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Volkswagen has quietly introduced its new-generation common-rail diesel engine into the Passat. The VW group is moving away from its traditional pump duse (PD) form of diesel injection to common-rail systems which are now the industry standard.

VW dealers in India have liquidated its stocks of the Passat with the PD engine, which now only comes with common-rail diesel power. For the customer, there is no discernible change. There is no change in price and the car looks visually the same, whilst the engine produces a similar 140bhp. In terms of refinement, company sources say that there is not much difference between the PD and CRDI engines, however in terms of efficiency there could be a difference but only a detailed road test will confirm this.

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Passing by A. R. Rahman compares working with Danny Boyle on Slumdog Millionaire with working with Mani Ratnam

Unleashed A. R. Rahman: ‘Danny Boyle gave me complete creative freedom’

A.R. Rahman is one of the few music composers/directors in India, who transcends boundaries and personifies the saying, “Good music manages to break barriers of language, religion and other such differences.” From the melodious tunes of “Roja” to the hard-hitting background score of the Golden Globe nominee “Slumdog Millionaire”, the man has given India and the world, nearly 18 years of beautiful music. His musical style has varied from the melancholy tunes of “Bombay” to the youthful “Rang de Basanti” apart from renditions of “Vande Mataram” and the national anthem. His melodious tracks in the Aamir Khan-starrer “Ghajini” has been a super hit and gave Bollywood some reason to cheer in what had been a tumultuous year.

In the city for the launch of a music store, Rahman, a man of few words, provides some insights on his recent projects. On working with Aamir Khan, Rahman smiles, “Teaming up with Aamir and providing music for many of his movies is basically based on professional choice.”

He adds, “I look for assignments that give me scope to challenge and explore myself. I am open to working with anyone as long as this criterion is fulfilled.”

Rahman says that working with Danny Boyle for the soundtrack of “Slumdog Millionaire” was great fun. “He is a great director and provided me support and creative freedom. It is like working with some one like Mani Ratnam.”

He remains tight lipped about his future projects. He feels that his inspiration for good music comes from a wide variety of sources. “India has a great variety of music ranging from Indian classical music and Hindustani to music influenced by Sufi sound. I aim at bringing all these influences into my music. Experimentation is…More

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The launch of Mahindra & Mahindra’s (M&M) long awaited MPV, the Xylo was postponed by a month in view of the recent terror attacks in Mumbai. However, the company has come up with an innovative way to cash in on the hype and interest the Xylo has generated by developing a bespoke pre-launch website.

The interactivewww.mahindraxylo.co.in allows users to get a sneak preview of the car, view details about its development process, and participate in contests. Vivek Nayar, vice president, marketing, said, “Recognising the increasing importance of the web in India, Mahindra decided to launch this Xylo micro site. The idea is to stimulate some pre-launch buzz about the Xylo and also give information about the vehicle and its development to prospective customers.”

The site has already received more than 3,000 contest entries, with 700 requests for a test drive. There is also a weekly contest for those who can come up with creative lines for bumper stickers and win a Xylo T-shirt.

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The Hindu : y>Trip Here is a chance to visit the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust

Crocodile Dundee made waves a couple of decades ago because of his “relationship” with wildlife and his fearless fights with giant crocodiles. But in real life if you ever tried holding a ten-foot crocodile down, you’d know that there is no way anyone could do the kind of things he did. But still if you are brave enough and want to try your luck, read on.

Gerry Martin is taking a small group of people over to the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust (MCBT). This is the place he started his herpetological career and also where some of his fondest wild memories are based. MCBT has over 3,000 crocodiles – from tiny hatchlings to Jaws III, the largest crocodile at the park, measuring in excess of 16 feet.

You will get a chance to work with the team at MCBT, cleaning enclosures, catching, counting and measuring the crocs and doing everything that is needed for three whole days.

We will also get a chance to go herping in the nearby fields and plantations and find a bunch of small snakes and other reptiles, say the organisers. Evenings will be spent in presentations, interesting conversations and maybe some night time swims in the Bay of Bengal. The trip is on from January 24, 25 and 26. To register, call Kaushik on 9886169698.

