P7dr G Madhavan P20 Painter Luc Nair Addresses Tuymans’ Retrospective Students at a at Al Riwaq Comes to Seminar Organised a Close with Barely a in Olive School

Community Community Indian space Celebrated scientist figurative P7Dr G Madhavan P20 painter Luc Nair addresses Tuymans’ retrospective students at a at Al Riwaq comes to seminar organised a close with barely a in Olive School. week to go.

Tuesday, January 26, 2016 Rabia II 16, 1437 AH

DOHA 19°C—22°C TODAY LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 13 PUZZLES 14 & 15

OVER A champion’s tale C STORY Nasser al-Attiyah is an icon worth emulating for his champion attitude. He tells Community what makes him tick. P4-6 2 GULF TIMES Tuesday, January 26, 2016 COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

PRAYER TIME Fajr 5.00am Shorooq (sunrise) 6.19am Zuhr (noon) 11.46am Asr (afternoon) 2.52pm Maghreb (sunset) 5.15pm Isha (night) 6.45pm

USEFUL NUMBERS

The Idol SYNOPSIS: A ﬁ lm about the popular Palestinian singer GENRE: Comedy Mohammad Assaf, from childhood to adulthood, and his life CAST: Tawfeek Barhom, Ahmed al-Rokh, Hiba Attalah in Gaza until he won the Arab Idol contest. Emergency 999 DIRECTION: Hany Abu-Assad THEATRES: Landmark, The Mall, Royal Plaza 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

te Unqu uo ot Q e Two Countries DIRECTION: Shafi he fi nds diffi cult to digest. The resulting Think twice before GENRE: Comedy SYNOPSIS: Ullas from India moves humorous incidents in the life of Ullas you speak, because your CAST: Dileep, Mamta Mohandas, to Canada with Laya who follows and Laya form the plot. words and infl uence will plant Isha Talwar Canadian customs and language which THEATRES: Landmark, The Mall the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another. Mall Cinema (1): Gethu (Tamil) 2.30pm; The Airlift (Hindi) 11.15pm. 5th Wave (2D) 5pm; Ride Along 2 (2D) 7pm; Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2): Airlift — Napoleon Hill Men Dahr Ragel (Arabic) 8.45pm; The Boy (Hindi) 2.30pm; The 5th Wave (2D) 5pm; (2D) 11.30pm. Two Countries (Malayalam) 8.15pm; Two Airlift (Hindi) 7pm; The Boy (2D) 9.45pm; Mall Cinema (2): Airlift (Hindi) 2.30pm; Countries (Malayalam) 11pm. Dirty Grandpa (2D) 11.30pm. The Good Dinosaur (2D) 4.45pm; Cinema Land Mark (2): The Good Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (3): The Good Our Brand Is Crisis (2D) 6.30pm; Dinosaur (2D) 3pm; Airlift (Hindi) 4.45pm; Dinosaur (2D) 3pm; The Revenant (2D) 5pm; Airlift (Hindi) 8.30pm; Two Countries Our Brand Is Crisis (2D) 7pm; Airlift (Hindi) Our Brand Is Crisis (2D) 7.45pm; Ya Tayr El (Malayalam) 10.45pm. 9pm; Our Brand Is Crisis (2D) 11.15pm. Tayer (The Idol) (Arabic) 9.45pm; Our Brand Features Editor Mall Cinema (3): Two Countries Cinema Land Mark (3): Ride Along 2 (2D) Is Crisis (2D) 11.30pm. (Malayalam) 2.15pm; Ya Tayr El Tayer (The 2.30pm; Rajini Murugan (Tamil) 4.15pm; Asian Town Cinema: Charlie (Malayalam) Kamran Rehmat Idol) (Arabic) 5pm; Dirty Grandpa (2D) Men Dahr Ragel (Arabic) 7pm; The Boy (2D) 7.30pm; Airlift (Hindi) 12.30, 6.15 & e-mail: [email protected] 7pm; Our Brand Is Crisis (2D) 9pm; Rajini 9.45pm; Dirty Grandpa (2D) 11.30pm. 11.30pm; Two Countries (Malayalam) 3.30, Murugan (Tamil) 11pm. Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1): Dragon 6.30, 7.15, 8.30, 9.30 & 10pm; Soggade Telephone: 44466405 Cinema Land Mark (1): Gethu (Tamil) Nest: Warrior’s Dawn (2D) 2.30pm; Ride Chinni Nayana (Telugu) 2.45pm; Rajani Fax: 44350474 2.15pm; Ya Tayr El Tayer (The Idol) (Arabic) Along 2 (2D) 4.30pm; Dirty Grandpa (2D) Murugan (Tamil) 3.15, 4.30 & 10.15pm; 4.30pm; Dirty Grandpa (2D) 6.15pm; 6.30pm; Men Dahr Ragel (Arabic) 8.30pm; Gethu (Tamil) 5.15pm. Tuesday, January 26, 2016 GULF TIMES 3 ROUND & ABOUT COMMUNITY

