There is always one guy in every group who plans a road trip and finally ends with nothing but the disappointment of dropping the whole plan. Dulquer Salamaan and Mithila Palkar are making their debut in the Bollywood film industry with their upcoming movie  Karwaan, which is all about three oddballs taking a road trip together. One among the trio is actor Irrfan khan, who is now undergoing treatment for neuroendocrine cancer in London.

The makers arranged a special screening of the movie at London’s Henry Wood House for Irrfan Khan. While Dulquer and Mithila had been busy with the promotions for the upcoming film, they felt like they needed to take a break from the whole promotion touring and decided to go for a road trip together. They started from Mumbai and are headed to Lonavala. Well, no one can blame them for taking time off from their busy schedule, and even though they took their time off from the promotion of the movie, this road trip of theirs has turned out to be another way of promoting the upcoming movie.

The movie involves some of the beautiful locations in Kerala and the audiences seem to be excited to see a story of three very different types of characters who decide to take a trip together.

Text Credit: Nikhil Wilson

The post Dulquer Salmaan And Mithila Palkar Takes A Road Trip Off Work appeared first on FWD Life | The Premium Lifestyle Magazine |.

Text credit: Anjana K

Sujith Bhakthan is a big name in the field of blogging in India. His blog Aanavandi.com is a definitive hub of everything on Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). He is also one of the leading vloggers with his website Tech Travel Eat. In an exclusive interview with FWD Life, Sujith talks all about his passion for blogging.

What prompted you to start the Aanavandi blog in 2008?

I was studying in Bangalore when I came to know about blogging. So I started a blog in Malayalam and later on I came to know that it couldn’t be monetised at that time. I started looking for a unique topic, and I found that there are no articles or sources available about information on KSRTC. I started a blog featuring bus timings of KSRTC from Bangalore. It became popular and I was able to bring together a community of KSRTC enthusiasts, like the food group Eat Kochi Eat. Now it’s been almost nine years and we have launched a website called aanavandi.com. That’s how I got into blogging.

How did your passion for blogging develop, seeing that you were a student of engineering?

There was a blogging group called Bangalore Bloggers Group comprising Malayalam bloggers. I met some people through it and discussed some ideas. And that’s how I started blogging.

How do you keep track of the latest updates from KSRTC?

We have developed a community of KSRTC lovers and we get our updates from people, Facebook and other social media. So whenever anything related to KSRTC happens, for example, if an accident takes place in Wayanad, I am sure I will be getting all the information about it with photos and videos within half an hour on my Facebook page and the Facebook group we have. So that’s how it happens.

What do you enjoy the most about blogging?

It is a medium for me to express my ideas. There is a lot of freedom in terms of what I want to cater to my audience and how I do it. Blogging gives me the opportunity to connect to the larger gamut of people, by which I can also make a lot of friends. I have been able to develop a social media presence.

Do you travel by KSRTC now? Which, according to you, is the most scenic route in Kerala worth travelling by bus, especially in the orange AC buses of KSRTC that provide luxurious views?

Nowadays, I travel very less in KSRTC compared to earlier times. But when I have to travel for casual work, I prefer KSRTC. The most scenic journey I suggest is Wayanad-Goodallur-Gundalpett-Mysore route. And Munnar is also a great place, of course.

 What is the story behind starting your blog Tech Travel Eat, and why do you write it in Malayalam?

During my researches, I found that there are not many travel vloggers in Kerala who do videos in Malayalam. I did some trial videos, and I got good responses. There is a reason why I do the videos in Malayalam. For example, if a Malayali is planning to travel to Singapore, his interest in watching a travel video on Singapore in Malayalam will be very high. In Kerala, we have a huge scope for travelling. So this is what prompted me to vlog in Malayalam. I know the limitations, and the reach of such videos, but we have to consider factors like social cause and credibility.

The post Sujith Bhakthan: The Blogger Who Brought KSRTC To People appeared first on FWD Life | The Premium Lifestyle Magazine |.

Text Credits: Shibul Pavithran 

Kerala stands as the best governed state in the country and Karnataka is in the fourth position, said the Public Affairs Index 2018 released by the think-tank Public Affairs Centre (PAC).

