Month: August 2018

RootsandLeisure_San Production

Sanen Kichu of ‘San Production’ from Nagaland is the Wedding Videographer of Your Dreams!

“You don’t make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved.” ― Ansel Adam. And That is the winning formula to be a great storyteller – irrespective of the medium or the tool.  Today, we have an interesting artist who connects with people around him through his humor and down-to-heart demeanor. And what sets him apart is his ability to absorb emotions around him, and his curiosity to learn something new each day. All these qualities coupled with hard work and a practical approach to life, 26-year-old Sanen Kichu from Nagaland is the videographer you would want to hire to capture the most precious moments in your life. Let’s have a chat with him to know him more. Here’s a fun chat with the humorous and talented Sanen Kichu of ‘San Production’ as he gives us a peek into his journey so far, and also what he feels is his secret formula as a …

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Naga Recipe | Local Pond Fish Cooked with Fresh Bamboo Shoot Pieces

If you love fish but haven’t tasted one that has been cooked in Naga spices, then you are missing out big time. Naga fish dishes are easy to make and use minimal ingredients that help retain the freshness of the fish. And the secret to the unique Naga flavor is to add bamboo shoot to the spice mix. It also removes any fishy smell. Today, we have a simple fish recipe made with easy-to-find ingredients and a taste that will not disappoint. This recipe has been contributed by Lilia Jimomi from Nagaland. Full recipe below: Naga Fish Dish with Bamboo Shoot Preparation time: 5 minutes  Cooking time: 25 minutes.  Serves: 6  Ingredients:  6 Nos. of  fresh pond fish (We’ve used local pond fish, but you can use any freshwater fish) 10 local red chilies (boiled and mashed into a paste)   1-2 King chilly (optional) 2 large tomatoes  3 tablespoons of mustard oil  ~200 gms of fresh bamboo shoots – cooked, and in big pieces Some sliced ginger Salt to taste Garlic and fresh red chilies for garnish …

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“My Ultimate Goal is to Give Back to My Community” | Face Reveal : Meet Vilina, TERI University Student cum Content Manager, R&L

Another day, another rockstar – who have blessed Roots & Leisure with the gift of time, sweat, passion, and positivity. We met almost 5 months ago after she sent us an email introduction; and we were supposed to get on a call the next day – but it never happened. 2 months later, we came across that email with details of the call appointment that somehow got postponed indefinitely. Finally made the call and she was on-board within 24 hours as our content manager. We didn’t discuss much but knew instantly that we were meant to work together. Also, we haven’t met her in person yet – just like the many others who have worked and are working with us. Isn’t it wonderful when strangers help each other out, without ever meeting in person? Well, welcome to the world of Roots & Leisure! Today, as a part of our #FaceReveal series, we would like to introduce you to Vilina – our content manager based out of Delhi. Born and brought up in Nagaland, an engineering …

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NorthEast Fashion Report from The Streets of Shillong – by Arepla Jamir

For those who are familiar with the vibrant energy of Shillong, a big part of its charm comes from the young folks that flock its streets. And almost unmissable is the fashion landscape of the town, represented mainly by the student crowd gathered from across the North East of India – which is undeniably the country’s hotspot for all the movers and shakers in Fashion. Our contributor Arepla Jamir from Nagaland, currently a student in Shillong herself, introduces us to some of her fashionable friends to give us a sense of what’s trending in the local fashion scene in Shillong.  “Trendspotting can be a tough job in today’s world because fashion trends are constantly changing; and with individual style gaining popularity, tracing a trend in a particular place is not so simple. So the best way to gauge the local fashion scene is to walk down the streets – especially here in Shillong, which can give you a pretty good view of what’s trending – all in one place” ~ Arep, Student, Shillong Hakani Sungoh, 21, Political …

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“I Wanted to Capture the Special Bond Between the Old Farmer and His Faithful Buffalo – Spotted at Tharpu Village in West Sikkim” by Nityam Rai

“He is a farmer who works for his landlord. I met him at a field in Tharpu Village in West Sikkim, which is about 30 kms. away from my house. This was my second meeting with him, and I feel we are friends now. The first time I met him, I couldn’t take his picture as it was raining but I had a beautiful conversation with him. The conversation kept my mind awake the whole night. Apparently, he comes to the area regularly to work, along with his faithful friend – Kaley, the buffalo. I regretted not taking their photos, so I went to the same location the next day. Lucky for me, I met both of them, and I took a lot of pictures that day. I could see that he shared a special bond with his buffalo. For him, it was more than an animal; it was both a friend and a family for him. In the middle of our conversation, he cut off saying that his buffalo was thirsty; he pulled him towards the shade, dug a temporary …