EVENTS eligible to participate. Interested women by Professional Sports Group to support the Neuroscience Conference can register their names online at: www. vision behind the Qatar National Sport Day. DATE: February 18-20 Souq Waqif Spring Festival 2016 fccvanitavedi.wordpress.com or directly at The event will bring the community together VENUE: Sheraton Hotel DATE: Until Feb 5 the FCC offi ce. Last date for registration is at Losail International Circuit for a chance to The 1st Qatar Annual Neuroscience TIME: 2pm-10pm February 3. Contact: 44661213, 44663757, run in one of the three distances on off er. Conference, organised by the Neurological VENUE: Souq Waqif 44315099 Institute at Hamad Medical Corporation, off ers Souq Waqif Spring Festival is back! a comprehensive educational programme The festival will be featuring shows and VCU Qatar Faculty Exhibition specifi cally designed for the Mena region entertainment programmes to suit all the DATE: Until Feb 15 that will have signifi cant emphasis on family. Check out the link for more details and VENUE: VCU Qatar Gallery practical aspects of common neurological a full schedule of events http://www.souq- VCU Qatar will organise its annual and neurosurgical disorders. The scientifi c waqif.qa/ exhibition of works by artists and designers programme committee has invited world who are teaching and researching at the leaders in their fi elds to share their knowledge Record Exhibition university. Entrance is free. This exhibition with the attendees. DATE: Until Jan 31 aims to give faculty members an opportunity TIME: 10am-10pm to present their results of current artistic and Jewellery and Watches Exhibition VENUE: Fine Arts Society - Entrance 2 design research and exploration in a select DATE: February 23-27 The Cultural Village Foundation - Katara is exhibition. VENUE: Doha Exhibition and Convention organising Record Exhibition by Qatari artist Center Ali Dasmal al-Kuwari, from 10am to 10pm. Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition Entrance is free. Aspire Aquathon Series (DJWE) is being held once a year in Qatar. DATE: Feb 20 This show is one of the most exclusive in the Burst of Colors Exhibition VENUE: Hamad Aquatics Centre world for wealthy individuals interested in DATE: Until Jan 31 You can join this popular combination of fi ne jewellery and unique pieces, watches, VENUE: Katara Art Center swimming and running sport race, organised gemstones, and diamonds, all represented by The Cultural Village Foundation – Katara by Aspire Zone Foundation in Hamad more than 500 exclusive international brands. invites you to visit the Burst of Colors Aquatics Centre pool facility and around Additionally, a number of educational seminars Exhibition by the Qatari artist Aisha al-Kaabi the Aspire Zone precinct. Entry fees: QR 20. will be delivered on jewellery and watches from 10am to 10pm. Entrance is free. Entry is open for all ages and talents, aged throughout the week. 8 years and above. Adult groups will run for Negotiation Skills and Strategies 5km and swim 500m long, while kids will run Aspire Run the Park DATE: Jan 31- Feb 1 between 1.5 - 3 km and swim between 100- DATE: Until February 13 VENUE: Tornado Tower, West Bay Art Exhibition 200m long, according to their age group. VENUE: Aspire Park This training programme has been DATE: Until April 18 Aspire Zone Foundation will organise a series specifi cally designed to build on the existing VENUE: Porto Arabia, Pearl Falcons and Hunting Festival of four races on Saturday once a month on negotiation experience of the participants Diff usion by Peter Zimmermann — A DATE: Until January 30 January 16 and February 13. Participants should and enable them to improve their future mesmerising solo exhibition of colourful, VENUE: Sabkhat Marmi — Sealine compete in at least three out the four races to performance. It will give each participant futuristic works. Anima Gallery, Parcel 17, Al-Gannas Society is hosting the seventh win a medal and prize. They have to be there an the opportunity to step back and think about Porto Arabia, The Pearl-Qatar. Contact: edition of Qatar International Falcons and hour before the race. their assumptions and routine approaches to 40027437 Hunting Festival. negotiations and to practice new approaches. This international competition, deeply Aspire Park Cinema You will improve your conceptual Listen to Jazz music rooted in Qatar’s culture and traditions, is DATE: Ongoing until Feb 5 understanding of your own negotiations DATE: Jan 30 showcasing some of the most beautiful and TIME: 6pm-8pm through the application of a practical TIME: 3pm-5pm well-trained falcons. VENUE: Aspire Park framework and improved self-awareness. VENUE: Jazz at Lincoln Center Doha, St Aspire Zone Foundation, in collaboration with Regis Qatar Motor Show Jeem TV, is presenting for the fi rst time children Red Bull Car Park Drift Take the whole family to learn more about DATE: January 28-February 1 movies on its giant screen behind Hayat