Celebrating The Glory Years

125 years is a glorious run for an institution and fittingly for erudite Chennai, the Madras Gymkhana Club chose to commemorate the grand achievement with a coffee table book. Time was short, but once they commissioned us, we did the near- impossible: researched, photographed, wrote, edited, designed, printed and delivered in 125 days.

‘The Glory Years', an insight into the Club’s culture, society and the journey of its members, was launched at a crisply conducted event by Governor Surjit Singh Barnala with Andrew P Simkin, Consul General, US on September 5, 2009 at the Madras Gymkhana Club.

The coffee table book delves into the history of the Club since it’s inception in 1884 and tells the story of the Club’s formation and growth from the days of the British Raj and post-independence to the present. Interspersed with colourful anecdotes are eye-catching illustrations. The book chronicles the challenges and triumphs of like-minded and successful individuals that are a part of the Madras Gymkhana Club.

Speaking at the event, Governor Surjit Singh Barnala said "Books are a piece of priceless treasure. That too coffee table books are a class by themselves. They are referred to as illustrative or pictorial books. Coffee table books are usually visual oriented. They are for a light read and the analysis is often more basic. I congratulate Sandhya Mendonca and the Rain Tree Media for bringing a master piece “The Glory Years” on the Madras Gymkhana Club."



Governor Surjit Singh Barnala with Andrew P Simkin, Consul General, US launching ‘The Glory Years’.


US Consul General, Andrew P Simkin, autographing a copy of Madras Gymkhana Club’s ‘The Glory Years’ for chef extraordinaire Sanjay Matta.


Deputy Consul General, Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Chennai, Axel Saurer and his wife at the launch of Madras Gymkhana Club’s ‘The Glory Years’.

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!

Making news

Our glitzy party is on the party barometer of 080 mag:

We party on!

Friends and clients joined in the fun at our anniversary party at The Chancery Pavilion on December 12.

Yes, there were speeches & presentations – short & sweet – we had to thank so many clients & associates.

Supriya Hoskeri introduces Charles Neil

Guests also got a preview of the Best of Bangalore, our joint venture with Global Village Publishing.

There was music of all hues – serenaders from
Southfire welcomed guests at the entrance.

Ram Nagaraj’s soulful Bollywood numbers got the mood going.

Then it was time to hit the dance floor to swing along with Prithvi & Ree and rock to DJ Praful’s retro hits.

Spirits were high, and a feast was
spread out to fuel the party.

We’ll let the pictures fill you in on the rest!

Pritham Basappa, Natrajan and Allen Mendonca

Sandhya Mendonca, Gitanjali Kirloskar and Jimmy Amrolia

Ritu Mallya with Sandhya Mendonca

Daman Bhatia, Nafees Fazal and Baldev Bhatia

Satya, Dr. Isaac Mathai, Suja Mathai and Manjul Gupta

Sandhya and Allen Mendonca with Dr. Ebenezer







Mahpara Ali, Dominic D'souza and N D Uthappa

Sandhya and Allen Mendonca

We are 4 !

We turned four on December 11, and the fun and games started off with Lalitha, Allen & Sandhya cutting a cake. Making the occasion all the more special were our partners from Global Village Publishing Lisa Durante and Charles Neil who flew in from Dubai to celebrate with us.

Serene Sri Lanka

Want a LUXE HOLIDAY in Sri Lanka? We reveal all - upscale resorts, mist-crowned cascades and colonial villas in the November issue of 080. www.080mag.com

Of Bangalore and Bacchus

Serviced apartments are HOME AWAY FROM HOME, we found, for Bangalore’s growing number of expats. In October’s issue of Exotica, available in premier hotels and newsstands.

Also in Exotica, an intoxicating tour of Bangalore’s vineyards and tete-a-tete with vintners Kapil Grover and Mandala Valley’s Ramesh Rao.