjani Suresh says, waste segregation is not practised.

"Door-to-door waste collection is not regular either. The dumping waste on empty sites needs to stop. Spot fines could help control the situation," she says.

Irregular maintenance of stormwater drains is another concern. "Work on one of the drains near JP Park has been on for a while but is not efficient. People regularly dump waste into drains," she says.

Ranjani feels the need for regular awareness campaigns and a tighter rating system. "Despite being a beautiful city in terms of its people and character, we have a long way to go to make it a pretty place to live in," she laments.

Filmmaking for me has been a life-changing experience. This journey started off with Station in 2012. Though the film hit the screens only in 2014, there was so much that went into making it a reality.

The entire film triggered a lot of conversation as the cast was from Bengaluru.

We were looking for a deserted station for the shoot and there was none in the city which had a cinematic appeal. A station, like the one in Naseeruddin Shah-starrer Ijaazat, was what we were looking for. We travelled 100 km North, South, East and West of Bengaluru. Finally, just like a line in the script, we found a station which is 40 km away from the city.

The norms of the Railways can be exhausting and we had to seek permission for the shoot.

Luckily for us, we didnt have any shots with passengers or elaborate train scenes. There was a train which would come every Thursday. The engine would get detached and it will chug away. It would come back on Monday and chug away with the bogies. So we had a train we could shoot with for a few days. We planned our schedule according to this.

The entire film was shot in 17 nights which spanned across two years. Yes, you read that right! This required my actors to sport unkempt beards for a long time. I still remember one of them giving me a dirty look for his vagabond-like appearance.

The station master Mr Abdul was a sweetheart. We had a wonderful chemistry and he was very cooperative. Amidst our shoot, there was another peer of his who came from another station for two days.

He tried to make things difficult for us and obviously wanted to make a few quick bucks. With all the challenges, we were facing regularly, I couldnt take it anymore. We went and lay down on the tracks threatening to not get up until I was allowed to resume shoot.

He broke into a smile and finally everything went back to normal. I think every artiste in his or her life goes through such moments, where they go out of their way to get something done.

Once, we were at the station with the entire cast setting up the scene when something just didnt seem right. My cinematographer and I were standing at the station and 45 minutes later, we realised that the train wasnt there. This was a moment of realisation and exasperation for us.

Across two years, we had four shooting schedules which taught us different things. The struggles of getting free locations to shoot at, scenes on roads at night, the enthusiastic and cooperative autodrivers of Kalasipalya -- all evoke amusing memories.

You just cannot foresee everything you need, especially when you are working in an independent film. In fact, I used to tell everyone that it is an in dependent film. The three seconds of special thanks to everyone still doesnt pay it all off.

There are just too many people I should thank. People around who would help us with refreshments; Abdul, who would help us with whatever he could and so on. We initially had trouble from the cops too, but later on we had extra-sweet moments. During one schedule, a traffic cop sat with me in front of the monitor for two hours. When I said okay to a shot, he immediately said one more togoli and how he felt the scene need to be perfected. I couldnt stop smiling.

I can never forget the dinner at Abduls house. He has three daughters. I dont remember how many of them were married. I do remember being teased by everyone that I had come to the station single and that I am all set to race against time and Track forward, my friend.

One makes a mistake with every film. No director is perfect and no story is immortal. Now, whenever I think about Station, emotional, dramatic and fun are some of the words that come to my mind. I always feel that it is because of all the energy we were surrounded with that Station made it to the theatres.

When it comes to Indian bridal couture, it has certain prominent features that create an Eastern traditional appeal in it. Century-old apparel is still an integral part of the Indian culture and tradition. Weddings are a pretty grand affair in Indian culture. No matter how modern you are, you just cant escape this grand celebration as everyone in the family has been eagerly waiting for this big day since you were born.

Everyone wants to see the most gorgeous bride of the town at a wedding which in turn becomes ones responsibility to fulfil. Well, somewhere down the line you too want to give your best shot to this beautiful day and dream to fall in the list of the most iconic brides of the season. To make that happen, you need to be in touch with latest fashion updates and hacks.

Make sure that you do what goes with your individual personality and style statement to achieve the desired appeal and call it a statement.

Bridal charm is something which separates a woman from the crowd. Apart from that, all the extra efforts you make to enhance your look decides the overall grandeur of the wedding. Styles you see on the ramp dont always have to suit you. So, make sure to take inspiration from them and pick something to suit your body type and personality.

Flare fair

Flare is the latest and hottest trend of the season and you cant avoid it anyway. While picking your wedding outfit, keep this point in mind to make it to the list of most stunning brides of the season and strut like a diva. The extra flare attracts more eyes and it looks exceptionally classic and princess-like. Whether its the lehenga or the anarkali gown you are going to need that extra bit to make the flare stand out.

Shimmy shimmer

Shimmer, shimmer and some more shimmer! Nothings more bling than bling itself. Pick subtle colours to suit your skin tone with shimmers to make that entry at your wedding. The entire outfit is going to stand out and youll be the star on your big day. Take inspiration from the international designers collections, go brave with the colours like champagne, frost blue and lilac while keeping traditional colours like red and maroon at bay.

Pretty pastels and florals

Drawing inspiration from the star weddings, the floral and pastels are the it thing in bridal fashion this season. Florals can be implemented everywhere in the outfit. The famous floral Sabyasachi printed lehengas and saris are a candy to own for at least one event for your wedding. Make sure to pick one colour to take the centrestage while you work around it to compliment the event.

