Tired of sipping on sweet, milky ‘chai’ at the local tea-stall? Are you interested in trying out some Indo-Western exotic bites along with a latte? Well, come down to Mumbai and you will be able to. Indian taste buds have gone international with the dominating presence of cafés such as Café Coffee Day, UK’s Costa Coffee, Australia’s Gloria Jeans, and the US’s The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. Now it’s time for India’s caffeine dreams to become even bigger with the entry of Seattle-based multinational coffee chain, Starbucks.

In an $80 million joint venture with Tata Global Beverages, Starbucks India is known as Tata Starbucks Ltd. Starbucks, which has more than 17,600 branches in over 61 countries, has now opened three new outlets in Mumbai at the historic Elphinstone Building in Horniman Circle, the Taj Mahal Hotel and Palace, and Oberoi Mall in the Mumbai suburbs.

The Indian menu has been tailored to meet the local tastes and the menu items reflect this unique fusion of East and West. There are items like Chicken Tikka Panini, Tamarind Peanut Chicken Calzone, Chai Tea Latte, and Elaichi Mawa Croissant. The items are also priced significantly lower as compared to those at other Starbucks’ outlets across the world. The company is in a bid to woo India, which is essentially a tea-loving nation. The country’s tea sector is the thousands of tea-stalls scattered all over the country’s streets. For as little as five Indian rupees, one can kick start their day on sweet, milky, elaichi-flavored tea served in small, glass tumblers.

India’s openness to cafes and coffee is still in the nascent stage. At present, there are 1,950 cafes in the country and they contribute to the country’s $230 million revenue. This figure is also expected to grow to 13-14 percent over the next five years. Tata Group plans to open 50 more stores by the end of 2012. The company is also planning to set up a café in Delhi by early 2013.

The Starbucks outlet in Horniman Circle is spread over sprawling 4000 square feet of space and occupies two floors in South Mumbai’s elite business hub, making sales of 8.5 lakh Indian rupees per day. On opening day, October 19, 2012, there were long queues of people forming outside the South Mumbai café, all waiting to get in. Everybody was excited to try out the offerings by the newest entrant on the coffee market in India. They waited to grab a cup of their favorite coffee for over an hour.

Starbucks boss, Howard Schultz, agrees that the company has faced challenges while entering foreign markets such as those in Japan and China but they have overcome them. Starbucks has over 600 outlets in China and the success of India’s outlets is already exceeding expectations.

Analysts are also hopeful with estimations that the coffee market in India is expected to haul in more than $500 million over the next five years. Will Starbucks be able to build its presence in India, facing stiff competition from other players such as Barista, Costa Coffee, and the local Café Coffee Day? Only time will tell.

Image Courtesy : Fran Simó

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Following the death of Bal Thackeray, a controversial Indian politician who was famous for his regionalist and nationalist ideologies, two Indian women were arrested by the police for anti-Thackeray comments posted on Facebook. Twenty-one year old Shaheen Dhadha expressed her resentment against the shutdown of Mumbai over the weekend, by posting the following comment to her Facebook wall, “Everyday thousands of people die. But still the world moves on. Just due to one politician dead. A natural death. Everyone just goes crazy.” Her friend who “liked” the comment was also arrested along with her, for voicing anti-religious sentiments over social media. It is interesting to note that Thackeray’s name was not explicitly mentioned anywhere in Shaheen’s comment.  However, both girls have been released on bail and also face up to 14 days in prison.

Shaheen was forced to remove the comment and to issue a public apology over Facebook. Despite her withdrawal of the comment, over 2000 Shiv Sena party workers vandalized parts of Shaheen’s uncle’s hospital in a Mumbai suburb. Although, a police complaint has been filed against the mob violence, not a single Shiv Sena activist has been arrested. Bhushan Sanke, a local Shiv Sena worker filed the case against Shaheen.

