Community

P7
P20
Community
DFI is
screening
The Sleeping
Tree, the feature film
debut of Bahraini
filmmaker Mohammed
Rashed BuAli.
Community
Former
minister of
Nepal Hisila
Yami speaks about her
new party Naya Shakti and
the roadmap for country’s
economic development.
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Rabia II 3, 1437 AH
DOHA
18°C—21°C TODAY
LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 13
Hot pursuit
Giorgio Stock, President of
Turner EMEA, on the cutting
edge demand of pay TV
entertainment and how
they strive to deliver. P4-5
COVER
STORY
PUZZLES 14 & 15
2
GULF TIMES Wednesday, January 13, 2016
COMMUNITY
ROUND & ABOUT
Fathers and
Daughters
GENRE: Drama
CAST: Russell
Crowe, Amanda
Seyfried, Jane Fonda,
Aaron Paul
DIRECTION:
Gabriele Muccino
SYNOPSIS: Jake
Davis (Russell Crowe),
a Pulitzer-winning
novelist, finds himself
fighting against the
world when a fatal car
accident leaves him to
raise his five-year-old
daughter, Katie, all on
his own. Overcome
with guilt from the
loss of his wife, he
struggles with the
daily routine of raising
a child compounded
by his overbearing
relatives intent on
taking her away from
him.
PRAYER TIME
Fajr
Shorooq (sunrise)
Zuhr (noon)
Asr (afternoon)
Maghreb (sunset)
Isha (night)
5.01am
6.21am
11.42am
2.43pm
5.06pm
6.32pm
USEFUL NUMBERS
THEATRES:
Landmark, The Mall,
Royal Plaza
Emergency
999
Worldwide Emergency Number
112
Kahramaa – Electricity and Water
991
Ooredoo Telephone Assistance
111
Local Directory
180
International Calls Enquires
150
Time
141, 140
Doha International Airport
40106666
Labor Department
44508111, 44406537
Medical Commission
44679111
Mowasalat Taxi
44588888
Qatar Airways
44496000
Weather Forecast
44656590
Hamad Medical Corporation
44392222
44393333
Qatar General Electricity and
Water Corporation
44845555
44845464
Primary Health Care Corporation
44593333
44593363
Qatar Assistive Technology
Centre
44594050
Qatar News Agency
44450205
44450333
Q-Post – General Postal
Corporation
44464444
Qatar University
44033333
ote Unquote
u
Q Darkness cannot
drive out darkness; only
light can do that. Hate cannot
drive out hate; only love can do
that.
— Martin Luther
King, Jr
Features Editor
Kamran Rehmat
e-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: 44466405
Fax: 44350474
The Revenant
GENRE: Adventure, Drama, Thriller
CAST: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Will Poulter
DIRECTION: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
SYNOPSIS: Inspired by true events, The Revenant is an
Mall Cinema (1): Charlie (Malayalam)
2pm; Get Squirrely (2D) 4.30pm; The
Revenant (2D) 6.15pm; Echo Effect (2D)
9pm; The Revenant (2D) 10.45pm.
Mall Cinema (2): Daddy’s Home (2D)
3pm; Fathers & Daughters (2D) 5pm;
Daddy’s Home (2D) 7pm; Charlie
(Malayalam) 8.45pm; Lost In The Sun (2D)
11.15pm.
Mall Cinema (3): The Good Dinosaur
(2D) 2.30pm; Star Wars: Episode VII – The
Force Awakens (2D) 4.15pm; Wazir (Hindi)
6.30pm; The Revenant (2D) 8.30pm; Wazir
(Hindi) 11.15pm.
Cinema Land Mark (1): Charlie
(Malayalam) 2.30pm; The Good Dinosaur
(2D) 5pm; Fathers & Daughters (2D) 7pm;
immersive and visceral cinematic experience capturing one
man’s epic adventure of survival and the extraordinary power
of the human spirit.
THEATRES: Landmark, The Mall, Royal Plaza
Revenant (2D) 5.30pm; The Revenant (2D)
8.15pm; The Revenant (2D) 11pm.
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2): The
Good Dinosaur (2D) 3pm; The Good
Lost In The Sun (2D) 9.15pm; Charlie
Dinosaur (2D) 5pm; Daddy’s Home (2D)
(Malayalam) 11pm.
7pm; Daddy’s Home (2D) 9.15pm; Wazir
Cinema Land Mark (2): Get Squirrely
(Hindi) 11pm.
(2D) 2.30pm; The Peanuts Movie (2D)
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (3): Get
4pm; The Revenant (2D) 5.30pm; The
Revenant (2D) 8.15pm; The Revenant (2D) Squirrely (2D) 2.15pm; Lost In The Sun
(2D) 3.45pm; Star Wars: Episode VII – The
10.30pm.
Force Awakens (2D) 5.30pm; Fathers &
Cinema Land Mark (3): Star Wars:
Daughters (2D) 7.45pm; Echo Effect (2D)
Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2D)
3pm; Daddy’s Home (2D) 5.30pm; Daddy’s 9.45pm; Lost In The Sun (2D) 11.30pm.
Asian Town Cinema: Charlie (Malayalam)
Home (2D) 7.30pm; Charlie (Malayalam)
5.45, 6.30, 8.15, 8.30, 9.15, 10.15 & 11,pm;
9.15pm; Echo Effect (2D) 11.30pm.
Wazir (Hindi) 5.45 & 11.15pm; Su Su Sudhi
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1): Wazir
Vatmeekam (Malayalam) 7.45pm.
(Hindi) 2pm; Get Squirrely (2D) 4pm; The
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
EVENTS
world for wealthy individuals interested in
fine jewellery and unique pieces, watches,
gemstones, and diamonds, all represented by
more than 500 exclusive international brands.
Additionally, a number of educational seminars
will be delivered on jewellery and watches
throughout the week.
Falcons and Hunting Festival
DATE: Until January 30
VENUE: Sabkhat Marmi — Sealine
Al-Gannas Society is hosting the seventh
edition of Qatar International Falcons and
Hunting Festival.
This international competition, deeply
rooted in Qatar’s culture and traditions, is
showcasing some of the most beautiful and
well-trained falcons.
Katara QatART Handmade Market
DATE: January 15
TIME: 3pm
VENUE: Katara, Bld 19
Handmade Market with a wide variety of
handcrafts from Qatar-based makers of art,
craft and design. Come support our creative
community, pick up unique products and
get inspired! Come and support creative
endeavour! Entrance is free and everyone is
welcome.
3rd Qatar Orthopaedic Course
DATE: Until tomorrow
VENUE: Medical Education Center —
Hamad Medical Corporation
Qatar Orthopaedic Review Course is a
great opportunity to review orthopaedics,
whether you are a resident preparing for
board exams, a specialist or a consultant
looking for re-certification or refreshing
your knowledge. The course covers all
essential and examinable aspects of trauma
and orthopaedic surgery in the context
of the board exam (including Arab board,
FRCS Ortho, Saudi board and the Jordanian
board).
How to Become Youtube Creator
Workshop
DATE: January 30
TIME: 10am-2pm
VENUE: Entube Center
Entube Center invites you to join a
workshop on How to Become Youtube Creator
from 10am to 2 pm. Participants will learn the
basics of online TV, the incentive and drive
behind the phenomenon of online TV, the
composition of the online TV market, how
money is being made and how to capitalise
on the phenomenon, the standards that
need to be met in order for the channel to be
successful, and more.
Global Organization III Conference
DATE: January 16-17
VENUE: Qatar National Convention
Center
Qilaa for Training and Consulting will
organise the third Training Conference
towards Global Organisation, with the
participation of a group of experts and leaders
of prominent institutions in Qatar and GCC,
as well as a significant number of scholars and
researchers interested in management.
3
COMMUNITY
ROUND & ABOUT
Qatar Motor Show
DATE: January 28-February 1
VENUE: Doha Exhibition Convention
Center
Offering motor-lovers and visitors a
journey to ‘Explore the World of Motion’,
the popular Qatar Motor Show will return
between January 28 and February 1 at Doha
Exhibition and Convention Centre. Visitors
can enjoy convenient onsite parking, close
proximity to 5-star hotels, and more easily
accessibility by foot for the local community
and wider regional and international tourists.
GULF TIMES
Arabian Drag Racing League
DATE: January 15
TIME: 4pm
VENUE: Qatar Racing Club
Join us at Qatar Racing Club for all 5 rounds
of the Arabian Drag Racing League. Food and
drinks are available. Children will enjoy the
children’s play areas on each side of the track
with giant inflatable slides and bounce houses
and eat cotton candy. Everyone will enjoy
seeing the world’s fastest cars zoom down
the track, from 0 to 360km per hour in just 4
seconds!
Workers Sports 2016
DATE: January-November
TIME: Thursday- Friday
VENUE: QSports
QSports is pleased to announce that
registrations are now open for the most
exciting sports programme for blue collar
workers of Qatar. It comprises outdoor football
league, cricket (T-16), indoor volleyball, futsal
and basketball. The event kicks off in late
January and will continue throughout 2016.