“Kerala has topped the Public Affairs Index (PAI) for 2018 as the best-governed state for the third consecutive year since 2016 among large states,” said Bengaluru-based PAC at an event in the city on Saturday evening to release its third annual PAI. Founded in 1994 by renowned Indian economist and scholar late Samuel Paul, the think tank works to mobilise a demand for better governance in the country. Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka and Gujarat followed Kerala among the top five states delivering good governance, according to the report.

The #PublicAffairsIndex2018 ranks @CMOKerala #TamilNadu and @TelanganaCMO as the top three states in governance @thenewsminute @IDRC_CRDI @onthinktanks @PMOIndia https://t.co/9XX6mm5dsD pic.twitter.com/S5aMTsUN4m

— PublicAffairsCentre (@pacindia) July 23, 2018

Founded in 2014 by well-known economist and scholar Samuel Paul, the think tank works to mobilise a demand for better governance in the country. The think tank has undertaken the study across all the Indian states considering them across 10 themes such as essential infrastructure, support to human development, social protection, women and children as well as law and order.

“The index provides a multi-dimensional and comprehensive matrix that attempts to capture the complexities of governing the plural and diverse people of this sub-continent,” added Senior Fellow at PAC CK Mathew.

The PAC has been releasing the index annually since 2016 and ranks the states according to their socio-economic development. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in a Facebook post on Sunday night that 10 criteria were used to rank the states. Of this, Kerala was able to be at the top in four among the big states.

And also posted on Twitter this morning, saying..

Kerala has been ranked again as the best-governed state by Public Affairs Centre(PAC) in its Public Affairs Index. Among the larger states, Kerala topped the index in providing basic infrastructure. It is also ranked as the most child-friendly state in India. pic.twitter.com/bOO2II4YYO

— CMO Kerala (@CMOKerala) July 23, 2018

The PAC selected Kerala as the best child-friendly state, the CM said. The state also bagged the top post in providing the best facilities to children, he said. In crime, law and order, the state stood overall sixth and second among the big states.

Nagaland, Manipur and Meghalaya were ranked at the bottom of the list.

The post Kerala Ranked Best Governed State In India, By Public Affairs Index 2018 appeared first on FWD Life | The Premium Lifestyle Magazine |.

Kerala is getting ready for its most sought-after attraction Neelakurinji aka Strobilanthes kunthiana. Every 12 years, the hills of the famed tourist destination, Munnar gets covered in a hue of violet. The gradient slopes of Eravikulam National Park is the prime locality where Neelakurinji blooms. Neelakurinji which blooms once in every twelve years will make its appearance by the end of this month and will stay up until October, during which more than a million tourist from both India and abroad flock the hill station to catch a glimpse of this once in a blue moon sight. Neelakurinji is also found in the Eastern Ghats, whereas in Western Ghats Munnar has the biggest collection of Neelakurinji in India which is spread over an area of 3000 hectares.

Image From: Campper

This land is also home to Muthuvans, an Adivasi tribe, who deems the Kurunji flowers to be sacred. The legend goes as Lord Murugan, married Devi using a garland made of these flowers. The age of the tribal people and other important events are calculated using the periodic flowering as a time scale, showing how big a role these flowers play in their daily lives. Muthuvan Krishnan, one of the eldest community members says he is close to 100, having seen eight Kurinji blooms in his lifetime. Large swarms of bees and other insects are found during the blooming season owing to the Neelakurinji plants. The honey harvested after the blooming season, called Kurinji honey is believed to be thicker, sweeter and medicinal.

The Government of Kerala has launched a microsite that provides all kinds of information regarding how to reach and where to stay among many other important information. R Lekshmi, the Wildlife Warden of Munnar is currently gearing up the facilities in the park for an estimated footfall of over 5000 people per day. Both security and convenience are taken care by implementing Kurunji protection squad, CCTV and a fresh fleet of buses for travel. “In 12 years, the climate has changed. There has been much rain this time. If rains don’t play spoilsport and delay the blooms, the Neelakurunji should be there for all to see by the end of July”, says Lekshmi. Watching the Neelakurinji in full bloom is undoubtedly one of the most unique experiences in Kerala and is highly recommended.

The post Neelakurinji Blooms After 12 years, Carpets Munnar In Violet appeared first on FWD Life | The Premium Lifestyle Magazine |.