Sari remix

Who said the sari has to be the usual heavy gold bordered traditional one. With drapes making its appearance, saris are now made into gowns that you can slip into but yet have the grace of a traditional sari. Try the latest sari gown attire to dress like a true 2018 bride and bring people to their knees to complement your incredible fashion sense.

A princess trail

Let everyone know that the bride is coming...

The long trail gowns and lehengas have become vehemently popular recently due to their luxurious and royal appeal. These ethereal silhouettes are the best choice to add volume and glamour to your overall ensemble. Also, you dont need to put extra efforts on other things as your wedding dress is enough to cast magic and do wonders to your personality. When you have planned to tie a knot with the forever love of your life, why not do it in style?

Layered up

Layer, layer and some more layers! The more the layers, the more will be the fun! Since fashion has multiple ways to end the curiosity, the layering game takes charge. The layered bridal silhouettes have become a huge craze among the young generation and these weaves look ethereal with matching jewellery and accessories.

Also, your dream of a fairytale wedding can be easily met with such exquisite trousseau. This sure needs a trick to make it work for your bodytype but will make one hell of a bridal look.

Above all, make sure to choose an outfit that balances your personality. Not all styles are for everyone but one can take inspiration to make it work for every bodytype and style.

Lisa Ray radiates a warmth which is the sum of everything that she has gone through. The story of her life is one of inspiration and she is only willing to narrate it over and over again.

It was in the 90s - when she was 16 â€" that she graced the cover of a fashion magazine. As history would have it, there was no looking back after that.

Many ad campaigns and significant parts in movies (Bollywood, Hollywood, Water, I Cant Think Straight, The World Unseen) followed. In her own words, she becoming an actor was a happy accident.

Destiny, however, had a different plan when she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Not one to budge, Lisa spoke about it on public arenas but never for a moment thought she would succumb to it. She calls herself a cancer graduate but is politely reluctant to bear the mantle of any other label.

The Toronto-born actor was in the city recently to launch the I Can Sir campaign at Manipal Hospitals ahead of World Cancer Day and in a candid chat with Anupama Ramakrishnan, looks back with pride and confidence at her life, one that is all about reinstating Carpe Diem.

The energy that you exude, in spite of all that you have gone through -- where does that come from?

I dont know (laughs). Its just life, I guess. I am a happy person and full of gratitude.

You have a multitude of labels - actor, model, TV show presenter, writer - which one do you think best describes you?

I hate labels basically. Im, well, just me. Honesty, I dont think I would use any of those labels. I am just another human being, a cancer graduate.

You have given the word cancer survivor a positive tone by always calling yourself a cancer graduate. How did that come about?

Having cancer has been a learning experience. I think you have heard a lot of cancer survivors say that it is a huge lesson for them. Life never goes back to what it was before. You are kind of a university that you hope you graduate from but you come out different and that why I call it cancer graduation.

You are a dedicated practitioner of yoga and meditation, did this come about after you were diagnosed?

I learnt yoga and meditation before I was diagnosed but not when I was a child.

You seem to love outdoors and have a close bonding with nature. Would you like to tell us about your favourite retreat?

Thats a tough one to answer, a really tough one. Ive been a nomad since a young age. I was 16 when I started working and have been on the go since. I do love nature at this point of my life. I prefer to be in the company of nature rather than in big cities and Ive lived in a lot of big cities. I think nature is healing. I would actually advice everyone to carve out some time to be in a natural environment and turn off your phones and power down. We get everything we need from nature.

Recently, some incredible poems of yours came out...Tell us more about this side of yours, perhaps relatively unknown...

Oh yes! (beams) Ive been writing for years, Im hoping to spend more time writing. Im finishing my book finally this year and then Ill have more time, hopefully to write. Poetry is something that I have been writing for a long time and I hope to put them together in a book after my memoir comes out.

2018 will mark the fourth year of the Modi government in office and the penultimate year before the general elections scheduled for April-May 2019.

With the December 2017 state election victories for the BJP/NDA in Gujarat
and Himachal Pradesh, markets may heave a sigh of relief. However, the question remains: Will the government stick to the path of economic reforms, or focus on populism before 2019?

It would be safe to bet on reforms, and we base this on a number of factors including potential of easier implementation of reforms since 19 out of 29 states in India are now under BJP/NDA rule. Several reforms including improvements to the Direct Tax Code, e-way bill, real estate sector, and banking sector, among others are on the anvil.

The reforms agenda has also been recognised globally - India has jumped 30 spots in the World Banks Ease of Doing Business ranking. Stellar foreign inflows this year, both FDI (+US$ 54.7 billion till October-end) and FPI (+US$ 8.5 billion till November-end), on the back of reforms are another factor.

The government reforms over the past couple of years could broadly be broken into three main categories:

n Crackdown on black money

n Financial inclusion through Aadhaar and Jan Dhan bank accounts, and

n Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of subsidies. These are critical long-term structural reforms, the benefits of which will be realised over the next few years, albeit causing near-term pain to growth and earnings.

However, this did not stop Indian equities from rallying sharply in 2017 - up 36% in USD terms or 28% in INR terms. The obvious question has been on high valuations and its sustainability. This run-up has been a part of the broader EM rally and India is not an outlier. Markets are certainly at a high, but valuations are not. An earnings catch-up could certainly help sustain these valuations. Corporate earnings are expected to see a broad-based recovery in FY19 and FY20. Along with the positive base effect, a mix of global cyclicals (metals), autos, oil marketing companies and banks may be the key drivers for this.

After hitting a low of 5.7% in Q1 FY18, GDP growth recovered to 6.3% in Q2 FY18, and the upward trend is expected to continue. With demonetisation behind us, implementation of the 7th Pay Commission along with the higher government spending on the rural segment could help support demand. This should benefit consumer facing companies like staples, consumer durables and other under-penetrated sub-sectors, which will also benefit from initiatives on "Housing for All" and "Power for All".

