All posts filed under: PEOPLE

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Candid Chat with Jay from Mizoram : 19-Year-Old Whose Rockstar Style and K-Pop Charisma Have Fans Swooning on Social Media

Published by Roots & Leisure

Small-town superstars from the northeast are a force to be reckoned with. Their individuality takes shape through various outlets – be it their fashion sense, art, music, or other forms of expression. It is truly remarkable to witness the interesting remixes that emerge out of limitations and boundaries found in smaller towns and villages, untouched by mainstream influences. While media exposure is now accessible to even the remotest parts of the world, it is refreshing to see how these young generations use this inspiration to create something that is uniquely their own. One such individual is Jay, a 19-year-old college student from Dinthar, a small town in Aizawl. With tens of thousands of followers on Instagram and thousands of fans eagerly anticipating his every post, he is a superstar in his own right. Jay’s charm lies in his boyish yet 80s rockstar look coupled with K-Pop idol cuteness. We first discovered him through a viral reel where he and his friends were filmed hanging out outside an unbothered institute in Aizawl. This feature on him …

Rootsandleisure-Millo Sunka-arunachal

An Exclusive Interview with Millo Sunka from Arunachal on Winning ‘Best Leading Actress’ at The Rome Prisma Film Awards for ‘Nocturnal Burger’

Published by Roots & Leisure

Join us in celebrating the global recognition of a talented actor from Arunachal Pradesh, who has achieved great success through her passion for acting and staying true to her authentic self. Meet Millo Sunka from Arunachal Pradesh who recently won ‘Best Leading Actress’ at the 2023 Rome Prisma Film Awards, for her outstanding performance in ‘Nocturnal Burger.’  In this exclusive interview, Millo shares her emotions about the big win, discusses her work philosophy, and reveals her plans for the future. Hi Millo, Congratulations on winning the Best Actress award at the Prisma Rome International Film Awards for your performance at  ‘Nocturnal Burger.’ What kind of emotions are you feeling right now? Millo Sunka: Thank you. When I initially received the news, I was obviously very happy about it. But now, as the news spreads, the outpouring of support, love, and congratulatory messages has overwhelmed me. I don’t know how to process all of this, but I am grateful. “I am thankful to my director Reema Maya, who saw me as Simi. I am grateful to my parents …

Rootsandleisure_Mhiesi Meyase- fashion designer-nagaland

“Weekdays for International Brands, and Weekends for Building My Own Brand” Fashion Designer Mhiesi Meyase from Nagaland Talk Fashion Dreams

Published by Roots & Leisure

Meet Mhiesi, a talented fashion designer from Dimapur whose passion for fashion has led him to turn his childhood dreams into a reality. With a degree in fashion design under his belt, Mhiesi now freelances as a fashion designer during the week, working with various export houses to develop new collections for international brands. On the weekends, he channels his creativity into building his own brand, ‘pfe.’ Growing up, Mhiesi was surrounded by garment-making and fashion inspiration. His earliest memory of fashion was watching his mother sew clothes and weave intricate patterns on her loin loom. “Fashion has always been an important part of my family; almost everyone knows how to sew clothes. I used to wake up early in the morning just to catch the FTV specials and get a backstage glimpse of the designers and models,” he recalls We chat with Mhiesi to talk about his journey – from early fashion memories to challenges he has faced as a young designer, and his most current passion of building his own brand ‘pfe’ R&L: …

Rootsandleisure_Vareyar Rimai

A Fun Chat with 19-Year-Old Vareyar Rimai from Manipur on Personal Style and Music

Published by Roots & Leisure

At R&L, we are always on the lookout for individuals and stories that capture the essence of Northeast India. Recently, we had the pleasure of discovering Vareyar Rimai, a 19-year-old aspiring musician from Ukhrul, Manipur, whose unique sense of fashion piqued our interest. In this fun chat, we delve into Vareyar’s personal style and get to know him better. We also want to take this opportunity to remind our readers that Roots & Leisure is alive! 🙂 We owe it all to the amazing community we’ve built, which continues to connect us with fascinating people who have stories to share. So stay tuned for more inspiring content and let’s continue to celebrate the authentic Northeast way of life! R&L: Hi Rimai, please introduce yourself Vareyar Rimai: Hi 👋 My name is Vareyar Rimai. I’m 19 years old and an aspiring musician. I currently stay in Ukhrul, Manipur. R&L: and who is your favorite musician from the Northeast? Vareyar Rimai: Northeast has many great musicians. Ruata Renthlei, the guitarist for Avora Records is one of my …

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The Return of the Cosplayers from Nagaland | NAJ Cosfest 2022

Published by Kumti

Welcome to the almost post-pandemic life where our lives took a bit of an upside down. After nearly 2 years, Nagaland Anime Junkies (NAJ) is back with the much anticipated Cosfest 2022. This year’s NAJ Cosfest 2022 was nothing short of a magical celebration that had us delve into a world of fantasy. It’s only fair to say that we were eager for a Cosfest. NAJ founder Biebe and the team have yet again outdone themselves. Everything was a vibe- the food, the weather, the stalls, and the awe-striking cosplayers. It was a sight to behold and maybe just for once, it made us forget our mundane lives. With the theme – ‘LIFE 2.0’, the 8th Annual NAJ Cosfest event was held in Kohima on the 9th and 10th of July. We witnessed an array of participants from across the state that competed in the grand show of cosplay craftsmanship and performance.   “We want to celebrate life, as we all move forward and rebuild our lives in the post-pandemic world.”- NAJ founders We spoke to …

