Contagion Will Likely Freak You out Amidst Coronavirus Fears, but It's

Monday, March 9, 2020 Rajab 14, 1441 AH

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COVER STORY Reel vs Real Contagion will likely freak you out amidst coronavirus fears, but it’s worth it. P4-5

BOLLYWOOD HOLLYWOOD

I refrain from commenting on Film directors cancel March socio-political issues: Divya. appearances in Chicago. Page 14 Page 15 2 GULF TIMES Monday, March 9, 2020 COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

PRAYER TIME Fajr 4.32am Shorooq (sunrise) 5.50am Zuhr (noon) 11.46am Asr (afternoon) 3.09pm Maghreb (sunset) 5.41pm Isha (night) 7.11pm

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The Call of the Wild exotic wilds of the Alaskan Yukon in the 1890s. As the newest CAST: Karen Gillan, Harrison Ford, Cara Gee rookie on a mail-delivery dog sled team, Buck experiences the DIRECTION: Chris Sanders adventure of a lifetime as he ultimately ﬁ nds his true place in SYNOPSIS: Buck is a big-hearted dog whose blissful the world. domestic life gets turned upside down when he is suddenly Emergency 999 uprooted from his California home and transplanted to the THEATRE: The Mall Worldwide Emergency Number 112 Kahramaa – Electricity and Water 991 Local Directory 180 International Calls Enquires 150 Hamad International Airport 40106666 Labor Department 44508111, 44406537 Mowasalat Taxi 44588888 Qatar Airways 44496000 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

Humanitarian Services Offi ce (Single window facility for the repatriation of bodies) Ministry of Interior 40253371, 40253372, 40253369 Ministry of Health 40253370, 40253364 Hamad Medical Corporation 40253368, 40253365 The Way Back the team starts to win, he may have a reason to confront his Qatar Airways 40253374 CAST: Ben Affl eck, Janina Gavankar, Michaela Watkins old demons. But will it be enough to set him on the road to DIRECTION: Gavin O’Connor redemption? SYNOPSIS: A former HS basketball phenom, struggling with failures, is off ered a coaching job at his alma mater. As THEATRES: Landmark, The Mall, Royal Plaza te Unqu uo ot Q “The secret e of getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain

Community Editor For movie timings and Kamran Rehmat further details please scan e-mail: [email protected] the QR code above with your Telephone: 44466405 mobile phone camera or visit qatarcinemas.com Fax: 44350474 Monday, March 9, 2020 GULF TIMES 3 ROUND & ABOUT COMMUNITY

Ballet Lessons and develop leadership skills. For more WHERE: Music and Arts Atelier WHEN: Ongoing TIME: 4pm – 8pm For more info e-mail at registration@ atelierqatar.com or call on 33003839.

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Artistic Gymnastic Classes WHERE: Qatar Academy Msheireb WHEN: Ongoing MIA Park Bazaar 2020 Street Food is the ideal venue for a leisure TIME: 3:15pm – 4:15pm WHERE: MIA Park experience for the whole family off ering over The olympic sport using horizontal bar, WHEN: Ongoing till April 25 20 dine-in options and 18-hole World Mini- TIME: 2pm — 8pm Golf setup. MIA Park Bazaar is a modern version of the Old Souq tradition with vibrant mix of Hobby Classes Katara Winter Festival & Bazaar around 120 stalls. You can browse and buy WHERE: Mamangam Performing Art WHERE: Katara Cultural Village handicrafts, accessories, paintings, clothing, Centre WHEN: Ongoing till March 14 food, jewellery, photography and art. WHEN:Wednesday – Monday TIME: 10am-10pm Mamangam is an art and performance Katara has an indoor bazaar with more centre started with a vision of spreading than 200 stalls from 18 diff erent countries. our knowledge, interests and experience in You can clothes, perfumes, bags, handicraft, various disciplines in arts across different footwear, other accessories and much more. countries for children and adults. The festival also has a vast playground for We offer regular classes in disciplines like children. traditional classical dance, art and craft, Bollywood and hip-hop styles, Carnatic Public Speaking Classes for Adults music, robotics, percussion instruments, WHERE: Sharq Capital, C-Ring Road keyboard, yoga, zumba and martial arts WHEN:Ongoing till July 1 like Karate, Shaolin Kung Fu and Kalari. TIME: 6:30pm – 9pm For those who wish to register e-mail Get trained by experts to be a good speaker. at [email protected] or call on Smedley Toastmasters is conducting a 33897609/44723680 six-month speech-craft programme that rings and ﬂ oor exercises on mats for the teaches new members to speak conﬁ dently children from age 4 till 16.

Qatar National Robotics Challenge WHERE: Qatar National Library WHEN: March 31 TIME: 8am — 4pm The Qatar National Robotics Challenge is an advanced robotics competition in which students of Grade VIII-XI design, build, programme and operate robots to compete in a head-to-head challenge. The programme is designed to encourage interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

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Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change 4 GULF TIMES Monday, March 9, 2020 COMMUNITY COVER STORY Nervous waiting game Contagion will scare you into soap and water. It makes that precaution seem as urgent as the inevitable moment in a horror film when viewers want to yell at the screen, “Get out of the house...now!”

By Julie Hinds

fter watching Contagion, you won’t need a public health offi cial to tell you to wash your “Our best defence has hands often. been social distancing, no The 2011 movie will scare you into soap and water. It makes that precaution seem as handshaking, staying home Aurgent as the inevitable moment in a horror ﬁ lm when viewers want to yell at the screen, “Get out of the house when you’re sick, washing … now!” your hands frequently,” says The coronavirus outbreak has turned life in 2020 into a nervous waiting game for updates. What’s the latest Centers for Disease Control headline? Which events have been cancelled? Why aren’t there enough test kits? How many states have declared expert played by Laurence an emergency? This week, even James Bond went into quarantine, so Fishburne in the film to speak. The release of the 007 movie No Time To Die was moved from April to November over worries about theatre closings in Italy, South Korea, China and Japan — ‘ all countries hit hard by Covid-19, the abbreviated name ’ for the virus. Monday, March 9, 2020 GULF TIMES 5 COVER STORY COMMUNITY

