With a population of more than 4 million and a twin city Secunderabad, Hyderabad has a fascinating history associated with it. In the year 1591 the then Sultan of the Nizam dynasty, Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah built the city for his lady love Bhagmati. Named Bhagyanagar, it was later given the name, Hyderabad. So, what’s the best thing about being a ‘Hyderabadi?’

Shruthi Kulkarni, a student of SNIST says, “Charminar, of course! Not that there isn’t a monument of such kind anywhere in the country, but for the fact that it’s more than a monument. In the magical and mystical place around Charminar, you get just everything. The Choodi bazaar and the pearl stores are my favorite.” The Charminar is the most beautiful thing to see after 7 ‘o’ clock when it’s all brilliantly lighted up. Not to forget, Hyderabadis celebrate almost every festival with a great pomp and show, irrespective of whether it is of consequence to them or not.

Choodi Bazaar. Credits : Libran Dranzer

The Hussain Sagar Lake. Credits: Libran Dranzer

Leaving aside the beauty that’s attached to the city, it is what the residents of the city thinks/feel/opines that matters the most. Vandana Reddy, a student of GRIET claims, “Living here is easily affordable for people with varied income ranges. I personally feel that the daily commodities and other requirements are available at reasonable prices in Hyderabad when compared to other cities, in spite of the metro status that it has got.” A few others adore it for its uniqueness. Says  Srujana.R of OU, “The Hyderabadi language of course! Where else would you find the words ‘kaiko’ and ‘nakko’?” It would not be that easy to find a mix of Urdu and Hindi in any random city of India. The ‘Paradise Biryani’ is a must for every person who has visited Hyderabad. Many visitors often claim that the city is quite hospitable. A lot of students who have come to Hyderabad for studying agree so. Abhinaya.M, a student of GRIET says, “The people here are extremely kind and helpful. I have been in Hyderabad for the past three years and I have been in circumstances where I needed help and have received it accordingly. So, comparatively, the people here are definitely kinder.” Ramakanth Kamath, a student of NITK asserts, “I have noticed that seats here are reserved for ladies in local buses. This is not so in any South Indian city as far as I know. It is good for the ladies of course, but bad news for us guys.”

Many others claim that the city is a ‘FREE’ city. With not many restrictions unlike in some south Indian cities (Chennai in particular), people of all age groups can live as they wish. Ashesh Singh, a student of GRIET recalls an unpleasant incident. “When I visited Chennai this one time, I and my brother went to a wine shop and the shopkeeper there asked me for an age proof. Another time in Delhi, the bar tender in a bar asked me for an age proof again. This is not the way it goes, at least in Hyderabad!” However, looking on the flip side, Hyderabad is an “extra-free” city where everything is beyond anyone’s control. Hyderabad falls under the ‘most corrupted cities’ category and traffic is uncontrollable because of the lack of discipline on the citizen’s part. Rushab, a student of CBIT says, “I have noticed so many people jump signals right in front of the cops. They don’t seem to take any action. Even if they do, they would take a bribe and let them off. Most of the accidents happen because of such carelessness.”

Hyderabad! Credit: Libran Dranzer

The city is horribly unhygienic and ill-maintained, claim a lot of other residents and visitors. Urinating on roads and walls in public has become a nuisance of late. Akhilesh.G, a student of Vasavi College says, “You can find a lot of places where you have to hold your nose due to the unbearable smell. In a lot of other places, garbage is randomly thrown on main roads. Although, the MCH boxes are placed, people simply don’t seem to bother to just make an effort to throw the trash into the bin. Spitting on roads is another unique indecent behavior of the people here.” A few shopping buffs feel Hyderabad is the last place on earth for good shopping. Karishma Sehgal, a student of St.Francis asserts, “There is no decent road shopping possible in Hyderabad like in Delhi and Mumbai. Besides, I dislike the rickshaw-men. They don’t have minimum courtesy or basic manners. They are simply Jerks!”

While there is a lot of gratification to being a Hyderabadi, there seem to be an equal number of drawbacks. As the saying goes, there is no ideal place in the world. It is all about availing the best of the available. While there is this very important quality/trait ‘discipline’ that is supposedly lacking in Hyderabadis, it is otherwise a combination of all consummate obligations for an Indian citizen. Of course, it grants its visitors unforgettable stuff like the “Irani Chai” and its residents more than enough freedom to live a life that can be defined better than “prominent”, there is not much more to ask of it. What say, Hyderabadis?

