CATEGORIES

The Festival Of Fasting And Feasting

Ramadan, the ninth month in the Muslim lunar calendar, is celebrated all across the world by fasting from dawn until dusk. This includes abstaining from drinking, eating, immoral acts and anger. Other acts of worship such as prayer, reading the Quran and charity are what complete the holy month. Muslims look forward to opening their fast on the 30th day, with the festival Eid-ul-Fitr, which they celebrate with great pomp and show. We went into the homes of some well-known Muslim families in the city, to get an insight on how they spend this auspicious month and, anticipate and prepare for Eid.

The Pizza Bakery

The Pizza Bakery

The Challenger's 'Track' Record

Pankaj Kumar Bansal, IAS

Finding Your 'p - Spot' Is Like Hitting A Jackpot!

 Finding Your 'p - Spot' Is Like Hitting A Jackpot!

We Should Thank Our Fans For Getting Us Together

Director Selvaraghavan and music director Yuvan Shankar Raja, who are back together again with Nenjam Marappathillai, open up to RITZ on films, life, friendship and more.

Saturday Night, Not So Nice?

It’s a Saturday night at the city’s hottest hangout for the hip and happening. The usual suspects – pulsating music, long queues at the bathroom, free shots for select ladies, the works – the scene is seems quite similar in every night club! But wait a minute, once you soak in the ambience, you realise there is more than just that! You can smell the less harmful one, the weed aka marijuana, in the air. Movies, mocha, and music used to be the craze amongst youngsters, but now drugs and its wanton abuse, groping, molestation and many other unsavoury incidents have been added to the list. We've heard of clubs being shut down due to nefarious incidents that have taken place there, and even raids and inspections happening regularly to keep such occurrences in check. Suddenly, everything is not fun as it seems. RITZ scours South India’s major cities to comprehend what’s going on and talks to a few people about their seediest experience in a nightclub or bar. 

One Man

A THOUSAND FACES AND A MILLION BEATING HEARTS...Vikram is something else. His passion for cinema, his infectious energ y, his inspiring spirit, his zest for life... this South Indian Superstar definitely is on a different high altogether! The kind of high you get when you are at peace with yourself and in love with your life. In a laidback, chilled out chat with Aruna R Krishnan, in her spanking new chat show Galatta With Aruna on the YouTube channel Galatta Tamil, Vikram discusses the myriad of things going on with him now... and on staying young and staying hopeful...

Ladies Day Out!

From time immemorial, there has been a myth that women aren’t ‘good drivers’. Though it has been proven wrong time and again, when it comes to driving luxury vehicles, we find the number of lady drivers dwindling. BMW Platino Classic decided to bust this myth by inviting a team of women to the special BMW Range drive on a 50km scenic route from Kochi to Alappuzha! RITZ catches up with some of the lucky ladies who recount their fun day out!

A Passionate Crusader!

Blood Sweat and Tears has been a novel that has won a lot of critical acclaim ever since its publication in 2013. The author of this charming novel, Arya Rajam, daughter of the legendary dancer, Anita Ratnam, was born in New York City. Having spent her childhood with her grandparents in her multi-generational home in Chennai, she has always been fascinated by books, dance, music, sports, mythology and fashion. Her busy career as an author has not deterred from taking up initiatives like #ReviveAndRestore that is actively involved in creating awareness about cleanliness and waste management. Ritz has a freewheeling chat with the young and spirited Arya, who talks about her career as an author, her environment friendly initiatives and her next book, Dual Dragoned Throne!

The Flying Elephant

From lush green fields, beautiful backwaters to exotic spices, God’s Own country is unique, rich and vibrant in its resources. Quite naturally, its pulsating beauty reverberates into its traditions, culture and language as well. Viakerala celebrates its roots through its products that are reminiscent of Kerala’s typography and rich heritage. RITZ is in conversation with the mastermind behind the brand that is taking Kerala across the globe, Theresa Joseph George!

Kaleidoscope Of Colour & Culture

When Amitabh Bachchan tells you Breathe in a bit of Gujarat or Kuch Din to Guzaro Gujarat Mein in the Khushboo Gujarat Ki campaign by Gujarat Tourism, he means it and you will too when you experience the gorgeous state of Gujarat yourself. The choices are endless and with Kite Tourism, Border Tourism, Wellness Tourism, Spiritual Tourism, Religious Tourism, Wildlife Tourism, Golf Tourism, Cinematic Tourism and so much more, sky is the limit to what you can see and do during your stay in Gujarat.