Anxiety is rising. So is the number of people watching Contagion, a well-crafted drama that until recently was relatively forgotten. It’s become a hot rental at online sites like Amazon Prime and iTunes. Why is everyone so eager to see something that is guaranteed to freak them out? Maybe it’s the lure of facing your nightmares. As director Barry Jenkins (Moonlight) told The New York Times, “I was really curious to see how well it would line up to what is happening right now, it was shocking. It felt like I was watching a documentary that has all these movie stars playing real people.” Nowhere is that more evident than in a scene where CNN’s Dr Sanjay Gupta — yes, the real guy did a cameo — is interviewing a Centers for Disease Control expert played by Laurence Fishburne. “Our best defence has been social distancing, no handshaking, staying home when you’re sick, washing your hands frequently,” says Fishburne. That sounds like a clip from every cable news channel right this minute. Art imitates life so closely in such sequences that you may wonder if the rest of the movie is going to SPOTLIGHT: The star-studded cast of Contagion. come true. That’s a frightening prospect, because the screenplay airport bar, coughing as she waits your face — or anything, really. to investigate the sites. Elliott Gould blasts Law’s careless by Scott Z Burns envisions for a delayed fl ight. The camera As clues pop up in Hong Meanwhile, rumours multiply journalistic standards. “Blogging catastrophic loss. pans to all the places her germs are Kong, London and Tokyo that a that the virus is actually a military is not writing,” barks Gould. “It’s But Contagion is fi ction, and the spreading: the bowl of nuts that pandemic is emerging, Fishburne or industrial weapon. Law touts a graffi ti with punctuation.” coronavirus, as bad as it’s been, she’s been eating from, the credit and his CDC team must scramble natural cure, forsythia, on his blog Contagion fl oats many plot hasn’t reached the devastation card she hands to the bartender, the to identify and contain the virus. without any solid proof, then brags twists that echo what is known levels of the movie’s imaginary machine where the card is swiped. They track clusters of infections about having 12 million unique about Covid-19, like its connecting MEV-1 virus. Remember how Jaws kept you out at health clubs and elementary visitors to his website. One of the the origin of the fi ctional virus to In real life, Covid-19, fi rst of the water? Contagion makes an schools and, in Winslet’s case, put movie’s more gratifying scenes is bats and pigs. Recently, in real life, detected in Wuhan, China, in equally fi erce case for not touching their own lives at risk by travelling when a veteran scientist played by China banned the wildlife trade December 2019, has resulted over suspicions that exotic animal globally in more than 100,000 infected humans. cases and over 3,300 deaths. So far In the movie, a National Guard in America, over 200 cases have The movie is a master class in creating suspense out armoury is turned into a vast triage been confi rmed, with at least 15 of inanimate objects. Early on, Gywneth Paltrow’s centre for bed-ridden patients. In deaths linked to the virus (but there real-world Wuhan, China, where are concerns about undiagnosed character sits in a Chicago airport bar, coughing as she Covid-19 was fi rst detected, two cases due to early coronavirus test hospitals were constructed in a shortages). waits for a delayed flight. The camera pans to all the little over a week’s time to deal with In the fi lm, the MEV-1 virus the crisis. is unleashed in Minneapolis by places her germs are spreading: the bowl of nuts that Yet Contagion takes things to Gwyneth Paltrow’s character after a she’s been eating from, the credit card she hands to the awful extremes. At various points business trip to Hong Kong. Within in the story, rioting and looting a month, the death toll in America bartender, the machine where the card is swiped breaks out for food and supplies. is at 2.5 million. The worldwide Quarantines and curfews are total reaches 26 million. enacted in cities. A grieving Damon The coronavirus puts the elderly can’t fi nd a funeral home that will and those with underlying medical take his wife’s body. Eventually, conditions at the most risk. The mass graves are necessary to deal movie’s virus hits the old, young with the fatalities. and middle-aged like a freight train. Contagion feels overwhelming, Spoiler alert: Paltrow’s death in the but don’t mistake it for a fi rst 20 minutes or so reveals this is guidebook. It’s just a creative no ordinary fl u. exercise that carries a powerful Contagion is a worst-case message about fi ghting fear with scenario with an A-list cast. Matt knowledge. Damon portrays Paltrow’s husband, The movie will convince you an everyman dad struggling to that the more facts you have, the hold things together for his teenage better off you are. Now is the time daughter. Laurence Fishburne, Kate to prepare. Learn what preventive Winslet and Marion Cotillard play measures you should be taking. dedicated public health experts. Seek information from legitimate Jude Law is intense and reckless as sources and avoid the unproven a conspiracy-chasing blogger, while theories and scams littering social Jennifer Ehle is equally impulsive, media. but in a heroic way, as a CDC This is serious stuff , and it’s not laboratory scientist racing to fi nd a over yet, not by a long shot. You vaccine. don’t need to sit through Contagion Soderbergh’s 9-year-old movie is to know that. But it is one heck of a master class in creating suspense a reminder to keep washing your out of inanimate objects. Early on, hands. — Detroit Free Press/TNS Paltrow’s character sits in a Chicago SENSE OF FOREBODING: Gwyneth Paltrow played patient zero of a viral epidemic in Contagion. 6 GULF TIMES Monday, March 9, 2020 COMMUNITY

‘Colour Lab’ exhibition at VCUarts Qatar to explore the depths of colour

The Gallery at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar), a Amsterdam and Berlin. Her photographs are printed in an analogue colour darkroom with Qatar Foundation partner university, is all set to host an exhibition titled, ‘Colour Lab’ by artists handmade negatives and found light sources, and her artwork has been reviewed in The Liz Nielsen, Vanessa Donoso López, and Melanie McClintock. New Yorker, The Financial Times, The British Journal of Photography, The New York Times, Through an interactive collection of artist works and workshops, the exhibition explores the LensCulture, FOAM magazine, and ArtSlant among others. shifting face of colour, inviting the observer to participate in a series of chromatographic Vanessa Donoso López has exhibited nationally and internationally with recent selected solo journeys through chromatography, cyanotypes, photograms, and pigments of provenance, exhibitions including, ‘I shall change the way things are ordered’at Kevin Kavanagh Gallery, Dublin; sourced and apportioned to denote a sense of place ‘No fixed colour Continuum’at Candyland, Stockholm; ‘the rain in Spain falls mainly off the plane’in During the opening of the event, visitors will have an opportunity to participate in colour Barcelona; ‘Scientifico-experimental-techno-colour-movement’ at M’ATUVU Project Space, Brussels; experiments that will result in a final collaborative work with unique takeaways. and ‘Establishing a Mission’ at the Ashford Gallery Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin. The opening reception will take place on March 11 at 6pm. The exhibition will run until April Melanie McClintock’s concepts explore the ideas of time, worthiness, and sense of place. She 11. The exhibition has been curated by Melanie McClintock, a graduate of VCYarts Richmond, received an MFA in Colour and Materials Design from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Virginia. Michigan; and a BFA in Fashion Design from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, “When I was asked to curate a show on colour, many potential paths came to mind, so many Virginia. While running the Brooklyn-based boutique and gallery, Ai Ai Gasa (2006-08), she that I was often simultaneously excited, inspired, and overwhelmed,” McClintock said. “I knew I curated bi-monthly shows for such local artists including Alex Soto, Bailey Saliwanchik, and did not want the show to simply be about the surface of colour. It had to be about the depths Eun-ha Paek. In 2012, she spearheaded a social art programme in Indonesia, where she curated of colour: its materiality, the way it moves, the way it reacts to light, and ultimately, the special six exhibitions of student work in galleries throughout Java over two years. A few years later, she places where colour melds science and art.” curated a show at the Gallery at VCUarts Qatar for Indonesian graff iti artists, Ismu Ismoyo and Liz Nielsen’s works have been exhibited in New York, Chicago, Paris, London, Budapest, Tri ‘Vendi’ Eff endi, titled ‘Issue Isme.’