Incredible Inditer finds out about the upcoming trends for youth in this year’s Numaish!

Students of various colleges have a new place to Hangout every year in the month of January, which beyond any scope of imagination, is the Exhibition. ‘‘It is an opportunity for us to buy trendy and fashionable items without  having to spend too much’’, says Nitya, a student of Badruka Arts and Commerce college. Bargaining at Numaish is wonderful fun for the youngsters. One among them becomes the designated spokesperson and always bargains for  items such as handbags, accessories and clothes, either by using polite words such as ‘Bhaiya’ or by arguing with the vendor till he agrees to give that particular item for the price the bargainers have quoted.

Rajasthani Bangles. Credits: Incredible Inditer

Kurtis. Credit: Incredible Inditer

Hand bags. Credit: Incredible Inditer

In this year’s Numaish, there are many things on offer, especially for the teenagers. The Rajasthani Bangles being the most attractive stall for most of the teenage girls. From the stone bangles to the fancy kadas, this stall has many trendy accessories to offer. ‘‘The kadas are so attractive that I could not control myself to buy 3 of them’’, says a 20 year old, Kritika Sharma. “Various  patterns of bangles offered by this stall are really wonderful, I usually don’t like wearing all this stuff , but these were so attractive and trendy that I got tempted to buy a pair’’, says Priya from a gang of girls standing at the stall. Supraja and her sister are buying hand bags and some accessories. The chunky gold hoops, the delicate chandelier earrings and the handbags are the most attractive items for them in this particular stall. “These look like the earrings, which Nupur wore in one of the episodes of Miley Jab Hum Tum”, says Supraja holding up a pair.

Handbag Fantasy. Credit: Incredible Inditer

Jaipur kadas. Credit: Incredible Inditer

Sandals and Chapals. Credit: Incredible Inditer

“After the attractive accessories, it certainly doesn’t take much effort to divert one’s fantasies to a footwear stall”, says Supraja. She further adds, “I am a mall rat, who always shops for designer shoes from air conditioned malls in Hyderabad, but nothing can beat the bargains here.’’ Another customer at the stall, Aditi, a student of Raja Mahendra College of Engineering and Technology says, “I always had a misconception that trendy shoes are only found in the streets of Mumbai or Delhi, but for my surprise, I could find the same trendy shoes at Numaish and bought almost 5 pairs of them.’’ At another corner of exhibition, there is a stall named ‘Jeans Corner’. Ripped, embellished – the choices of denim are endless. “I can buy jeans for as low as Rs.200 and still keep up with the latest styles”, says Rahim, a college student. He further adds, “Numaish is undoubtedly a heaven for shoppers.”

Handbags. Credits: Incredible Inditer

From slippers to sandals, accessories to  bags, Numaish had something in store for everyone. So if one’s looking to make a style statement without burning a hole in their pockets, the only place worth visiting to look forward for is undoubtedly, the next year’s 71st Industrial Exhibition, which will definitely have much more to offer!

Yes, accessories defines one. They talk a lot about one’s nature. If paired up properly, it will reflect a vivacious look, but too many of all will make it a fashion disaster. For example, the anklets, they can look trendy if worn on one leg (one can team up with capri or shorts or skirts), but if it is worn on both legs, which also produces sounds, then one is in for a real big fashion disaster. “You  should never wear all at at once, instead, wear too less of everything or skip some of them. Like if you are letting your hair down, you don’t have to wear ear-rings, but you can just do with a chick hair band or just wear a long chain”, says Divya, a student of NIFD.

Junk jewellery. Credits: Shailaja

Off late, a lot of big stores inside city malls have opened up, paving a way for several Fashion-o-holics in the city, to explore their world of fantasies. These outlets usually display a variety of accessories which were never seen or even heard of. One such popular outlet in the city is Belleza. Situated at Himayatnagar, girls are just obsessed with this new store. “Oh yes, I love wearing Jhumkas, I have got a large collection and many are from here”, says Preethi, who shops here often.

Be it the big traditional bands, heavy chains or just the trendy studs,  there’s everything here. As the caption of Belleza says, ‘Follow the trend’, the outlet does keep up its word with a collection comprising of vibrant colours. Sanam, who usually had difficulties searching for shops which have matching accessories to her dresses, says, “Many shops have good collections, buf i feel Belleza has the best collections with a versatile mix of colours. She further adds, ”I have got many matching pairs from here. Thanks to Belleza which is truly fulfilling my needs.”