ACS Doha Open Day
DATE: January 16
TIME: 9am-11am
VENUE: Al Gharaffa
ACS Doha invites you to attend an informal
Open Morning for prospective families
interested in visiting the school and finding
out how the IB can enable pupils to gain places
at the best universities. Come along and meet
current families and students, as well as the
Head of School. To reserve your place please
register via our website: http://bit.ly/1meKTSq
or to find out more please visit: http://www.
acs-schools.com/open-mornings-acs-doha.
Neuroscience Conference
DATE: February 18-20
VENUE: Sheraton Hotel
The 1st Qatar Annual Neuroscience
Conference, organised by the Neurological
Institute at Hamad Medical Corporation, offers
a comprehensive educational programme
specifically designed for the Mena region
that will have significant emphasis on
practical aspects of common neurological
and neurosurgical disorders. The scientific
programme committee has invited world
leaders in their fields to share their knowledge
with the attendees.
Jewellery and Watches Exhibition
DATE: February 23-27
VENUE: Doha Exhibition and Convention
Center
Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition
(DJWE) is being held once a year in Qatar.
This show is one of the most exclusive in the
Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change
Aspire Run the Park
DATE: Until February 13
VENUE: Aspire Park
Aspire Zone Foundation will organise a series
of four races on Saturday once a month on
January 16 and February 13. Participants should
compete in at least three out the four races to
win a medal and prize. They have to be there an
hour before the race.
Aspire Park Cinema
DATE: Ongoing until Feb 5
TIME: 6pm-8pm
VENUE: Aspire Park
Aspire Zone Foundation, in collaboration
with Jeem TV, is presenting for the first time
children movies on its giant screen behind
Hayat Plaza, every Thursday and Friday from
6pm to 8pm.
Qatari Agricultural Product Yards
DATE: Until June 30
VENUE: Al Mazrooa, Al Zakheera, Al Khor,
Al Wakrah
The Ministry of Environment has opened the
4th season of Qatari agricultural product yards
for selling locally produced fruits, vegetables,
poultry, fish and livestock. Work in these yards
will continue for seven months. The yards
will operate three days a week on Thursdays,
Fridays and Saturdays from 7am to 5pm, with
livestock vendors in Al Mazrooa operating at
the same times throughout the week.
Luc Tuymans: Intolerance
DATE: Until Jan 30
VENUE: Qatar Museums Gallery Alriwaq
Qatar Museums is presenting a
retrospective of the work of Luc Tuymans,
the first solo show of the artist in the Gulf
region. The exhibition, Intolerance, a
comprehensive survey of the artist’s work,
includes a series of wall paintings and a
new body of work, ‘The Arena’, created
specifically for the show. Curated by Lynne
Cooke, Senior Curator of Special Projects in
Modern Art at the National Gallery of Art
Washington.
VCUQatar Spring 2016
DATE: January 25
VENUE: Al Tadamoun Signal, Doha City
Learn new skills and deepen your
understanding of art and culture at
VCUQatar. Choose from a large selection of
art, design and craft courses at VCUQatar
in Education City or at IAID (Academy for
Dance, Music & Arts). Register online now,
visit www.qatar.vcu.edu/community. For
more details you can call IAID at 44320974
/ 44411234 / 66710589 or e-mail us at
[email protected].
FOODIE CHOICE
RESTAURANT: Panorama
LOCATION: The Doha Torch
Featuring a selective menu of Meat &
Seafood Duos like King prawns & Rump
steak, Short Rib & Spaghetti Seafood. Served
from 6pm to 11pm. Located on the 50th floor
at The Torch, Al Waab Street, Aspire Zone,
44465600.
4
GULF TIMES Wednesday, January 13, 2016
COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
„ INTERVIEW: Giorgio Stock, President of Turner EMEA
“Generation Z
often takes in
content on
more than
five screens”
By Anand Holla
I
n a move to diversify its programming
and bolster its presence in the
region’s entertainment space, beIN,
last week, entered into a strategic
partnership with Turner, a division
of Time Warner, to exclusively air Turnerowned channels in the Middle East and
North Africa region.
Nearly forty six years after it was
founded, Turner Broadcasting is still in
the forefront of shaping the entertainment
landscape, as attested by its portfolio
featuring more than 100 of the most
recognisable brands in over 200 countries.
Some of the current assets of the American
media conglomerate include CNN, HLN,
TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network, Boomerang,
TruTV, Adult Swim and Turner Classic
Movies.
Giorgio Stock, President of Turner EMEA
(Europe, Middle East and Africa), who was
in town for signing the deal with beIN,
settled for a long chat with Community to
share his precious behind-the-scenes
insight into the entertainment business:
As we enter the New Year, what do
you think are the key elements that the
entertainment industry must focus on?
In an industry where things evolve at an
ever-increasing pace, two things remain
remarkably consistent – the value of
content and brands. And the simple fact
that those who continue to be exceptional
in these areas, and maximise opportunities
within the increasingly connected
ecosystem, will prosper. The industry
should take heart from the enduring
resilience of linear TV, and of traditional
advertising, despite a host of new offers,
that has been a welcome surprise in 2015
and looks set to continue into 2016. At
the same time, there’s no question that
digitisation continues to transform the
landscape and ensuring you have a nonlinear presence is key to long-term success.
So what are the changes the
entertainment business must adapt to?
Well, your linear TV offering will need to
be integrated into a digital ecosystem where
fans will surf, watch, play, share and create.
For instance, our current plans for our
reboot of The Powerpuff Girls will include
original content ranging from channels
and YouTube to game apps, web and social
media. The proliferation of next-generation
platforms is, in my view, a positive on all
fronts: it gives the consumer easier access
to content, content providers more outlets
to market, and broadcasters — like Turner
— options to go direct to consumers or
team up with providers with space for us to
curate our content. Keeping an ever-closer
eye on audience consumption habits will be
key at a time when they have more choice
and quality than ever.
What is peculiar about the appetite
for entertainment in the Middle East?
The specific aspect to the Middle East
entertainment industry is that the average
TV viewing hours are very high, and the
consumers seek high quality content. So, a
premium offering like Turner’s channels is
highly appreciated.
How challenging is it to present fresh
and innovative content amidst such
competition?
Whether we are entering a new market
or cementing our leadership position, the
desire to innovate is always there at Turner.
The creative impetus is something we
nurture and promote as part of our DNA,
not just as a competitive tool. From 450 half
hours of new content for Boomerang in the
coming years, to a pop-up channel, Hoolee,
in South Africa, which could well prove an
exciting model for future ventures, from
the multitude of “digital first” creative
concepts being seeded online, to the
ongoing creative force that is The Amazing
World of Gumball, we are structured to
encourage new programming ideas for all
our branded destinations. Being part of the
local fabric of the Middle East is important
MANTRA: Digitisation, says Stock, continues to transform the landscape and ensuring a nonlinear presence is key to long-term success.
for us, and indeed we have a sizeable
news operation in the region, as well as a
dedicated animation studio both of which
produce content which fuels our brands.
Catering to local tastes remains a priority
of ours, and specific to the Middle East,
we are delighted to have delivered Season
2 of Mansour and have started working on
Season 3 already. This show is something
that its audiences can learn from as well
as enjoy as great entertainment. Perhaps,
the challenge is to make sure our audiences
know that they can rely on us for fresh and
innovative content.
How has unlimited access to online
streaming and downloading of content
affected TV broadcasting business?
More than ever we see the importance
— and benefits — of having strong brands
that have a clear identity. At the same
time, it’s an opportunity to marry the new
technology to our own content in exciting
new ways providing audiences with the
experience they crave, and have now come
to expect, and one can do that with a range
of platforms from Spotify to YouTube. Our
role as entertainment creators and media
owners is to curate our brands through the
many and varied paths to our audiences
— delivering experiences that essentially
look to new technologies and platform
partners. The best model for delivering
quality content is one where technology
enhances and facilitates the consumer
experience. This supports loyalty and
repeat use with powerful brand experiences
and storytelling at its core.
Since you also head kids networks,
what sort of trends do you see in the
new generation’s consumption of
entertainment?
Driven and resourceful, Generation
Z youth have an entrepreneurial spirit,
wanting to create things, collaborate with
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
GULF TIMES
5
COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
I am blessed with having children at
home who open my eyes to the ongoing
evolution of the user experience and
behaviour in our market place. Not one day
goes by without them sharing new ways
of using devices and optimising the user
experience available to them
BIG SIGNING: Stock with Nasser al-Khelaifi, Chairman and CEO of beIN Media Group, at the event
in Doha, last week.
IN SYNC WITH TODAY’S DEMANDS: Stock in London at Turner’s Kids Media Showcase.
others and inspire. They are curious and
like feeling empowered by having control
of the content they engage with. And of
course, they are not just watching TV —
they are everywhere — online, on mobile
and tablets, playing games and collecting
merchandise, watching on demand and
interacting through social media. This
generation often takes in content on more
than five screens. As a creator-driven
channel, this has been an incredible
development for us to be part of. We lead
the charge in enabling a different kind of
storytelling through our new generation
of artists, for a new generation of kids.