On the flows front, domestic flows, led by mutual funds, are expected to continue to outpace foreign flows for the fourth year in a row in 2018, as India is finally witnessing a shift from physical to financial savings which looks more structural.

Emerging Markets (EMs) have seen equity inflows of ~70 billion in 2017 so far, which is after four years of net outflows from EMs.

Global portfolio managers are underweight EM equities, leaving more room for additional buying in EMs and India.

The INR continues to remain one of the best performing currencies since the Taper Tantrum in 2013 and has also been amongst the least volatile. This trend is expected to continue over the next few years with RBI committed to keeping the currency stable, and with the improvement in forex reserves and FDI.

While the broad outlook for India may remain positive, there are certain risks which investors must consider. These include a shortfall in the yearly GST collection, which could negatively impact fiscal deficit, rising oil prices
which could lead to higher current account deficit, rising inflation (higher oil and food price base effect), and geo-politics (Chinas growing influence and strength in the region).

There are four key themes that could drive growth in 2018 and beyond:

n Increase in per-capita GDP boosting the India consumption story â€" and a consequent shift from unorganised to organised sectors.

n Penetration of financial services (retail and corporate credit, insurance, asset managers).

n The next investment cycle led by government capex on Oil & Gas, Defence, Roads, Railways, and Urban Infra.

n Export opportunities in segments vacated by China, such as textiles and speciality chemicals.

2017 has been a very healthy year for equity markets across the board. Going into 2018, market returns are more likely to be linked to earnings growth, given that valuations are already above average.

As seen over the last year, bottom-up stock picking has created considerable alpha, and investors therefore may need to identify the right combination of stocks and sectors that can outperform the broader market.

(The writer is Chief Investment Officer and Head of Equities at DSP BlackRock Mutual Fund)

First, a confession: I still wear my cap backward when I play tennis, even at a certain age.

So I come subjectively to this subject as I note that many years after the Swedish pro Mikael Pernfors inspired some of my generation of hackers to reverse our caps, and years after Australias Lleyton Hewitt made it definitively a thing in tennis, members of the new wave have acquired the taste, too.

They include the American Jack Sock, Lucas Pouille of France, Karen Khachanov of Russia and the flashy Canadian teenager Denis Shapovalov.

It has never been an entirely logical choice.

The point of a cap in tennis is, first and foremost, to keep the sun out of your eyes - the sort of sun that has been beating down on the players all week at this torrid Australian Open.

But the only way to keep the sun off your face is if the bill of the cap is facing the traditional direction.

"Backwards makes absolutely zero sense," said Brad Gilbert, an ESPN analyst and a longtime coach.

And yet Hewitts sartorial legacy seems safe and sound, even if it once appeared that the backward cap might go the way of the wooden racket in tennis when he finally faded from the scene.

Hewitt, 36, is not gone quite yet. After retiring at the Australian Open in 2016, he keeps coming back for cameos and is playing doubles in Melbourne with his good friend Sam Groth for Groths farewell tournament.

Guess which direction their caps were pointing when they won their first-round match last Thursday?

Hewitt has been wearing his that way since the beginning. Darren Cahill, who is also from Adelaide, Australia, remembers getting a call from Hewitts parents about the possibility of coaching him and then getting a knock on his door.

It was Hewitt, age 12, with his cap on backward.

"The first conversation with him, I asked, Why?" Cahill said.

"And he said, I just like it backwards. And I said, Arent you supposed to wear the peak of the cap to protect your nose and eyes and keep your eyes out of the sun?, and he said, No, I just like it backwards.

"And so I said, All right. That was honestly the first time Id ever seen it, and I think it was like a 10-second conversation, and I never asked him again. I think he wore that same cap for about three years straight."

Hewitt went on to beat Pete Sampras in a backward cap to win his first major title at the 2001 US Open, and though there were some notable bareheaded moments, including the Wimbledon final he won in 2002, the look was and remains his signature.

The younger set noticed.

"I started wearing a cap backwards just because I thought it was cool, to be honest," said Nick Kyrgios, the new and more unpredictable Australian No 1. "Just wearing that cap backwards meant that sort of grinding mentality. Lleyton sort of made that his own sort of thing."

Beyond tennis, the backward cap has a long history and the look is now ubiquitous: Barack Obama wears his cap backward on vacation, Paul Ryan in the weight room. But in tennis at least, the time for resistance has seemingly passed.

On court, the backward cap is indeed a grinder thing, a dig-in-and-do-whatever-it- takes-to-win the-marathon-point thing.

It might not keep the sun out of our eyes, but it can still keep some of the sweat out of our eyes. And once you get used to wearing one, it is also a security blanket in a sport where habits - good, bad or otherwise - can be hard to break.

"Ive been wearing my cap backwards for about five or six years now," said Maximilian Marterer, a 22-year-old German who qualified for the Australian Open. "I did it at first because I had long hair, and I wanted to keep it in place. But I cut it, and I dont really need it anymore. Its confidence, so Im keeping it."

Rafael Nadal, arranger of beverage bottles and adjuster of shorts, knows this all too well.

The French veterans Adrian Mannarino and Richard Gasquet also have been wearing their caps backward - a now-unusual move for Gasquet, who was once urged to ditch the style by a leading French tennis writer who saw it as a sign of his inability to grow up (or intimidate his opponents).

"Who is afraid of a backwards cap and the childlike silhouette it creates?" Philippe Bouin wrote in LEquipe 2007.