Plaza, DATE: January 29 the world of jazz at one of Jazz at Lincoln VENUE: Doha Exhibition Convention every Thursday and Friday from 6pm to 8pm. TIME: 7:30pm Center’s monthly music talks. Kids and Center VENUE: Al Corniche adults will both love this fun and interactive Off ering motor-lovers and visitors a Qatari Agricultural Product Yards Red Bull Car Park Drift is gearing up to afternoon in equal measure. Free entry, à la journey to ‘Explore the World of Motion’, DATE: Until June 30 take over the Doha Corniche. The yearly- carte menu. Contact: 44460105. the popular Qatar Motor Show will return VENUE: Al Mazrooa, Al Zakheera, Al Khor, awaited Middle East championship will between January 28 and February 1 at Doha Al Wakrah see its fi rst round hosted in Qatar on Friday IAID Talent Development Programme Exhibition and Convention Centre. Visitors The Ministry of Environment has opened the January 29, 2016. The event will showcase the DATE: Jan 30 can enjoy convenient onsite parking, close 4th season of Qatari agricultural product yards drifting skills of the best amateur drivers in VENUE: Al Tadamoun Signal, Hilal St proximity to 5-star hotels, and more easily for selling locally produced fruits, vegetables, the country at the Corniche- Dallah Parking Introduce your kids to the wonderful world accessibility by foot for the local community poultry, fi sh and livestock. Work in these yards Lot from 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm under the of music smile emotion. Music is a natural and wider regional and international tourists. will continue for seven months. The yards will supervision of Lebanese drifting legend, Abdo part of life for toddlers. They might sing to operate three days a week on Thursdays, Fridays Feghali. The event is open to the public with their stuff ed animals, tap their feet to the and Saturdays from 7am to 5pm, with livestock free entrance. rhythm of nursery rhymes, and enjoy the vendors in Al Mazrooa operating at the same sound of their parents singing to them. But times throughout the week. Sport camps this early introduction to music does more Evolution Sports is delighted to off er a than entertain. It can kick-start learning, Luc Tuymans: Intolerance number of sporting opportunities to its serve as an important cue in a child’s routine, DATE: Until Jan 30 members. Between January 31 and February 4, and off er lifelong benefi ts. VENUE: Qatar Museums Gallery Alriwaq Evolution Sports will be hosting the following Qatar Museums is presenting a retrospective camps between 9am and 1pm daily at Doha Interfaith Dialogue Conference of the work of Luc Tuymans, the fi rst solo show College Al Waab and Doha College West Bay: DATE: Feb 16-17 of the artist in the Gulf region. The exhibition, Soccer (Al Waab and West Bay). VENUE: Sheraton Doha Hotel Intolerance, a comprehensive survey of the Swimming (Al Waab). 12th Doha Interfaith Dialogue Conference artist’s work, includes a series of wall paintings Multi-Sports (West Bay). will be held this year under the theme: and a new body of work, ‘The Arena’, created Camps are open to boys and girls aged 3-16 “Spiritual and Intellectual Safety in the Light How to Become Youtube Creator specifi cally for the show. Curated by Lynne years of all abilities. For more information, of Religious Doctrines”. The conference Workshop Cooke, Senior Curator of Special Projects in please e-mail [email protected] gives a great opportunity to experts and DATE: January 30 Modern Art at the National Gallery of Art professionals from all over the world discuss TIME: 10am-2pm Washington. Pravasi Vanitha sports meet the issues related to the conference theme, VENUE: Entube Center FCC Vanithavedi, a women’s forum, and provide a certain framework for dealing Entube Center invites you to join a is inviting entries to a sports fest being with the challenges that threaten the spiritual workshop on How to Become Youtube Creator FOODIE CHOICE organised on the occasion of Qatar Sport and intellectual freedom and security of our from 10am to 2 pm. Participants will learn the Day. The event is to be held on February 5 at times. basics of online TV, the incentive and drive RESTAURA NT: Ziryab Restaurant Shantiniketan Indian School. behind the phenomenon of online TV, the LOCATION: Pearl-Qatar Individuals can participate in items like Doha Dash 2016 composition of the online TV market, how Ziryab Restaurant is a fi ne dining restaurant 1km walk, 100m race, 200m race, sack race, DATE: Feb 9 money is being made and how to capitalise located in Medina Centralle on The Pearl- lemon-and-spoon race and shot put. Group VENUE: Losail International Circuit on the phenomenon, the standards that Qatar, serving Italian and Mediterranean items include relay race and tug-of-war. TIME: 7am need to be met in order for the channel to be cuisine in a sophisticated environment. For Only women of 18 years and above are The Dolphin Energy Doha Dash was created successful, and more. reservation, call 50009876.

Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change 4 GULF TIMES Tuesday, January 26, 2016 COMMUNITY COVER STORY

INTERVIEW: Nasser al-Attiyah, champion rally driver “Life off ers no shortcuts”

QATAR’S PRIDE: Nasser al-Attiyah.

as well as rapid drivers in cross By Aney Mathew The races are all so different with varying country rallying. challenges and it’s very hard for me to pinpoint What got you interested in atar’s Nasser al- rally driving? Attiyah is more one, especially as I enjoy variety. If I had to Sports was always something than a world rally I loved and so were cars; while champion and sport choose, I would say it’s the Dakar, as it is such considering my options, I wanted shooter; he is a a big challenge and involves so much driving to find a sport that I could Q sports icon in the continue in for a long time. For Arab world and a highly respected and he is also an eight-time 2012 London Olympics. driver Mathieu Baumel set off on instance, if you are a football sportsman internationally. Middle East Rally Champion and The year 2015 was a great one their X-raid MINI to defend their player, your career doesn’t offer Determined and motivated, it the 2014 WRC2 Champion. for Qatar’s champ who won four title. Despite the challenge offered you much by the time you are in seems impossible is not a word In 2011, he went on to win the titles in one year, including the by the competing Peugeots, he your 30s — you are finished, so to that exists in his dictionary. legendary Dakar Rally, making Dakar Rally, Middle East Rally sealed the runner-up spot on speak. However, as a driver, you Affectionately called ‘Saleh’ by him the only Arab to ever win the Championship, Cross Country his 12th Dakar, after a series of can keep going for much longer; his friends, Nasser’s achievements difficult competition; he did it Rally World Cup and the World thrilling, action-packed stages, so motorsport became my obvious make an impressive list. He again in 2015. The list doesn’t end Rally Championship. fighting all the way to the end. preference. won the Production World Rally here; a skilled shooter, Nasser has As if to keep up pace, 2016 Community caught up with the Championship (PWRC) in 2006 — an Olympic medal to his name — a began with its own excitement, as champ, who is credited as one Besides winning numerous his third year in the championship bronze in skeet shooting at the the Qatari speedster and his co- of the world’s most consistent championships, you wrote Tuesday, January 26, 2016 GULF TIMES 5 COVER STORY COMMUNITY

I think (Olympic bronze) will always be the highlight of my sporting career and my greatest achievement so far. Lots of people win rallies, but an Olympic medal is something extremely special