This outlet is not just over with ear-rings and chains, but it has also got a wide collection of hair bands, hair clips, rings, toe-rings, bags, wallets and all that a trendy girl needs to enhance her wardrobe with. Priyanka says, ”The bags sold here are very fashionable. On seeing me, even my friend has turned up with me.” Her friend Bhanu, who now accompanies her to the store, says, “This is  the first occasion I’ve come to this store. I’m really amused to see the collections here. The best part of Bellaza is, apart from being so trendy, it surely doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket.”

Belleza is well within the budget of any young girls’ imagination. The cost of products here range in between Rs. 5 to Rs. 5000. The costly ones are the heavy jewellery items(in the picture which approximately costs 5000 bucks). The casual ones like the hair bands costs around Rs10 to 75, wrist bands cost not more than Rs. 5 and the funky chains are as low as Rs10. For further  information, check out www.bellezahyd.com.

Trendy Bags. Credits: Shailaja

More Jewellery. Credits: Shailaja

Fashion Jewellery. Credits: Shailaja

“This is not all friends; there is still a lot more to come. Not only we import collections from various parts of India, we also import  from countries like China and Korea”, says Firozz Koppal, the owner BELLEZA. He previously had a shop in Mumbai and plans to open more stores in Hyderabad. So Keep your fingers crossed. The next store may be in your locality!

In order to bring world fashion to the fashion conscious Hyderabad, GVK ONE conceptualized an event “Showcase One”. As part of the event, several national and international fashion brands inside the mall showcased, in a first-of-its-kind 5-day SHOWCASE event, their unique collections through a Glittering Fashion Show interspersed with exclusive performances from around the world. The event was conducted for five days (from 30th September to 4th October). The merchandise that were showcased by those brands were their latest Autumn-Winter collection, thus making the mannequins come alive from the store window to the fashion ramp. The participating brands at the event included Sisley, Lerros, Calvin Klien, French Connection, Mebaz, Levis, Flying Machine, Kalanikethan, Esprit, Aldo and Promod. The event was sponsored by PEPSI.

Meebaz Collection on display at the show. Credit: Ghost Rider

A Performance by foreign artist at the show. Credit: Ghost Rider

A dance performance at the event. Credit: Ghost Rider

The performances at the show were very exciting, apart from the fashion show there were special dance sequences by foreign artist, it included (1) Can-can: The can-can (More correctly, not hyphenated, as in the original French) is regarded today primarily as a physically demanding music hall dance, performed by a chorus-line of female dancers, who wear costumes with long skirts, petticoats and black stockings, that hearkens to the fashions of the 1890s. The main features of the dance are the lifting up and manipulation of the skirt, with high kicking and suggestive, provocative body movements.

(2) Kalinka dance: It is common in the western world to consider the jumps and mimics of the traditional Russian dance to be the result of cold weather of northern country. As if such dances as ‘Prisyadka’, ‘Arabic’, ‘Goat’, ‘Raznozhka’ , ‘Devil’ , ‘Pistol’ etc. were invented by Russians only in order to get warm.

(3) Latino dance: There are many diverse styles of Latin music, some of which constitutes Afro-American musical traditions, meaning that the elements of European, African and indigenous music are fused.

(4) King Verona dance: It’s a 15th century form dance performed for the King of Verona, Italy.

(5) Moscow dance: Modern day Russian traditional dance performance. Elegance, Energy and flexibility is the key word here.

(6) Antre: A form of ballet dance originated in Eastern Europe. Modern antre has modified with a lot of colour.

Models strike a pose at the fashion show. Credit: Ghost Rider

All the people gathered in huge numbers to be spectators of the performances. The show was conducted on the 1st Floor of the Mall; DJ Kenny kept them engaged by playing music tracks. All the hyderabadis were seen flocking in large numbers. A special screen was set up outside the mall, which was facing the road side, due to which more audience were attracted, the audience enjoyed the show and its was a perfect weekend for all the Hyderabadis, who were present there. The event was conducted to mark the emergence of GVK ONE as the fashion capital of Hyderabad.