Across both our flagship kids channels —
Boomerang and Cartoon Network — we
produce content for this generation’s
preferred platforms — much of which is
quickly accessible and shareable within
seconds. We have fully optimised YouTube
channels across EMEA. We have seen more
than 420 million game plays across the
region last year. We acquire the rights to
POWER-PACKED: The Powerpuff Girls
leverage our brands online and on demand
— and will continue to develop shows
within these areas.
From all your experiences in the
industry, what is a good source for the
interesting revelations on audience
patterns or market dynamics?
I am blessed with having children at
home who open my eyes to the ongoing
evolution of the user experience and
behaviour in our market place. Not one
day goes by without them sharing new
ways of using devices and optimising the
user experience available to them. At the
same time, I see with relief that brands and
trusted destinations remain their signpost
now more than ever.
In what way will Turner’s
partnership with beIN Media Group
change the existing industry scenario?
Turner is always looking for partners
that share a vision of delivering quality
experiences while expanding reach and
growing audience engagement. Teaming
up with beIN is therefore, a logical choice,
and we expect this to be a long and fruitful
collaboration in the region and beyond. We
believe this will be a fantastic opportunity
for audiences in the region, who will
now be able to access beIN’s compelling
programming bundles.
How has Turner used licencing and
merchandising to build franchises,
and also, how does one identify quality
content?
Licencing and merchandising is a
significant part of our ambition to grow
franchises — aligned with our strategy
to keep re-invigorating brands that
resonate globally. Ben10 was probably
the first Turner property to benefit from
a powerful Licensing & Merchandising
strategy. We now have several key franchise
properties including Adventure Time, The
KID CALLING: The Amazing World of Gumball
Amazing World of Gumball and the soon
to be launched re-boot of the ’90s cult
hit The Powerpuff Girls. Developing our
much loved shows and characters as key
franchises is a great way to establish the
enduring appeal of our brands — and reach
our audiences wherever and whenever
— allowing them to experiment, create
and play in multiple ways and deepening
their connection to our characters. It’s
also further commitment to being where
our audiences are, a vital component
of our global kids business. Adventure
Time, for example, has benefitted from
fashion partnerships including Dr Martens,
Moschino, H&M, and Desigual — driving
the brand’s ‘cool’ credentials, and
connecting with kids and young adults in
that space. Perhaps the most immersive
licensing experience will be our upcoming
Cartoon Network destination featured
within the world’s biggest indoor theme
park soon to launch in the region.
6
GULF TIMES Wednesday, January 13, 2016
COMMUNITY
Three Nepalese conventions
The new working committee of Mitari Film Cultural Group.
By Usha Wagle Gautam
T
hree Qatar-based Nepalese organisations
conducted their conventions recently.
The Baglung Service Society (BSS)
organised its 9th convention, which was
chaired by its President Ramesh Bhatta and
Nepal’s acting ambassador Mani Ratna Sharma was the
chief guest. Representative from different organisations
attended the programme.
BSS unanimously elected its new working committee
led by Chandra Kanta Sharma. Sagar Poudel and
Nagaendra Bahadur Poudel were elected the first and
second vice-presidents. Gajendra Chalisa was elected
the general secretary, Hira KC the treasurer and Hom
Shress the co-treasurer among others. Shova K C, Laban
Gotama, Laxmi Gharti, Khami Pun, Parbati Shrees, Tej
Narayan Sharma, Durga Bhujel, Hom Shrees, Bhabin BC,
Ganga Bcand Tek Rasahili were elected the members of
BSS.
The Mitari Film Cultural Group organised its fourth
general convention at Top Form Restaurant. The
programme was chaired by President Suman Bharati.
International Artists Forum Qatar President Bhabindra
Tamang was the guest of honour.
The new working committee of the group is as follows:
Rit Man Shrestha is the president, Bijaya Rana the vice
president, Iman See Thakuri the general secretary,
Jeevan Sansar the secretary, Krishna Kumar Shrestha
the treasurer, Man Kumar Shrestha the co-treasurer and
Binod Lama the artists’ co-ordinator. Nanu Ghale, Samir
Sunawar, Khagindra Pariyar, Deepak Rokaya, Birendra
Lama, Puspa BC and Yam Chaudary are the members of
the working committee.
The Buddhi Vumi Service Society (BVSS) organised
its first general convention at Alfardan Park. The
programme was chaired by President Chandar Bahadur
Olil and community leader Humakanta Pokheral was the
chief guest.
The new working committee of BVSS is: Kesav Prasad
Khanal is the new president, Anil Gawali the vicepresident, Gabinda Kuwar the general-secretary, Bishnu
Balbasha the secretary and Hari Pandey the treasurer.
Khagaswori Gaire, Ramkumar Tharu, Kesavraj Pokheral,
Indra Nath Tharu, Jeevan Narayan Khanal and Tek lal
Basyal are the members of the committee.
The new working committee of Baglung Service Society.
The new working committee of Buddhi Vumi Service Society.
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
GULF TIMES
7
COMMUNITY
Celebrating regional storytelling
with The Sleeping Tree
T
he Doha Film Institute is
organising a special screening
of The Sleeping Tree, the feature
film debut of Bahraini filmmaker
Mohammed Rashed BuAli at
the Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium on
January 21 and 22.
Part of DFI Cinema Series, Hekayat
Khaleejiya: Stories from the Gulf, which
provides a window into the region’s creativity
and storytelling, the film screenings on both
days will be followed by Q&A session with
director Mohammed Rashed BuAli.
The Sleeping Tree (Bahrain, 2014, Arabic)
is about a bedridden young girl, Amina,
who suffers from cerebral palsy — a set of
permanent movement problems. Her young
parents, Jassim and Noora, struggle to keep
their marriage afloat as they react to her
sickness in different ways — Noora stays
home to care for her daughter, while Jassim
detaches himself from the situation at hand.
Stills from the film.
When Jassim takes his brother’s taxi out,
however, he comes across the Tree of Life and
a spark of hope is ignited within him.
BuAli partnered up with established
screenwriter, Fareed Ramadan, to bring The
Sleeping Tree to life. The film blends reality
with dreamscapes, the past with the future,
and has been both an extraordinarily long
experience and a very personal process for
director BuAli, who based the script on his
own childhood as he watched his sister suffer
from the same disease.
Produced by BuAli, Fareed Ramadan and
Suha Matar, the film stars celebrated stage
and screen actors from Bahrain including
director and actor, Jamaan al-Rowaie, as well
as Ibrahim Khalfan, one of the founders of
the Bahraini theatre movement, and regional
film and TV icons Maryam Zaman and Haifa
Hussain.
Regarded as one of Bahrain’s most active
filmmakers, Mohammed Rashed BuAli is a
trained legal professional who made his foray
into filmmaking after the success of his first
short film Between Them in 2006. Since then,
he has produced a number of innovative
short films including Absence (2008), The
Good Omen (2009), and Canary (2010) and
was nominated for the IWC Schaffhausen
Filmmaker Award for his debut feature. BuAli
is the Deputy Chair of the Bahrain Cinema
Club, the Artistic Director of the Naqsh
Short Film Festival and a Founding Partner in
production company, Nooran Pictures.
Arab filmmakers are achieving increasing
global visibility with 2016 shaping up to be
a hugely successful year for Arab voices in
world cinema. The Doha Film Institute is
committed to raising the profile of Arab films
and filmmakers and the Hekayat Khaleejiya
series demonstrates this commitment to
highlighting filmmakers from the Gulf in
particular. The institute encourages social
media users to share their experiences
with Arab films by using the hashtag
#SupportArabCinema, a regional initiative
launched recently by Image Nation.
Tickets are now on sale online at www.
dohafilminstitute.com or in person at the
DFI Ticket Outlet at the Museum of Islamic
Art (across the auditorium) from January 21
from 12pm to 8pm and January 22 from 2pm
to 8pm. Tickets are priced at QR35 and QR25
for students. (Students must present a valid
student ID to receive a discount and there
is a maximum of two discounted tickets per
person. Discounts are only available at the
ticket outlet locations).
Hekayat Khaleejiya, which translates
to ‘Stories from the Gulf’, is a quarterly
screening series dedicated to showcasing
cinematic voices from the Gulf region. Taking
place at the Museum of Islamic Art, the series
presents films accompanied by Q&A sessions
with the filmmakers to gain insight into their
work and process.
CINE
8
GULF TIMES Wednesday, January 13, 2016
COMMUNITY
Sports day at Pakistan Education Centre
The Pakistan Education Centre (PEC) marked its Annual Sports
Day recently. All four wings of PEC took part in the event,
competing in various games. The chief guest was the Community
Welfare Attache with the Pakistani embassy, Rashid Nizam. In
Junior Wing, Khadija House won the Girls Championship, while
the Jinnah House won the Boys Championship. Huma Wasim
(Junior Wing) received a Gold Medal for winning the Teachers’
Badminton competition of the wing. In Girls Wing, the winners
were Shugufta of Grade V-B, Qurat-ul-Ain of Grade VI-A, Mumtaz
of Grade VII-C, Ummarah of VIII-B, Shoukat of IX-C and Nousheen
of X-B. The Teachers’ Badminton event of the wing was won by
Shugufta Riaz. In Boys Wing, the winners’ trophies went to Noorul-Amin of Grade VI, Qaiser Masood of Grade VIII and Muhammad
Tahir of Grade IX. The Teachers’ Badminton event of the wing was
won by Noor Hussain.