Text Credits: Kennie Thomas

The whole country is shocked by the barbarian event which happened recently in one of the madrassas in Kerala’s Calicut district. A girl studying in one of the states Islamic institutions have been expelled for sporting a bindi (sandalwood paste) for a short film shoot. Henna Malayil’s father had decided to act upon this uncouth decision by making a post on his Facebook profile. “Along with studies, she has proven her talents in singing, extempore and acting. Always a first rank holder in school and the madrassa. She has excelled at district and sub-district levels. She was the fifth rank holder in the public examination conducted by madrassas. And yet, she was expelled from the madrassa from the current academic year, because she sported a bindi while acting for a movie. What to do! Lucky, they didn’t sentence her to get stoned to death”,  says Umeer on his Facebook profile. The post received mixed response, with more support and sentiments for the victim and some criticism against the father on grounds of him opposing the Islamic community.

After a day of silence on social media Umeer Malayil, the girl’s father made another post on Facebook to express further his views on the criticisms received.

“To those who are trying to fish in troubled waters, do not celebrate this. This is not a global issue. Do not try to tarnish a religion by taking advantage of such a situation. This is purely an isolated, local issue. As you say, I am not a man who opposes my community. I am 100% a believer. Along with loving my religion, I support and respect other religions. I love humanity,” he wrote. Even though Umeer resented to comment on the current status of his child’s expulsion but he made it a point to express his stand on their views about Islamic values and traditions.

Are Madrassas in Kerala going back in time instead of moving ahead, is this an isolated event as claimed by Umeer Malayil? This incident has definitely started a ripple in the Kerala madrassa community. Drastic changes to the madrassas to cope with the changing times and diversity of the country is inevitable.

The post Class 5 Girl Expelled From Madrassa For Sporting A Bindi In Kerala appeared first on FWD Life | The Premium Lifestyle Magazine |.

Text Credits: Shibul Pavithran

If you don’t believe fortunes can change in a flash of a second, meet Tojo Mathew, a young man from Kerala’s Alapuzzha district, who’s gone from jobless to crorepati literally overnight. Mathew hit the jackpot winning a huge sum of money, 13 crore rupees or 7 million Dirhams, in a raffle in Abu Dhabi.

Tojo Mathew, a 30-year-old Abu Dhabi-based civil supervisor, had the winning ticket number on Tuesday at the monthly Big Ticket raffle draw conducted at the Abu Dhabi International airport. Apparently Tojo, who was working in Abu Dhabi from the past 6 years had recently resigned from his job. As per sources, he had bought the ticket at the Abu Dhabi airport just before boarding a flight to India.

“I bought the ticket at the Abu Dhabi airport just before boarding the flight for India on June 24. I was leaving the UAE for good to join my wife, who got a job in New Delhi. I still cannot believe I won,” Mathew was quoted saying this to ‘Khaleej Times’.

Mathew said his big dream was to own a house in Kerala and now he will make it possible. and also said that now his dream can become a reality with the raffle money that he has won.

Congratulations to Mr. TOJO MATHEW, from India, with winning ticket no. 075171. He won AED 7 Million in Super 7 Series 193. The complete list of winners will be posted very soon on our website, www.bigticket.ae. Stay tuned,” a Facebook post by Big Ticket Abu Dhabi read

The post A Jobless Guy From Kerala Wins A Jackpot Of 13 Crore In Abu Dhabi appeared first on FWD Life | The Premium Lifestyle Magazine |.

Text Credits: Shibul Pavithran  

A rubber plantation worker from Kerala whose singing video has taken the internet by storm since last week has some new turn of events. Rakesh Unni received viral fame after the video of his melodious rendition of a hit Tamil song, Unai Kaanadhu Naan, from the movie Vishwaroopam, went viral on Friday. Rakesh belongs to Kerala’s Alappuzha district and got to know his video was going viral after his sister’s husband in Kuwait called up to inform him.

After listening to his voice a few days ago, singer and music composer Shankar Mahadevan sent out an appeal to his Twitter followers to help him trace a man whose voice had taken him by a surprise and also wished to collaborate with him in future.

This is called fruit of labour!
When we hear this, it just makes me feel so so proud of our country that produces so much talent and is so rich in culture. Who is this guy???
How can I trace him?
Need help & would like to work with him. pic.twitter.com/SWqGQkmChb

— Shankar Mahadevan (@Shankar_Live) June 30, 2018

In the video Rakesh Unni, was seen sitting on a field and singing the Tamil hit “Unnai Kaanadhu Naan” from Kamal Haasan’s movie Vishwaroopam.  “This is called fruit of labour! When we hear this, it just makes me feel so so proud of our country that produces so much talent and is so rich in culture. Who is this guy??? How can I trace him? Need help & would like to work with him,” Mahadevan wrote on his Twitter page.