AMUAAQ conducts beach clean-up

The Aligarh Muslim University Alumni Association Qatar (AMUAAQ), an associate organisation of ICBF P N Baburajan, President of ICBF, was the chief guest at the activity. He said that all members should under the aegis of the embassy of India, in association with Ministry of Municipality and Environment, come together to fulfil the AMUAAQ mission towards community and alma mater and wished that recently conducted First Beach Clean-up Activity under the theme of ‘Protect and preserve the natural AMUAAQ should continue with the same mission towards welfare and other social activities. Avinash environment and keep the marine habitat safe and trash-free’ at Al Wakra Family Beach. The activity Gaikwad, General Secretary of ICBF, spoke about the importance of beach clean-up and appreciated organised under the managing committee of AMUAAQ presided by Jawed Ahmed also featured a aff iliated AMUAAQ team for marine protection based event. briefing on coronavirus. Shemi, representative of Corona Task force team, briefed the participants about coronavirus and gave The activity kicked off with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an, which was followed by beach clean-up tips protection tips. Dr Ashna Nusrat, also a representative of Corona Task force team, along with other team by Bader Ali al-Saada, representative from Ministry of Municipality and Environment. Saada mentioned members, including Mamnoon Ahmad Bangash and Gautam took part in the awareness activity. A quiz that sustainability is the overall goal of the municipality and Qatar Green Building Council. “Everyone is competition was also conducted. The winners of the competition, included Neharika, first position; Naz, working within the same system for the deployment of all the aspects of the culture of sustainability by second; and Alhena, third. spreading awareness and knowledge,” he said. Mohamed Naim, Adviser of AMUAAQ aff iliated body, said “Today we had a great time cleaning up Jawed Ahmad, President of the AMUAAQ, welcomed the gathering. Speaking on the occasion, he said, the beach with so many diff erent participants.” Over 110 members of the association along with their “This clean-up has been organised in an eff ort to spread awareness about the importance of protecting families took part in the activity. Various community leaders, including P N Baburajan, Avinash Gaikwad, the marine life and educating the community about the need of the hour.” He said that over 0.7 million Ibraiz Khan, Mohamed Naim, Dr Ashna Nusrat, Mohamed Farman Khan, Mohamed Faisal Naseem, Indian expats are living in Qatar, and even if only Indians expats contribute towards a sustainable Faiyyaz, Alamgir, Umer, Anjum, Shad, Yawer Hussain, Gautam, Irfanullah, Rizwan Ahmad, Imtiyaz landscape of Qatar, it will make a diff erence. Ahmad, Irfan Ansari attended the clean-up. Monday, March 9, 2020 GULF TIMES 7 COMMUNITY

NMA marks 143rd Memorial Day of first known martyr of Nepal

Nepal Magar Association— Karim Baks Miya, Nepali Qatar (NMA) recently community leaders, also organised an event to mark attended the event. The the 143rd Memorial Day event kicked off with a of Captain Lakhan Thapa candle lighting ceremony, Magar, the first known martyr which was followed by the of Nepal. The event was national anthem of Nepal chaired by Bijaya Kumar and one-minute silence in Magar, Chairman of NMA. the memory of late Captain Bharat Budha Magar, Adviser Thapa. of NMA, was the chief Abhimat Pun Magar, Vice guest on the occasion. The Chairman of NMA, welcomed event was attended by the the gathering. Lok Bahadur members and off icials of Sinjali, Secretary of NMA, NMA, including Ishwor Rana spoke about late Captain on Magar, Sher Bahadur Roka the occasion. – Text and Magar and Bhim Taramu photo by Usha Wagle Magar. Sarita Bhandari and Gautam

KSQ elects new off ice bearers

Karnataka Sangha Qatar (KSQ), an organisation aff iliated with Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) under Cultural Secretary; Sanjay Kudari, Sports Secretary; Kishore V, Joint Secretary; Kumaraswamy the aegis of Embassy of India, recently elected its new management committee. The new off ice C R, Environment and IT Co-ordinator; Susheela Sunil, Ladies Co-ordinator; Rashmi Jayarama, bearers of KSQ, include Mairpady Nagesh Rao, President; Anil Kumar Boloor, Vice President; Children and Special Needs Co-ordinator; and Noor Ahmed, Membership and Logistics Co- Muralidhar Ramanath Rao, General Secretary; Lakkappa Lakkegowda, Treasurer; Akshaya Shetty, ordinator.

IAF organises get-together

International Artists Forum Qatar (IAF) recently organised a get-together for Doha based local events to uphold the spirit of social service while popularising our native culture.” He added, “IAF Nepali artistes in Al Khor. The get-together was attended by artistes from various Nepali cultural Qatar is a sister organisation of IAF – USA.” and musical organisations, including Artists Society, International Artists’ Forum, Nepalese Arts Sandhya Aryal, Nepali artiste who attended the get-together, said, “There are not many options Centre, Arambha Natya Dabali, Tamu Cultural Society, Fewa Cultural Society, Mithila Arts Centre, available for single expats, especially workers. Such events give a chance to enjoy and break the Non-Resident Nepalese Musical Family, Naba Pratibha Cultural Group, Sur Sudha Arts Centre, boredom from our lives.” Rhythm Arts Centre, Non Resident Nepali Folk and Duet Academy, and Miteri Films. Rajendra Kumar Thapa, Secretary of Nepali Cultural Family, said, “The Nepali community in Speaking on the occasion, Bhabindra Tamang, President of IAF, said that IAF was established to Qatar is an encouraging factor to me. The work here is paying me good and the community is popularise Nepali art and culture across the world. He said, “Our organisation popularised Nepali encouraging me to get involved in creative activities.” identity via musical performances and cultural programmes. We feel proud to conduct these – Text and photo by Usha Wagle Gautam 8 GULF TIMES Monday, March 9, 2020 COMMUNITY FASH Inside story: handbags that m

Delve into the background of bags, and you’ll find they were just as coveted in the 1500s as they are now. Emma Cook unpacks the rich inner life of the ultimate accessory

navigating the world and getting what matters most to me from A to B. You see, to truly appreciate a handbag, you have to look beyond its surface, challenging though this can be, to what’s inside and how that shapes and defi nes you. It is reassuring to see that the argument I hone for my husband is now the focus of a V&A exhibition next month. Bags: Inside Out, from Margaret Thatcher’s Asprey to Carrie Bradshaw’s Fendi, will look at what we have chosen to carry with us down the centuries. “We normally see bags when they’re closed, but I want to see the insides,” says exhibition curator Dr Lucia Savi. While much attention is paid to the exterior – its design, status and, inevitably, its price tag, less scrutiny is paid to this rich and complex internal life and the tension between the two. “It’s only when you leave home that you decide what is important to you – those things you choose to carry with you defi ne you,” she says. When a woman stepped out in the 1740s, her private belongings would have included a watch, a snuff box, money, jewellery and perhaps some food, according to Savi. These are what she chose to take from her domestic sphere into the world thanks to detachable pockets that were tied around the waist, accessible through openings in the seams of petticoats. By 1863, she may have included scissors, a purse, a thimble, a miniature notebook and a magnifying glass. These she would have worn in the form of a chatelaine: a series of small purses that were suspended from the waist and highly visible. “It was symbolic of status,” says Savi. TOP JOB: Margaret Thatcher, former British prime minister, was famous for her love of handbags and was rarely seen without one. Her trusty Asprey is one of the “Along with that there were reports many on display at the V&A’s new exhibition. of pickpockets who would cut the ribbons and steal them. It’s the fi rst am running along the river, room in there for more than an iPhone Last week in a toy shop with my to really follow through and invest in signs we see of the attention paid to earbuds in, lungs burning, heart and keys) except, of course, the eight-year-old daughter I saw a “My the Only One. It is blingtastic. Italian. women carrying belongings.” racing. No birdsong, thank you possession itself. In comparison, my First Handbag for two-year-olds Intimate blush suede concealed What many women carry in their very much. Only curated noise older and bigger version is grounded and up”. The packaging proclaimed, beneath tooled black leather and, oh, bags some three centuries later is and introspection. Then I see at home, bloated, out of time, a “Little ones will love taking this pretty the inimitable clunk of an expensive remarkably unchanged. One friend her.I A woman walking towards me, lumbering dinosaur. Old bag. pink handbag on a shopping trip and gold clasp as it snaps open and shut. Je lists the contents of her bag at this her dog a little way ahead. We smile, How could I have got it so wrong? pretending to be just like Mum! Take ne regrette rien. moment as: “A book, cosmetics, briefl y, and as we cross one another I speed up again, start to run in sync a peek in the mirror and chat on the I may look and yearn but, when I phone, keys, reading glasses, spare she pauses for a moment. I do, too, my with my shuffl e, but the moment has phone. Playing pretend will boost your commit, it’s for life. It has to be for contact lenses and eye drops, eyes caught. The way it dangles from gone. The dark pull of material desire child’s imagination and encourage the price I paid. My husband is still ‘emergency’ vegan kit (banana, her shoulder, the double gold chain has intruded again. I try to switch off , them to talk and learn new words.” appalled; it will always be a purchase vitamin supplements and, sometimes, glinting in the sunlight. It is exactly but it is diffi cult not to notice. A tote Like: “Mummy, buy me a Gucci!” that baffl es him. He likes to remind a small vial of soya milk), paracetamol, like the one I have at home and yet… here. A micro bag there. A crossbody But obsession is never this simple. me that my bag cost more than his umbrella, purse, stamps, bank and so not. Refl exively she fl icks her bag bag everywhere. Handbag envy. I suspect my interest in handbags beloved bike (surely the Gucci of bikes, membership cards, miniature sewing back and it grazes her hip. I slow to a Often it is admiration, sometimes, was more a small act of rebellion with a custom-steel Italian Dedacciai kit and/or lingerie tape, spare tights/ walk to get a better look. This version if I’m honest, there is pity. Michael than social conditioning, a reaction frame, he tells me) that gets him to socks, perfume.” is newer and smaller. So much smaller Kors, Kurt Geiger. Really? But how against my mother’s infi nitely sensible work each day – as if this is a clear “The content is so crucial,” than mine. It is shinier, too, infi nitely swiftly admiration turns to envy handbag choices: natural leather, win in the battle for most functional says Savi. “As bank notes came in, covetable. Undeniably superior in when there is fl awless gold hardware functional, unembellished. Her possession. handbags had to be compatible, at every way. It speaks of lightness, involved. Can I really be this shallow? modest choice of accessory was far I explain, slowly and patiently, that least bigger than a £5 note. Now of newfound freedom, of being out Do I even need to ask? Lusting after more successful in fuelling my false mine is not just a thing of beauty, but we carry cards, it is the phone that in the morning sunshine with few something like this makes you a fool. need than any marketing campaign. a practical form of transportation, dictates design. No one will create a possessions (I calculate there’s no An unfeminist fool. But it took until my 50th birthday too, for my possessions; my way of bag that doesn’t fi t the largest phone Monday, March 9, 2020 GULF TIMES 9 HION COMMUNITY made history with statement