Books distributed in Bangladesh school
The Bangladesh school has started the new academic year by distributing free text books among students. Ambassador of Bangladesh to Qatar Ashud Ahmed, the chairman of the school, Acting
Principal and all faculty members and the students were present. The school received the books from the Bangladeshi government to distribute to students of grade one to 10. The government
distributes millions of free books to students every year at the beginning of the academic year.
EMA
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
GULF TIMES
9
COMMUNITY
Interactive session with Nepal’s new political force
Naya Shakti Initiative-Qatar, a new
political force proposed by the
former prime minister of Nepal, Dr
Baburam Bhattarai, organised an
interactive programme in Doha
recently. Hisila Yami, one of the key
leaders of the initiative, attended.
During the programme hosted
by Dhruba Devkota, Yami said the
Naya Shakti will play a role of a new
political force to lead the country
through economic growth. “Capitalist
revolution brought republicanism
and federalism in Nepal, still old
political forces are working with old
political culture and framework,”
Yami said, “We need a new thought
to create a paradigm shift in the
country’s development roadmap.
Yami said the new political force will
be an amalgam of new ideology and
new praxis for the socioeconomic
prosperity of the Himalayan nation.”
Two months after parting ways with
United Communist Party of Nepal
(Maoist) and after promulgation
of statute of the nation by second
Constituent Assembly (CA), former
PM Dr Bhattarai launched the Naya
Shakti Initiative. Dr Bhattarai is an
ideologue and the principal architect
of his former party that launched
People’s War for over ten years.
Yami is former deputy PM of the
country and the wife of Dr Bhattarai.
The Naya Shakti Initiative has
been campaigning nationally and
internationally to enlarge its political
base.
Text and photo
by Usha Wagle Gautam
Qur’an coaching class students honoured
The MES Indian School recently honoured the students who have successfully completed their seven years course in the madrassa. The programme
was organised by the department of Arabic & Islamic Studies. Dr Badaruddin Parker, an eminent Islamic scholar, was the chief guest of the function. In
his keynote address, he stressed the importance and relevance of teaching and learning Qur’an in the modern life.
Indian
expatriate’s
body to be flown
home today
The body of Indian expatriate Sebastian
Joseph Gauncar (46) will be flown to his
native Goa tonight (Wednesday). He will
be buried in his parish in Aldona, on the
northern side of Goa. Funeral prayers are
scheduled for 6pm today at Hamad Hospital
mortuary.
Gauncar, who was a foreman at Buzwair
Asphalt Plant, died of heart attack on
January 9, according to sources in the
Indian community. He leaves behind his wife
Prithia and children Sharlotte and Samuel.
10 GULF TIMES Wednesday, January 13, 2016
COMMUNITY
Cultural diplomacy: Trou
treats audience to exqu
VARIETY: The show demonstrated the rich cultural diversity of Philippines.
Photo by Hunaise Touchriver
By Umer Nangiana
I
Leonor Petra Elepano, a performing artist from Bayanihan.
t was not just an evening
of some exquisite music
and dance. It was a virtual
transference of the cultural
diversity that the island
country of diverse Philippines offers
to Doha.
Representing different areas of
Philippines, the country’s folkloric
traditions were re-enacted on the
stage set at Katara Cultural Village
for the ‘Cultural Diversity Festival’
organised by the Cultural Village
Foundation, Katara and the embassy
of Philippines recently.
Coming directly from Philippines,
the artistes from the country’s
national folk dance company,
Bayanihan, performed some
enthralling dances with a complete
orchestra of traditional music in the
background.
Set in the backdrop of Katara
esplanade with the sea on one side,
the two-day show attracted and
entertained a large multi-cultural
audience who applauded one after
the other mesmerising performance
by the artists. Ambassador of
Philippines Wilfredo C Santos was
also among the audience.
“The dances we performed come
from all over the Philippines. We had
dances from Mindanao besides the
three major islands of the Philippines
and they were also from different
era like we had pre-colonial dances,
the Spanish and the post-Spanish
era dances,” Leonor Petra Elepano,
one of the performing artistes from
Bayanihan, the national company of
Philippines, told Community in a chat
after the show.
“The dances were very traditional.
And the musical instruments used
in the compositions were also very
traditional and the ones especially
from the Southern Philippines is
typical of the South East Asian
countries,” Leonor added.
The musical instruments used in
the compositions were typical of the
South East Asian traditional music
with just a little bit of difference
with the number of gongs or the
designs.
“We also have our own versions
of guitars like Banduriya. However,
the music is all traditional because
the guitar used in the compositions
is also traditional because of
the Spanish influence,” said the
performer.
She has been with the company
for about 12 years. She joined dance
and music as she believed it was the
best way to learn about her country’s
history.
“I love the Philippine history. It is
the best way to know about yourself.
You need to know your history. I
have learned from the school and the
company,” said Leonor.
She said they also do research
at the company. One can learn the
dances from the school but the real
application, she added, comes in
at the company because you have
to do research and then practically
do it.
“We do not just need to dance, we
need to immerse. For example, for a
particular dance of a tribe we need
to be with them and spend time with
them to know what their dances are
and how are they done. And then we
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
GULF TIMES
11
COMMUNITY
upe from the Philippines
uisite music and dance
GROUP PHOTO: Ambassador of Philippines Wilfredo C Santos, standing eighth from left, with the artistes and guests.
are very specific with the steps that
we do, we do not just put it on the
stage,” Leonor elaborated.
The performers, she said, came
from different parts of Philippines.
The company has its headquarters in
Metro Manila but the dancers come
from different parts of the country.
Leonor said they thoroughly
enjoyed their first ever performance
in Doha. “The audience was
fantastic. We loved the view and the
people are nice. If we get invited we
would love to come back,” she added.
The artist from the visiting group
said they approach their dances
professionally and study everything
related to them thoroughly.
“We study the songs. It is very
important that we study the folks
songs of the country that we go to.
For instance, it was our first time
performing here so we wanted to
know the culture here and the songs
and the music of this country,” said
Leonor.
Sometimes they also study the
dances in the area that they are
travelling to and in some cases also
study the language so that they
know the basic courtesies like how to
say ‘Hello’ and ‘Thank You’. Besides,
they are required to learn the Dos
and Don’ts of the country as well.
Bayanihan, the national folk dance
company of the Philippines takes
its name from an ancient Filipino
tradition called Bayanihan which
means working together for the
common good. In 1956, Dr Helena
Z Benitez founded the PWU PE
Filipiniana.
In 1957, the Bayanihan Folk Arts
Center and its performing arm,
the Bayanihan Dance Company
were formally organised to conduct
research in ethnic rites, tribal
folklore and regional folkways.
The Center was likewise
tasked to collect indigenous
art form as expressed in music,
dance, literature, arts and crafts,
to distil and transform these
cultural traditions into theatrical
presentations and to promote
international understanding
through cultural exchanges and
performances abroad.
Bayanihan had its international
debut at the Brussels World
Exposition in 1958. In October 13,
1959, Bayanihan performed at the
Winter Garden in Broadway, New
York and received the unanimous
acclaim of New York critics.
It was a major breakthrough
in Philippine dance history. And
henceforth the world became a stage
for Bayanihan. In half a century,
Bayanihan has travelled around the
world covering six continents, more
than 77 countries and over 700 cities
worldwide.
It was first in making an in depth
tour of South America and the
People’s Republic of China and the
only dance company to receive the
prestigious Ramon Magsaysay award
for International understanding.
In 2002, with the second
generation directors, Bayanihan
started joining world dance
competitions. Today, Bayanihan is a
nine time World Dance grand Prize
Winner making the country and the
Filipinos proud.
In 1998, in appreciation and
recognition of their pioneering
efforts and international success
the people of the Republic of the
Philippines through the 10th
Congress enacted Republic Act
8626 declaring the Bayanihan Dance
Company as the National Folk Dance
Company of the Philippines.
Subsequently, the President of the
Photo Umer Nangiana
IN SYNC: The artistes from Philippines enthralled a multi-cultural audience at Katara Cultural Village.
Photo by Hunaise Touchriver
The performers came from different parts of the country.
Philippine issued Proclamation No.
138 declaring May 27 of every year as
National Day to commemorate and
propagate the Bayanihan spirit as the
unique way of working together as a
people.
To this day, Dr Helena Z Benitez,
founder of the Bayanihan serves as
Chairman Emeritus of the Bayanihan
Folk Arts Foundation with Alfonso
T Yuchengco as chairman and
Suzie Moya Benitez as its executive
director.