Lights, Camera... Scream!

When the usual suspects are paraded on prime time tv debates, on which I too figure, not as an anchor anymore, but a panelist, I cannot help wondering if we can also form a cricket team!

Taking The Reins

Born to a hotelier’s family in Delhi, he was always fascinated by the hospitality industry. With his father being the Chef at the Oberoi and then the Leela, he got the opportunity to travel extensively around India and abroad. The fascination gradually grew into inspiration and then, became his passion. After completing his degree in hotel management, he joined the ITC group and his 16 year journey in the food and beverage sector and later, operations and admin, led him through wonderful properties in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Rajasthan and finally the ITC Grand Chola, Chennai. Being passionate about new learnings and experiences, he has never shied away from venturing into new horizons. So when the Marriott group beckoned, he decided to take the plunge yet again! RITZ is in conversation with Sumeet Suri, the newly appointed General Manager at the Kochi Marriott!

The Dancing Star

When he moves his nimble feet, you’re left in awe. A man of many talents, a dancer, choreographer, performer and entertainer Raymond Callanan from Chennai, leaves everyone captivated with his talent every single time he takes to the stage. Innovative and unique, he combines his witty sense of humour and novel ideas with a level of mastery seldom seen.  In a candid chat with RITZ Magazine, Raymond talks about his passion for dance and what keeps him going.

The Rockstar

This dashing young man is not just a star in the making but also a singing sensation! Crowds swoon as he starts to hum his melodies. To him, happiness is…Music. He was just six when he performed on stage for the very first time. From then on, he has performed at various events and won accolades. His musical career kicked off with the Music Mojo show on Kappa TV, which led to the creation of the very famous band, Thaikkudam Bridge. He swung yet another surprise for his fans by debuting as a lead star in the Mollywood film, Rockstar. The film unleashed the promising actor in him, pushing him into another tangent altogether. And now, with the release of his latest flick, ‘Katha Paranja Katha’, this very talented singer-actor has been stealing the limelight for all the right reasons. Ritz is in conversation with the true Rockstar, Siddharth Menon!

Donning Many Roles

She was just a toddler when she first faced the camera. Her passion for dance began when she turned three and right through school, she stole the limelight with her dance, music and theatre performances. Modelling and ad shoots soon became her forte. She was preparing for her tenth boards when she bagged the role in ‘Malarvadi Arts Club’, that went on to become a big hit! A model, actor, singer, social worker and a lawyer by profession, she has also won the Doordarshan accredition for Bharatnayam! She took a short break from movies to pursue her degree in law and now she is back under the spotlight yet again with ‘Hey Jude’! RITZ is in conversation with Apoorva Bose who dons many roles both on and off the screen!

Park Encounters

Show me how you walk in the park and I'll tell you who you are! In the course of my daily 'constitutionals', I'm at my judgmental best, sizing up the different folks who come here to unwind. It does take all kinds to make a Park. Not the sort who prefers a tan, I end up going at different times of the day. An hour after after sun rise or just around sun set. My schedule makes for a wide and varied sample size!

Dare To Dream​​​​​​​

This is the age of dreaming the impossible dream. An age where no ambition is too high or overarching. The best time to do the unthinkable is indeed NOW. The cover of the May edition of South India's largest lifestyle magazine RITZ, is adorned by individuals who embody this never-say-die spirit.Each of them is now a name that has set a benchmark in their respective fields of entrepreneurship. Say hello to Mohan Ram K, Managing Director of Zingbi Fashion; the much-in love and driven-by-passion couple Anirudhan Grandhee & Aishwarya Gupta, Directors of Viswa & Devji Diamonds and Dr Sethuraman, leading dermatologist and actor who are all making a major difference in the manner in which their businesses function while also serving as an example of how to enjoy success in your passion.