A BAG WITH A MESSAGE: An ‘anti-slavery reticule’ produced in 1825 by the Female Society for Birmingham.

ROYAL APPROVAL: Burse for the Great Seal of England, 1558-1603.

on the market. Hard currency has show, as well as other bags used by aftermath of a mugging in her local shaped bags more than any other men. Baggage began with men, says park and the remnants of an emptied single possession, epitomised in 2018 Savi, and was mainly for the train. handbag on the path. “That’s when by the appearance of the micro bag. “Louis Vuitton started with luxury you see it as a real violation, an act There was no more potent symbol of travel, transferring their leather- of violence against a person.” I think a cashless society than the shrinking making skills from horses to trains back to the fl eeting, primal panic, bag, although Savi is unconvinced by and then aeroplanes. Hermès started when my brain calibrates an absence, this connection. It’s nothing new. The with saddlery and they still use those a lack of weight in what I’m carrying frog purse, dating back to the 1600s techniques in their stitching.” – I have left my handbag somewhere. and intricately made in silk and glass Now we’re going full circle. In those moments I feel unmoored, beads, is the same size as your hand. According to Mintel, a quarter of as if I have lost part of myself. As It’s really the micro bag of today.” men aged 16-24 buy manbags. But Bancroft says: “How many times have More surprising, she says, is even if the manbag achieves parity, it you heard a woman say, ‘It is part how the most ordinary of bags can is diffi cult to imagine it will be quite of me. My life is in there?’” Maybe communicate something about us. as iconic, as rich in metaphor, as its that is too much power to invest in a “It’s a blank canvas that can tell us female equivalent. Will the tension single object. Wouldn’t we feel freer all sorts of things: your status, your between public and private space, that relying on pockets, or just carrying beliefs.” One of her favourite pieces Savi explores, ever apply to men in less? But then Savi tells me about on show is an “anti-slavery reticule” quite the same way? another highlight in the exhibition produced in 1825 by the Female As Dr Alison Bancroft, fashion – a beautiful, battered Louis Vuitton Society for Birmingham. It is white theorist and author of Fashion and trunk from the 1900s that belonged to silk with an image of a black woman Psychoanalysis, says: “The very Emilie Busbey Grigsby, an American breastfeeding while still a slave – fact that we have to prefi x it with socialite. Her trunk was a symbol of displayed on a bag it was a powerful ‘man’ means it’s not the same. It is freedom, covered in travel labels of the and very public way for a woman to something diff erent.” She tells me how places she, and it, had spent a lifetime convey her political beliefs at that a male friend of hers recently asked for visiting. time. “That tells you so much; how a paracetamol and when she told him A bag can be whatever you want women were proclaiming their beliefs it was in her handbag, he wouldn’t it to be. It can off er the promise of a and it carries on with examples like look inside. “Instead he brought sleek, well-ordered better version Anya Hindmarch’s I Am Not A Plastic the whole bag to me. The handbag of yourself, a superior mini-you or, Bag.” is about a degree of intimacy not like Emilie, a wonderful souvenir of Savi is keen that the exhibition everyone feels comfortable with.” your travels. As my friend, who never embraces bags in all their glory, not A handbag can establish boundaries knowingly underpacks, says: “A bag just the female handbag. Which is and respect, but the fl ip side is less isn’t a burden but rather a ticket to why Churchill’s despatch box is on savoury. Bancroft recalls seeing the ride.” – The Guardian TO THE POINT: Tracey Emin for Longchamp, 2004. 10 GULF TIMES Monday, March 9, 2020 COMMUNITY QUIZ Is it safe to travel via air?

What is Aviophobia, a fear of? Flying. Unlike the nervous ﬂ yer who holds the hands of strangers during take-off and landing, people who suff er from aviophobia often have visible physical reactions to either the thought of ﬂ ying or the experience itself. Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affl eck, Kirsten Dunst, Megan Fox, Sandra Bullock, Kate Winslet, Whoopi Goldberg, Britney Spears, etc suff er from aviophobia.