READY TO ROLL: Nasser al-Attiyah is completely focused on his goals. history in 2015 by being the be quite demanding as you have that as our car — a mini — has not Sport shooting is another What has been your most first rally racer to win four to stay focused over a very long taken the same step forward in one of your interests; what challenging experience and titles in a year, including the period of time and cope well with terms of development. motivated you to take up why? Dakar Rally! How does the lots of different types of terrain this unusual combination of My most challenging experiences accomplishment feel? and conditions. You have to be a Of the many different rally sports? have defi nitely been participating in True, it’s a very nice very all-round, versatile driver. championships you have Actually, I wouldn’t say it’s such the Olympics. In skeet shooting, you achievement. But as I see it, the participated in which is your an unusual combination, as many have to hit a certain number of targets record for the number of Middle This year has already offered favourite and why? of the skills required in both these within a specifi ed time. So when you East titles is 14, so I still have some you challenges; tell us about The races are all so different sports are quite the same; you need are at the point, when you know it is way to go before I beat that one. the 2016 Dakar Rally where with varying challenges and it’s excellent hand-eye co-ordination your last bullet, and you are aiming you defended your title. very hard for me to pinpoint one, and a lot of precision in both cases. to hit your fi nal target, the focus You are the only Arab to win The main point about the especially as I enjoy variety. If I But to answer your question on required is enormous and you do feel the Dakar Rally; tell us about 2016 Dakar was the speed of the had to choose, I would say it’s the what motivated me to take these tremendous mental pressure. your experience… Peugeots. They were really quick Dakar, as it is such a big challenge specifi c sports, I would simply say Dakar is a very pure race. It can and we could not compete against and involves so much driving. that I enjoyed them both. Continued on Page 6

LATEST VICTORY: Nasser and co-driver Mathieu Baumel seal Runner’s Up position at THE ITALIAN RUN: The Qatari crowned champion at the Italian Baja Rally 2015. Dakar Rally 2016. 6 GULF TIMES Tuesday, January 26, 2016 COMMUNITY COVER STORY

A DIFFERENT RUN: The rally driver enjoying a diff erent ride at the Pharaons cross country rally.

Continued from Page 5 You are a sports hero in the training and I am completely time, but what I enjoy the most episode in your career… Arab world and definitely an focussed on my goals. Life offers when I do is to just meet and catch I am lucky to have had several, How did it feel bringing home icon in Qatar. What is your no shortcuts and young people up with friends as I get extremely but one of my most inspiring an Olympic medal in 2012? word of advice to young people who want to achieve anything will busy during the season and don’t moments was my first Dakar I think that will always be the looking for a future in rally have to work the same way — that get the chance to see them. victory in 2011. I beat my team highlight of my sporting career and driving or skeet shooting? is the only way to move forward. mate Carlos Sainz by only a small my greatest achievement so far. Lots To achieve anything, especially Tell us your dream… margin after a very close fight; of people win rallies, but an Olympic in the area of sports you have Your favourite pastime or I would love to grab another it was indeed very emotional for medal is something extremely to work hard and practice. I get activity? Olympic medal this summer in me to beat a great champion like special. up each day at 5am when I am I don’t really have much free Rio de Janeiro. Carlos on the stage I did, after a fantastic fight. I felt very humbled What is your dream and privileged. destination? Being home is where I enjoy What scares you? being the most, (but) it doesn’t Not much…possessing a good happen very often! mind control is vital in what I do. Of course, I am scared of not What cuisine do you enjoy doing well or making a mistake. the most? I like Arabic food mostly, What are your retirement but I am accustomed to eating plans? many different types of cuisine I have no retirement plans so I don’t really mind. I would so far. But I think I will always say though that roast camel be involved in motorsport and is a personal favourite and I certainly in the promotion of recommend it, if you haven’t tried Qatar. it before. How would you describe What motivates or inspires your life right now? you? I would certainly say I’m happy. The satisfaction of knowing that I have given my best and Lessons learnt from life: have performed to the best of You have to work hard and make my abilities. I would also like to your own way; always remember say, that my father has been my — never give up. inspiration. He was the one who motivated me to reach for these What would you say to your opportunities in the early days fans? when I first began my sporting I would like to say a very big career. thank you to all my fans and all those who have supported me over TIMEOUT: The champion enjoying a moment of relaxation. Share with us a memorable the years, through this journey. Tuesday, January 26, 2016 GULF TIMES 7 COMMUNITY Space scientist motivates students at Olive seminar