"Come on!" Hewitt might have barked in response.

Some have definitively moved on, though.

It is largely forgotten that Federer, the balletic antithesis of the grinder, wore his cap backward for much of the match when he made his Grand Slam debut at the French Open in 1999 at age 17, losing in the first round to the Australian star Patrick Rafter.

He soon switched to bandannas and started reserving the reversed cap for practice sessions, just like his longtime rival Rafael Nadal, even if Nadal seems much more of a natural for the get-down-to-business look.

Very few women have joined in: Eleni Daniilidou of Greece and Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan on occasion; Martina Navratilova in the very late phases of her long career.

But then few women wear caps at all on court. Even in the Australian heat, most opted for visors this week.

Daria Kasatkina, the rising Russian, says it is a ponytail problem: Put the hat backward and the ponytail rides too low.

Lucie Safarova, the Czech tennis star, thinks "women probably want to look more feminine with the visor, and the backwards look is more masculine."

Tastes and perceptions change, however, and as Hewitt exits and the Socks and Shapovalovs and the rest of us carry on, who knows who will be inspired next?

Armed with pieces of paper etched with their memories of sexual abuse, they stepped forward, one by one - nearly 100 of them, with more to come.

For four full days this week, in a fluorescent-lighted courtroom in Lansing, Michigan, women and girls - some of them the best gymnasts in the United States, others with dreams prematurely crushed, they said, by a man who now sat in handcuffs 10 feet away - leaned into a microphone to address him, sometimes through sobs, sometimes with screams, but always with determination.

Aly Raisman, 23, who won gold medals at the past two Summer Olympics, told of late-night knocks on her hotel door while she was competing overseas, as the man, Lawrence G Nassar, then the team doctor, arrived to abuse her.

A teammate at the 2012 London Games, Jordyn Wieber, who until Friday had not identified herself as a victim of Nassars, recalled the torment of the Games, where she was a part of the US team that won a gold medal but, she said, had to submit to his care under the auspices of the sports governing body, USA Gymnastics.

"Our bodies were all hanging by a thread in London," Wieber, 22, said. "Who was the doctor that USAG sent? The doctor who was our abuser."

For other young athletes just striking out, there seemed little they could do but give in, buckling under the pressure of knowing so many stars had seemingly benefited from him. And so a young gymnast named Chelsea Zerfas, now 15, spoke of anguished probing, under the guise of treatment, face down on an exam room table when she was 13, feeling helpless to challenge a doctor at that age.

The occasion of the hearing, to help a judge decide Nassars prospective sentence on state charges of nearly a dozen sexual assaults, appeared almost beside the point. He had been sentenced to 60 years in federal prison on a child pornography conviction, and the judge in this state court hearing has said that Nassar, 54, who has pleaded guilty to several sexual-assault charges, can expect to spend the rest of his life in prison.

But before then, she allowed victim impact statements from the 140 girls and women whom prosecutors accuse Nassar of abusing, leading to days of wrenching testimony that has evolved into not only a nationally televised reckoning of his crimes but an indictment of a sport that his victims say did little to protect them.

At the same time, the hearing has dovetailed with the continued expansion of the #MeToo movement that seeks to hold predatory men to account - in this case, in excruciating detail.

"Come hell or high water, we will find a way to take every last one of you down that could have stopped this monster," said Amy Labadie, a former gymnast who testified Friday. She added, "Its hard to see into the future and not think this will affect me forever."

Some of the victims described how the team doctors actions spawned suicidal thoughts and ruptured their families, how they hoped he would rot in prison, and how they desperately wanted the blame and repercussions to extend far beyond him - to the people and the organisations that turned a blind eye.

"Imagine feeling like you have no power and no voice," Raisman said. "Well, you know what, Larry? I have both power and voice, and I am only just beginning to use them. All these brave women have power, and we will use our voices to make sure you get what you deserve: a life of suffering spent replaying the words delivered by this powerful army of survivors."

Nassar pleaded guilty in November to seven counts of sexual assault, and his sentencing hearing, which began Tuesday, is now expected to continue next week, as the number of women who have wanted to speak in court has grown, from 88 to 105 to 120, at last count - emboldened by what has happened this week. Judge Rosemarie Aquilina said she had cleared her docket.

"You are all superheroes," the judge said after one of the victims, choking back tears, read her statement.

Raisman took clear aim at both USA Gymnastics and the US Olympic Committee. "Neither USA Gymnastics nor the USOC have reached out to express sympathy or even offer support," she said. "Not even to ask: How did this happen? What do you think we can do to help? Why have I and others here, probably, not heard anything from the leadership at the USOC? Why has the United States Olympic Committee been silent? Why isnt the USOC here right now?"

Mark Jones, a spokesman for the Olympic committee, said in a statement that it first became aware of the possibility that a physician with the gymnastics federation had been abusing athletes in 2015.

"At that time, USA Gymnastics indicated that they were in the process of contacting the appropriate law enforcement agencies," Jones said. "We are heartbroken that this abuse occurred, proud of the brave victims that have come forward and grateful that our criminal justice system has ensured that Nassar will never be able to harm another young woman."

At the same time, Jones said, the Olympic committee will continue to press for "meaningful change" in the gymnastics federation.

The federation has announced that it would cut ties with Karolyi Ranch, a renowned training facility that was one of the places where Nassar molested the gymnasts.

The impact of the trial, and Nassars history of assault, is spreading well beyond the courtroom. Michigan State University, which employed Nassar, was also facing increasing pressure after revelations that 14 people, including the president, Lou Anna K Simon, had been warned about his conduct.