It all started on March 8, 1908 normal takeoff . The when 15,000 women marched fl ight departed Kuala through the streets of New York Lumpur at 00:41on City to demand shorter hours, March 8, 2014. Less better pay, and the right to vote. than an hour later, the Which important worldwide Afi nal voice communication from the annual events are we referring cockpit, “Good night, Malaysian to? three-seven-zero.” STATISTICS: Since 1948, more than 100 other aircraft have gone missing while aloft and have never been found, International Women’s Day. Subang Air Traffi c Control Centre according to records compiled by the Aviation Safety Network. lost contact with the plane at about On March 9, 1974, Hiroo Onoda 01:22. The plane mysteriously veered was abducted by aliens. On March everyone on board was presumed crashed,” says Raymond, played was found by a search team in off course on a fl ight between Kuala 16, 1962, a Lockheed L-1049 Super dead, 16 survivors emerged. The by Dustin Hoffman in Rainman. the jungle of the Pacifi c island Lumpur and Beijing and vanished Constellation propliner carrying 93 story of how starvation drove them to of Lubang. What was so special over the Indian Ocean, along with its US soldiers and 3 South Vietnamese, eat some of the dead passengers was Perhaps the most disputed about him? 239 passengers and crew. disappeared in clear weather on made into the 1993 fi lm “Alive”. plane disappearance occurred An Imperial Japanese Army The case of Malaysia Airlines its way to Clark Air Base in the In 1999, Egyptair Flight 990 at the height of WWII in early intelligence offi cer who fought in Flight 370 fi xated people all over Philippines, prompting an eight-day from New York to Cairo plummeted December 1945, when not one World War II, Hiroo Onoda never the world. The fi nal report into the search of more than 200,000 square into the Atlantic Ocean around 60 but six planes vanished, and surrendered in 1945. He had been disappearance of Flight MH370 has miles. Eye witnesses on a civilian miles off the US coast. All 217 people which are yet to be recovered. hiding there for 29 years, unaware been published and it is growing tanker reported seeing an explosion, died in the crash, but mystery still On that day, in “average” that his country had surrendered. more likely we will never know what but no remains were ever found. surrounds its cause. The Egyptian weather conditions, the United His former commander travelled happened to MH370. Although his antics never caused Flight Offi cer controlling the plane States Navy dispatched fi ve from Japan to personally issue orders It’s hard to grasp that a plane an airplane crash, D.B. Cooper’s story was recorded repeatedly saying “I torpedo bombers off from their relieving him from duty in 1974. could go missing nowadays with is one of aviation’s wackiest unsolved rely on God” moments before the base in Ft. Lauderdale. After all the technology we have at our mysteries. In 1971 an unknown disaster, and a colleague claimed he experiencing problems with Who was Agent 17F, not 007, disposal. While the MH370 case hijacker took control of a Boeing 727, crashed the jet as an act of revenge their compasses, the fi ve planes when he worked for British Naval is deeply puzzling, it is far from forced the crew to land in Seattle, after being reprimanded by the lost communication with Intelligence during WWII? unprecedented. Since 1948, more obtained $200,000 in ransom money, airline for sexual misconduct. the ground station. A Martin Ian Fleming. As part of his than 100 other aircraft have gone and released all of the passengers Welcome to ‘Nutty’sInfotainment. PBM Mariner amphibious appointment, Fleming was missing while aloft and have never unharmed. He then ordered the pilot YAYS!’ Your time starts NOW! search-and-rescue aircraft was commissioned into the Royal Naval been found, according to records to take off and fl y low over Mexico, launched to look for the stricken Volunteer Reserve. His fi rst Bond compiled by the Aviation Safety where he parachuted to freedom. No The third oldest airline Avengers, but the Mariner soon novel Casino Royale revolve around Network. conclusive evidence has emerged in the world, it was cited in disappeared as well. What do we James Bond, an offi cer in the Secret It’s been just over 100 years since confi rming his true identity or the 1988 film Rain Man as call this loosely defi ned region Intelligence Service, commonly machines began taking to the skies subsequent whereabouts, but FBI an airline to have never had in the western part of the North known as MI6. and since then fl ying as a means investigators claimed he would not an aircraft crash. The airline Atlantic Ocean, somewhat of travel has become increasingly have survived the jump. took the top spot in the 2020 famous for eating airplanes? What do whales feed their popular and commonplace. More On October 13, 1972, a Uruguayan Safest Airlines ranking by Bermuda Triangle, also called the young? than 8 million people fl y every day. air force plane carrying 40 AirlineRatings.com, which Devil’s Triangle or Hurricane Alley. Milk. Being aquatic makes Flying is still among the safest ways passengers and fi ve crew members monitors hundreds of airlines. breastfeeding considerably harder. to travel, though: Our chances of disappeared while crossing the Name this airline. Known by the misnomer dying in a plane crash are about 11 Andes. Seventy-two days later, after Qantas. “Qantas. Qantas never Black Box, a flight recorder or Nicknamed ‘Masha’, identify million to 1. And, there have been FDR is an electronic recording the star from her signature many testimonies to ocean being far device placed in an aircraft below. Her middle-name is from a hospitable place to go down for the purpose of facilitating Yuryevna and, according to in an airplane. Unforgiving, it will the investigation of aviation Forbes, she has been named swallow an aircraft with ease and Tribe NI.yays accidents and incidents. It highest-paid female athlete in the neglect to yield any clues in return. is not actually black. What world for 11 consecutive years. Their spectacular nature makes it colour is it? She was in news recently. hard to look away. 1. Which iconic landmark has had Graffi ti Zones installed at Bright Orange. Perhaps one of the most famous Mutianyu in an attempt to discourage visitors from desecrating mysteries in all of aviation is the the World Heritage site? On February 13, 2017, this story of Amelia Earhart. As the Great Wall of China. Mutianyu is a much-visited section of the wall, American actor and amateur fi rst woman to cross the Atlantic about an hour northeast of Beijing. aviator was meant to land his Ocean in a plane (1928), Amelia (Christina Griffi ths,Tourist, Doha) plane on a runway at John Earhart proved to people across the Wayne Airport, California, but globe how high women could go. 2. Which sports star has a misspelt tattoo of his wife’s name mistakenly landed on a parallel However, her story met a mysterious written in Hindi on his arm? He is no stranger to tattoo parlours, taxiway, passing right over a end in July 1937, when, on a trip to and by now, has as many tats on his body as years on the clock. Boeing 737 with 110 passengers fl y around the world, her plane, Most of his tattoos are a tribute to his beloved wife and children. and six crew. After the close call, a twin-engine Lockheed Electra, David Beckham. The soccer star tattooed his Spice Girl wife’s name, he asked the air traffi c controllers disappeared near the International Victoria, on his arm, however the word is misspelled and actually reads “Was that airliner meant to be Date Line in the central Pacifi c ‘Vihctoria’. beneath me?” Back in 2015 he Ocean. Various reasons have been (Xavier Mendis,Staff ord Sri Lankan School, Doha) was seriously injured when he given for her disappearance. The crashed his WWII era trainer on theory that she was captured by Do you have some interesting bytes to share? And, does yourvibe a Los Angeles Golf Course after Japanese forces has been suggested; attract you to the ‘Tribe NI.yays!’ Every week two of your best questions losing power soon after takeoff . others believe she faked her own will be featured here. Please do write to us at [email protected]. Identify him. (Answer next week. Answer to last death; a few oddballs even claim she Harrison Ford. week’s photo-quiz: Tokyo Skytree.) Monday, March 9, 2020 GULF TIMES 11 LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE COMMUNITY Depressed rural moms may face greater health issues

esearchers have found more than one in ﬁ ve adults deal Both groups of moms, those who that chronic depression with depression, a mood disorder were depressed, but improving is linked with increased that causes persistent sadness, as well as those who had chronic health problems for exhaustion and loss of interest, depression, had similar struggles in moms and children in aff ecting relationships, work, and dealing with their children’s health. Rpoor rural communities. emotional and physical health. But chronically depressed moms The ﬁ ndings, published in the Women are twice as likely to have faced greater challenges in dealing Journal of Family Social Work, depression as men, and people in with their children’s emotional revealed that mothers who were poverty are three times more likely and behavioural issues, which were constantly depressed experienced to experience it, they said. often compounded by a lack of more health problems, distrusted Using data from the ongoing, childcare options, employment, doctors and had a worse outlook on multi-state Rural Families concerns for delinquent behaviours their lives, compared with moms Speak project, the research team and day-to-day behavioural whose symptoms improved. examined the experiences of 23 management issues. The mothers’ depression also mothers with clinical depression “We found that children’s health aff ected those closest to them, the across three years. — particularly their emotional and study said. As part of Sano’s research into behavioural health — is one of the “Mothers are one of the main family relationships through most challenging contributors to supports of the family. They’re Rural Families Speak, she kept maternal depression. Depression raising children, paying bills, and encountering mothers from rural, doesn’t happen in isolation. It organising events and when they’re low-income families who were happens in a family, community, depressed, the entire family is dealing with depression. and cultural context,” Sano, said. impacted,” said study lead author While much prior research has The study also found that Yoshie Sano, Associate Professor found how depression aff ects chronically depressed mothers at Washington State University in childhood development, she sought expressed strong distrust of the US. to understand the broader context healthcare professionals and their According to the researchers, of maternal depression. prescribed treatments. – IANS