For The Love Of Wines

Indians are well travelled and are now looking at wines beyond red, white and Rose. They’re now looking up the vintage, terroir, blends and so on and that’s why Abhay Kewadkar decided to launch his own brand producing handcrafted small batches of wine for the Indian tipplers, after working for more than three decades in the wine industry. His venture focuses on bringing to India a Grand Cru Class of wines under the umbrella brand Tetrad Global Beverages Pvt Ltd, along with partner Rishad Minocher and Joseph Andrade. Long-time friends and wine lovers, they have a carefully curated portfolio of wines under the Early Dark label, that has been produced in the celebrated vineyards of near Boudreaux in the Sud Quest region in France. RITZ Magazine speaks to the wine aficionados on the making of the Early Dark.

Of Sushi Platters And Delectable Dimsums

Let Your Food Make You Do The Taiki Taiki Rumba At This Newest Pan-Asian Eatery In Town

Dairy Dreaming

Meet Mehal Kejriwal the young entrepreneur from Bengaluru who’s doing her bit to bring you the goodness of milk

India Through Her Canvas

Shy and reserved by nature, someone who prefers to communicate visually, not verbally - meet Ildikó Morovszki Halász, an Hungarian Artist who now works and lives in India. In order to display her expression through aquarelle and acrylic paintings, and showcase her visions about India, which are a composition of the life of simple Indians, street celebrations, the beauty and surprises of the ’Incredible India’ - an exhibition of her work was held at JW Marriott Bengaluru in March and at the Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel Gachibowli after that. Read on to know her better…

Ready Steady Lol!

Aravind Subramaniam popularly known as SA, likes to describe himself as a filmmaker by profession and a stand up comedian out of frustration! He is probably one of the reasons why stand-up comedy has become a 'thing' in urban Tamil Nadu given that he was amongst the first few who dared to take on the challenge to get behind a mic and risk humiliation while trying to get a room full of strangers to laugh at his jokes and not at him! Fortunately for SA his pronounced 'Madrasi' tones, free-flowing humour and effortless body language worked with an initially reluctant audience. In no time he got everyone LOLing and ROFLing, and before he knew it he had created a new space for creative comedians like himself...

Embracing The New!

LAVANYA TRIPATHI IS UNFAZED BY THE RAT- RACE THAT CINEMA OFTEN SEEMS TO BE. SHE PICKS HER ROLES WITH CARE AND CHISELS HERSELF TO PERFECTION.

Never Say Die!

He may not be the regular Macho hero who will bash up villains and scream punch dialogues but his down to earth persona and innocent humour will definitely crack you up into splits of laughter. Be it humour or drama, he has proved his mettle as a talented actor with his memorable roles in Malayalam Cinema and of course with his Telugu debut film, Raktham, that won multiple international awards this year. RITZ is in conversation with Mollywood star Sanju Sivram, who will bowl you over with his warm smile and humble demeanour!

Dazzling Dubai

THE PEARL OF THE PERSIAN GULF HAS ALL THE INGREDIENTS FOR AN ENTERTAINING FAMILY TRIP.

Celebrating The Flavours Of God's Own Country!

ENDS OF TRAVANCORE, IN THE QUEST FOR AUTHENTIC DELICACIES. CHEF REJIMON, A KERALA CUISINE CONNOISSEUR AND THE SENIOR SOUS CHEF AT CROWNE PLAZA, TAKES RITZ ON A SPECTACULAR GASTRONOMIC VOYAGE SHOWCASING THE TRUE ESSENCE AND SENSUAL FLAVOURS OF KERALA.

Figures In Motion

CELEBRATED INDIAN FIGURATIVE PAINTER JATIN DAS EXTENDS HIS OEUVRE IN HIS LATEST EXHIBITION. FRANCIS HD'SA ATTEMPTS TO UNVEIL THE PAINTER BEHIND THE ARTIST IN A RINGSIDE VIEW.

Reflections Through Writing

Tall and statuesque, Raghu Karnad appears elated. He’s just won the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar 2016 for his debut novel. This has thrown open a distinct avenue that involves authoring fiction and non-fiction novels. As he contemplates which direction his next novel would take, he chats up with RITZ about the world of writing and being eminent director, writer and playwright Girish Karnad’s son.

Of Wheels & Fortunes

Manoj Lulla surprises us with stories of hardship and success, while his coveted fleet of supercars is a symbol of his willpower and passion.