Speaking to Indian Express Malayalam, the singer said he had no clue that his video would go viral. Rakesh had no idea that the song he sang, sitting among rubber trees, would fetch him so much attention. It was just another work day when he and his friend had sat down during break time and Rakesh had sung the song. The friend recorded him singing and the video was put online. Someone took notice and calls started coming from singers and musicians. Rakesh was happiest when the man he adored – Shankar Mahadevan – called and told him he has a good future and that they would meet and sing together. Looks like the dream is already coming true for Rakesh. The list of people who called Rakesh includes singer Pandalam Balan, violinist musician Balabhaskar and music composer Gopi Sunder. But, that’s not all. Famous Tamil composer Ghibran has also been in search of Rakesh

Rakesh Unni sings ‘unnai kaanadhu’ song from #Vishwaroopam before @ikamalhaasan.
Both @ikamalhaasan and @Shankar_Live have become fans of Rakesh Unni, a rubber plantation worker with an amazing voice. pic.twitter.com/28I8KZ2Vrl

— Pramod Madhav (@madhavpramod1) July 3, 2018

Recently, Rakesh had a golden opportunity to perform live in front of Kamal Haasan, He absolutely adores the Tamil star and was delighted to perform in front of him. Kamal put an arm around his shoulder and pat him on his back, for the melody that Rakesh creates through his music.

The post A Daily Wager From Kerala Impresses Kamal Hassan With His Voice appeared first on FWD Life | The Premium Lifestyle Magazine |.

Text credits: Lakshmi Priya

It’s World Environment Day today, lets reflect some thoughts on the environment we live in. Do we ever realise that the footprints we leave on the world are paving way for a polluted planet and a bad future for the coming generation. The vehicles we use for daily transportation, the factories that are established in the name of urbanisation and above all the usage of non-biodegradable plastics that has the capacity to outlive humankind on Earth, all these are leaving its traces and befouling the Mother Earth on a massive daily scale basis. The harmful consequences of plastics are unimaginable and even has the calibre to destroy nature in countless ways. Sadly, water that comprises 71% of the Earth’s surface is the prime victim of this menace. As a step towards bringing an end to this threat, a fisherman community from Kollam, for the last 10 months has successfully ventured the plan of bringing back the plastics which are dumped in the ocean. The process does not end here, but the collected plastics from the ocean are recycled and made into a useful material.

The incredible mission of the fishermen community as part of the World Environment Day theme of “Beat Plastic Pollution” is an exceptional step towards the vision of plastic-free waters. Kerala is one of India’s top producers in fish and fishery is the most depended source of livelihood for more than a million people in the state. But due to the increase in marine pollution, especially the dumping of plastics the fishermen have been witnessing a steady decline in the number of fish. The plastic debris in the oceans is digested by the fish mistaking as food and eventually dies. Eating such fishes can also affect the human health.

Image source: sirajlive.com

In order to bring an end to this, the Fisheries minister of Kerala Mercikutty Amma initiated the campaign Suchitwa Sagaram (clean sea), under which the mission was started. Back then, the fishermen used to release the plastic junks that are entangled in their nets back to the water itself. But after the campaign was initiated the fishermen bring back tonnes of plastics from the sea to the shore during their daily fishing trips. These plastics from the fishing harbour will be fed into a plastic shredding machine and then transformed into a material that is used for road surfacing. Around 5 trawlers and 28 people from the local fishing community which includes 2 women are part of this endeavour.

“So far, they have removed 10 tonnes of plastic bags and plastic bottles and 15 tonnes of discarded nets, plastic ropes and other plastic items from the sea. Even though it is a small group of fishermen, they have freed the sea from 25 tonnes of plastic waste,” said Johnson Premkumar, programme officer to the website worldenvironmentday.

The post This Kerala Fisherman Community Is On A Race to End Plastic Pollution appeared first on FWD Life | The Premium Lifestyle Magazine |.