ARIES TAURUS GEMINI March 21 — April 19 April 20 — May 20 May 21 — June 20

Take action to create a fanciful dream world today, Aries. Indeed, A strong desire to bring more of the fantasy realm into your own This is an intense day for you during which the disharmony in many of the activities of the day will be touched with an air of reality spurs your actions today, Taurus. You could discover that diff erent realms of your life crops up and spurs you on to action, otherworldliness. Even though you generally like to keep your there is an intense desire to bring a sense of the obscure to the Gemini. Others may be ridiculously stubborn today, causing tension feet on the ground, realise that once in a while it’s essential to let normal, everyday realm. You want to show people that life really and frustration wherever you turn. Fun is the key to balancing out go and experience other realms of thought in order to gain new is just one big comedy act. Encourage others to not take life so the equation. A jovial frame of mind and playful attitude will help perspective. Let your hair down and go wild tonight. seriously. Be creative in your approach to helping people lighten up. remedy any situation that comes your way. Have a good time today. CANCER LEO VIRGO June 21 — July 22 July 23 — August 22 August 23 — September 22

You may find it diff icult to take action on any practical matter today, Take action on well-laid plans today, Leo. Stay level-headed, and seek Action is the key word for you today, Virgo, so put on some comfortable Cancer. If you find this is the case, don’t bother pressuring yourself pleasure by taking things steadily one step at a time. Watch out for shoes and have a good time. Infuse a bit of non sequitur playfulness in into making it happen. Today you’re more concerned with the a forceful, willful, fanciful mindset that will somehow cause conflict your dealings with others. Find ways to escape reality for a little while. fanciful side of life. Daydreams can be a wonderful escape for you with your plans unless you consciously make an eff ort to keep the Take the original scenario and add a twist of the bizarre. Opinions today. Do something that will take you out of your current frame of daydreaming to a minimum. The lines of reality may be blurred. will be especially strong today and conflict may arise, but realise that mind. Go see a movie or play this evening. Make sure you find the lines of distinction before you proceed. playfulness and lightheartedness will help any situation. LIBRA SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS September 23 — October 22 October 23 — November 21 November 22 — December 21

Live your creative fantasies today, Libra, but watch out for the reality Today is one of those days in which you might be kicking yourself for Today is a very high-energy day in which you have the physical police at the border. You may experience a bit of conflict with a not telling the truth on an earlier occasion, Scorpio. The words that stamina to accomplish quite a bit, Sagittarius. Take care, however, stubborn person or in a situation that isn’t very well planned. Think seemed so harmless then may come back to haunt you now. Today that you have all the necessary facts before you venture out for things through before taking action or else you may be lost in a is a very action-oriented day. Conflict could arise because what was your day’s activities. It could be that there is a hidden force working, world of daydreams without any escape route. Set your mind on the thought to be true then now turns out to be false and counter to the perhaps within your own mind, to blur the lines of reality about a positive aspects of the situation and you’ll succeed. action being taken at this time. certain issue. Check your sources and proceed with caution. CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES December 22 — January 19 January 20 — February 18 February 19 — March 20

Plan your moves carefully today, Capricorn, and have patience with the Your actions may be touched by a very fanciful frame of mind today, You’re being called upon to take action in many areas today, Pisces. people around you. If you’re working with others, be sure they’re on Aquarius. Be careful about indulging in recreational substances that People may be tugging at you to be with them and participate in their the same page with your goals and aims and that they aren’t somehow take you out of reality for a while. Your tendency will be to escape world of fun and excitement. It could also be that there are many working counter to your purposes. It could be that someone is acting, into the cosmos, but sooner or later you’ll have to come down. Deal projects that catch your attention today, and you’re conflicted about or reacting, on misinformation that is creating conflict with your with your issues now before your thinking becomes even more which ones to put your energy into. Friction may arise as you find thoughts and feelings. Do a reality check before walking out the door. clouded than before. Take action with a clear and sober mind. yourself tearing away from one situation to participate in another. 12 GULF TIMES Monday, March 9, 2020 COMMUNITY CARTOONS/PUZZLES

Wordsearch Adam

Pooch Cafe

AGOSTINI RUTH LEWIS FANGIO CARNERA VIREN OWENS HOGAN EDBERG ASHE SPITZ NURMI GRAF COMANECI ZATOPEK PALMER LAUDA EVERT BORG TUNNEY OVETT HAGEN DEMPSEY WILLIAMS

Codeword 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 Puzzles courtesy: Puzzlechoice.com courtesy: Puzzles

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. Monday, March 9, 2020 GULF TIMES 13 PUZZLES COMMUNITY

Super Cryptic Clues Colouring

Across Down 1 Flowers conceal an area of 1 Animal with dark head and London (10) whiskers (5) 7 Distant object is an old coin (8) 2 I go nuts arranging trips (7) 8 Was a vocalist in Los Angeles? 3 Principal sea (4) (4) 4 British soldier turns up and is 9 Eat some food in earnest (4) in charge of conceited people (8) 10 Fine porcelain in home is 5 Diana who sings about English sensible (7) flowers (5) 12 Is pate smeared with curds 6 Financial backers in good when they are thrown? (7,4) spirits (6) 14 Great boxer associated with 11 Spoil girl in Spanish resort (8) graduates - or one associated 12 Visit a small opera singer (6) with thieves (3,4) 13 Fancy a John Lennon song? 16 Old man’s second exam result (7) (4) 15 Odd bits of brass in bowl (5) 19 Friends hit back (4) 17 Perfume dispatched, so we 20 Slope did twist - it’s not hear (5) straight (8) 18 Primate embraces son in part 21 Date for betrothal? (10) of church (4)

Solution

Answers

Wordsearch Codeword 14 GULF TIMES Monday, March 9, 2020 COMMUNITY BOLLYWOOD I refrain from commenting on socio-political issues: Divya

living on social media. Jahaan sirf baaton ki By Arundhuti Banerjee batangad baanti hai, aur kuch nahin (where things are blown out of proportion, and litle else happens),” Divya said. ational Award-winning actress Whether her role of a housewife in the Divya Dutta says that as an short film Sleeping Partner, a lover in the artiste she would rather portray upcoming short film Sheer Qorma, or an different characters on-screen important role in the upcoming thriller web than comment on current series Special Ops, Divya is putting out a lot Naffairs that have no connection with her of acting assignments on screen. immediate field of work. She adds that she Asked what the responsibility of an rejects the idea of doing most “expected” actor is, she replied: “(The responsibility from a celebrity. of an actor is) to play a character where “I just do not want to be a popular face one is very different from the other. As an who comments on social media just for the actress, I want to portray characters that sake of it. We are living in that situation represent different sections of society. now where any celebrity, making or not Recently one of my short films, Sleeping making comments on current affairs, gets Partner, addressed the issue of marital rape. judged by a section of people. If I comment As an actress, I played a part in that story on anything political, one section will troll because I loved the story and felt it was an me. important one.” “If I do not express my opinion that is “I also play a particular character in not related to my immediate field, people the short film Sheer Qorma, and after will say, ‘phir celeb hone ka kya faida (then the release of the trailer people said that what’s the use of being a celeb)?’ Basically they loved me seeing in it. Again, (it is) an we are not allowed to practice our choice important story. The fact of the matter is without criticism. We always behave in the I will use my medium to do things that is way society wants. expected of me, to entertain people because CANDID: Divya Dutta says that she would rather portray diff erent characters on-screen than “Now, one extended part of society is I am an actress,” she signed off. – IANS comment on current aff airs.