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Hop Over To “The Grub Cafe & Bakery” in Laitumkhrah Shillong to Taste One of the Most Delicious Burgers in North East India

  Ah Shillong. One of our favorite places in the North East of India; a place where folks from across the region have shared memories of. Being a boarding school hub, students from across North East and even beyond come here for school and college education. You will thus see plenty of young folks adding color to the town. It is also a place for music and fashion lovers. So naturally, with such a vibrant crowd, Shillong has a host of cafes and restaurants – from cozy to fancy, serving a choice of cuisines.  Today we visit  “The Grub Cafe and Bakery” located in Laitumkhrah Shillong. Started by a husband and wife duo, the place is known for their delicious and gigantic burgers, and their cute bakery section – with a spread of the loveliest desserts to suit any mood and weather. Let’s go meet the founders and find out why this place is a local favorite. We had a chat with Banrisha  – one of the partners of “The Grub Cafe and Bakery” to know …

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“Slow Down and Get to Know Your Subjects” – Meet Aviu Yhome from Nagaland , Photographer and Photo Manipulation Artist

  Photography is a skill most can muster these days but very few can be great storytellers. Today we have a photographer from Nagaland who transforms into a fantasy storyteller through photo manipulation. For those who are on the fence about whether photo manipulation can be considered an art form, it sure does qualify as the greats in this field have an active imagination and a flair for storytelling along with their technical skills. Meet 22-year-old Aviu Yhome from Nagaland, who finds excitement in the fact that no two photos are the same.”No one else can create a photo like the one you created, and that is why the world needs you – the reason the world considers you a chronicler of time and beauty.” We had a great time chatting with Aviu, and here’s an excerpt from the conversation. A tête-à-tête with Aviu Yhome – 22-year-old student and freelance photographer, cum photo manipulation artist. We talk about his photography style, his inspirations and motivations, and how his obsession with color and light is related to …

A Chat with 23-year-old Singer-Songwriter, Actor, and Activist Rahul Rajkhowa from Assam

  To be a talented singer and  an entertainer is a blessing for an individual, and to use these talents for a greater cause can be a blessing for many. 23-year-old singer-songwriter Rahul Rajkhowa from Assam is an inspiring young artist, who has already created nationwide news and impact for his hometown, through his music. His music video “The Floods” which highlights the devastating effects of the Assam Floods, got him his first solo feature on Rolling Stone magazine India, national news coverage on NDTV and honored by ‘Twitter India’ as the Youth ambassador for using social media to bring positive change.  This charming musician started his musical journey when he was just 12, as a band member in school. Later when he moved to Delhi for college, he started playing with his seniors at St. Stephen’s College, and very soon he had already put together his own band “Paperboat” – with whom he has toured around the country. He is also a blooming actor, and have acted alongside Rishi Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor and Ayushman Khuranna …

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“Capturing Her Wrinkles Felt Like Capturing a Lifetime of Emotions – Frozen on Her Face” | Old Lady at Maring Village, Manipur by Gautam Raj

“I don’t know her personally. Met her at the local market as we stopped by at Maring village in Manipur on our way to some other village. She was selling fresh vegetables from her garden and was calling out to us to buy them. That’s when I saw her face – and call it timing or luck, the sun was just setting making the lighting perfect for a picture. So I grabbed my camera and asked her if I can take a picture instead. She stared blankly at me, perhaps disappointed that I didn’t buy her vegetables. My first attempt failed.  I told her she was beautiful. She was indeed. In my eyes, the wrinkles on her face made her look even more beautiful and her eyes seemed like she had a story to tell. She smiled shyly and then, laughed a lot when I complimented her smile. Her laughter gave out a feeling of genuine happiness inside. That’s when I clicked the second photo – this picture. This time it came out good. I …

Rootsandleisure_Pastry Chef_Lhaden_Sikkim

Young Pastry Chef – Lhaden Wangmu Bhutia from Gangtok, is an Artistic Genius with a Warm Heart

Coming from a small town armed with a heartful of ambition – and trying to make it work in a big city, can be daunting at times. But what keeps the spirit high are the daily progress we make towards achieving our dreams, and the crafts we hone with each passing day. For 24-year-old pastry chef Lhaden Wangmu Bhutia from Gangtok, her story is a true example of what it feels to be challenged every day only to be pushed closer to our ultimate goals. “Working in the hospitality industry can be quite challenging, but hardships are incomparable to the experience I gain daily, and the amount of creativity I can showcase through my work.” From baking to impress her dad to training under world-renowned chefs abroad, to now grinding it out as a pastry chef at The Oberoi, New Delhi, our lady has come a long way and her dreams have gotten bigger. We chat with Lhaden Wangmu Bhutia to know more about her journey so far, the influence of her roots on her art, and her ultimate …