Bal Thackeray, the powerful leader of the Shiv Sena party in Maharashtra, died at the age of 86 on Saturday afternoon, following a long period of ill-health. He had founded the Shiv Sena in the 1960s with the strong conviction that he would fight for the interests of the local Hindus in Maharashtra.

As soon as news of his death leaked, businesses, shops, restaurants, and offices in Mumbai closed down either as a mark of respect or out of fear. The public transportation systems came to a grinding halt with taxis and autos going off the roads. Within a couple of hours, the city of Mumbai was shut down. In some parts of the city, there was unrest, but the funeral procession proceeded smoothly over the weekend.

The Shiv Sena’s backlash has outraged many Indians and the social media world is agitated. A new Facebook group titled, “Ban Shiv Sena” has been created and it has already received over 37,000 Likes.

The Chief of the Press Council of India, Justice Katju has demanded “immediate action against the police personnel who arrested the women.” In his open letter to the chief minister of Maharashtra, Prithviraj Chavan, Justice Katju writes, “To my mind it is absurd to say that protesting against a ‘bandh’ hurts religious sentiments. Under Article 19(1)(a) of our Constitution freedom of speech is a guaranteed fundamental right. We are living in a democracy, not a fascist dictatorship. In fact this arrest itself appears to be a criminal act since under sections 341 and 342 it is a crime to wrongfully arrest or wrongfully confine someone who has committed no crime.”

This is not the first time that freedom of speech has been curtailed in India. Not long ago, when North East India was rife with ethnic violence, the Indian government had ordered the blocking of websites, and Facebook and Twitter accounts, in a bid to control the inflow of objectionable content. It is unclear whether making a political statement on Facebook can truly offend religious sentiments. Indian authorities have always been criticized for not doing their part to enable freedom of expression.

According to recent information, both girls have also deactivated their Facebook accounts, fearing further aggression and legal hassles.

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The Prithvi Theatre Festival is an annual festival in Mumbai that brings together a motley group of renowned faces of Indian film and theater. The family legacy and tradition is on display this year from November 3to November 18 at the Prithvi Theatre in Juhu, Mumbai. Arts, theater enthusiasts and budding playwrights who wish to revel in a stunning display of drama and entertainment will be treated to an eclectic collection of 21 plays over the course of 2 weeks. With no sponsors for this year’s festival and with the Festival of Lights (Diwali) round the corner, an evening at Prithvi Theatre promises to be a celebration of Indian theater.

Among the impressive line-up of plays is Motley Production’s “A Walk in the Woods,” which is an Indian adaptation of Lee Blessing’s “A Walk in the Woods” that focused on the relationship between a Russian and American arms negotiator. In the Indian version, iconic actor-director Naseeruddin Shah and versatile actor Rajit Kapur play their parts of a Pakistani and Indian diplomat respectively, to perfection.

Nandita Das makes her appearance on stage after eight years with the play “Between the Lines” that highlights the quotidian lifestyle of married couples in India – no matter how progressive the men shape themselves to be, their inner selves still unconsciously expect the women in their lives to play the role of the traditional Indian woman in society, without any qualms. While the script is unimaginative, the performances by Nandita Das and Subodh Maskara showcase wit and humor.

“Kaifi Aur Main” is a tribute by accomplished veteran film and theater actor, Shabana Azmi, to her father, Kaifi Azmi, an Urdu poet. There’s even an adaptation of Shakespeare’s King Lear titled “Nothing Like Lear”, which is a one-man act by Vinay Pathak, another gem of Indian cinema. Each play explores a new facet of Indian society and spans generations of Indian artistes.

Apart from the plays, the Prithvi Festival has arranged Sunday carnivals, exhibitions, and acoustic Sunday jams. The small, community theater boasts of a cafe that serves up some delicious fare on all days of the festival. Newbie artists and playwrights can brainstorm their next production over a cup of steaming latte or a croissant.