Let the girl discover herself: Anushka

Actress Anushka Sharma has said she grew up in an environment where she was allowed to do whatever she wanted, and hopes every girl can be free and experience life the way she did. “I have grown up in an environment where I was allowed to do whatever I wanted. My father gave me that. It’s sad that even now in so many homes in India, you don’t let the girl just be free,” Anushka said. That’s what attracted her to be part of the video of the song Kudi nu nachne de from Irrfan Khan’s fi lm Angrezi Medium. The song celebrates womenhood. “This is what the song is saying, to let the girl make mistakes and discover herself. It’s so sad that even EXCITED: Kareena Kapoor Khan says she was excited to work with Irrfan now in so many homes in India, people don’t let the Khan. girl just be free and be their truest self. I hope every girl can experience that the way I did,” she added. Irrfan is the reason I did Angrezi Medium: Kareena Kudi nu nachne de is sung by Vishal Dadlani, and speaks for equality and respecting a person’s wishes. Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan says she signed her upcoming release Bollywood’s leading ladies including Anushka, Angrezi Medium only because she wanted to work with the fi lm’s lead Katrina Kaif, Alia Bhatt, Janhvi Kapoor, Ananya FREE SPIRIT: Anushka Sharma hopes every girl can be actor Irrfan Khan. Panday and Kiara Advani, got together for the special free and experience life the way she did. “I am very excited for the fi lm because I am working with Irrfan in the song. fi lm. I got the opportunity to work with a brilliant actor like Irrfan and Talking about tune’s relevance, Alia said: “The song however we want”. Sharing her fondness for the song, I think, that, for me is the greatest honour,” said Kareena Kapoor at a is important for today’s generation. It talks about Kriti Sanon said: “I absolutely loved the song; it is not special screening of the upcoming web series Mentalhood that stars her letting a girl be, let her dream, let her achieve and only catchy but also meaningful. I completely relate elder sister Karisma Kapoor. once she does, she will do wonders and take over the to it. This song is about freedom. That’s one of the Angrezi Medium marks Irrfan’s comeback after he was diagnosed with world. Just let her fl y.” reasons I did it.” cancer. He is currently undergoing treatment for the ailment. A few days On what the track means to her, Katrina said: “The Angrezi Medium, revolves around a beautiful back, Irrfan shared a heartwarming message for fans saying he would not song is about celebration of life. Of course, the lyrics relationship between a single doting father, Irrfan and be able to promote his upcoming fi lm owing to health condition. say ‘Let Her Dance’ but for me dance is an expression his daughter Radhika Madan. Angrezi Medium also Kareena recently made her Instagram debut and within a day got over of joy. The message of the song is also about letting stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Pankaj one million followers on the social networking site. She posted a black a girl express her true self. Don’t tell the girl how to Tripathi, Deepak Dobriyal, Ranvir Shorey and others. and white picture with son Taimur Ali Khan. dance, let her express her true self and the world will The fi lm is presented by Jio studios and Prem Vijan. “I think fans have pulled me towards this because people were asking be a better place.” Radhika feels “the song is about empowerment. Let me about it constantly. There are so many fan clubs out there of my To this, Ananya added: “The song stands for letting the girl dance, let her be and she will make the world a name, so, I think we needed to have one point that would be a place the girl sway to her own tunes and I am glad that my magical place”. where they will get to know a lot about me, my fi lms, my brands and parents let me groove to my own beat my entire life. I Director Homi Adajania feels there shouldn’t be just about my life. Of course, there will be a picture of Taimur once in a hope that all parents let their girls dance to their own one day to celebrate Women’s Day. while,” said Kareena, about her Instagram debut. wish.” “It should be celebrated every day,” he added. Angrezi Medium is directed by Homi Adajania and the fi lm is a spin-off Kiara feels the song is “every single girl’s inner Jio Studios and Prem Vijan present Dinesh Vijan’s to the 2017 comedy Hindi Medium that also starred Irrfan. voice. It talks of girls hoping to change the mindset Angrezi Medium, a Maddock Films production. It is The sequel will feature Irrfan and Kareena with Radhika Madan and of people, so that they live and let us live, let us be slated to release on March 13. – IANS Deepak Dobriyal. It is scheduled to release on March 13. – IANS Monday, March 9, 2020 GULF TIMES 15 SHOWBIZ COMMUNITY

Bloodshot is a person with Was embarrassed of moral compass: co-creator my early work: Moore

Bob Layton, co-creator of Bloodshot, Singer-actress Mandy Moore says she says the superhero is a person with a moral “really apologised” for a lot of her early compass and values. work because she was embarrassed about The superhero appeared in books it. published by the publisher Valiant Comics. Moore grew up in the musical spotlight Now, Bloodshot is heading to the big screen after her 1999 hit Candy, which was with Vin Diesel in the title role. released when she was 15. The single was Layton co-created the character for the part of her debut studio album So Real. Valiant comic books with Kevin VanHook. Moore has returned to music after a The character originated when Layton read decade for her album Silver Landings. a magazine article about nanites-machines In the album, she is more honest and in measured in nanometres, millionths of control of her own sound. Her track Fifteen millimetres. is very close to her heart. “I was fascinated,” Layton said, adding: SUPERHERO: Bloodshot is heading to the big “It’s sort of rumination on coming of age “What if you created a modern-day screen with Vin Diesel in the title role. in this industry,” usmagazine.com quoted Frankenstein, but you used nanites to Moore as saying. resurrect the fellow?” “I think I really apologised for a lot COMEBACK: Mandy Moore has returned to “We made a very concerted eff ort to make “There were queues all over the comic about my early work because I was music after a decade. our characters standout from the pack. We book stores worldwide. Bloodshot resonated embarrassed and being a teenager, not wanted to write stories about people that because he represented a new type of having creative control and not fully that time of my life.” we could relate to, people that we cared humanity in comic book storytelling; instead standing behind some of the choices Talking about Silver Landings, she said: about. This guy had no idea what kind of of somebody being extraordinary before he that were made on my behalf,” added the “I didn’t feel like I had to meet anybody’s man he was before he was resurrected, and became a superhero, or the greatest solider 35-year-old. expectations. If I was going to make music the discovery is sometimes jarring when he who ever lived, Bloodshot is just your Moore signed with Epic Records in 1999 again, I wanted to make it on my own terms fi nds out. Bloodshot is a person with a moral everyday average soldier who only becomes and dropped Candy that year. Now, she – so that’s what I did. compass, with values,” Layton added. extraordinary through the events of the is able to positively refl ect back on the “I made a pop record the way that I love “Bloodshot is not a traditional superhero- comic books – he’s a regular person in an experience. pop music. The band and I recorded live vs-villain story,” asserted VanHook. extraordinary situation,” he added. She feels lucky that some people love her on the fl oor, fi gured out the arrangements Bloodshot, fi rst published in 1992, was The action movie, titled Bloodshot, will older music, and is glad that she is now able and then we recorded it to tape. Nothing created by VanHook, Don Perlin, and Bob give a glimpse into his story as the movie to distance herself from her past. sounds like that anymore! We just didn’t Layton for Valiant. Over its comic book run, follows super-soldier Ray, aka the superhero “The only reason that I’m here today, 20 want to do it digitally. It was so much fun, Bloodshot totalled 110 issues with more than Bloodshot, who is brought back from the years later, is because of 15-year-old Mandy it was challenging and a new experience. I 7.5 million copies sold. dead by a corporation through the use of and the music that she was singing and had never made an album like that before, “On the day ‘Superman’ died, ‘Bloodshot’ nanotechnology. It is directed by Dave how I started out,” said the star, adding: “I but that was kind of our biggest mandate.” #1 was introduced to the world,” said Wilson. love her. She’s a part of me and always will On the acting front, she is seen in producer Dinesh Shamdasani, former CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment India will be and I carry her around. It’s important popular show This Is Us, which airs in India Valiant Comics. release Bloodshot in India on March 13. – IANS to acknowledge that and have aff ection for on Star World. – IANS Coronavirus fallout: Film directors cancel March appearances in Chicago