The Artistic team is composed
of its Executive Director,
Choreographer and Dance Director
Photo by Hunaise Touchriver
Ferdinand Jose and Music Director
Melito Vale Cruz.
Described as “cultural diplomacy
at its finest,” the Bayanihan
consistently brings to the world’s
attention the beauty of the
Philippines through its music and
exquisite dances.
12 GULF TIMES Wednesday, January 13, 2016
COMMUNITY
INFOGRAPHIC
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
GULF TIMES
13
COMMUNITY
LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE
Are we turning a blind eye to blue light?
I
t’s everywhere — inside as
well as outside your home.
As digital device usage
increases, you’re exposed to
more and more of it without
realising how it may affect your
vision in the future. We’re talking
about blue light.
In its natural form, your body
uses blue light from the sun to
regulate your natural sleep and
wake cycles. This natural light also
helps boost alertness, heighten
reaction times and elevate moods.
However, we use our eyes much
differently than prior generations
because we now use a number
of artificial sources of blue
light including digital screens,
electronic devices and LED
lighting. The evolution in digital
screen technology has advanced
dramatically over the years, and
many of today’s electronic devices
use LED back-light technology to
help enhance screen brightness
and clarity. These LEDs emit very
strong blue light waves. Because of
the widespread use and increasing
popularity of these devices, we
are now exposed to more sources
of blue light for longer periods of
time. Studies suggest 60 percent
of people spend more than six
hours a day in front of a digital
device.
The flickering of this artificial
blue light creates a glare that
can reduce visual contrast,
affecting sharpness and clarity.
That in turn could contribute to
ARIES
March 21 — April 19
Sometimes you don’t always have the control over things that
you like to have, Aries. With Mercury, the planet of planning and
communication out of phase in your career zone, chances are things
aren’t going to plan workwise. Have patience.
CANCER
June 21 — July 22
Be careful with the words you choose today, Cancers. Today’s Moon
is in Pisces, your spiritual zone, and you could be looking for more
than someone else can provide you with today.
LIBRA
September 23 — October 22
Don’t let one person ruin a good day today, Librans. People can
be insensitive and even rude, but you have to roll with the cosmic
punches today. Venus your ruler in your communication zone
means you will shower everyone with lovely words even if they don’t
do the same in return!
CAPRICORN
December 22 — January 19
If you don’t have anything nice to say today goats, you know the
drill! Mercury the communicator is out of phase in your sign for
another 10 days and you simply have to watch every word that
comes out of your mouth.
eyestrain, headaches, physical and
mental fatigue due to increasing
amounts of time sitting in front
of a computer screen or other
electronic device.
Studies show this high-energy,
blue-violet light has been found
to cause significant damage to
retinal cells, and is a risk factor for
the onset of age-related macular
degeneration, a deterioration of
the part of the retina responsible
for sharp, central vision.
Our eyes’ natural filters do
TAURUS
April 20 — May 20
There is nothing like feeling as if someone really ‘gets you’, is there?
As if you are understood and you someone has your back? With
Mercury out of phase in your spiritual zone, you may not be feeling
the love as much as you would like today.
LEO
July 23 — August 22
There’s nothing worse than trying to force yourself into doing
something you really don’t want to do, is there Leos? However, you
are a force to be reckoned with and often do try to push through
barriers. Take it easy today.
SCORPIO
October 23 — November 21
Today’s Moon in Pisces is a welcome despite from all the difficult
planetary play we have right now with Mercury the communicator
and Jupiter out of phase. Do something you love to do with a loved
one today Scorpios.
AQUARIUS
January 20 — February 18
Venus and Saturn continue to visit your eleventh house of hopes,
wishes and friendship zone, making this a great time for you to kiss
and make up if that is something you know you need to do with
someone. Maybe a Sagittarius or Leo?
not provide sufficient protection
against blue light rays from
the sun, let alone the blue light
emanating from these devices,
or from blue light emitted from
fluorescent-light tubes.
Mother Nature arms us with
“internal sunglasses” made up of
macular pigment. This pigment,
which is comprised of zeaxanthin
(zee-uh-zan-thin) and lutein
at a ratio of 2:1, is found in the
center of the macula (fovea). This
pigment absorbs harmful blue light
that can affect eye health. These
“sunglasses” protect the rods and
cones needed for central as well as
peripheral vision.
However, if this macular
pigment isn’t at optimal density,
it will allow more blue light to
damage these rods and cones,
negatively affecting not just what
you see, but how you see.
Zeaxanthin and lutein aren’t
produced by the body, they must
be ingested in order to ensure
optimal macular pigment density.
Zeaxanthin can be found in foods
like corn, wolf berries and peppers.
Lutein is found in foods like
spinach and kale.
©Brandpoint
GEMINI
May 21 — June 20
Be open to your plans chopping and changing today twins. And
whatever you do, don’t make concrete plans to do something
you might not really want to do if you sit down and think about it
properly.
VIRGO
August 23 — September 22
Be open to some constructive criticism today, Virgos. Mercury your
ruler the planet that rules the communication and thought process
is out of phase in your creative zone. It is a good time to listen up!
SAGITTARIUS
November 22 — December 21
There is nothing worse than feeling as if you are already falling
behind on a resolution or promise you made yourself at the
beginning of 2016. Keep in mind that with Mercury the planet of
clear thinking out of phase in your second house of self–esteem, you
might be feeling a bit low on ego today.
PISCES
February 19 — March 20
The Moon in your sign today could make some of you overly
emotional. If you find yourself taking everything way too seriously,
stop it and make sure you look at things as rationally as possible.
14 GULF TIMES Wednesday, January 13, 2016
COMMUNITY
Wordsearch
Adam
Pooch Cafe
Hi There!
HIATUS
HIAWATHA
HIBERNIA
HICCUP
HIDALGO
HIDEAWAY
HIGHBALL
HIGHBROW
HIGHWAY
HIJACK
HIKE
HILARITY
HILLBILLY
HILTON
HINDLEG
HINDU
HIPPO
HIRELING
HISTORY
HITCH
HITMAN
HIVE
Codeword
Puzzles courtesy: Puzzlechoice.com
Every letter of the alphabet is used at least once.
Squares with the same number in have the same letter
in. Work out which number represents which letter.
Garfield
Sudoku
Bound And Gagged
Sudoku is a puzzle based
on a 9x9 grid. The grid is
also divided into nine (3x3)
boxes. You are given a
selection of values and to
complete the puzzle, you
must fill the grid so that
every column, every anone
is repeated.
PUZZLES/CARTOONS
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
COMMUNITY
PUZZLES
Quick Clues
ACROSS
1. Handicap (12)
7. Antic (5)
8. Opening (5)
9. Born (3)
10. Police officer (9)
11. Whole (6)
12. Pathetic quality (6)
15. Know (9)
17. Spring (3)
18. Fabric (5)
19. Free (5)
21. Bigoted (6-6)
GULF TIMES
Colouring
DOWN
1. Shatter (12)
2. Immerse (3)
3. Stop (6)
4. Mild (9)
5. Pig sound (5)
6. Undermanned (5-7)
7. Deceive (5)
10. Unconventional (9)
13. Hurry (5)
14. Wave (6)
16. Porcelain (5)
20. Japanese sash (3)
Cryptic Clues
Answers
Wordsearch
ACROSS
1. In which bureaucrats are led by polite
minister? (5,7)
7. In all honesty, leadership demands
elegance (5)
8. Big when backed for example by half a
dollar (5)
9. Sailor gets deserter to return (3)
10. Magnificence under PLO’s moves (9)
11. Show video about drama (6)
12. Detain, but remain on good terms (4,2)
15. Woodworker enables fish to get in (9)
17. A necessity when having a row (3)
18. Get stuck in the porter’s room (5)
19. Golfing connections of course (5)
21. Show as strained now in language
terms (7,5)
DOWN
1. Could run act about a vampire (5,7)
2. Remained non-professional (3)
3. Eleven lying calmly concealed (6)
4. Lout never can become one to offer
services willingly (9)
5. Vehicle to travel as freight (5)
6. Bring up to bewitch the back way in
(4,8)
7. Divides up fastener (5)
10. Assert fewer are without a home
country (9)
13. Stage supports (5)
14. Dictator in last upheaval (6)
16. Jockey wants some more directions
after setback (5)
20. Denial weight is up (3)
Codeword
Yesterday’s Solutions
QUICK
Across: 4 Malaise; 8 Tremor; 9 Upbraid; 10
Twinge; 11 Ripple; 12 Opulence; 18 Entrance; 20
Demand; 21 Action; 22 Necklet; 23 Demean; 24
Tempest.
Down: 1 Station; 2 Tedious; 3 Tongue; 5
Apparent; 6 Abrupt; 7 Shield; 13 Needless; 14
Infidel; 15 Meaning; 16 Delete; 17 Backup; 19
Racket.
CRYPTIC
Across: 4 Astride; 8 Rueful; 9 Runaway; 10
Voting; 11 Bullet; 12 Reversal; 18 Marriage; 20
Noodle; 21 Instep; 22 Freight; 23 Baffle; 24
Resents.