“It’s really amazing to see such shows coming up in Hyderabad, the culture over here is completely changing day by day and I thank GVK ONE for its concern towards Fashion.” Says Ms. Meena Kumari, a visitor at the show. “The weekend seems to be very enjoyable with something or the other coming up week by week, I really enjoyed the show here especially the dance performances”, says Mr. Anand, a Lecturer by profession. The brands, which have opened their first stores in Hyderabad are Esprit, Mango, Mac, Aldo, Calvin Kline, FCUK, Giordano, Lerros, 109 F, Da Milano, Only shirts, Charles & Keith, Promod and Wildcraft. It is anticipated that Showcase One will be an annual celebration of fashion and entertainment.

Introducing the new trend setter of the Gen Y, ‘Stickering’, the art of making vehicle look trendy and sporty. Be it bikes or cars, body or wheels, no stone is left unturned in casting and creating the first love of almost all men. “Having a car with just a fancy number and raging to go anywhere with a mind-boggling speed is just passé now. Styling it up is a must to be in vogue”, suggests Snigdha.

Why should one go in for these sorts of trends? Is it really important? What difference does it make? Driving should be the most important thing, isn’t it? “Anything common wouldn’t be noticed by the people around. Why does one dress up according to the on going trend?  This is almost similar. The ache for attention and appreciation amongst the peers creates the need for today’s youth to be trendy and different”, declares Manikar, a college student, providing an answer to the above questions. “I always accompany my friends and help them choose from the assorted choices, but I am not as fortunate. I can’t get my car styled as my father wouldn’t let me inside the house”, complains Rohit, a student of KIMS.

'Mobil' Bike! Credit: Enigmatic Euphony

A fancy number costing a whooping 1.5 lakh. Credit: Manikar Chowdary

Stickers! Credit: Enigmatic Euphony

Firey Silver! Credit: Srinija

What are the various ways to pep up the style quotient of an automobile? “Innumerable kinds of stickers are available in the market for both cars and bikes. They are updated time to time with the on going season such as the IPL, the team stickers, etc. Depending on the brand label, the cost of a sticker varies”, informs the owner of a popular car décor shop in Banjara Hills, whose place is always seen swarming with a potpourri of diverse cars, waiting to be taken care off.

Apart from stickers, numerous other options are available such as spot painting, spoilers, alloy wheels, flash lights, etc. “What on earth are all these? Are the numerous models of cars available in the market not sufficient enough? I just don’t understand why the guys are so crazy about these things”, questions Archana, with a puzzled look. But for a few exceptions, most of the girls share a similar opinion about the styling of an automobile. For the improved performance of a vehicle, having the right wheels is the requirement of the day and alloy wheels also give an added pep look. To make ones car noticeable during the night, flash lights are most used. They come in different colours, to be fitted in various spots of the car and enlighten the whole road. Spoilers are the ones fitted at the rear end of a car, which almost looks like a thin tube light.

Spoil Yorself with a Spoiler! Credit: Enigmatic Euphony

Charge the Deccan! Credit: Enigmatic Euphony

Wheel style! Credit: Enigmatic Euphony

Oh dagger! Credit: Enigmatic Euphony

Painting is done artfully as desired with amazing colour combinations that go with the colour of the car. The most widely seen colour combination is the evergreen black & white, which is both graceful and fashionable. Various patterns can also be choosen according to ones taste. The most widely used pattern is that of waves splashed across the body of the car or a simple line extending from the front to the rear end.

However it be designed, all that matters in the end is its success in the glorious impact it can create amongst people at a single glance. It should be trendy, noticeable and should have the youth go gaga over it. Go ‘Stickering’ and create a flashy model for yourself! Rock On Gen Y!

During its period of existence, the size zero fever managed to create quite a stir but still didn’t go down well with many. “I was not for this size zero thingy ‘coz I was never interested to get into my niece’s clothes”, quips Tannavi, a student of Bhavans. Talking about the hype surrounding size zero she adds, “Most of the things are hyped these days. Be it Genelia’s tic toc clips in Jaane tu Ya Jaane na or Victoria Beckham and Kareena flaunting size zero. C’mon lets face it, whatever these celebs do becomes the ‘in’ thing”.

Size zero received a lot of negative publicity for being synonymous with the likes of anorexia, starvation and obsession but some still feel it is very much prevalent but is known in much basic terms. “The term ‘size zero’ has not sunk in, but the concept of thin, anorexic looking figures definitely exists. Just look around for proof!” says Nivedita , a student of St. Francis College.