Raisman added that she had not been planning to speak in court - "I was scared and nervous," she said - but decided to add her name to the list once she began listening to the impact statements that were delivered earlier this week.

"My dream," she said, "is that one day everyone will know what the words me, too signify, but they will be educated and able to protect themselves from predators like Larry so that they will never, ever, ever have to say the words, me, too."

The room filled with applause as Raisman thanked the judge and backed away from the microphone. More women were waiting their turn.

How good it would have been if we could control everything thats happening in our lives with just a click of a button. Though in reality, thats not possible, what seems to be possible now is controlling the prices of your favourite drinks thanks to the concept of bar stock exchange, that is fast catching up with many pubs and bars in the city.

Places like Tipsy Bull and Hammered Exchange run on the stock exchange concept, in which prices of the drinks change based on real-time demand and supply. This is supported by an app that helps customers keep a track of the fluctuating prices.

Tipsy Bull started the bar stock exchange concept three years back with its first branch in Bellandur. Explaining this concept further, director of Tipsy Bull, Arjun Singh, says, "Just like a stock market here, the prices of the drinks fluctuate. If the demand for a drink is higher, the price is higher and when the demand is less, the price is automatically less. To make it more engaging, customers can download an app and order their drinks directly rather than waiting for the server. To add to this excitement, we have frequent market crashes where people get a chance to steal the deal with all the prices dropping down drastically."

With this place pioneering the concept in the city, this bar has managed to attract many pub-goers to explore this fresh idea. Calling this concept a welcome break from the monotonous pub and bar visits is Farah Magi, a fashion blogger. She says, "It keeps the customers enthusiasm high throughout. Besides, there are times when the price of a drink drops to as low as Rs 50. The anticipation for such a low price itself is exciting.

Will this concept last among youngsters? "Some bars are doing great with this concept. There are many youngsters who end up visiting these places just for the experience. We, millennials, tend to get bored easily with the ordinary, so such out-of-the-box ideas attract us a lot," she adds.

Hoping that this concept is extended to food too, P Subramoni, a technical manager says, "Not many people step out only for drinks. It should be broadened to include food as well. The bar stock exchange is a fairly new concept but it is really catching up. It is a fun and a noble idea and is sure to stick around for a couple of more years."

While there are a few bars and pubs that work with the stock exchange concept, Agent Jacks Bar works on the concept of bidding on drinks. Its co-founder, Pramod says, "Usually, going out in Bengaluru is an expensive affair. This is the reason why many people have restricted themselves to house parties and get-togethers. With an interactive concept like bidding, it is not just cheap drinks that is the target but enjoyment with a reasonable bill at the end."

"Agent Jacks Bar is a Pune-based company and we have partnered in Bengaluru. There is a fun and engaging software-based application that helps customers bid their range. There will already be a fixed price shown on the screen and then a market price and the last least accepted bid for the day. The customer has to strike their bid to the nearest bidding range. Great food, great drinks and a great price are what we look forward to presenting our customers," he adds.

With such unique concepts getting popular by the day, now pub-goers are having a good time without burning a hole in the pocket.

City-based solo artiste Teenasai Balamu is living her dream by making her own music and performing at varied gigs. The singer-songwriter who aims to release her EP soon is excited about how its shaping up. In a candid chat with Tini Sara Anien, she talks about her latest tracks and more.

Did your entry into the music arena happen by accident?

I was trying different things like copywriting and helping a college senior with producing shoots. As a child, I used to take keyboard lessons but I left them soon. I joined Carnatic music classes soon and my bond with music grew. One fine day, I recorded myself singing Riptide by Vance Joy and posted it on YouTube. Cutting the long story short, the video went viral and the right people saw it and before I knew it I was offered gigs across the city.

What kind of music connects to you?

I connect to music which is melodious, indie folk, pop amidst other mainstream music and contemporary folk tunes.

What attracted you to indie-pop and alternative music?

I was deeply influenced by bands like The Lumineers which inspired me to try the independent music scene. The interest in alternative music came from my love for rock music during high school.

How is the indie-pop and alternative music circuit in Bengaluru?

Thankfully we have an audience which encourages independent music. Music listeners in Bengaluru are very receptive and encouraging.

Tell us about your bond with your guitar.

I feel naked without my guitar. Ninety-nine percent of the time, I perform with my guitar. I am almost never seen on stage without it. Music means honesty for me. Some people express themselves best when they are writing, I express myself best through my music and with my guitar.

What is more exciting, performing or writing music?

I am often anxious when I am on stage but after my performance, I feel exhilarated and deeply satisfied. While writing, once I have penned my song down, play it and sent it to my friends, I feel excited. Both of these activities come with a fair share of adrenaline rush.

When youre with your friends and someone asks you to play a song, which one is it usually?

Creep by Radiohead. Its a beautiful song and I somehow connect to it in a way I cant explain.

How is your EP coming along?

My EP will be out soon. Of the six tracks in the EP, three of them are Wait For You, which is one of my first songs; another interesting number called 28 and an experimental track called Its You.

Could you list a song that affects you deeply?

Same Love, a song by American hip-hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.

Is there any artiste you can listen to anytime of the day?

Ed Sheeran! I love his songwriting and I look up to him a lot.

What was the last song you heard?

A really intriguing number called I Like Me Better by Lauv.

This picture was taken during our family trip to Bannerghatta National Park in 1985 when I was five years old. In the first row, the two who are standing (from left) are my elder brother Jagdish and Murali, who is my husband now. In the second row is myself Jamuna (pointing finger at my father who is taking the picture) and next to me is my second elder brother Krishna.

