Exec Lifestyle?s Weekend Watch recommends and previews television shows, films and live events that you simply cannot miss! Check out our recommendations for this weekend (10 - 12 April, 2015)

About Town:

Your periodic offering of vibrant pop up shops, experimental and street cuisine, workshops, and live music is back, and in a newer avatar. For their first anniversary edition, The Lil Flea has something special in mind - something philanthropic. For starters, they are giving away free seeds to all, which you can take back and plant in your homes and see them grow into beautiful plants bringing joy to you and the environment. You can also choose to adopt a tiny plant and buy some live art by five - six artists, who will be creating some cool art on the spot. So don?t miss this cultural extravaganza with over 200 pop up shops, at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai this Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 4 - 11 pm.

Live events:

Care for some laughs? Then be sure to catch this night of laughs, giggles and lots of fun brought to you by UK's Comedy Store. With four amazing artists on stage in one night -  Neville Bharucha, Sonali Thakker, Kritarth Srinivasan and Jaideep Singh Juneja - the audience is guaranteed to be in splits. Make sure you visit the blueFROG in Lower Parel, Mumbai for this amazing gig, this Saturday at 6.30 pm.

By Papri Das

As the eighth season of Indian Premier League (IPL) makes a quick recovery with the first couple of matches of the season after the not-so-happening opening ceremony, it already has us engaged hook, line and sinker, with all the on and off-field entertainment. Thus being the situation, it?s natural to wonder what our media executives are up to this IPL.

Be it their title as the defending champions, their victorious start this season, or simply the fact that the team?s owner is the Baadshah of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan, Kolkata Knight Riders continue to garner patrons within the industry.

"I don?t have strong opinions regarding any particular team, and enjoy watching every player give their best. But yes, I do have a soft corner for Kolkata Knight Riders because of my connection with the City of Joy,? says Travelxp CEO Prashant Chothani.
?For the longest time, my wish had been to see a cricket match in Eden Gardens and I finally realised this dream at the last big India Vs Pakistan match. There is nothing like the atmosphere of a live match in Eden, which makes me anticipate a KKR match there. But alas, my work will keep me out of the country for the most part of this IPL season, and I will be limited to catching online updates through various digital platforms,? he adds.

Big Synergy whole-time director Anita Kaul Basu tells us how she is torn between love for her home team Mumbai Indians, and Kolkata Knight Riders. ?My attachment to KKR goes way back in to the very first season, when the IPL kicked off. Shah Rukh was doing a show with us that time (Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain on Star Plus) and everyday we would see him busy with the team, merchandises, jerseys etc. Having said so, I also follow the Mumbai Indian matches ardently, and try to catch them live in the Wankhede Stadium,? says Basu, adding that like every season, she expects IPL 8 to be yet another reason for a family extravaganza where friends and loved ones gather to have some fun.

Dentsu Aegis Network South Asia chairman Ashish Bhasin is a proud and loyal Mumbai Indians fan, but when it comes to picking his favourite players from the team, Bhasin goes with performance than blind faith. ?It was easy to pick your favourite when Sachin played. While Malinga continues to be a key player, there isn't anyone I have blind faith in. It is hard to take sides or choose favourite players unless I see how the series unfolds. I am specially looking forward to how Pollard and Harbhajan Singh fair this season,? shares Bhasin, adding that he would rather have the viewer?s attention shift back to the action in the stadium than unnecessary drama off the game.

MUMBAI: As the holy week draws to a festive closure, we see the revellers gear up for the much anticipated Easter in all its splendour, including the many Christian executives, who, even with their jam-packed schedule are giving their best to celebrate the day with loved ones.
 
?It?s tough to squeeze in personal time with a hectic schedule like mine even though it?s a holiday, but I have always tried and made sure that I spend my Christmas and Easter holidays with my parents in Goa,? shares NBA India managing director Yannick Colaco, as he rushes to catch his flight to Goa. But not before adding that his highlights from all Easter celebrations over the years has been the anticipation to eat the easter eggs, after fasting for Lent.
 
?Fasting for Lent doesn?t mean you go without food altogether but just to resist eating non-vegetarian food. But for a foodie like me, it?s quite an ordeal. Which is why the Easter eggs taste ten times more delicious when we finally have it,? he points out.
 
Star India head of events Lydia Buthello reiterates that sharing a homely lunch with her loved ones is the best way she cherishes her Easter memories. ?For the last couple of years, I have been celebrating Easter in Bangalore with my younger sister. The day would start with a lavish lunch at home and end with a dinner party at my aunt?s place, with all my cousins. We are quite the loud bunch,? she adds in retrospect. This year, quite sadly she will be missing her mother (and her mouthwatering cooking) as well as her sister?s company.
 
Buthello isn?t the only one. Taproot India co-founder and chairman Agnelllo Dias too will be taking an unwelcome break from his comfortable Easter traditions. ?A typical Easter celebration at my home, before I got married and started living separately, consisted of going for the midnight mass, coming home and wishing all the neighbours and then having a family lunch the next day as more friends drop in with easter eggs, which I used to look forward to as I have quite a sweet tooth. When the family started splitting into smaller nuclear units, Easter day meant regrouping together again at my parents' house and have a blast,? he says with a chuckle, adding that work is keeping him away from these traditions this year.

