FOREWORD

It's a proud moment for a father when his son steps into his shoes, metaphorically and literally speaking! Our July issue pays tribute to this heartwarming sentiment and gets celebrity fathers and sons to talk about their bonding. Whether it's the picture perfect bond of the painter father and photographer son Yusuf and Shibu Arakkal, or the Formula 1 driver Karun Chandok and his father Vicky Chandok, the music legend Lalgudi Jayaraman and his talented son and disciple GJR Krishnan, or the popular Malayalam actor Jayaram and his son Kalidasan ... the stories all have a common thread, a strong thread of passion, understanding and mutual admiration that makes the bond lifelong and unshakeable. Raise a toast to this special togetherness! While on the topic of saying cheers, we have a special report on the dwindling pub scene of Bengaluru, once the bottoms up capital of the nation, today this reputation has lost considerable amount of sheen, we bring you the hows and whys, on the other hand Hyderabad is celebrating Saturday nights and for that matter every other night with a toast to the fairer sex, a report on how the ladies are enjoying a special treatment at pubs and what they think of it.

Our food story this time, is one to do complete justice to the drinks reports, is sharab complete without kebabs? A lip smacking array of kebabs complete with its history and recipes will leave you completely satiated!

Allow us to introduce to you our special guests for the month. Chess master Vishwanathan Anand. Our sprightly cover girl Sushama Reddy. Bhaskar Bhat, MD, Titan Industries. Read about Anand's moves and aspirations. What it takes to get a watch company ticking and what Sushama is upto these days!

If you are the kind who doesn't stop partying, come rain or shine, then the article on monsoon fashion is just what you need. This trend report on styles, colours, fabrics and monsoon footwear will have you splashing about happily

in style!

Wondering about what your city has to offer this quarter? We bring you a report on the 10 most happening events in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi and Bengaluru. Make a note.

Is curling up with a nice book your idea of spending a rainy day? Check out our Hunt feature, this time we bring you the best bookshops of the south, this feature surely had a Mumbaikar like me truly envious of the south denizens!

Our usual fare of travel stories, how to stay fit during the rains, latest luxury buys, makes this issue just what the doctor ordered to stall monsoon blues.

See you in August, till then keep the mails on and stay in touch.