Text credits: Lakshmi Priya

Take a moment to recall if you have come across any of these people in your life – a maid who thinks it’s fine to steal once in a while, a beautician boasting about her inexplicable talent of creating beauty wonders on women, an artist at a tea shop who blabbers about the socio-political scenario of the country (even if he doesn’t have any idea about it). You might be nodding a ‘yes’ as these are some of the people we encounter each day. Krishna Chandran A. Nair – artist, director, and animator from Kerala, currently based out of Paris with his canvas and oil pastels, is creating sarcastic yet relatable Indian portraits of these everyday faces on Instagram. As a topping for his creativity, his witty and hilariously cooked up backstories can make anyone’s stomach hurt with laughter.

In the process of sculpting an artist in Krishna, his family’s role was the most significant. He grew up in an environment where he was always encouraged to draw. “My father got me my first set of crayons and my mother saved all my random scribbles from then”, he says. Later, Krishna was enrolled in drawing classes where he learnt to use watercolours. “I used to love getting lost in my thoughts while sketching. During my childhood, I participated in painting competitions in which I was not able to complete most of the creations on time because I would get extremely engrossed in drawing”.

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Shehnaz. Head beautician and owner of Shehnaz beauty parlour. After her husband's death, Shehnaz started going around to weddings as a Mehendi(Henna tattoo) artist to make her ends meet. From there she went on to become Calicut's leading beautician. You need to book her atleast 2 years in advance, especially during wedding seasons. "You are going to look so beautiful", Shehnaz told Fatima while making her up on her wedding. By beautiful, she meant white. Fatima had to sit down in the middle of her wedding photo shoot because of the weight of layers of make up she had on her face. They eventually had to tie her head to one of the ceiling fans at her reception so that she could stand through the whole function. Shehnaz had goosebumps seeing all of it as she felt a sense of accomplishment. Nobody really complained including Fatima because Fatima looked so pretty throughout the event. By pretty they meant white. Shehnaz is now patenting her latest invention, Mehendi for the dark skin which involves a tedious process of whitening your hands and then putting normal Mehendi over it. #Indiansoapsbelike #oil #pastel #oilpastel #storytime #sketch #sketchbook #watercolor #comedy #artist #creative #artstagram #artistsoninstagram #characterdesign #character #design #story #ink #mallu #malayalam #malayali #Kerala #India #indian #indianartist #illustration #illustration_daily #drawing #artwork #instagram

A post shared by Krishna Chandran (@krishna_cnair) on Apr 3, 2018 at 8:55am PDT

In school, Krishna unintentionally learnt to use drawing as a tool to focus when he became restless. “During my English and Hindi classes, I drew small illustrations by the side of the textbooks like flipbook animations for the stories that the teacher read out. Later on, I started carving characters and objects out of chalks,” he says. Krishna went on to pursue Animation Film Design at the National Institute of Design (NID) in Ahmedabad, after which he specialised in Animation Film Direction at La Poudrière in France.

Blinsy. Bring home to your American kitchens the smell of your communist Malayali ammumma (grandmother), the voice of Yesudas's aunt and the taste of 'Not Lemon Pickle' with Blinsy's Mango Pickle. Experience a journey back to your roots by having to use water when the nature calls because Blinsy's Mango Pickle makes sure that those American Toilet papers won't do the job. And that's a Blinsy promise! Made from the finest mangoes that almost look like the ones from your backyard (from Mexico) and secret homemade chilly paste (from China). No preservatives. Only LOVE (Liver Oxidising Voluptuous Elements). Winner of the best mango pickle at the All American Malayali Achaar Association- AAMAA (comprises of Blinsy and her sister Sisily). Blinsy's Mango Pickle, now available in beef flavour also. Buy your bottle today before it reaches the expiry date.  #Indiansoapsbelike #shortstory #oil #pastel #oilpastel #sketch #sketchbook #watercolor #comedy #artist #creative #artstagram #artistsoninstagram #characterdesign #character #design #story #ink #mallu #malayalam #malayali #Kerala #India #indian #indianartist #illustration #fiction #drawing #artwork #instagram

A post shared by Krishna Chandran (@krishna_cnair) on May 12, 2018 at 12:09am PDT

As Krishna started making films, he drew mostly for the projects that he was working on and almost forgot to draw mindlessly. So in an attempt to get back to doing something he enjoyed, Krishna started an Instagram series of Indian portraits. He started sketching random characters and cooked up stories right before putting them up on Instagram. He believes that the mind can surprise with new ideas when you let it wander. So he makes sure to draw with an empty mind, letting his thoughts wander as he scribbles and sees where it takes him. Most of the times, familiar faces come to his mind while the characters are evolving and he tries to incorporate those elements into his sketches. “I had fun doing this and it became a regular exercise. Being away from home you miss a lot of things, strangely including their imperfections. So these characters with their imperfections also became a way of staying in touch with my background,” he says.