Down: 1 Drivers; 2 Centavo; 3 Turner; 5
Stumbler; 6 Really; 7 Drapes; 13 Somewhat; 14
Cast-off; 15 Temples; 16 Course; 17 Advise; 19
Rental.
15
16 GULF TIMES Wednesday, January 13, 2016
COMMUNITY
CINEMA
Netflix can be a game-changer
By Gautaman Bhaskaran
N
etflix has begun its operations in
India at last. The starting plan
is Rs500 a month. Two more
schemes — Rs650 and Rs800 a
month — are coming.
In a country like India where piracy rules,
the entry of Netflix is bound to transform the
picture. This will certainly mean tough times
for not just pirates, but also the country’s
television industry.
Netflix, which was founded in 1997, has
now become the global leader in on-demand
Internet streaming. With a 70-million
subscriber base the world over, the company
airs some extremely popular shows, such as
Orange is the New Black (tracing the lives of
women prisoners) and House of Cards (about
an evil politician who goes on to become the
American President).
The subscribers have loved the Netflix
shows for its lovely content and its superior
quality.
Internet streaming is a great hit with
youngsters, and the other night, this
writer saw the seven-year-old kid of his
physiotherapist engrossed in watching a
popular cartoon show on his father’s mobile
phone! And this is a classic example of what
India is going to see more and more in the
coming months, and given this trend, Netflix
is bound to cause a lot of excitement.
Another advantage of Internet streaming
is that all episodes of a season can be
downloaded together, and one may watch
them at any time one wants to.
Netflix has found in the West that viewers
are more than eager to pay for original
content. The firm charges about $9 for a 30day subscription, which in rupee term will
mean about Rs600.
And the Indian television industry has been
losing its sheen in recent times. Television
soaps have been getting jaded, primarily
because their plots are regressive. Women
conspire against one another, and men look
on. Women wear the gaudiest of clothes at all
times, and men appear like decked-up dolls
in a what seems like a role reversal. Obviously,
with nothing positive in these television
serials and the same old stories being aired
time and again, people were tempted to go for
pirated content on the net.
This is where Netflix is bound to strike with
its original fare that is also meaningful.
That there is a massive audience for
sensible content was proved when some
Pakistani television shows started appearing
in India. People just lapped them up, because
they were real, sensitive and positive.
Indian television has certainly stagnated,
and with the arrival of Netflix in India, the
entertainment sector is bound to be shaken up.
Netflix also has a huge movie library too
(Django Unchained, Copenhagen and so on)
which includes classics as well as films that
opened in 2015. All this means thrilling times
for India. And for Tamil cinema too.
Tamil cinema: Netflix has been largely
welcomed by the Tamil film industry,
although as with any discovery or
introduction, some scepticism is bound to
emerge. Nobody wanted the steam engine
or even the electric bulb, but time proved
detractors wrong. And so shall it be with
Netflix and Tamil cinema.
Of all the movies made in India, those in
Tamil suffer the most for want of distributors
or exhibitors or both. Despite a surge in the
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE: A promotional image for House of Cards and Django Unchained’s poster, both of which are available on Netflix.
number of multiplexes in Chennai and some
other Tamil Nadu cities, there is not enough
theatres for the 250 or so films produced
every year in the state. Merely 200 or so get a
theatrical release, and many of these too are
not allowed to run beyond a week (one reason
why Tamil producers/directors are so averse
to allow reviews to appear on a Friday, the
usual day a movie opens), because there is a
long queue.
This Pongal, which falls on January 15 and
which is one of the biggest festivals in Tamil
Nadu, at least four films will open, each
cutting into the other’s revenue, and for all
one knows, three of them may just fade away
after seven days.
There is also another reason why movies
do not find takers. Production values are very
low, and stories are clichéd, and as Sreedhar
Pillai, trade analyst, told this writer the other
morning, “with the age of digital technology,
anybody with a camera can make a film...No
wonder, there may be as many as 500 movies
(some half made) languishing in the cans for
10 years now”.
If Netflix can buy some of the better or
good works from this unsold inventory, it can
be a win-win situation for all.
Also, Netflix can go a long way in curbing
piracy in a state like Tamil Nadu, where the
evil is rampant. Kamal Hassan tried doing
precisely this when he wanted to release his
Viswroopam simultaneously in cinemas and
on the direct-to-home platform. But he was
not allowed to do so by a group that lacked
foresight. The result, hundreds of pirated
copies of the film flooded the market.
Every week, week after week, just about
every Tamil work which opens in theatres is
already to be found on pirated disks.
Finally, Netflix, known for its extremely
good quality content, can go miles to engineer
better production values in Tamil cinema.
Obviously, smaller movies can benefit by
Netflix, smaller works that either fade away
from theatres in just a week, unsung and
unwritten, or those that remain in the cans
for years.
As one producer (who does not wish to be
quoted) says that if only Netflix can lower
its pricing from the current Rs500 a month,
it will find many, many more takers — who
are fed up of watching bad quality stuff on
pirated disks (at Rs 40 each).
Admittedly, Tamil Nadu still has the lowest
theatre entry rates in the entire country. A
ticket cannot be priced above Rs120. But this
is bound to change sooner than later, because
cinema owners have been contending that
they cannot run their establishments with
this kind of income.
However, even the Rs500 a month, charged
at the entry level by Netflix, seems like a song
if a family of four or five can watch several
films in a month and in the comfort of their
drawing rooms.
z Gautaman Bhaskaran has
been writing on Indian and world
cinema for over three decades, and me be
e-mailed at [email protected])
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
GULF TIMES
17
COMMUNITY
BOLLYWOOD
Hrithik gifts himself RollsRoyce on birthday
Actor Hrithik Roshan, who
believes one should enjoy the
“material as well as spiritual” sides
of life, is said to have gifted himself
a Rolls-Royce on his 42nd birthday.
Asked about owning a RollsRoyce, Hrithik, who celebrated
his birthday on Sunday, said: “In
life, one should enjoy both sides,
material as well as spiritual equally.
That is the true balance one should
try and maintain.”
How does he maintain the
balance?
“Some think that material is not
important, but that is not true. One
should party, go to gym, spend good
time with friends and enjoy. I do all
this,” he said.
The Krrish also said since
this birthday started on a “very
happy note, so this year will be
full of happy things. I am feeling
very happy and enthusiastic. So
something very special will happen
this year.”
Hrithik also spoke about how he
has changed over the years.
“I was very shy as a kid, but as
now this transition from being shy
and introvert to kind of spreading
joy and love... is a good sign of
growth. I have done well,” said the
father of two boys.
TRUE BALANCE: Hrithik Roshan
“Last night we had a party, so
I was wished by all my friends...
everybody was happy, I feel blessed.
I am loving it, it’s such a fantastic
birthday. I would like to thank all
my fans,” he told reporters during a
media interaction on his birthday.
The actor who will be seen in
Ashutosh Gowariker’s Mohenjo
Daro says he is very proud of this
film.
“Mohenjo Daro has taken the
entire year. The film has shaped
up very well and I am very proud
of this film. You all are going to see
me in more than one film this year,”
said the 42-year-old. — IANS
VIEWPOINT: Shah Rukh Khan
Global laurels will help
introduce Indian cinema
where needed: SRK
S
uperstar Shah Rukh Khan
has no plans to foray into
international cinema
but appreciates actress
Priyanka Chopra winning
the People’s Choice Awards as he
believes such achievements help
introduce Indian cinema “in places
where it needs to be introduced”.
The former Miss World won
the Favourite Actress in a New
TV series honour at the People’s
Choice Awards in Los Angeles
for American TV show Quantico.
“What happens with these
achievements is Indian cinema is
introduced in places where it needs
to be introduced.
“It opens gates for more actors
and actresses to look at,” Shah Rukh
told the media at the launch of
Kansai Nerolac’s coffee table book
Shades of Bengal.
Shah Rukh batted for promotion
of Indian cinema in different
territories not only as a business
opportunity but also as a means
to spread the country’s culture.
However, he reiterated his decision
on sticking to Hindi films at
the moment. “I am very happy
making the films that I do. I have
made it clear many times earlier,
I don’t think I will foray into it
(international cinema),” he added.
— IANS
Actors have now become
commodities: Sunny Deol
FRANKLY SPEAKING: Sunny Deol
After giving a string of hits like Ghayal, Ghatak and
Darr in the 1990s, actor-filmmaker Sunny Deol says it
really bothers him that people who were actors earlier,
have now become “commodities” in the Hindi film
fraternity.
“The industry and country have changed so fast. But
my belief and thoughts didn’t change along. I always
thought that acting was basically an art where you are
performing. You’re picking up subjects and cinema was
basically a reflection of the society,” Sunny said on the
show Yaar Mera Superstar, which airs on Zoom.