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The Hindu : y>TESTDRIVE Chic design, smooth drive and an agile engine, the new Nissan Teana is luxury on four wheels, says SHAPUR KOTWAL

It’s a sunny but cool day. White surf pounds the rocky shoreline and the road that winds its way along the coast is devoid of traffic. It’s the perfect day for a lazy drive, the perfect day to put the windows down, power the massive glasssunroof back and allow the cool breeze to waft through the cabin. The V6 motor under the hood purrs like a contented kitten and the long wheelbase of the car helps it glide over the road. The Portuguese coast is achingly gorgeous at this time of the year and we make regular stops to enjoy the spectacular views and drops to the sea below. Taking good pictures here is no sweat. Place the car, just about anywhere, find the best angle and click, click, you have some great shots on the memory card.

As a result, there is a lot more time to drive the car, and enjoy the open road. While some cars encourage you to put your foot down, with a very high degree of agility and a responsive engine, this car is exactly the opposite. More outsized luxury yacht than speedboat, the new Teana coaxes you into adopting an all-American driving position, one arm gingerly holding onto the steering wheel, elbow propped up on the window sill, while the other hand is casually rested on the elbow rest in the centre. Steering this car merely requires a flick of the wrist and you tend to ride the waves of torque and lift off the gas pedal to shift to the next gear on the automatic gearbox. The nose of the softly sprung Teana lifts slightly as you get on the accelerator and you are very aware of the length of the car, especially when…More

The Hindu : y>Sandip Soparrkar has danced with people others can only dream about. He talks to Shonali Muthalalyon his star-studded journey

He did the cha cha with Shakira. The mambo with Beyonce. He waltzed with Madonna.

And just when you thought his partners couldn’t possibly get more bootylicious, he’s getting into the groove with Britney Spears.

Thirty-three-year-old Sandip Soparrkar, Mumbai-based choreographer and dance teacher, began his career as a professional dancer competing in Latin ballroom competitions with his Polish partner.

After about nine years of dancing, on a visit to Pune to see his parents, he decided to settle down and teach dancing in India.

Today, barely seven years later, he’s spending every waking hour dreaming up fantastic dance sequences for Britney Spears’ new video ‘Womanizer’ from the album ‘Circus’.

“I’m going to New Jersey, for the making of the video,” he says, in a telephone interview from Mumbai. “One video for the song has already been released. This is a new version that will be released in the U.K., Australia and New Zealand.”

Sandip’s choreography will be set against an elaborate circus backdrop. “It’s going to be a typical Britney video, with a lot of touchy touch feeling,” he says, adding: “I’ve been given the song, and told to keep it extremely sensual, with a lot of interaction between Britney and the Aussie male model .”

Sandip says his career in Mumbai really took off, thanks to Kitu Gidwaniand Sunita Kapoor (Anil Kapoor’s wife) who encouraged him to teach. Over the years, he has taught Mumbai the “rumba, passo double, samba, cha cha, jive, waltz, Viennese fox trot, quick step, tango and merengue…”

Gradually, he started to choreograph for Hindi movies. “It began with “Zubeida”, then I did “Holiday” and “The Rising”.” He also worked on “The Myth”, starring Jackie Chan. “I take up only those projects that have elements of Latin ballroom,” he says, refuting the idea that he creates…More

The Hindu : y>Shivani Dugar quit her banking job in Washington to pursue painting

Brush strokes Shivani believes art is mesmerising

She’s so in love with nature that she took to depicting them on canvas. But it is not the mountains, trees and valleys that you see in her works.

Shivani Dugar depicted nature in an abstract manner. The colours are blended in such a way that it gives you a very misty appearance. “I paint the landscape as I want it to be seen,” says the artist, who has made Washington her home.

“It was there that I did a thesis on trees and forests. I love nature for it is hard to capture it and every one perceives colours and see landscapes differently.”

Brought up in Bangalore, Shivani started painting at the age of five. “I would go to Chitrakala Parishath for painting classes and ever since used all my spare time to paint,” says Shivani, who went abroad to study Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Studies did not take her away from the world of canvas. She continued to paint even after she found herself a banking job in Washington. “I kept on doing various art courses there and also did a micro in fine arts, which was a four-year course.”