Ammini. Even at 68, Ammini is fit as a 20 year old. She spends most of the time at the paddy field looking after the crops. Ammini had two sons. The younger one passed away at a young age when a coconut fell on his head. The older one died a few months after his wedding when a coconut fell on his head. His wife died pretty soon after that. Again the culprit, coconut. Ammini's husband decided to cut down the coconut tree to get the family rid of the curse. A coconut fell on his head while he was at it and he died too. Ammini is all alone now. But she still faces life with a smile on her face. Ammini is a brave woman. That's what everyone thought until one day when she was arrested for murder and cannibalism. Ammini, now known all over the country as the Coconut Killer, confessed her love for human meat. Yikes. That story was dark. Ammini's fault. #Indiansoapsbelike  #oil  #pastel  #oilpastel #storytime #sketch #sketchbook #watercolor  #comedy  #artist  #creative #artstagram  #artistsoninstagram #characterdesign  #character  #design #story  #ink  #mallu  #malayalam  #malayali #Kerala  #India  #indian  #indianartist #illustration  #illustration_daily  #drawing #artwork  #instagram

A post shared by Krishna Chandran (@krishna_cnair) on Apr 4, 2018 at 9:39am PDT

Apart from Krishna’s witty sketches, the backstories of each portrait promise a dose of laughter. It is Krishna’s father K C Anilkumar who writes quirky and funny Malayalam stories based on the people he has encountered who influenced him to create humorous stories. Most of the tales Krishna formulates are informal and a way of expressing things that bother him and he feels sarcasm is a great tool to express it. As animation uses a lot of overstatement, Krishna tends to use the same in his accounts. “I try and push the level of exaggeration as much as possible to a great extent like one of my characters Kanakam, a house helper who has a habit of stealing ends up robbing her house owner’s son mistaking him for a pressure cooker. Everyone can relate to these sketches easily because the portraits look familiar and the stories easily relatable.”

Kanakam. She has been working as house help at Nirmala chechi's home for the last 7 years. Kanakam thinks it's alright to steal a little. It started with stealing some leftovers at the end of the day, before she went home. Slowly, she started lifting stuff from kitchen like matchboxes and spoons which eventually turned into an obsession. She stole fridge magnets, Nirmala chechi's brassier and even her son's homework. Kanakam started to lose her vision due to cataract. But she still loots quite confidently. Except that she now runs off with the wrong things. Just the other day, she ran off with Nirmala chechi's son mistaking him for a pressure cooker. Thankfully, they found the boy at Kanakam's house just as she was trying to shove potatoes for "Sambar"(lentil soup) down his throat. #Indiansoapsbelike #shortstory #oil #pastel #oilpastel #storytime #sketch #sketchbook #watercolor #comedy #artist #creative #artstagram #artistsoninstagram #characterdesign #character #design #story #mallu #malayalam #malayali #Kerala #India #indian #indianartist #illustration #fiction #drawing #artwork #instagram

A post shared by Krishna Chandran (@krishna_cnair) on May 2, 2018 at 5:17am PDT

The cartoons that came on Doordarshan, Cartoon Network, and Disney movies, and their VHS tapes/ CDs had a great influence in growing Krishna’s interest and ambition to be an animation filmmaker. He was also exposed to animation movies from Japan and European countries at NID. The works of Japanese studio 4°C, movies by Sylvain Chomet and animations by Glen Keane and Richard Williams have also inspired him. Closer home, Sekhar Mukherjee, his mentor at NID and Vaibhav Kumaresh whom he interned with was of great support to Krishna. The Malayalam films he grew up watching as well as the recent movies also motivate him to tell memorable anecdotes.