Size zero? Who cares? Credits: Miss Tick

Whether its size zero, Aamir Khan’s 8 pack abs or Shahrukh’s 6 pack abs , fitness fads seem to have lifetime of a bubble but apart from the media the others, who have benefited immensely from these fads are undoubtedly the gym owners, nutritionists and fitness instructors. With so many gyms mushrooming in the city it wouldn’t be very difficult to find a couple of them in your area boasting of high end equipments and expert instructors.

However, one cannot deny the positive impact of these fads. “I think its good in a way that people are at least making an effort to stay fit in the whole process”, says Rahul, an engineering student. Be it college goers, home makers or the working class, everyone seems to have succeeded in overcoming their inhibitions and choose a fitness regime that fits their bill (quite literally).

Also, most schools and colleges’ prospectus are incomplete without the mention of well-equipped gymnasiums. After all nothing beats working out in a place where students spend half of their day. “We started the gym last year and a whopping number of 200 students enrolled themselves for both group and individual training”, says Ms.Geeta, the fitness instructor in St. Francis College. “It’s all about identifying your body type and working on reducing the fat percentage in your body. Only if your weight becomes a disability, you should start worrying”, she elaborates.

The gym in St.Francis College Credits: Miss Tick

Apart from gymming, people have found many interesting, fun ways to stay in shape. Salsa classes, kick boxing, martial arts and other related etceteras are gaining popularity like never before. Kravmaga, an Israeli form of martial art is becoming popular amongst the city youngsters. Indranil, a degree student and a Kravmaga enthusiast explains, “The best thing about Kravmaga is that it does not have any rigid set of rules unlike other martial art forms. Joining the classes have improved my stamina and fitness levels. I think its one of the best self-defense training one can take”.

Of course the good old morning walk / jogging trend have still not lost its appeal and why not when there are numerous reasons to support its likeability. “My friends often joked that I would turn ‘size -1’ if went for jogging (laughs) but I still decided to go regularly. The fresh air, the pleasant weather and the whole early morning setting was so inviting that I got addicted to it”, shares Minisha, who also feels the roads of cantonment area near Sainikpuri are tailor made for jogging.

Playing a sport too tops the list of favorite activities amongst youngsters. Soccer, basketball, cricket and badminton are very much in. “I take out time to play a match of soccer or basketball with my friends at least on weekends. There’s nothing like playing a sport. Its fun, de-stressing and always makes up for the junk I feed my body with”, says Rohit with a smile.

Whatever be your choice, the bottom line is , fitness fads will come and go but a balanced diet, exercise and being slim will never lose its importance and ‘Before and After’ pictures will continue to lure many.

“150 cc displacement; 10.6 KW power @ 8500 rpm; 0-60 kmph in 5 seconds; 5 Speed Constant Mesh Gear Box; Tubular Diamond Type Chassis”. Meet Bharat Kumar, a CBIT student and an avid biker at heart. One mention about his bike and you cannot help but marvel at the speed with which he rushes through its specifications. “My bike, Hero Honda Hunk is the best in the 150 cc segment as of today,” he adds with a glint in his eye, “…because muscles matter!”. Bharat is part of the increasing number of gen-next brigade, who value their bikes more than anything else. For them, ‘motorcycle’ – the 2 wheeled wonder is definitely more than mere means of transport.

“What ‘drives’ them?” is the big question. Abhishek, a bike enthusiast clarifies, “Motorbikes have come a long way and today, they’re in vogue not just for making a style statement. The thrill of driving a motorcycle is an inexplicable feeling. One should drive a bike to experience it”. He adds saying, “I drive at least an hour everyday to satiate my senses”. For the record, Abhishek owns a Hayabusa – a 1000 cc mean machine. Incidentally, it happens to be the same bike, which Hritik Roshan drove in the epic Bollywood blockbusters – the ‘Dhoom’ series. Did this have any influence? Abhishek smiles, “Yes! Only after I watched the movie, I got one for myself”. He hastily adds, “But even before that, I owned a Yamaha R-15”.

Thunder'in'bird... Credit: Surreal Gaze

Biking is a passion for many; Anirudh, a city lad is one of them. “Bikes are preferred for they are easy to manoeuvre in dense traffic and when it comes to maintenance, bikes offer a very good mileage compared to cars”, he says. “Also, chicks prefer riding on bikes to cars”. When asked if peer pressure had anything to do with youngsters’ flair for bikes, Anirudh remarks, “I wouldn’t say yes. Right from childhood, I wanted to own a bike because everyone had one. But, when I finally rode one, I knew I was destined for it. I guess it’s the same in everybody’s case”.