INSIGHT: Former ISRO chairman Dr G Madhavan Nair speaking at the seminar organised in Olive International School. The interactive session with the audience.

n interactive session on producing machines rather than times more skilled and capable than vision and career in space. programmes and the diff erent ‘Science and Society’ focusing on developing students’ themselves. The young generation is He recalled the space missions activities it included as part of was conducted by Dr G talents. He reiterated the need to more talented than the old and needs conducted under his supervision, the curriculum for the holistic Madhavan Nair, former nurture analytical thinking and to be nurtured in an eff ective manner. especially the fi rst moon mission of development of students. He also chairman of Indian communication skills in students The former chairman also called India, Chandrayan and the eff orts promised his support to make the ASpace Research Organisation (ISRO), to make them pursue research and for creating innovation labs at every that went behind the project. During school an innovation lab for aspiring at Olive International School, Nuaija. innovation. schools and free access to labs for his tenure the space mission focus scientists. The closely held session was for a The space scientist mentioned that students to try whatever they would was on building capabilities and Principal of Olive International select audience of students, aspiring the ancient ‘gurukulam’ education like to. He reiterated that the failures support systems for the benefi t of School A J George welcomed the scientists, teachers and parents. system in India was the best method of students also need to be noted, society in general. Telemedicine, audience and Juttas Paul gave the Students from various schools in where students learnt by practising not just success. According to him, tele-education, etc, were some of the introductory speech. Biju John and Qatar attended the seminar. what the teacher did. Later on, as failures are stepping stones to new projects, which were for the benefi ts Shalini Rawat also spoke during the Dr Nair spoke at length about part of colonialism, the focus of inventions. of masses. occasion. The session was interactive his vision about education system education system shifted to creating Dr Nair paid tributes to his Dr Nair appreciated Olive where students, teachers and parents in general and space missions. people with English skills for offi ce mentors and teachers Dr Vikram International School for the excellent asked questions about diff erent He said in the present Indian work. Dr Nair added that the mission Sarabhai and Dr Abdul Kalam, who track record and performance, aspects of space science, projects and system schools are like factories, of teachers is to develop students 10 helped him to learn and share his highlighting the annual day research.

BLOOD DONATION: More than 100 people from all walks of life, including employees of Naseem Al Rabeeh Medical Centre, Premium Naseem Al Rabeeh Medical Centre and Al Rabeeh Dental Centre, donated blood during the donation camp held at Naseem Al Rabeeh Medical Centre, C-Ring Road Branch. The campaign was held in association with Blood Donor Department of Hamad Medical Corporation. Dr Mohammad Kasim Harid, Medical Director, inaugurated the campaign, in the presence of Dr Munir Ali, General Manager, Naseem Al Rabeeh Healthcare and Muhammed Rizad, Hamad Medical Corporation. Dr Harid said: “I am proud to be part of such a noble cause that will help saving someone’s life.” 8 GULF TIMES Tuesday, January 26, 2016 COMMUNITY MARKETING

Home Centre launches Room Makeover contest

Home Centre, the largest home retailer Home Centre, I’ve seen some beautiful in the Middle East, has announced the creations as part of the brand’s room fourth edition of its much-anticipated makeovers in the previous cycles. ‘Room Makeover’ contest. Teaming Personally, for me it is the human up with brand ambassador Nancy aspect of the winners’ stories that Ajram, Home Centre will give away stand out – each of them is a truly room makeovers worth QR15,000 (or deserving candidate. I am excited to its equivalent) to 15 winners selected see the entries that come in this year.” from six countries in the region – Qatar, Mederic Payne, CEO, Home Centre, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and said: “Home Centre’s Room Makeover Lebanon. is truly amongst the most eagerly Regarded the “most awaited room awaited consumer-engagement makeover with Nancy Ajram”, this platforms by a brand across the region. season features a unique twist. This The campaign has enjoyed huge season asks participants to share their success over the past three cycles and thoughts with Nancy on why they we have had numerous requests to deserve to win. re-launch it year after year.” Commenting on the initiative Nancy Entries will remain open until February Ajram said: “People love the idea of 13 and all applicants will be rewarded winning a room makeover — especially with an e-voucher off ering a 20% at the beginning of a new year — as discount for purchases at Home it represents a fresh start. Despite this Centre stores in their respective being my first year of association with country.