The annual Chicago European Union Film By Michael Phillips Festival, continuing at the Gene Siskel Film Center through April 2, announced two in- person cancellations of its own Thursday. ith the global spread of Italian director Mimmo Calopresti will no the coronavirus sending longer attend the March 29 screening of many of the world’s arts his film Aspromonte: Land of the Forgotten. and cultural gatherings into Also on March 29, the French filmmaker a tailspin of uncertainty, Nadege Trebal’s EU fest title, Twelve WChicago is having its own Covid-19-related Thousand, in which she also stars, will now setbacks. make its Chicago premiere without the Last Thursday the Chicago International director in attendance. Film Festival confirmed that renowned “The virus scare dictated these Japanese writer-director Hirokazu Kore- cancellations, as concerns mounted in eda has cancelled plans to travel to Chicago the last day or two,” said Marty Rubin, for a March 15 tribute. Kore-eda was to the Siskel Film Center’s associate director receive the festival’s Artistic Achievement of programming. Travel plans involving Award prior to a screening of his new film visiting filmmakers from Lithuania, Poland The Truth, starring Catherine Deneuve and and the Czech Republic, he said, remain Juliette Binoche. uncertain. Otherwise, the festival schedule The screening will go on as scheduled, remains intact. to be followed by a pre-taped Skype Covid-19 has spread to more than 80 conversation between Kore-eda (whose countries, infected nearly 98,000 and killed Shoplifters won top prize at the 2018 over 3,300. Five cases have been detected in Cannes Film Festival) and Chicago festival Illinois so far; 14 deaths have been reported artistic director Mimi Plauche. in the United States. Citing “increasing travel uncertainties,” As of last Thursday, the next major film festival managing director Vivian Teng gathering on the international festival issued a statement regarding the tribute, circuit, South by Southwest’s overlapping and the now-cancelled screenings of earlier film, music and tech festivals, remains Kore-eda films initially slated for March 14. set for March 13-22 in Austin, Texas. PRECAUTION: Citing travel uncertainties, Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda has cancelled “We look forward to welcoming director Last year’s SXSW attendance figures hit his March appearance at the Chicago International Film Festival. Kore-eda to Chicago at some point in the 280,000, with an estimated economic future to pay tribute to his career and to impact of $356 million. have cancelled their plans to attend. Among is likely to grow; the extent of the coronavirus present a retrospective at that time,” Teng This week, however, a growing number of the no-gos: Apple, Amazon Studios, Netﬂ ix, impact worldwide remains a rapidly said. corporate behemoths and individual speakers Facebook, IBM – and Ozzy Osbourne. The list developing story. – Chicago Tribune/TNS 16 GULF TIMES Monday, March 9, 2020 COMMUNITY Classical Indian singers all set to enchant music lovers this Friday

“We are delighted to come back to Doha aft er six years. We will also be performing songs celebrating national independence and commemorating the freedom struggle of India” — Trichur Brothers

DUO: Srikrishna Mohan, right, and Ramkumar Mohan.

Brothers – Srikrishna Mohan and Ramkumar Neyyattinkara Mohanachandran. The celebrating national independence and By Mudassir Raja Mohan, who are world renowned Carnatic brothers are currently under the tutelage of commemorating the freedom struggle of musicians. Padma Bhushan PS Narayanaswami. India. The duo began their professional Over the years, Trichur Brothers have “It also is a great moment for us to be back iff erent people have varied tastes performance in the late 90s’ and within performed at various prestigious venues, in Doha with Beats and Tunes. The organisers in music. Qatar with its diverse a short span of time they had performed in diff erent countries. They have received have been very instrumental in bringing demography off ers music of all at many stages in many countries. Their several honours and titles, including the Carnatic music to a large audience. We are genres from various parts of the composition Namami Gange is the offi cial Sangeeta Shiromani from Shanmukhananda going to bring something very special to the world. Here, everyone gets a theme song of Clean Ganga project. Sabha, Mumbai, and the Ustad Bismillah concert. Towards the end of the programme, Dchance to listen to the music of one’s choice. Trichur Brorthers –Srikrishna and Khan Yuva Puraskar from the Sangeet Natak we will invite a group of students, who have There is no dearth of people who love and Raamkumar – will be accompanied by the Akademi. The brothers believe that music been learning Carnatic music in Doha, to appreciate Hindustani classical music. It renowned accompanying artistes – Trichur is a great tool to create social awareness and come along and sing with us on the stage. is the art music of northern regions of the Mohan on Mirdangam, Sayee Rakshith on their independent creations – the Namami This sounds really exciting. We have not done Indian subcontinent. It may also be called Violin and Venkatasubramaniam on Ghatam. Gange – anthem for the Clean Ganga Mission this in the past. We are really looking forward North Indian classical music. Its origins date The concert will take place at Giwana Hall in has been adopted as the national theme song to this event.” from the 12th century when it diverged from Radisson Blu Hotel from 6 to 9pm on March for the mammoth movement, and Vande Varshini Gopal, Director of Beats and Carnatic music, the classical tradition of 13. Bharatambe, a tribute to the Indian armed Tunes, said: “She is delighted to host Trichur southern regions of the Indian subcontinent. Sons of veteran Mridangam Vidwan forces. Brothers in Doha after 6 years and they are After the successful launch event at Trichur R Mohan, the brothers were exposed In 2018, they set up the Trichur Brothers outstanding musicians and I am sure the Katara - the Cultural Village in June 2019 to Carnatic Music from a very young age. Online School of Music, which trains students music lovers are in for a treat coming this through ‘Unison of Strings and Wind’ – a They were named ‘Trichur Brothers’ by around the world through a committed faculty. Friday.” musical jugalbandhi, and Swar-Sanjeevan, a Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Kanchi, Shri The brothers look forward to bringing their Gopal Balasubramaniam, chief co- Hindustani vocal concert held in September Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal. music to new audiences through their concerts ordinator of Beats and Tunes Events, said: 2019 at Radisson Blu Hotel, Beats and Tunes The brothers were initially trained by and collaborative works. “The ﬁ rst two events hosted by Beats and Events, a newly born event management Madurai Shrimati Balamani Eswar and In a video message shared with Tunes were super hit and I am conﬁ dent that company is ready to host its third event – Thamarakkadu Govindan Namboothiri. They Community, the duo is seen saying: “We the third event will be equally successful as ‘Mystic Moods, a Carnatic Vocal Concert.’ received advanced training, with emphasis are delighted to come back to Doha after the artistes are of great pedigree. It’s going to It is a Carnatic vocal concert by Trichur on manodharma singing, from Professor six years. We will also be performing songs be a unique programme.”