Of late, we’ve come across many bikes carrying labels on their body. What’s the reason behind this spurt in labeling? Bharat quips, “My bike gets noticed in the crowd only when it’s spruced up. Just like people tattoo their body, labels and other graffiti adorn their bikes; labels which scream their attitude and make them look different”. Anirudh, who drives a Honda CBF Stunner recollects, “I know of a friend who, admires Hitler (the German dictator)’s ideologies. Consequently, the front dome of his Discover carries a Nazi label”. Over the years, bikes have been notorious for their weight. The erstwhile Yezdi weighed a whopping 180 kg and the present day 150 cc bikes weigh an average 150 kg. Why are bikes heavy? Pavan, an engineering student asserts, “Heavy bikes provide good stability at higher speeds. The handle bar does not shake. The heavier the bike, the better gets its handling”.

Although boys might brag about their ability to show-off or the decisive edge that bikes provide in enabling them to woo girls, the fairer sex, as always, remain indifferent. Shalini, a 12th grader clarifies, “Irrespective of whether a guy is a terrific biker or not, my attitude towards him does not change. It all boils down to him as a person”. However, Deepika, a student of Loyola College begs to differ. “Bikes make boys look macho. It indicates their ability to get tough when the situation demands it. It also reflects their attitude, thereby enhancing the X-factor”.

Stunners all... Credit: Surreal Gaze

All said and done, why is it that most of the parents are reluctant when it comes to letting their wards drive? “Did you ever notice the speeds at which these crazy guys drive? It sends a chill down my spine. I just can’t bear the thought that I could lose my son if he fell off a bike which I buy for him,” says Ravinder, an anxious father. He goes on to add, “Youngsters hardly know what they really want. They blindly believe in living the moment. It is our responsibility to keep a check on them”. However, his son, Anudeep retorts, “It’s better to die that to keep living in fear. Damn it! Dad never understands me. If every human were to think like my dad, there wouldn’t be a soul on the streets”.

Though Anudeep’s views may strike a chord with the young and the restless in the city, Ravinder does have a point in what he says. In such a misconstruct that is proving to be a tragedy, the city planners of Hyderabad apparently forgot their brains in the refrigerator while planning the city. The roads widen, then shrink and again widen. Roads all over the city are shaped haphazardly and are filled with clogs of mud and drainage pools. Adding to this pandemonium is the fleet of hawkers and vendors who, sprawl out onto the roads.

In a city that is brimming with motorists and is always full of life, sadly, at least 1000 don’t return home in a year!

When the ink becomes self expression and confidence springs through piercing, body art is the portrayal of something very powerful, an art out of emotion, affiliation or endurance. The ink is here, there and everywhere. Be it piercing or tattoos, its an expression of yourself.

Why do people like tattoos inspite of the pain injected on your skin? Art can portray what you can see, what you want do and what you imagine. The Symbolism of sentiments, dreams, demi-gods, religion and innate emotions can be made possible through this art. When they are going to be permanent, they must mean a big deal to you; otherwise, it becomes a mere fashion fad. “I would get a tattoo done, when something very significant takes place or maybe something I cannot forget for life cause I would love to bear the pain when my feelings hold the strength”, remarks Divya Reddy, a student of GNIT.

Vikram, the tattoo artist at Hakim’s Aalim Tattoo Lounge Credit: Screed Hauteur

A survey conducted on twenty people revealed that some of them have indulged in it to mark certain important incidents or phases of their life. Shravya Sangam, a nineteen year old affirms, “I got my first tattoo when I turned eighteen. It was an new feeling and I wanted to remember it for an eternity”. Some others got tattoos done in a fit to show the world what they are or how they can stand by themselves at times and remain dauntless. Most people get their piercings done just to show off or to say, “Dude, I give a F%$^”. Like Anvesh Kaul, a twenty-year old who relates, “I wanted to tell people that I just don’t care what they think of me. I was just pissed of people bothering me and when I got my eyebrow pierced, it looked like, it said it all”. While tattoos can be thought of as somewhat more intense. It could be just about anything from names, words to symbols or sketches. Logos of Heavy metal bands
have always been a rage. These days, tattoos of religious symbols have become a popular phenomenon. Vikram, a tattoo artist at Hakim’s Aalim Hair and Tattoo Lounge, Banjara Hills says, “More and more people have been asking for religious symbols and names”.