FRENCH CUISINE: Under the patronage of French Embassy, InterContinental Doha the City celebrates authentic French cuisine at Prime restaurant, with Executive Chef, Emmanuel Pualiat and Prime Chef de Cuisine Morad Benmichich, who will be working on the French culinary flavours. The French promotion will last until February 13. Oryx Rotana witnesses 94% occupancy in Q4

ryx Rotana, the five star luxury business hotel in Doha, has achieved occupancy rates of 94% in the fourth quarter of 2015, in comparison to 91% occupancy ratesO during the same period of the last financial year. The hotel witnessed an upward occupancy growth in guest rooms, suites as well as F&B outlets. Mark Timbrell, General Manager at Oryx Rotana, while commenting on these records, said: “At Oryx Rotana, we have seen dramatic levels of demand, which has resulted in higher occupancy levels. We enjoyed a relatively high occupancy rate that can be attributed to the hotel guests comprising locals, expatriates as well as visitors to Qatar, especially from the GCC and Europe. In fact, we attracted all segments of the community who visited our hotel and offered them an opportunity to enjoy various outlets and diverse services.” “Oryx Rotana recorded high occupancy rate during the last quarter of last year reaching 94%, as a result of the good reputation we enjoy. This was reflected by the guests’ opinions, especially on social network sites which supported the position that we are in,” he added. The General Manager of Oryx Rotana also pointed out that there are a few ongoing plans as well as future strategies that will help strengthen the position of the hotel both locally and regionally. He stressed that the hotel is known to be the “destination of choice” to all members of the local Timbrell concluded that Oryx Rotana will out by the hotel. For instance, the Sky Lounge community, who have visited Oryx Rotana and put in place the maximum marketing efforts cafe located in the lobby of the hotel, has are acquainted with the level of the services through promotions on social network sites, recently been renovated, and offers a range of AT THE HELM: Mark Timbrell provided. especially with updates and renovation carried appetisers, as well as tea and coffee. Tuesday, January 26, 2016 GULF TIMES 9 COMMUNITY

WINNERS ALL: Erin Tammo, Nora Karmi, Almma Bulow and Liliana Rossa. Erin Tammo and Nora Karmi Medal haul for young gymnasts

gymnastics competition was held in Little Stars Club in Abu Dhabi recently. There were 173 participants. BH Gymnastics brought a small team this time, only four participants. The girls performed very well, winning three silver and one bronze. The star of BH AGymnastics was seven-year-old Liliana Rossa, who performed brilliantly and managed to get two medals: bronze and silver; bronze on bars and silver on the vault. Eight-year-old Almma Bulow performed very well. Her best apparatus was beam and she came second, just missing gold by 0.1 points. These two girls competed in Level 2 USA Compulsory Programme. Nora Karmi and Erin Tammo represent BH Gymnastics at Level 3. Eight-year-old Karmi is a very determined and hardworking gymnast, has been training in BH Gymnastics club for less than a year and was selected to represent BH Gymnastics in this competition. That was her ﬁ rst competition and she did very well, unfortunately she missed a podium by 0.25 on vault and 0.1 on ﬂ oor, she came 4th on these two apparatus. Erin Tammo competed on three apparatus, and brought one more silver medal for our club, she came second on bars. Almma Bulow and Liliana Rossa. Almma Bulow, left, silver for beam.

ANNIVERSARY: HERO Qatar celebrated its first year founding anniversary last week. Around 250 members and guests from various government agencies, Filipino organisations and other companies attended the event at Holiday Villa Hotel. The celebration started with ribbon-cutting for its photo exhibition showcasing important events of HERO Qatar last year. The programme also included the induction ceremonies for all newly-elected off icers and the launching of Musikhero, which is the off icial band of HERO Qatar. 10 GULF TIMES Tuesday, January 26, 2016 COMMUNITY Searching for home in drawings and sketches

