Raintree Media

Best of Chennai - A scintillating amalgam

On a snug Chennai evening, amidst mounting anticipation, the third book in the ‘Best of…’ series in India, ‘Best of Chennai’, was launched at a dazzling event on June 6, 2009, at the Taj Coromandel. With the Consul General of Australia for South India, Aminur Rahman and eminent author Sivasankari presiding as chief guests, the elegant book was revealed to a select section of Chennai that justly represented the city’s cultural and business elite.

Mrs. Sandhya Mendonca, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Global Village Publications India, handed over one of the first copies of the book to The Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M K Stalin.

The guests at the event candidly exemplified the character of the city. In attendance were a wide range of business heads like Nalli’s Nalli Kuppusami Chetty, Sri Krishna Sweets’ M Murali, Akshaya Homes’ Chitti Babu, Ramesh Reddy from Chaitanya Shantiniketan, Sangeeta Prasad, COO, Mahindra World City Developers Ltd, Hemu Ramaiah founder of landmark, and Tan Ngaronga, COO of Sathya Cinemas.

The city’s cultural scene was represented by dancer Chitra Visweswaran and Sivasankari, while designer Chaitanya Rao, socialites Jules Idi Amin and Minnie Menon added glamour to the party that followed the launch.

As wine glasses clinked and spirits soared well into the night, the launch drew to a close on a high note; a befitting beginning for a new journey that the book is all set to embark on.

‘Best of Chennai’ is now available at all top bookstores, ready to be employed as a definitive guide to the best that Chennai has to offer.

'Best of Chennai' Media Coverage

Times of India
Chennai Times
Deccan Chronicle
The Hindu

Best of Goa launched

True to its moniker, Best of Goa, our guide to the classic Goan experience, was launched in a picture postcard locale complete with a full moon illuminated sea view, at an event attended by some of the state's most recognised faces.

Veteran cartoonist Mario Miranda released the international coffee table book with Sandhya Mendonca, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Global Village Publications India at the Fort Aguada Beach Resort on December 12. The first copy was presented to musician Remo Fernandes, and the GMs of the Taj properties, Nick Israel, Ian Dubier and Allwyn Drego.

The event had a distinct Goan flavour, with Orlando and his troupe serenading guests like architect Gerard da Cunha, historian Prajal Sakhardande, architect Sarto Almeida and his wife Therese Almeida, Habiba Miranda, President of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa Ralph D'Souza, Diviya Kapur of Literati, Marius Monteiro of Cavala, and Amardipta Biswas of Loungefly.

Amongst the very first to buy the book immediately upon its release were the Chancellor of Portugal Antonio Sousa, Managing Director of Marine Technologies Dominico E Serra, who then presented it to the Honorary Consul of the Italian Consulate Antonio Dal Negro, General Manager of the Leela Kempinski Goa, Pascal Dupuis, and Chairman of GKB, KG Gupta.

Singing duo Newton and Ness soon got guests up on their feet, swinging in rhythm to retro hits
in between quick bites of the delectable dinner spread.

Best of Goa is now available at all leading bookstores. With breathtaking visuals and analytical articles, the book is 148 pages full of the Goan spirit.

View the Best of Goa e-book on www.gvpedia.com

The Indian Idea

Get a sneak peek into Infosys Co-Chairman Nandan Nilekani’s bestseller in the making, Imagining India, in this month’s 080.

Say cheese!

From high-rises to high office, Best of Bangalore is the city's latest must-have coffee table accessory. Bangalore's not-so-little black book has now made its way to the Raj Bhavan. The book was presented to His Excellency Rameshwar Thakur, the Governor of Karnataka, by Business Development Associate Pooja Goswami and Assistant Editor Kavita Mohandas last week. Now here's one for the records.

On stands now!

Hot off the press and setting Bangalore abuzz, Best of Bangalore Vol. 1 was launched on June 7.
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairperson & Managing Director, Biocon, released the book at the Taj Residency’s Trinity Hall which was packed with the city’s newsmakers, all prominently featured in the book.

Deccan Aviation’s Capt. Gopi delivered the keynote address on how entrepreneurship can take Brand Bangalore forward; Vittalamurthy, Principal Secretary, Tourism, Information and Kannada & Culture, and Vijay Rekhi, President & Managing Director, USL, were guests of honour at the launch.

Kamsale performers from Mandya kept guests glued to their seats. Amid bubbly and scrumptious coastal cuisine whipped up by Chef Selvaraj, they also squeezed in words of praise for this quintessential book. Here’s what the A Listers said:

“I am very glad that the Best of Bangalore focuses on the positive side of the city, and look forward to the other books in the series.” – Kiran Mazumdar Shaw

“This book epitomizes the best in Bangalore because it is very well produced and of course all the companies and products which are displayed are world class.” - Vijay Rekhi

“This book is fantastic, the production and quality - awesome! The best.” – Oum Pradutt, MD, Phase 1

“I think it will be a very interesting coffee table reading and will see a lot more reprints…it’s a new idea and a brilliant one!” - Mahapara Ali, Chief General Manager of State Bank of India

“I think it’s a fantastic book and we are very proud to be a part of it.” - Christine Jamal VP Corporate, Tata Coffee

Gratified by the incredible response that the book’s receiving, we’re kicking off work on Best Destinations Goa, Best of Chennai & Puducherry, and of course, Best of Bangalore & Karnataka. Good things do come in threes!