The Tattoo collection; Organic colors at Hakim's Credit: Screed Hauteur

During the past few years, numerous tattoo and piercing salons have been gaining popularity to meet these creative interests of the age group 18 to 24. Apparently, its the artists who matter the most when you plan to get a tattoo. Secunderabad accommodates a few tattoo salons like Envy and Lloyd. The Hakim’s Aalim Tattoo Lounge is a popular place way back at Banjara Hills. Vikram, the tattoo artist there who has been working on a plethora of designs, with his extensive, conspicious collection says, “The price begins anywhere from Rs.2500 and Rs.3500 for a colored one, which vary with the designs”. He also explains that a complex shiva design would require around four and a half hours while others much less. All colorful yet pronounced evidently at a glance. Sameer Mehta, who runs Envy Tattoos and Piercings affirms, “We charge from Rs. 1500 onwards depending upon the design, say Rs.500 per square inch”. Seemeingly, he gives you those needles so that you could get back to him, if you need any modifications. Lloyd is another artist at Lloyd Tattoos, whose name remains familiar among many.

Allergic reactions due to piercings Credit: Screed Hauteur

“Frankly speaking, piercings are just a means to show off for me, but tattoos are different. It’s the permanence that I seek in them. Its something deeply associated with you and it could as well be your life or a part of it”, says Ayush Shankar, who has 4 piercings without a tattoo. Ayush isn’t alone; there are many people, who might get it done when significant times arrive.

Musicians and body art seems to have some kind of association. Rarely, the ink goes untouched for them. And, once done, becomes an addiction for many. They just seem to love the ink and the pain just to show the world what they truly are from within.

The Tribal sun or the colored butterfly has its awe on the girls while the guys are mostly seen with distortions of skulls and demons. Surprisingly, both of them have found to be a major turn off among the opposite sexes. “Tattoos would suck when they’re meaningless. I hate girls, who sport them just to appear uber cool or fashionable”, alleges Ayush . On the other hand, Siddharth, a student of MJCET recalls, “I find girls with the Monroe piercing very attractive . It gives an exceptionally accentuating appeal!”.

Popular musicians' tattoo designs Credit: Screed Hauteur

The health risks associated with tattoos is much less when compared to piercings. “I use organic colors here, which essentially rules out any kind of risks associated with tattooing”, adds Vikram. On the other hand, piercings may affect different people differently. “Piercings, these days have become common, so it basically depends upon the skin type. There is also a possibility of various skin related infections and in rare cases leads to viral infections”, explains Dr. D.G.P Shastry, a well known dermatologist in town. Spending a pretty penny under any ideas of getting it removed should be avoided as re-grafting is an extremely expensive procedure.

Ever wondered that the ear lobe piercing was the first of its kind; it’s the oldest and most followed ritual of piercing. Body art is more than mere showing off, it’s an expression of one’s attitude, personality or even an emotional incident identified with love and mourning. It talks of our lives and often, loud enough to make a difference. A piercing could make an evident appeal or a striking statement which you would never be able to convey otherwise. It’s the skin, we choose to talk of ourselves and it’s when we find ourselves enslaved to body art. Sometimes to show off the adevnturous side inside, sometimes to remember for a lifetime, whatsoever the reasons may be, body art is the soul of extreme expression.

Wondering what’s in vogue this season? Or what is it that might make you one among the most stylish people around the city!! Then bang is the way to go!!! Young girls today swear by bangs.. the new trend that’s catching up with teenage girls..This new hairstyle has become the most popular one among the hepp crowd! Bangs are great and each one can probably wear some variation of them. The day one gets it… everyone goes wooohhh… she’s got a bang!

Bangs come in different styles and are very easy to maintain. “You just have to brush through n there you have it, your hair’s set!”, Ginelle Faria adds to it saying, “No matter how long and bouncy your hair is, the bang adds the needed oomph and style. And in the present day scenario, when there’s hardly anytime for girls to pamper themselves at the parlours, or take care of their hair, bangs come as a great rescue”. Swetha of St.Francis Degree College says, “I love the straight bang sported by Deepika Padukone in the movie Chandini Chowk to China”. Straight bangs are simple without curls or wave and can help frame the facial area. Straight bangs can be great for simple looks with ponytails as well as sleek simple hairstyles.

Coming to the side bang, it is the one sported by Prachi Desai in the film Rock on… What niche it created for her character…Sumanaska a student of Loyola Academy says, “I was quite impressed by the way Prachi looked throughout out the movie”.
Without any second thoughts Sumanaska headed straight to one of the best hair care centers in town, Habibs, and got the side fringe done. Beyond anyone’s wildest guesses she paid 800 bucks jus to get the look right! Now you know how much in demand the ‘bang’ is!!!