The Prithvi Theatre Festival has been showcasing the best of Indian arts and culture since 1983 and has been enthralling audiences across major cities in India. Prithvi Theatre, owned and run by the famous Kapoor family, has been instrumental in nurturing talent for the arts from all strata of society. A non-profit theater, Prithvi Theatre is one of Mumbai’s iconic theater venues, which stands high above the likes of Tata Theatre. The Kapoor family descendants, Sanjana Kapoor and Kunal Kapoor, have been successful at promoting theater within the fraternity and outside. The community spirit and people camaraderie presides over every event staged here. All are welcome and the venue makes for a splendid evening-out with the family or spouse.

Image Courtesy : Testing / Shutterstock.com

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The Oscar-winning 2008 movie ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ opened several doors for the cast and crew including the two lead roles, actor Dev Patel and actress Freida Pinto. Opportunity have also opened for two of the child actors of Slumdog, including child actor Ayush Mahesh Khadekar, and fourteen-year-old actress, Rubina Qureshi.

They will be staring in the upcoming international film with Anthony Hopkins called, ‘Lord Owen’s Lady.’ After the hit movie, Rubina and her family became a true rags to riches story. Rafiq, Rubina’s father, allegedly once tried to sell her for money, now claims he will always support her.

Rubina’s family has moved from the slums to a nice flat in Bandra. With the help of Slumdog director Danny Boyle, these children and their families are receiving more than any dollar amount could give them: the opportunity to get out of the slums, receive adequate healthcare, a safer and sanitary place to live and a good education.

The inspiring story of Jamal Malik, an eighteen year old boy living in poverty in the slums of Mumbai, who ends up on India’s version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, “Kaun Banega Crorepati?” and winning one million dollars, was the trigger of the real-life Slumdog story. The movie grabbed the hearts of millions by revealing life lessons and truths that many felt they could reflect themselves in for hope and compassion.

With a budget of approximately $15,000 no one would have anticipated what a smash hit the movie would be. ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ grossed a surprising $141 million dollars in the box office. With little attention from the press, the movie took off as an international sensation, winning over 100 awards across the globe and opening the eyes of millions to the hard realities that are lived daily in parts of third world countries, including Mumbai, India.

Similar to Slumdog, “Lord Owen’s Lady” is expected to reveal the harsh realities of poverty as it unravels a love story between a wealthy young nobleman and an Indian woman. The movie is currently in the pre-production stage but plans are up and running to begin shooting in the next two to four months.

With the help of Rubina and Ayush, this film will further open the eyes, ears and hearts of millions to a child’s life of hopelessness, poverty and turmoil. This opportunity is a fairytale come true for these children, and betting on the force and publicity of the upcoming film, one can only hope that it will open up doors for more children to gain a better life.

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DHL, the world’s leading express and logistics company, delivered Manchester United’s Champ19ns Trophy Tour to Mumbai for a special event with employees and customers. The DHL Champ19ns Trophy Tour event in Mumbai included a football clinic with two Manchester United Legends Denis Irwin and Quinton Fortune with children of the Magic Bus Foundation and the DHL football team.

This is the first time the club has toured India with the trophy, and is part of a global tour which will visit 27 Asian and African destinations, covering over 48,000 miles. Malcolm Monteiro, SVP & Area Director, South Asia, DHL Express said: “DHL and Manchester United are two strong brands recognized globally and the partnership is between two organizations that have similar characteristics at their core such as teamwork, passion, speed and can-do-spirit.”

Malcolm added, “The DHL Champ19ns Trophy Tour is a perfect chance to demonstrate how we work within our global network of 220 countries to bring the trophy to our customers, employees and fans around the world.”

Manchester United Legends Denis Irwin and Quinton Fortune shared a lot of tips on the field with the children of Magic Bus Foundation and the DHL football team who were very excited to be there. The two legends along with the club’s famous mascot, Fred The Red, was also on hand along with the Trophy to sign signature cards, engage with the children and DHL employees about what it’s like to play for the most popular club in the world.

