Author: Shweta Rao

Discovering a New Love for Bird Watching | Ramthansiama Chawngthu, Aizawl, Mizoram

Published by Shweta Rao

Bird personalities vary from species to species and are always fascinating to observe. After years of work in the domain, hobby photographer Ramthansiama Chawngthu who is a banker by the day, took to Instagram to chronicle the rekindling of his appreciation and passion for birds. Bird watching is a rare hobby and one that requires boundless patience. There is also the intellectual challenge of trying to figure out what their orders or families are and recognizing them. “It’s not just passively sitting there and having a beautiful image thrown at you. You have to work at it,” said Chawngthu in a brief chat with the Roots & Leisure team. Tell us a bit about your work. I’m Ramthansiama Chawngthu from Aizawl, Mizoram. I work as a banker by the day and pursue nature photography as a hobbyist. I have a deep passion for bird watching and travel intensively across the northeastern India to shoot birds. Most of my photos, however, are shot on the outskirts of the city of Aizawl. I have found some really rare birds in …

Sipping Hot Coffee with a View at the Art Cafe | Kalimpong

Published by Shweta Rao

Dropping into traditional restaurants for a restorative slice of the only aged cheese made in India is indeed a culinary must-do when in Kalimpong. Well, why not? It’s delicious: the texture of a hard European cheese with an almost parmesan-ish flavor. But it would behoove young coffee aficionados to head to more modern cafés like the Art Cafe at Thana Dara, for their coffee breaks instead. Especially as the old city of Kalimpong witnesses a rise in new cafes ushering in a “third-wave” that is contemporary and delightfully pretty. Who are the founders of Kalimpong’s Art Cafe? Art Cafe was started by Pravesh Chhetri and me (Yachna Rizal). We’re both currently based in Kalimpong. I graduated as an engineer and worked in Bangalore for some time but I realized my flair for fashion and so took a degree in it. I now own a clothing line and also feature some of my work in a small boutique section at our café. I’m a foodie by nature and I love experimenting and re-jigging our menu frequently to offer …

Psychedelic Art and Amusement With Visual Artist/ Musician: Sachin Bhatt from Bangalore

Published by Shweta Rao

Visual artist and musician, Sachin Bhatt is an indie art lover’s best-kept secret. Bhatt is a young talent who, like many artists, is on a constant quest of finding himself and his place in the world. Bhatt’s art and music shines through this process of deliberation, where he is on his own picking pieces off of his busy mind, but equally, in relation to other people and their nuances, he is confronted with. Here’s how he does it. Tell us a bit about yourself. My name is Sachin Bhatt, but I go by @bhattchin over Instagram. I’m a 19-year-old musician and visual artist studying at Srishti School of Design, Bangalore. I’ve been illustrating ever since I can remember and I’ve never really stopped doing that. What actually sparked your interest in art? I’m a musician as well and I’ve been making art based on music for ages. I’ve absorbed a lot of pop culture and I love showing it through my art. Tell us about your art and how do you work on it? So, I work with a …

“The human mind never stops thinking; it’s why we run upstairs after turning off the lights at night!”: Thej Yhome | Digital Manga Artist from Nagaland

Published by Shweta Rao

A very few of us know the fact that our favorite ’90s cartoon series “The Jungle Book”, based on Rudyard Kipling’s book, was an anime. That was the start of our fascination with anime and we didn’t even know what it was! Eventually, Shinchan and Doraemon made their way to Indian TV sets, but the Japanese comic art form called ‘manga’ is yet to enjoy its fair share of popularity in the country. That’s why, Naga artist and manga illustrator, Thejakhrienuo Yhome’s work deserves more attention. Tell us a little bit about yourself My name is Thejakhrienuo Yhome, but I go by Thej Yhome. I’m 23 and work as a digital artist in Kohima, Nagaland. Right now, I’m enjoying the freedom of a gap year student and freelancing as an artist at home. What got you started? I enjoy telling stories and I love narrating them through comics and animation. But I also work on illustrations and other commissioned artwork. What initially sparked your interest in this field? I became fascinated with Japanese anime, especially Pokemon …

RootsandLeisure_Illustrator-AyangbeMannen

Breaking New Ground in Modern Art with Her Distinct Style : Meet Artist/ Illustrator- Ayangbe Mannen from Nagaland

Published by Shweta Rao

Self-taught artist and graphic designer, Ayangbe Mannen has no qualms about mixing business with pleasure. Her Instagram feed is filled with a unique artistic style, capturing the beauty of the female form. Her passion for mixing watercolour, ink and her vivid imagination has drawn Mannen out of the confines of stereotypical artwork and led her to discover her unique style. A style that is memorable and fascinating. We interviewed Mannen to get a peek into how she draws that strange paradox between beauty and chaos in her artwork. Tell us a little bit about yourself – where you’re from, and what you do? My name is Ayangbe Mannen. I am a self-taught artist from Nagaland and am currently based out of Delhi. I am also a freelance designer and illustrator. Most of my work, whether professionally or as my own creative expression, is an ongoing learning process. How did you get started as an artist? I have always loved to draw. I think a lot of it comes from seeing my mother paint. She’s a great artist. …