Side fringes are ideal for gals with Polka straight hair, as the simple straight long hair gets real boring at times. It is also great for gals who have longer faces. Few other bang styles that are largely in demand, are Parted bangs, Choppy bangs, Side swept bangs, Wispy bangs, Blunt bangs and Wavy bangs, as told by Nandita a hair stylist and few other stylists at Habib’s and Charms.

Girls from every college in the city are busy trying to figure out what kinda bang would suit their face cut. Srinidhi Raghavan, a typical  sports a tomboy look, says, “I’ve never really given importance to my hair, but yeah the bang has become a necessity now ‘coz my face looks complete and neat with it… n yeah makes me feel good and that’s what matters!”. Rupali, a student of NIFT, adds to it saying, “The plain long straight hair days are gone, now is the time to experiment with the fringes so that it completes your overall look. Wearing good clothes is not all that matters right?”.

So finally, all the cool looking gals, going to colleges, parties, hang out etc., watch out for the fashion poilce and dont be found guilty for committing the crime of not getting a bang

The >>BANG<< it is!!

The Wheelie - a hot favourite among the Hyderabadi youth! Credit: Whyso Sirius

The need for the “cool quotient” has become so much among the youth today that all other reasoning and logic havetaken a backseat. It is the fancy of being noticed that surmounts every other aspiration. And that is where the need for a bike to brag about comes into play! Akshay, who is a regular at the bike rallies at KBR Park at Jubilee Hills, says, “I’m crazy about bikes! Can’t imagine my life without them! They’re the next best thing to girls or in fact even better than them (Laughs)…”. Ask him how he became such an avid fan of biking and these rallies and he says, “Initially I used to come here only to watch the other bikers. They had a really cool style which even I wanted to adopt. The wheelies, stoppies, wheel burns and all, it’s just so stylish the way they do it. I used to go to watch the stunts and the girls who used to come to watch them (smiles)…. Slowly I developed a style of my own and thought it was high time even I began to show off my skills!”

Stoppie - Dhoom 3? Credit: Whyso Sirius

While this is how a section of the city’s youth thinks, here is what their families had to say about this whole biking craze! Mrs.Radha, mother of a young biker says, “Some of these fellows just don’t understand the value of money. They don’t realize the amount of efforts we parents put in to buy them their bikes. All they do is zoom around the city at dangerous speeds doing some really brainless stunts”. She has even put some restrictions on her son’s biking habits. “I’ve made it very clear to him that if he experiments with doing bike stunts and if anything happens to his bike because of his carelessness, he’ll have to forget all about getting a new bike!” It is not just the moms who are complaining… the sisters have their set of grievances too! Says Anusha, sister of Ajay, “Bhai is damn possessive about his bike. He rarely even lets me ride on it… and when he does, he rides like a maniac! I don’t understand what the hurry is for! It’s a nightmare to be his pillion rider”.

Trying variations of the stunts. Credit: Whyso Sirius

But some of the passionate bikers don’t agree to this. Harman says, “I ride fast only because I know I can handle the bikeat that speed. So I don’t see why anyone should be having a problem with that.” He has even increased his bike’s wheel rim size to enhance the tyre grip on the city roads and to boost the bike’s speed. Pranav, a student of Bhavan’s Vivekananda College, Sainikpuri and the proud owner of a magnificent black Karizma, says, “I love my bike a lot. Even a single scratch on it makes me go paranoid! I give my bike for servicing after every three thousand kilometers. For me mileage is as important as speed, so although I ride fast, I don’t ride rashly. There’s a difference between riding fast and riding rashly. Most people comment without realizing the difference between the two”.

Sheer riding pleasure! Credit: Whyso Sirius

The parking lot of nearly every college in the twin cities looks nothing lesser than an auto exhibition occupied to its fullest capacity with some of the best bikes in the market.Passion for biking has reached new heights and it is one of those truly defining factors that can transform one from the being the dud of the college to becoming the college dude! Nor is there a dearth of purchasing power considering the various EMI schemes and vehicle loan facilities that are available to prospective buyers. Bikes have become like an indispensable accessory for most guys, so to say, a sort of style statement. And why not! A trend in the modern times as we see it, materialism dictates our lives to a fairly large extent.