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“Fashion is about Expressing Myself Without Inhibition” Kaito from Nagaland Shares His Top 5 Winter Outfits for Men

Published by Roots & Leisure

“Fashion is part of the daily air and it changes all the time, with all the events. You can even see the approaching of a revolution in clothes. You can see and feel everything in clothes.” —Diana Vreeland. We chat with Kaito from Nagaland to get some fashion tips for the ongoing cold weather. Not only is his layering game on point, but also his fashion philosophy – which is all about honoring the individual, and making a confident statement through your fashion choices. “I am particularly inclined towards Harajuku fashion and retro vintage styles. I love their appeal of mix-and-match and play with colors. Moreover, Harajuku fashion is a movement against strict societal rules and the pressure to fit the norm.” ~ Kaito from Nagaland. Kaito, 27, from Nagaland Hello Kaito, please introduce yourself. Kaito: Hello, I’m Kaito. 27 years from Suruhuto, Zunheboto, and based in Kohima. I’m an engineering grad with MBA currently working with NSRLM (Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission). Your fashion posts are so refreshing and bold! What’s your personal definition …

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Creator of ‘Soulspeaksbloom’ Nagaland – Vikhozonu Natso, Explains Why She’s Reviving the Art of Handcrafted Flowers

Published by Menule Chirhah

Interview by Menule “Flowers never fail to bring happiness and calmness to people, and I think we can all use more of that in our lives. So I want to bring flowers to more people… flowers in all forms.” Vikhozonu Natso from Nagalandquips with excitement and hope as we sit down to chat about her newly launched brand ‘Soulspeaksbloom’ – a hobby venture, through which she hopes to revive the age-old craft of making artificial flowers – and bring these handcrafted blooms from the DIY table to your living rooms! Just like how a fresh flower can gladden your heart with its fragrance, Soulspeaksbloom’s handcrafted blooms have this unique power to fill you up with a nostalgic whiff of childhood memories and pure joy – of making your very first flower with colored crepe papers during SUPW classes in school! In an age where the art of artificial flower-making is almost forgotten, Vikhozonu Natso from Nagaland –  a lover of crafts and DIY is bringing this familiar, yet almost-forgotten hobby back to trend. Over a …

Rootsandleisure_Phrü Handmade Soap

These Handmade Soaps by an ‘Amateur Soaper’ Will Melt Your Hearts! Meet the Creator Viphrünü Noswe from Nagaland

Published by Menule Chirhah

Interview by Menule I recently came across one of the cutest soaps stamped tastefully with the photo of a K-pop star! Luckily, I found them on Instagram, and on exploring their feed, I discovered a host of interesting soaps, that came in all colors and shapes. They even make ‘solid perfume’ – a moisturizing balm that is scented with lavender essential oil! Turns out, this brand is a local product from Nagaland – called  ‘Phrü Handmade Soap’ aka ‘Amateur Soaper.’ Discovering their range of products has genuinely brought so much joy to my day (that day), and I have been talking about them ever since. So here I am, catching up with the founder /creator herself – Viphrünü Noswe from Nagaland. I interview her about her brand, get her to give us a peek into the soap-making process, and share some behind-the-brand bits like –  the first product she ever made, her favorite afternoon snack, and more! Viphrünü Noswe – Founderof ‘Phrü Handmade Soap’ Menule : Hi Viphrünü, please introduce yourself to our readers. Viphrünü: …

Rootsandleisure_Jung Jathy

She Paints, She Crafts, and She Makes Funny Comics. Meet Jung Jathy from Nagaland

Published by Kumti

Interview by Kumti. Today’s guest is someone I have known since 2017. I met her while working on a festival project. A quiet and shy girl, and one of the most creative individuals – with excellent work ethic! She finally launched her own Insta art account called ‘Creatif by Jungjathy’ where she showcases her collection of creations – sketches in various formats, miniatures (one of my favs!), webtoons, idol/band illustrations, and more. I would like to introduce Imnajungla Jathy, or Jungjung – as most of us would like to call her. I have always been a distant admirer of her work ethic and creativity – and I, for sure would certainly trust her blindly if I needed help with any creative project. It was thus a pleasure to sit down with her today to chat about her work and more. Kumti: Hi Jung, please introduce yourself. Jung Jathy: Hi R&L fam, my name is Imnajungla Jathy, born and brought up in Kohima. An introverted extrovert who loves art, DIYs, designing, and anything arty-crafty. I am …

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#Faces | “This Photo Will Forever Remind Me of My Best Friend, and Our First Outing in a Long Time!” Neimeseu Wetsah from Kohima

Published by Neimeseu Wetsah

“This photo was taken on 12th July 2021 in Kohima, near the Lotha Church in Chandmari colony. My best friend captured it while we were on our way to do some grocery shopping. We have been friends since Sunday school days, but it has been ages since we last met, due to the lockdowns. Moreover, now that we are in college, we don’t get to meet often, as she studies at Patkai college (in Nagaland) while I’m in Delhi. On this particular day, Kohima was blessed with nice sunny weather so I thought I’ll pay her a visit. It felt so nice meeting her after all this time. Later, we went out grocery shopping together, and then to our favorite restaurant – and stuffed ourselves! I still remember how much we ate that day as we jabbered about everything under the sun, like the old times…we spoke about our hostel lives, our school days, our day-to-day happenings, and how the pandemic has affected us all. When I look at this picture, it makes me think …