It is 32 years since this picture was taken. I just have a faint memory of us visiting the Bannerghatta park because of a funny/scary incident that happened. My father who was quite an adventurous person had taken us for a walk inside the safari area. After walking for some time, I remember many people who were on their way back telling my father not to proceed further as there were some elephants on the road, but my father kept all of us walking. Soon after than we all heard elephants trumpeting and the sound was very near. Next, all I remember was someone from my family carrying me and running towards the safari entrance. Oh! What a thrilling experience it was.

I and my two elder brothers are from Peenya. Murali was from Bellary and he used to visit us during vacations as he was my mothers elder brothers son. As many agree, children born before 80s are the luckiest ones as we had one of the loveliest childhoods. We played from dawn to dusk. Murali who used to visit us on every vacation was the prankster amongst us but we three always looked forward for his visit as we all enjoyed his pranks.

My brothers and Murali got along very well ( of course they also used to fight) and went often outside to play all sort of games on earth, roaming around entire Peenya industrial area. My cousin sisters, brothers and me joined them too sometimes. Our games varied from season to season; lagori, marbles, kite flying, skipping, hopping, hide and seek etc. Our parents never interfered in our games or fights and we sorted our own riffles and I think that gave us our own wisdom of life. Our group games taught us how to be cooperative and taught us life skills and even developed leadership skills.

After my marriage to Murali, the bond between us became much strong and more precious. We four have retained our bonding with each other till day. We do still fight like cats and dogs, we do pull each other legs, we do support each other thick and thin, we hang out crazily, we obnoxiously make fun of each other, we love each other and pray for each others wellbeing. I have one daughter now who is in eighth grade. Both my brothers are having two kids each.

We four of us recently took a similar picture like we did 32 years ago. I thank God for such a wonderful soulful journey that we are sharing.

Jamuna Gowda
(The author can be contacted at jamunamuraligowda@gmail.com)

Bollywood actor Anshuman Jha started his career as a theatre artiste at a very young age. He made a name for himself in this world and is best known for his work in the movie Love Sex Aur Dhokha. His performance in his last four releases Yeh Hai Bakrapur, X: Past Is Present, Chauranga and Mona Darling has been widely applauded. Anshuman also turned a producer with Mona Darling under his banner First Ray Films. Anshuman will next be seen in movies Angrezi Mein Kehte, Robinhood Ke Pote and Ishwar.

The talented actor talks to Surupasree Sarmmah about his journey in the industry.

You started your career with the movie Love Sex Aur Dhokha (LSD) which was a hit. How did you get into acting?

My acting career began long back with Prithvi Theatre when I did my first play at fifteen. It was called Jhagrapoor by Ramnath Tharwal. It all began there. I am from Delhi and used to visit Mumbai to visit my sister. She used to put me into these summertime acting workshops at Prithvi Theatre. One play led to the other and it so happened that during one such workshop, Ramnath Tharwal cast me in his play and then it became a yearly routine. I soon completed my Diploma Acting Course at Barry Johns Academy. I also acted in Berrys Its All About Money Honey. But, as a famous director once told me, I look like a kid, so I should not look for work until I am 24 or 25, therefore, I only did theatre and worked as an assistant director for a few films. I went for a screen test for LSD and they selected me. Thats how it started.

An experience you cherish from your journey till now?

The first call of confirmation for LSD. It is so well enriched in the memory. Director Dibakar Banerjee is my favourite filmmaker in India and I had absolutely loved his previous movie Khosla Ka Ghosla. Getting an opportunity to work with him was a dream come true.

You have also assisted Shubash Ghai for three years, how was that experience?

Phenomenal! It was like a blessing for me. Khalnayak is again one of my favourite films from the 90s and Subhash Ghai is someone who has given so many blockbusters to the industry. I worked with him on a film called Black and White which was a very different movie than what he usually makes. The kind of exposure I have got working with him taught me a lot. I dont have a Godfather in the industry but I can say I have many guide fathers, who came to my life at different points and guided me to become an actor.

Which genre would you like to explore?

My next film is called Angrezi Mein Kehte, which is a romantic comedy. This was one genre I wanted to do and I am really glad, I got a chance. This movie is a comedy with a lot of soul in it. For me, it is not genre specific, but films where I get to work with great and different kind of directors. Zoya Akhtar and Sriram Raghavan are two directors I would like to work with.

Any advice that changed your life...

There are a few actually. Shubhash Ghai once told me, more than looking and talking like an actor, you should wait like an actor, dont be in a hurry. Anurag Kashyap told me to keep working on myself. And thats what I have been doing. Whenever I have free time, I keep learning a new craft;
either a new form of martial arts or take up dance and singing classes. I am never idle.

Your all-time favourite movie...

Rush by Ron Howard. I am a huge Formula One fan and this movie was a delight to watch.

Swarna Reddy is a person of few words; she prefers to let her work do the talking. She makes no grandiose claims about childhood passion or chasing dreams. Her association with art is just like her creations - pure and simple.

"I was into embroidery earlier and was very particular towards certain styles like Kasuti. We were based in Raichur initially and I used to teach embroidery and tailoring there. Then we came to Bangalore and I got a job as an arts and crafts teacher in Army Public School. Since I couldnt teach embroidery to the small children, I turned towards quilling," she says.

It has been more than a decade after that and now Swarna is deeply interested in quilling. Cards, paper bags and other artefacts are transformed by her nimble fingers into colourful works of art. Orders are taken up on a regular basis but for her, it is all about the satisfaction.

"When I sit to quill, I usually forget the world around me. I concentrate intensely on what I am making and if there is a particular design that I want to make, I will keep working on it till I get it right," she says and adds, "I do it whenever I get some spare time; like when I am watching television or during mornings after everyone leaves for work."