And one day she decided that it was art where her passion was and started to spend almost all her time painting. Shivani went on to do a masters in arts at Pratt Institute in New York and there has been no looking back ever since. Shivani runs a “textile banner with my husband that takes care of my bread and butter. This profession taught me the art of texture and print-making techniques, some of which I have transferred to my art work,” she says.

Shivani says paintings are not just a piece of art “but something that leaves you mesmerised so much that you want…More

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Role play Ayesha Dharker

Ayesha Dharker is known for working hard for her every role. In her latest film, “Outsourced”, when she was called back for a second reading with Josh Hamilton, she went actually dressed up like the character. Says Ayesha: “I dressed like the character I play in the film in every detail, down to the shoes and watch I was wearing.” How is that for dedication?

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The Hindu : y>The country’s rich and famous displayed their exotic vinatge vehicles at a car show. Perseus Bandrawalla has the details

Beauties on a roll Some of the cars on display

One out of every four Rolls Royce built in the pre-Independence era were imported to India. During the Raj, theopulent maharajas bought many exotic cars and supported the British automobile industry in a big waythen. Some of the greatest international coach builders and designers were specially commissioned to carry outlavish, distinctive and sometimes bizarre specifications to satisfy the whims and fancies and sometimes eccentricities of their prestigious clients. India is home to over 6,000 vintage and classic cars.

The Cartier Travel with Style show in Mumbai showcased sixty of the country’s finest automobiles, celebrating automotive design and coach building of India’s belle époque. Concours d’Elegance is a competition that judges the machines on the basis their appearance. These magnificent cars, owned by Indian royalty and private collectors have never been displayed on the international stage, in fact, many were not even exhibited in India before. “The combination of a brand like Cartier and the immense heritage that India holds can go places,” said Mark Shand, brother-in-law of Prince Charles. The eventput India on the international classic car circuit.

Each of the cars had an interesting story to tell. It was the first time thatPrince Michael of Kent would see his grandfather, King George the V’s 1936 Daimler Royal Limousine. Only three of its kind were built. It was also the first time since 1931 that three of the six Pierce Arrows brought into the country reunited!Valuable gift

Maharani of Jaipur’s Jaguar XK 120 was a precious gift from the Maharaja after she was amazed and overwhelmed by its design on a holiday to France. The car was commissioned and delivered to her doorstep in London as a surprise a few weeks later. The Maharaja of Bhavnagar…More

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A collection of recipes of payasams and biryanis with some handy cooking tips

Payasams and biriyanis are both ever so special and encompass the best festive spirit there is in all the festivals of all the communities in the South. Though belonging to two very different schools of cuisine, payasams and biryanis are common dishes for Keralites.

Chef O.K. Rasheed gives recipes to cover a couple of years in the life of an enthusiastic amateur cook who can try them out in his books, “Biriyani Bahuwidham” (Rs. 60) and “Payasam Nishprayasam” (Rs. 40), published by Kairali Books.

Not only recipes, he gives general tips which will come in very handy while making these popular delicacies.

For instance did you know that if you squeeze a lemon into the boiling water before you put the rice in, the rice will not stick together?

Also, if you want a thick sauce wraparound, soak khus khus and cashew together, grind them and add to the masala — yummy to taste and lots of mass too. And ‘dum’ biriyani can be made on the gas stove too. He reveals the secret in this book: put the vessel on a heated dosa tawa and cover it with a plate full of water. That’s dum for city folks!

There are several more such tips that can make cooking an exciting experience and one that may fetch you kudos.

Not content with ordinary biryanis, Rasheed teaches you how to make Lebanese biryani, and also something called protein biryani, using a lot of pulses and cereals. Here are some of the off beat biryanis covered in the book: Kappa (tapioca) biryani, soya chunks biryani, malai kofta biryani, kothuporotta biryani.

Slow cooking always makes a payasam taste better, Rasheed says. And always keep the cooked payasam open for half an hour before serving and see what guests have to say!Pasta payasam

Apart from the run-of-the-mill…More