“But somehow, as time passed by, things changed. It
really bothers me that we people who were actors earlier
have now become commodities,” he added. Directed by
Sunny, Ghayal Once Again will continue from where the
first version left off. The film is reportedly based on a
real-life event in the life of a Mumbai police officer and
also stars Soha Ali Khan. Ghayal Once Again is slated to
hit the screens on February 5. — IANS
Manisha Koirala roped in for Bala’s Tamil multi-starrer
Actress Manisha Koirala has been brought in for an important role
in National Award-winning filmmaker Bala’s next Tamil multi-starrer
project. The yet-untitled project is slated to go on the floors starting July.
“The film so far features Vishal, Atharvaa, Arya, Arvind Swamy and
Manisha. The makers are also in talks with Anushka Shetty,” a source
close to Bala told IANS.
The film is rumoured to be titled Kutra Paramparai, and will be
produced by Bala’s home banner B Studios. “The project was supposed to
go on the floors much earlier. However, due to the delay in the release of
Bala’s forthcoming film Tharai Thappattai, this project was postponed,a
the source added. Tharai Thappattai, meanwhile, is all set to release
worldwide on Thursday. — IANS
Anushka waiting to dig
teeth into Sultan role
Actress Anushka Sharma says she
is excited to work in the upcoming
film Sultan as her role in the Salman
Khan-starrer is something that she
is eagerly waiting to “dig my teeth
into”. “I am training to be working
with Salman (in Sultan). I am really
excited about the film and my role,”
the actress said on the sidelines of
Britannia Filmfare Awards, held over
the weekend. “The role is something
that I am just waiting to dig my teeth
into,” she added. The 27-year-old,
who has also worked with Shah Rukh
Khan and Aamir Khan in the past, is
all praise for the Dabangg star. “There
RARING TO GO: Anushka Sharma
is nobody like him because of his
persona,” she said. Sultan, directed
by Ali Abbas Zafar, is slated to release
on Eid this year. — IANS
Shraddha Kapoor’s food troubles
Actress Shraddha Kapoor has fallen ill — she is suffering from food
poisoning. The actress took to Twitter to talk about her health while wishing
actor Hrithik Roshan.
“Happy birthday! @iHrithik What bad timing for me to get food poisoning...
heard I missed a really fun party of yours. Lots of love!” she tweeted.
Hrithik, credited for films like Dhoom 2, Jodhaa Akbar, Zindagi Na Milegi
Dobara, Agneepath and Bang Bang!, turned 42 on Sunday.
On the work front, Shraddha is all charged up to share screen space with
Farhan Akhtar for the first time in Rock On 2 and will also be seen in a rebellious
love story of Baaghi with Tiger Shroff. – IANS
18 GULF TIMES Wednesday, January 13, 2016
COMMUNITY
HOLLYWOOD
Mercy Street tells story
of Civil War hospital
By Luaine Lee
F
rom all the tales about
the American Civil War
that have populated
television, there’s one
story left to be told. What
happened inside those makeshift
hospitals that were charged with
treating the wounded and dying in
the midst of the bloodiest battles
on US’ home turf?
PBS is attempting to fill that
gap with Mercy Street, its first
original American drama in more
than 10 years. “The hospital ... is a
hotel owned by a Southern family
that’s taken over by the Union
administration and turned into a
Union hospital,” explains David
Zabel, co-creator and writer of the
series.
“So that was a beautiful way in
for us because it presented itself
immediately with a way ... to
tell all the sides of the story that
we were trying to get to. So this
story is neither a Southern story
nor a Northern story. It’s really
an American story that includes
all those facets and all those
perspectives,” he says.
“We couldn’t imagine a more full
way of getting to the various nooks
and crannies of this moment in
American history than this Union
hospital in Alexandria, Virginia, in
1862.”
Shot entirely in Virginia, with
no sound stages, the show is rich
with authenticity. The six-hour
series, premiering Sunday, reveals
authentic medical practices that
were tried and applied during the
upheaval of the war.
“What we’ve committed to was
trying — in an accurate way — to
show procedures that were being
done at the time in a place like this,
and help an audience understand
how these advances were being
made, how these things were being
figured out, and impart some
information while we were telling
dramatic stories with them,” says
Zabel.
The writer worked for years on
ER, and says that’s exactly what
they intended to do on that popular
drama. “We generally focus on one
main medical story that has one
main procedure,” he says.
But the show is not a clinical
exercise like Cinemax’s The Knick.
“We tried to really keep that in
balance and only do what we
needed to do, to tell the story well
and accurately,” he says.
“Tonally the show has great
balance, and that’s partially because
of the world that we entered into
and what the actors brought to it,
ANOTHER BATTLE: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, left, and Josh Radnor co-star in Mercy Street about a Union hospital in the middle of Confederate territory.
because there’s humour and there’s
romance and there are other things,
sort of a balancing out. It’s not a
dark medical show, and it might be
easy to confuse it with that just at
first glance, but it is not that at all,”
he says.
Co-creator Lisa Q Wolfinger
says we are often mistaken about
the medical practices used during
the war. “I think it’s a myth of
the Civil War medicine that they
didn’t use anaesthesia, they
were just chopping off limbs, and
people were shrieking in agony,”
she says. “And in fact, anaesthesia
was very commonly used for most
operations. And in some ways
Civil War medicine was quite
sophisticated, as you’ll come to find
out as you watch the show.”
Many of the characters are
based on real people. They’re not
the famous names that dominate
most tales about the conflagration,
but ordinary people like Mary
Phinney, who kept a memoir of
her experiences as a nurse in the
hospital.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead (The
Returned) plays Phinney. “I was sort
of cast somewhat last minute, and
flew in and got started right away,
and kind of dived into her memoir,”
she says.
“So I was shooting this at the
same time as I was discovering
things about her. And I sort of gave
everything over to these guys who
were creating such an authentic
environment, that I really felt like
I was experiencing what she was
experiencing when she first came
to this hospital, and met all these
people.
“And all of it is in her text as I’m
acting it from day to day. And it was
kind of a wonderful, special thing
to be a part of and to bring to life.
And I also felt I related to her so
much and felt that her ideals and
her views and what she was trying
to accomplish and the way that she
behaved was so contemporary —
and so much like myself and people
that I surround myself in my life
now with.”
Executive producer David Zucker,
adds, “It was exciting to take
on a Civil War story that wasn’t
about battles, that wasn’t about
generals, that wasn’t about iconic
figures, historically. And while
our characters are still historically
drawn, we were telling, in some
way, a far more relatable story. But
(we) allowed for this tonal range,
and one that hopefully gives a very
unique perspective into this time
of what the day-to-day experience
was like amongst this variety of
characters.”
Gary Cole (Office Space) plays the
patriarch of the wealthy southern
family whose luxurious hotel is
confiscated and converted into the
hospital. “Several people say, ‘The
war will be over within months.
Don’t worry about it.’ And out of
either naivete or probably a little bit
of arrogance, he believes that that’s
true,” says Cole of his character.
“And so I think that’s what’s
interesting to me, is this conflict
that he’s caught in. He’s really
entrenched in these attitudes and
beliefs. And I think that kind of
carries over into sections of the
South since the war ended. You
know, there’s attitudes that didn’t
go away just because the war
ended.” — TNS
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
GULF TIMES 19
COMMUNITY
HOLLYWOOD
Holmes’s ring nothing to do with Jamie Foxx?
Actress Katie Holmes was recently spotted with a sparkler on her ring finger
fuelling speculations that her relationship with actor Jamie Foxx has gone up
another level. But according to a source, she has had the ring for a while now.
The 37-year-old actress and Foxx, 48, have been romantically linked for
more than two years — but they have never confirmed their relationship.
According to a source, “Holmes has had the ring for over a year now,” reports
eonline.com.
Holmes, who was previously married to actor Tom Cruise, was first spotted
wearing the ring last year and has since worn it several times to events. She was
spotted wearing the ring on at an event in West Hollywood. — IANS
Samuel L Jackson
enjoys normal life
Actor Samuel L Jackson says
he lives his life just like a normal
person. The 67-year-old maybe
one of the highest paid actors in
Hollywood but he doesn’t bother
having assistants or any sort of
entourage and he’s happy to go
out and mingle with the public
anywhere in the world, reports
femalefirst.co.uk.
“Yeah, I walk the streets here.
I walk the streets of London by
SHINING SECRET: Kylie Minogue
myself. I do my own grocery
shopping, I don’t have bodyguards,
I make strange turns off of certain
streets to just find **** to look at
or see if I can discover something
or find something that I wanted
to buy that’s odd or unusual. And
nobody’s out there trying to kill
me. Nobody has run up on me with
a knife or gun,” Jackson told The
Times newspaper.
Jackson is currently seen
onscreen in filmmaker Quentin
Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight. —
IANS
Kylie Minogue sparks
engagement rumours
S
inger Kylie Minogue
has fuelled rumours
she is engaged to her
boyfriend of four
months, Joshua Sasse,
after she was spotted with a huge
diamond sparkler on her ring
finger.
The Spinning around hitmaker
was spotted with the sparkler on
her left hand as she dined at the
Chiltern Firehouse with Sasse
following their romantic two-
week holiday in Geneva.