While greeting cards with floral motifs are her favourites, she considers the quilled Ganesha as her masterpiece. The first such work was kept for herself though she created a replica for a friend later on.

"If I make something for someone, the design will depend on their preferences and personality. Most of my friends and family members have received a handmade gift from me and they love it."

Talking about her family, Swarna says, "All my sisters used to do embroidery but no one does this type of work. I learned it all on my own and my post graduation degree in home science helped in furthering my interest in the field of crafts. My immediate family is happy about my interest and encourage me in all ways possible. My sons buy me any type of material I want, sometimes from places like the USA. Otherwise, I source things from Itsy Bitsy or MK Stores in Jayanagar."

Patience is key to this field. "It is time-consuming. You have to painstakingly look into all the finer details and ensure neatness of work at the same time. While a normal card can take close to two hours to finish, the bigger ones take up to 3-4 hours each," she explains.

Swarna now plans to come up with items that will merge her interest in quilling with her talent in punch craft.

(Swarna can be contacted on s.swarnasree@yahoo.com)

Having a pet at home has become a necessity for me. I cant even imagine my house without my dog. Growing up, my mom used to have pet dogs at home but she also took care of all the stray dogs in her lane. This habit of hers was passed down to my sister and me as well.

Even though we had two dogs at home, we would still look after all the stray dogs which didnt have homes. We would treat them exactly how we treated our own pets Tuffy and Chintu.

Tuffy, my eight-and-a-half-year-old German Shepherd, was gifted to me when I was in the fifth grade. Now she has become the most important part of my life. I remember when we first brought her home, she used to be a very shy dog, it took her a while to get used to all of us especially since we already had a Pomeranian at home.

People who say dogs dont get attached to their owners or dont have any emotion have never truly bonded with animals. Some time ago, my sister had just left for the US and I was really missing her. I was in my room all alone crying and Tuffy sneaked into my room, sat beside me and started hugging me to try and comfort me. People might find this little gesture stupid and might not pay much heed to it, but I believe it is these little moments that truly show how well our pets understand us and care for us.

In my experience, dogs communicate mostly through their eyes, if you ever look into the eyes of your pet, you will be able to truly understand them. Tuffy communicates with me through her eyes, helping me understand her better. She also has her own unique ways of communicating with me, like when she sniffs me and realises that I had just met another dog, she will immediately start ignoring me and giving me the silent treatment. She will only communicate to me after I have thoroughly apologised to her.

But having a pet is not all fun and games, keeping them happy and healthy requires a lot of time and effort. Once you have a pet, you can no longer be selfish and just think about yourself, you will always need to think about your pet first. In a way having a pet is kind of similar to having a baby. My family finds it very hard to go on trips and holidays since we all feel guilty leaving Tuffy behind. Although we never leave her alone and ensure there is always someone taking care of her when were away, be it a neighbour or a relative, it is still heartbreaking to leave your pets behind.

Its a devastating experience when you lose a pet, our first ever pet Chintu, who had been living with us for the last 13 years passed away when I was 14 years old.

He had been a part of the family for almost as long as me, so when he passed away it was one of the saddest times of my life.

No matter how much trouble you have to undergo in order to take care of your pets, it is all worth it in the end. The love and affection you receive from them is incomparable.

Anjali Pujari

There are few things that signal urban elite as strongly as a take-away beverage cup. From the busy young professional to the affluent youngster, not many people think twice before grabbing a cup of overpriced coffee or cold drink in a disposable container.

While this may seem like a convenient option for those on the go, the associated costs are huge - and we are not just talking about the moolah that you shell out. Thousands of disposable cups make their way to Bengalurus already overflowing landfills on a daily basis and are an added burden to a city grappling with a gargantuan garbage problem.

The case is the same around the globe. Lawmakers in the United Kingdom are now debating a new tax, termed latte levy, on disposable cups in an effort to cut down on waste. Is it time that a similar concept was implemented here too?

Says Ashwini Devadiga, a professional, "What is first needed is a change in the mindset of the consumers. People need to recognise that even though their cups may look recyclable because of the paper exteriors, there is a water-proof plastic lining inside and this prevents it from decomposing. Maybe food outlets can look at giving discounts to people who bring their own cups while the government can pass a bill that disincentivises the use of use-and-throw containers."

She adds, "I initially started carrying my own mug when malls and other outlets stopped providing lids for such cups but over time it has become a habit for me."

The need for a change in thinking is imperative. As research scholar Meera Kamal points out, "A small tax will hardly be a deterrent for people who are willing to pay Rs 150 for a cup of coffee which they can get for Rs 30 somewhere else. For them, it is about the psychological satisfaction that the brand gives."

Old habits die hard unless there is sufficient motivation to turn to a new practice. Price signals are not all that consumers pay attention to; when people see others around them adopting to a new lifestyle, the main thing at work is the herd mentality. When the use of plastic bags was discouraged, the awareness-campaigns were helped in part by the actual sight of many people carrying jute or tote bags and that led to a rise in popularity of the notion.

With the country fast running out of landfills and with a scarcity of non-conventional recycling plants, the onus is equally on the big coffee and fast food chains and the government to ensure that a sustainable solution is presented. A small portion of their significantly huge budgets can be spent on research and development to design eco-friendly alternatives that are both cost-effective as well as aesthetically pleasing.

One can also return to the roots and go for traditional choices. While Ashwini says that bamboo cups are a good option, Meera thinks that anything from mud or steel cups to ceramic pots can be promoted.

They say if coffee cant fix it, then it is a serious problem. Let us ensure that our coffee itself doesnt turn into one.