DHL is the global market leader in the logistics industry and “The Logistics company for the world”. DHL commits its expertise in international express, air and ocean freight, road and rail transportation, contract logistics and international mail services to its customers.

A global network composed of more than 220 countries and territories and about 300,000 employees worldwide offers customers superior service quality and local knowledge to satisfy their supply chain requirements. DHL accepts its social responsibility by supporting climate protection, disaster management and education.

DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL. The Group generated revenue of more than 51.5 billion euros in 2010.

Image Courtesy of   Sportsphotographer.eu / Shutterstock.com

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Shammi Kapoor died Sunday morning at the age of 79 years old. The Indian movie star and director appeared in over 100 films. Kapoor died of chronic renal failure at approximately 5 AM at Breach Candy hospital. According to BBC News, the funeral was held on Monday at the Ban Banga Crematorium in his hometown, Mumbai.

In 2006, Kapoor had been at the hospital for a week, and later announced that he was frequently undergoing dialysis treatments. Instead of allowing the disease to depress him he consistently spoke about being thankful for the life he had lived.

The actor was born on October 20, 1931 to a unique lifestyle and a career that was already laid out for him. Kapoor was no stranger to the spotlight. His face was everywhere in the Indian film industry from the 50’s to the 70’s and Bollywood was always in his blood. He is the eldest of three sons who all went on to be actors, like their father Prithviraj who was famous on screen and at the theater.

A handsome and versatile actor, Kapoor has been called the best actor in Bollywood. He stood out for not only his name, but also his looks, sense of style, and positive attitude.

Shakti Sharma, a director who worked with the actor on several occasions,  said, “I found Shammi to be a thoroughly good man. He was humble.”

Kapoor was six feet tall with green eyes and light skin, fairly uncommon for Indian actors. He became an icon after three consecutive box office hits: “Tumsa Nahi Dekha” (1957), “Ujala,” and “Dil Dil Deke Deko” (both 1959). The movies are considered to be classics. He won many Indian film awards including a Lifetime Achievement Prize at the International Indian Film Academy Awards in 2001.

Imran Khan, a current Bollywood superstar, tells The Hindustan Times that he was “a man with a heart of pure gold.” When Khan’s grandparents (also actors) could not afford to get married, it was Kapoor who held the wedding at his own home and paid for all the clothing and jewelry.

As time went on and Kapoor started to lose his youthfulness, he directed two movies that did not do as well as the classics that he starred in. In the following years, he remained relatively off the scene while raising his family.

Kapoor’s last performance was in “Rockstar” (2011), alongside his brother’s grandson, Ranbir Kapoor.Kapoor met his first wife, Geeta Bali, on a movie set in 1955. She had worked with his brother and father in the past and tried to keep their love a secret until they married, just four months later with only one witness.

The couple co-starred in the hit “Miss Coca Cola.” They had two children together: a son, Aditya, in 1956, and a daughter, Kanchan, in 1961. Unfortunately, Geeta died of Small Pox while filming.

Kapoor was nowhere to be seen for two months until he returned to the set to continue filming, according to The Hindustan Times. Khan tells the newspaper that the first day back on set included a love song titled “Tumne Mujhe Dekha,” meaning “You saw me.” The young actor tells the newspaper “the pain on his face in that song brings me to tears…that’s more than just acting.”

Kapoor married again in 1969 to member of the formal Royal Family, Neela Devi Gohil. Many Bollywood actors have been tweeting their condolences and memories of the actor:

Film star Amitabh Bachan said, the “flamboyance and joie de vivre of the industry is lost.”

Actress Saira Banu who starred in a film with him said Kapoor was “a wonderful human being. He is eternal.” Khan goes on to explain that when he, himself, first became successful, it was “Shimmy Uncle” who wished him luck and reminded him to “never forget what’s really important…friends and family. Everything else is temporary.”

His success, legacy and values will not be forgotten.

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