Speaking of traditions and customs, do these execs adhere to the norms of the holy week? While Coloca and Dias mention fasting and going for the midnight mass as being an intricate part of their Holy week celebrations, Buthello quite frankly confesses to have slipped up over the last few years. ?Over a period of time, I have been irregular about going to the church. But I try to make up to it, by being serious about fasting for lent. I gave up my favourite rice and alcohol for lent last year. So tasting the first morsel of rice was heavenly on Easter,? she says.

Exec Lifestyle?s Weekend Watch recommends and previews television shows, films and live events that you simply cannot miss! Check out our recommendations for this weekend (3 - 5 April, 2015).

Movies

Those who like to titillate their brains with a healthy dose of jasoosigiri have the much awaited Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! to watch out for on the big screen this weekend, with Sushant Singh Rajput starring as the iconic titular character. Adapting it from the popular Bengali detective novel series by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay, Dibakar Bannerjee has added his own special touch to the story, which will surely keep your at the edge of your seats.

Television:

Star Sports 4: Football fanatics have a very busy weekend line up, with a series of exciting matches scheduled. Start your weekend with the Barclays Premier League where Arsenal plays Liverpool at 5.30 pm on 4 April. This will be followed by Chelsea vs Stoke City at 10 pm.

NEO Sports: With a few matches to go, all the teams will try to swap spots with higher placed teams. Bundesliga will see rivals coming together as Dortmund hosts league leader Bayern Munich at 10 pm on Saturday, 4 April.

Exec Lifestyle?s Weekend Watch recommends and previews television shows, films and live events that you simply cannot miss! Check out our recommendations for this weekend (20-22 March, 2015). 

Television

Sony Max2

Shah Rukh Khan fans can?t get enough of their idol this March. From 22 - 28 March, fans will be privy to some of the most acclaimed and evergreen movies of Khan, which will be aired during prime time slots on Hindi movie channel Max2.
 

The channel has handpicked films for its viewers and will showcase the ?Baadshah of Bollywood? in unforgettable roles with its ?Shah Rukh Film Festival?.

The week-long festival showcases Indian cinema?s iconic love story Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, the thriller blockbuster-Darr, the musical romantic Dil To Pagal Hai and the action thriller Karan Arjun amongst others.

Live Concert

Here is a chance for all Pankaj Udhas fans to savor their ears with the symphonic live at the courtyard in R City mall, Ghatkopar, Mumbai.

Do not miss the open air concert with a soulful voice to make your evening just perfect on 22 February, 7 pm onwards.

Homeowners today are looking at providing that distinctive charm by using a mix contemporary and ethnic touch when it comes to styling their homes. A combination of furniture that is comfortable, cozy and welcoming and at the same time also reflects their personal aesthetics is what people are looking for in their homes. Personal style and freedom of expression have become the driving forces in today's home design and interior designers are ferreting out personalized solutions to decorate clients? havens.
Indiantelevision.com?s Exec Lifestyle looks at the Top 5 High End Interior Designers from across the globe.

Read on:

1. Cullman & Kravis
Cullman & Kravis is known for providing the highest quality of design excellence and personal service since 1984. Based in New York City, the design firm concentrates on combing antique pieces with modern ones in order to preserve tradition by placing it in a contemporary environment. The company operates on a national level and has worked closely with architects such as: Allan Greenberg, Tom Kirchhoff, Tom Kligerman, John B. Murray, Gordon Pierce, Oscar Shamamian, Jeff Smith, and Peter Zimmerman.

2. Pepe Calderin Design
Pepe Calderin Design is an award-winning, New York and Miami-based interior design firm dedicated to designing high-end residential and commercial spaces throughout America, Europe and Saudi Arabia. It uses 3-D rendering to show their clients the vast possibilities available for their space, and the designers are always conscious of developing a positive relationship with clients.

3. The Orange Lane
Designers hanker after large square-footages. So if you have a small studio apartment that you wish to do up tastefully, chances of getting a good designer to handle the job are slim. But for Shabnam Gupta, all spaces ? large and small ? are grist for the mill. Her spaces are infused with a wonderful, endearing idiosyncratic quality. We like her attention to detail: A window grille that apes falling rain, a trail of miniature ants walking across the wall. This interior designer-furniture-and-lifestyle store-owner is very practical when it comes to space management as well. Client portfolio includes Aditya Chopra, Rani Mukherji, Sameer Bhatia, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, W.T.F Bar, The Big Nasty Bar and Lemon Grass Restaurant.

4. Designscape
Designscape, a Mumbai-based interior design consultancy, has established a reputation for providing creative design solutions for both residential and commercial interiors and small architectural projects. The company uses innovative materials to provide unique interiors that work as well as provide a complete design and furnishing service for buy to let and investment properties. Apart from providing the furniture, Designscape also undertakes full decoration including curtains, carpets and wall finishes and delivers a turnkey solution.

5. The White Window
The White Window (TWW) by Twinkle Khanna is an award-winning, concept home decor destination that redefines style with a tinge of revel. Reputed for its eclectic yet timeless design style, TWW Interiors has accomplished highly successful residential and hospitality projects in London, Dubai, Mumbai and a few other Indian cities. The firm is known for taking traditional elements, combining them with rich and vibrant aesthetics and interpreting these components in unique and fresh new ways. The firm designs, manufactures and sources items with function and visual form in mind and make selections based on unique aesthetic value and quality craftsmanship.