Anmi is a line of contemporary ethnic clothing, inspired by the fact that every woman is unique in her own way. It offers a range of contemporary ethnic wear like short and long kurtis, A-line kurta to contemporary long kurtis with palazzo and wide-legged pants.

"Our latest line offers pieces that can be transformed into multiple styles and looks. A flared kurta can be worn as a dress or a long kurta can be paired with denims. Anmi has always been about comfortable yet trendy clothing," explains Rishi Vasudev, vice president, Flipkart Fashion.

Elaborating on each of the categories, Rishi says that Anmi targets the fashion forward women who love to wear their clothes as an individualistic style statement. He says that Ikat range consists of geometric patterns structured in a attractive way and those in the Indigo range are crafted in blues and motifs that breakaway from the traditional mould. "The Indigo range is inspired by the indigo block prints of Jaipur, ensuring a fresh contemporary look. Another addition to the collection is the Quirky range which is vibrant, fresh, playful and totally unorthodox, and finally the must-have range has neat cuts and is made of natural fabrics," says Rishi.

He adds that the designers have consciously used a myriad of colours like pink, orange, yellows and Indigo. The designs are an outcome of the research findings of the brand team. "This collection is popular with young women because we have delivered exactly what the customer wants. The information that we gather from our research is deep, specific and exhaustive. For example, findings of what kind of consumer wears a mandarin collar, what colour works in which demography, what fabrics move the fastest off the shelves -- these insights lie at the very foundation of our designing processes, along with a strong sense of fashion aesthetic," says Rishi.

Vindya Niron, a student of Mount Carmel College, wore a red cotton ikat-print kurta and paired it with yellow palazzos.
Punchline: "I liked this outfit because it is good for everyday wear and suits women of all age groups."
Price: Kurta (Rs 967) and palazzos (Rs 849).

Aafreen K, a student of NIFT, chose to wear a Bohemian style kurta with a white legging.
Punchline: "The colours are bright and its perfect for a college goer. I like the prints on the kurta and one has a wide range of palazzos to choose from."
Price: Kurta (Rs 599) and leggings (Rs 349).

Ritu Ghanghas, a student of Indian Institute of Science, wore a indigo shirt kurta with blue palazzos.
Punchline: "The combination of white and blue is always appealing. It is chic and perfect for a casual outing with friends.
Price: Kurta (Rs 1,045) and palazzos (Rs 849).

Priyanka K, a student of Mount Carmel College, picked up a black and orange asymmetrical kurta and paired it with black palazzos.
Punchline: " The clothes are great when it comes to design, comfort and style.
Price: Kurta (Rs 967) and palazzos (Rs 849).

Ashika Haresh, a student of CMR Law School, slipped into a yellow Ikat-print yellow kurta and white palazzos.
Punchline: "The style of this outfit is extremely flattering and the colour is bright. The prints on the collar make it one-of-a-kind."
Price: Kurta (Rs 936) and palazzos (Rs 849).

Malaika Susan Mathew, a student of Mount Carmel College, picked up an indigo round-neck kurta and paired it with black leggings.
Punchline: "The prints on the kurta suit the taste of young girls and is comfortable.
Price: Kurta (Rs 1,045) and leggings (Rs 349).

The powers that be may tom-tom their elaborate plans to beautify the city and restore its greenery but the one thing that catches your attention as you move around are posters and banners of politicians hung at strategic locations. The authorities are doing nothing about the proliferating posters and hoardings displayed on roads, lamp posts, trees and walls and near flyovers as well.

Most of them flaunt a picture of the local MLA, minister or some political heavyweight. Some posters that sprung up during Christmas and New Year continue to stay on, keeping the forthcoming elections in mind.

The longer the visibility, the better it is, seems to be the mantra of most politicians. But citizens havent taken too well to this. Rajeshwari Roy, a resident of Ejipura, says that the first thing that greets her every morning when she leaves home is the life-size poster of a politician. "It is terrible to see these posters in every corner of the city. More than putting up posters of themselves, I think politicians must focus on the development of the citys infrastructure," says Rajeshwari. She also attributes the increase in the number of posters to the forthcoming elections.

"These posters are being put because politicians want people to notice them. Subconsciously, I also think people will remember them because we have seen the posters so many times," she adds.

Posters and buntings add to the piled up waste in the city, feels Aneeta George, a student of St Josephs College of Commerce. "Posters hung on electric poles and pasted on walls are an eyesore. I think politicians should find a better way to publicise their work. At a time when efforts are being made to render the city clean, I feel pasting posters not only defaces the citys landscape but also sends out a wrong message to the people," says Aneeta.

Sahithi P, another student, adds, "These posters are not useful to the public. It only benefits a handful of politicians. I dont think people even bother to look at these posters."

Government officials and politicians will be noticed only if they do good work like providing citizens with better roads and safer spaces, feel Lidwina Lucas and Jessica Y, both students. "I dont connect with the faces that I see on the posters and I dont even know who they are. Why should I throw a second glance at them?" wonders Lidwina. She feels the poster parade across the city is an election gimmick. Jessica pitches in, "My vote in the coming elections will not depend on the faces on the posters but on the development carried out for the benefit of citizens by the government."

Sharing a outsiders perspective, Paula Peitrowski, a native of Cologne in Germany who recently relocated to the city for work, says that she has seen life-size posters near her house in the northern part of the city.

"The posters dont look good. I have always wondered who the faces on the posters are. Are they famous people or politicians? A similar thing happens in my city whenever there are elections. You have politicians seeking votes through slogans and campaigns printed on posters," concludes Paula.