Farmstay & Experiential Travel : A Dash of Heritage and Beauty with Palighar Homestay | Kalimpong

Published by Shweta Rao

“Oh! Heaven is a place on earth.” December is almost here, and most of us are feverishly looking all over the internet for a great winter getaway to usher the New Year. Well, aren’t you the lucky one today? Because we have found you just the right place to be at when you step into the first day of the coming new year. PaliGhar is a countryside farm-stay that’s situated in a small town called Echhey in West Bengal’s scenic destination, Kalimpong. Kabir Pradhan, the founder of PaliGhar homestay, tells us why PaliGhar is more than just “another hotel”, and how they’ve worked on keeping the place connected to its roots, heritage and culture without compromising the quality of comfort and service they offer their guests. Tell us a bit about yourself. I am Kabir Pradhan and am 32 years old. After completing my Bachelors in Commerce at Calcutta University, I realized that the subject didn’t interest me much. I then pursued a Post-Graduate Diploma in Travel & Tourism Management from the Indian Institute of …

On Following Your Dreams And Becoming a Full-Time Musician : Jonathan Yhome

Published by Shweta Rao

They say dreamers can be dangerous men. The world fears them for they, more often than not, act on their dreams with an intention to succeed at all costs. Jonathan Yhome followed his dream and became a full-time musician. At Nagaland’s business town, Dimapur, Yhome strives everyday to reach his goal of becoming a successful musician. This is his story. Will you be releasing an EP anytime soon? I have not released an album or an EP yet, but I have officially written songs that have been featured as OSTs for movies, for example, ”Something New” was featured in the movie ”Nana – A Tale of Us” by Dreamz Unlimited. A song I wrote for my parents called‘‘Send Me Away’‘ was featured on The The REC.urrent. I’ve also released a single called ‘‘Before We Know” and Sofar Sounds featured another single of mine called ”Go Tell Your Mother”. What sparked your interest in this field initially? I started my musical journey when I first joined the Nagaland Conservatory of Music in 2013. Ever since I was a kid I …

Platforms like NH7 Can Play a Big Role in the Indian Rock Music Uprising : Thaikkudam Bridge

Published by Shweta Rao

Kochi-based folk metal collective, Thaikkudam Bridge is synonymous to versatility and unprecedented innovation in remaking classic melodies. The band has been ruling the roost in terms of gaining massive fan-following right from the first time its music was aired on TV. The recognition has translated itself to a gradually growing number of shows booked apart from collaboration offers from established international names in the industry. This year the sprawling 18-member band will be performing at the multi-city music festival, NH7 Weekender that begins at Shillong, Meghalaya this weekend. We chatted with Anish Krishnan, one of the latest addition to the band’s vocals team, who couldn’t hide his excitement to watch Steve Vai perform live at the event. Shweta from Roots and Leisure interviews the Kochi-based folk metal collective band. Hey Anish! How excited are you about performing at NH7 Weekender? Yes, this is our first trip to Shillong and we’re very excited about it. After a delayed flight, weather scare, and a day layover at Bangalore, we have finally arrived to Shillong to give our share …

It Took Us 28 Years to Reach Shillong : An Exclusive Interview with Indian Ocean Band

Published by Shweta Rao

India’s happiest music festival is here! Music fans across the country have been eagerly waiting for Bacardi NH7 Weekender. And this time around, the festival is back with more exciting artists that promise action-packed performances. The multi-city music festival, which has previously played host to stellar performers like AR Rahman, Mark Ronson, Vishal Dadlani and Nucleya among others will be starting off at Shillong (27 to 28 October) again this year and will have its final showdown at Pune (8 to 10 December). As the marvelous musical weekend nears, Shweta from Roots & Leisure sat down to speak with members of Indian Ocean, a band that has been a staple at NH7 Weekender for a few years now and is a phenomenon in itself. Amit Kilam (drums, percussions and vocals) and Nikhil Rao (lead guitarist) tell us about what’s in store for their fans in the 2017 edition of one of India’s largest music festival. Photo : Indian Ocean What are you looking forward to the most about performing at NH7 Weekender this year? Amit …

Using Art To Heal | Meet Artist Phatchara Pantanakul From Thailand

Published by Shweta Rao

Art has many purposes. As one of the greatest goods of human experience, art is used to teach, to urge, to challenge, to serve, and even to support a revolution! 29-year-old Thai Chinese artist Phatchara Pantanakul uses art to heal herself. This is her story. What inspired you to turn to art? I went through a lot of stress at work. I had been relentlessly working in front of a computer, day after day, for six years. I couldn’t focus on anything, and that’s when I finally decided to quit my job. And suddenly, there was a lot of time on my hands.I decided to give myself some rest. I also began to draw again to treat my Major Depressive Disorder symptoms. I spent my time reading and going out for long walks. Gradually I picked up my interest in drawing again, and so began my journey towards healing my heart. Art was the best thing I did for myself. I remember that I was always interested in drawing and coloring since I was in pre-elementary school. …