Artist Sasi. A painter, a poet and a writer. One can find him almost always at Nair Chettan's tea shop blabbering about why the socio political geo climatics of the country is going to the dogs and how the economic undercurrents of the partially circumcised substitutions are not upto the mark, while sipping his kattan chai and taking a bite off of a 'parippuvada'. He also loves to talk about himself. About how during the Dandi March, his huge painting of Mohanlal from the movie Narasimham scared the British away from India and how the President was so impressed by his vocabulary that he calls him the Shashi Tharoor of the South. According to Artist Sasi, even Mr.Tharoor wasn't worthy of that title. "He doesn't 'pronounciate' enough. That's why", he says with a thick Malayalam accent. Artist Sasi is now writing for the next Marvel movie sitting at the tea stall. The producers were hell-bent on having him on board in spite of his constant refusals. Apparently. #Indiansoapsbelike #storytime #sketch #shortstory #sketchbook #oilpastel #pastel #colors #watercolor #comedy #artist #creative #artstagram #artistsoninstagram #characterdesign #character #design #story #mallu #malayalam #malayali #Kerala #India #indian #indianartist #illustration #illustration_daily, #short #fiction #artofcharacterdesign #animation @shashitharoor

A post shared by Krishna Chandran (@krishna_cnair) on Mar 11, 2018 at 4:51am PDT

Currently, Krishna is working as the first assistant director on a series at a studio in Paris. Meanwhile, he is also developing his next short film which is his first attempt at a dark theme about a traumatic experience of a child in Kerala.

The post Meet Krishna Chandran, The Artist Who Is Creating Quirky Indian Portraits appeared first on FWD Life | The Premium Lifestyle Magazine |.

Text credits: Vishakha Menon

Crossing the boundaries and cutting the odds of fashion in Kerala, fashion designers and stylists are blooming their way into creating a strong vision. Fashion myths and traditions do not stand a chance in their way. Staying true to their roots, these designers have taken a leap beyond and are prepping for a national market. Here are three such Malayali designers experiencing a successful journey in the fashion industry.

MANTRA by Shalini James

Source: shalinijamesmantra

Shalini James, the label that made it to the Amazon Fashion Week, caters exquisite ethnic wear to modern and cosmopolitan women. Her journey is characterised by rejuvenating contemporary ethnic pret. The ethnic splendour that oozes in every piece of her brand is something that has given her a platform to reach out to a larger set of audience. A thought that started as a kid, seeing her mother handle her design and textile business, Shalini grew up in a house full of fabric rolls and embellishment packs. Nevertheless, to mention, she grew up into a successful entrepreneur. Her collection ‘Indian by choice’ inspired by the civil obedience movement when hailed at the Amazon India Fashion Week, 2014 became a turning point. Located in Cheranallur, suburban part of Ernakulam, this label is housed in a beautiful traditional Kerala home which reflects the image of the brand itself.

PRANAAH by Poornima Indrajith

Must be a cocktail hour! @poornima_i in Traditional block print drapes found in a cocktail voice of structure and construct, embellished with zardozi work on corduroy. More details: Call us 04842318111 Whatsapp us : 9847216666 Mail us : mail@pranaah.com #PranaahbyPoornimaIndrajith #Pranaah #Pranaahreadytowear #Pranaahhandsthatcreate

A post shared by PRANAAH (@poornimaindrajith) on Jun 1, 2018 at 11:09pm PDT

Pranaah is a celebrity designer boutique started by Kerala’s ever fashionista Poornima Indrajit. Her outbound approach in styling and makeover, as a part of her fashion beliefs, has taken Pranaah to greater heights. Started out as a boutique in Panampally Nagar, Kochi, catering to regional customers, has now turned out to be a label attracting celebrities from around the nation like Jacqueline Fernandez, Isha Talwar and more. Bringing out a personal style has been a requisite and a unique selling point at Pranaah. Making sure that each design gets a customised perfection and each customer gets a personalised attention, Pranaah has bettered its chances to reach out to a larger crowd.

Label’M by Anu and Reshma

Source: labelmdesigners

Started by two sisters-in-law, Anu Tinu and Reshma Binu, Label’M is now the favourite fashion hub of Mollywood celebrities. Spotting top actresses like Bhavana, Miya George and Namitha Pramod across screenings and public events in ravishing Label’M ensembles, puts the brand further on a higher pedestal. Simple and contemporary ethnic silhouettes with soft-spoken attributes in colours giving a personalised feel to the customer have taken them a long way. Soon they opened their second boutique in Vytilla, Kochi exclusively for evening wear and bridal. No doubt the brand has become the talk of the town and wearing a Label’M is indeed something special for Malayalis.

Source: labelmdesigners

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