“Kylie was smiling from ear
to ear and was more than happy
to flaunt her diamond ring. It
was like she wanted the world to
know,” a source was quoted as
saying by The Sun newspaper.
“The couple recently spent
the whole festive period skiing
and hired a lodge for friends and
family. It would have made a very
romantic place for a proposal,”
the source added. The insider
Kourtney gives best
advice: Kylie Jenner
sisters for all advice and to each of
them for different things,” Kylie
told Look magazine.
When it comes to fashion
and beauty, Kylie turns to Kim
Kardashian and her husband
Kanye West for inspiration.
She said: “Kim really inspires
my look - she inspires me the
most. I think my sister and Kanye
have great style and the people
around them really inspire me.”
— IANS
Reality TV star Kylie Jenner says
she turns to Kourtney Kardashian
when she needs advice. The
18-year-old is close to all her
family members but thinks her
oldest half-sibling is the best
person to go to when she has a
problem, reports femalefirst.co.uk.
“Kourtney probably gives the
best life advice, but I go to my
SOUNDING BOARD: Kylie Jenner, left, and Kourtney Kardashian.
also said that Sasse was “ready to
propose after finding the woman
of his dreams.”
Meanwhile, the 47-year-old
singer previously revealed she’d
like to have children with the
28-year-old actor one day.
“I have a love in my life, which
is a beautiful thing. I’m on Cloud
9 most of the time because of Mr
Joshua Sasse, my beau. I want
to go a bit slower and look at the
view,” she had said. — IANS
MAN ON THE STREET: Samuel L Jackson
Harrison Ford named
highest grossing actor
Veteran actor Harrison Ford has been named
as the highest grossing actor in the history of
Hollywood. According to BoxOfficeMojo.com, the
73-year-old actor’s 41 movies, including Indiana
Jones and the Temple of Doom, have grossed a total
of $4.7bn, with Ford’s latest movie Star Wars: The
Force Awakens minting $770mn, reports femalefirst.
co.uk.
Ford has ousted actor Samuel L Jackson from
the top spot, with the 67-year-old actor falling
to second place, followed by actors Tom Hanks,
Morgan Freeman and Eddie Murphy. — IANS
Scott Disick not
dating Lina Sandberg?
Zayn Malik heads
out with Gigi Hadid
Reality TV star Kourtney
Kardashian’s former partner Scott
Disick is reportedly trying to focus
on family, and not moving on with
model Lina Sandberg. According
to a source, the father of three is
not pursuing a relationship with
Sandberg. Instead, he’s trying to
make his family the priority, and
has just moved to Hidden Hills,
reports eonline.com.
“He just moved to Hidden Hills
and wants to just focus on being a
good dad and not dating, especially
this girl. He’s just focused on the
kids and getting himself together,”
said a source.
Earlier, it was rumoured that
the two were dating as they had
been spotted hanging out together.
Former One Direction member
Zayn Malik has been spotted out
and about with Gigi Hadid again
after opening up about what he
wants in an ideal partner. Malik
looked to be in good spirits as he
stepped out of a hotel with the
Victoria’s model, reports mirror.
co.uk. Malik and Hadid were seen
leaving the Bowery Hotel together
following speculation the pair are
dating. He showed off his dyed
hair and wore a coat over a black
hoody along with a pair of tight
jeans. Hadid adorned curvehugging sports leggings and a
turtleneck top. She completed
her look with a pair of shades, and
carried a coat and bag as the pair
left the hotel. – IANS
TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF?
Scott Disick
“Scott hardly knows her. He has
no interest in dating right now. He
wants to be back with Kourtney.
At this point, anyone else is just a
distraction,” the source added. —
IANS
20 GULF TIMES Wednesday, January 13, 2016
COMMUNITY
‘Naya Shakti is for inclusive
and participatory democracy’
the long run, the participatory method will
ensure unity.
Nepal is in a crisis with economic
blockade on its Indian border. There is
a shortage of cooking gas, electricity
and other problems. In this kind of
situation, what is the significance of
your campaign Naya Shakti?
We have clearly stated that the Madhesh
Movement is our internal problem. It has
to be solved by the Nepalese government
through dialogue. This is the third time since
the promulgation of interim constitution that
they have agitated to strengthen inclusive
federalism. The present constitution fell
below interim constitution whereas it should
have gone beyond interim constitution. It is
unfortunate that India has been dragged into
this confusion. The only solution is to deal
with India through diplomatic channels. In
short, these issues must not be mixed up, but
dealt separately.
REACHING OUT: Former Nepalese minister Hisila Yami speaking at a community programme in Doha recently.
By Usha Wagle Gautam
H
isila Yami, a former minister of
Nepal, was recently in Qatar.
She has been active in Nepalese
politics since the past three
decades, having maintained her
own identity besides being the wife of former
PM and UCPN-Maoist leader Dr Baburam
Bhattarai. After the promulgation of the new
constitution, Bhattarai and Yami resigned
from the UCPN (Maoist) party, paving
the way for Naya Shakti, a new political
force in the country to focus on economic
development. Community spoke to Yami
about her party and the road ahead. Excerpts:
What made you think of a new
political outfit? Has your former party
lost its track or you wanted something
different?
I have never regretted my past activities
related to People’s War (PW). It was a
historical calling to get rid of feudalism in
the country, a cause for which thousands
sacrificed their lives. It was a necessary
political move to erode feudalism in order
to create a new capitalist base. If all aspects
of PW were directed to destroy feudalism
then in order to construct a capitalist base,
it was necessary to restructure methodology
of leadership, restructure the organisation,
reinvent ways of reaching out to the masses
and recast party activities, so as to create
a base for achieving socialist-oriented
capitalism in Nepal.
Even when we were negotiating the
peace process we had been raising issues
of restructuring our party within the old
UCPN (Maoist) in line with the new phase
of socialist-oriented capitalism. But it was
never heeded. Even while in government,
we kept persuading our party chairman to
at least change our party structure in line
with the then functioning of the interim
constitution. But again he did not heed.
Do you think people will support your
new campaign for so called ‘Naya Shakti’
(New Force). They are fed up with these
kinds of political promises?
The Naya Shakti mission is fundamentally
different as it did not start as a readymade
split party but as a mission to start with new
methodology of organisation (participatory),
new methodology of leadership (two term for
leadership), new methodology of organisation
(based on inclusion and proportional
representation).
Politically speaking, the New Force will
adopt inclusive and participatory democracy.
Economically speaking, the New Force
aims at achieving rapid industrialisation
which avoids structural crises of both neoliberalism and orthodox state socialism. New
Force will usher in economic revolution with
social equity. Socially speaking, it will provide
proportionate representation in the party
and state organs to the three major cluster of
nationalities, via the Khas-Arya, the TibetoBurman or indigenous nationalities and the
Madhesi-Tharu. And it promotes ushering
inclusive development.
Culturally speaking, we are going to imbue
new culture of transparency, respecting the
value of labour, the culture of accepting
unity in diversity, in short all the culture
which helps in removing remnants of feudal
relations and all values which helps in
creating the base for capitalism oriented to
socialism.
We have seen Dr Bhattarai being
involved in several interaction
programmes with various sections of
people but how far does this help you
unify a big support to form a new power?
Our aim is to move away from traditional
functioning of the parties who are stuck
in status quo. We are for the state not as a
means to stay in power but to institutionalise
change. Hence it has to incorporate experts
and advisers on various fronts. The exercise
will no longer be only procedural, but it has
to also inculcate participatory democracy.
In order to achieve this, the party is going
through various interaction programmes. In
Nepalese expatriates of Qatar welcoming Yami to Doha.
Have you faced adverse reaction about
your campaign on social networking
sites? Many people are not happy with
your move. How can you overcome
this to make them believe in your new
agenda?
We too have been using social media,
particularly Dr Bhattarai who has been
disseminating our programmes, aspirations
and plans. We are guided by a positive
attitude.
You have raised the issue of caste and
ethnicity, and even the federalism based
on that. How far is this applicable in
Nepal? Don’t you see the risk at national
sovereignty and integrity?
We have raised this in order to raise our
human index. This is needed to enhance
their productive capacities for ushering
economic revolution. The ownership feeling,
the sense of responsibility towards the new
nation will come only when their oppression
is addressed, when their lost identities have
been acknowledged in order to bring them to
the mainstream.
The political stalemate between the
ruling and Madhesi parties is Nepal’s
internal matter. How did India get
involved?
India is an immediate neighbour. And with
an open border that too with most populous
Indian states adjoining Terai region in Nepal,
they seem to have been dragged in I suppose.
Analysing the past patterns of Indian
blockade, when do you think the current
embargo will come to an end?
It comes to an end as soon as the Madhesi
issue is solved. This means the present
constitution should not at least fall short of
the interim constitution, which all the parties
had been following in the past eight years
without hiccups. The ruling parties need
to carry on the dialogue with the agitating
parties, while continuing diplomatic
negotiations with India. It is also important
to resolve the issue of provincial boundaries
by taking past agreements and suggestions
provided by the State Restructuring
Commission with a bit of give and take.