EXPRESSIONS: Hana Elleithy stood out with her drawing. Photos by Umer Nangiana

students culminated in a stunning Community in chat at the opening in a critical way and think about home means to various people in By Umer Nangiana exhibition around the idea of of the exhibition of the students’ the importance of those objects this culture,” says the art professor. domestic landscape. work titled ‘Home’ at the HBKU in their lives. Many came up with One wall of the exhibition gallery Jesse Payne, the Assistant Student Centre gallery recently. objects that are very much related is covered with dozens of smaller hat is home? Is it Professor Art Foundation The body of work represents to local culture. drawings and sketches. The smaller a physical space? Department, VCU-Q, directed a different approach to drawing Others had more ambiguous works are a way to introduce But the physical the first-year students in the art around the meaning of home and open to interpretation kind of students to the learning objectives space may change. studio to pursue inquiries around from a diverse and multicultural works. These difficult-to-decipher related to the project at an early Does the idea of personal objects and experiment perspective. “Some students are drawings put a challenge in for stage in a very experimental homeW change with it? Or is the with various mark-making looking at it from a very physical the viewer to investigate. In the fashion. The purpose was to make idea of home more conceptual and techniques in order to translate point of view in choosing an object exhibition, Prof Payne says, it them work with the media and sentimental? domestic experiences into their that they feel gives them a sense becomes a relationship between learn the smaller details that were The students of Art Foundation work. of home while others are thinking that object and the viewer standing crucial for them to understand how programme at Virginia “We are asking our students about it in terms of a mental space in front of it at that moment. to make the larger works. Commonwealth University-Qatar to investigate about what home and a sentimental type of object “The object in the drawing Every student’s work, from (VCU-Q) were asked to probe means to them. Whether home is that they feel reminds them of challenges the viewers to put almost 70 students in the these questions and come up with a place, a physical space, a mental home,” the professor explains. themselves in relationship with first-year, is represented in the answers in drawings and sketches. space or something that exists The students were asked to look each one of the objects and exhibition in smaller drawings. The The consequent inquiry by the where family is?” Prof Payne tells at a number of different objects decipher it, thinking about what larger ones were curated by a group Tuesday, January 26, 2016 GULF TIMES 11 COMMUNITY

Professor Payne says the project also provided the opportunity to the students to learn more about their home culture. Rama Duwaji stands by her intricate design. of people working with HBKU project I did a stencil of that book In the first year they are not Student Centre such as Abdulla so that I could place the stencil on usually doing things that they have al-Emadi and Elise Boileau, top of and behind the drawing and done before. So charcoal, which is besides the art foundation faculty then erase and add charcoal,” Hana the media of almost everything in of VCU-Q. tells Community. the exhibition, is something that Professor Payne guided the Her colleague, Rama Duwaji, they have never handled before. project with his plan to get the came up with an equally intricate In their first year, the students students thinking critically and design. “I made this using charcoal are accomplishing things they creatively in terms of the types of and white pastel. It is really a did not know they can make objects that they wanted to draw, small ring made out of wood that before they came into VCU-Q, having them question the idea of I made when I was a child. It was says Prof Payne. It is not because home. The larger drawings, twice important to me because it was the instructions are magical but the size of others in the show, from my grandmother’s house because they are in a system where involves different processes where in Syria which I do not go to they are being asked to really push students had to do rubbings, a anymore,” says Rama. the boundaries. process of putting a piece of paper Rama managed in her drawing to Rama thinks art starts off natural over the top of texture and rubbing disintegrate the objects and push but at a certain stage you have to a marking medium like charcoal to them into the background space keep experimenting and practising get the texture of the underlying and let others emerge out through different techniques to really push object to come through the paper. the use of mark-making technique. yourself and that is where training Hana Elleithy stood out with It was intentional, she says. comes in. Being in VCU-Q helped Visitors appreciating the works of participating students. her drawing. She was able to “I basically covered the leaves her in forcing herself to think out accomplish a very ornate and with water and the paste made of of the box. mistakes would always stand out also provided the opportunity to intricate texture throughout the charcoal and water and pressed it Hana says it made her realise in the same way so I would never the students to learn more about entire surface of the drawing paper like a stamp and I thought the link her mistakes and improve her really knew,” she explains. their home culture and where and used that as a base to draw her between the wood and the leaves techniques. “I did not have someone to they came from. A lot of critical object on top of it. would be very organic and natural,” “I would always draw and I direct me. Now there is a lot of thinking skills that we proposed “This object is an oil bottle she explains. actually use charcoal at home, it is improvement in how I see things and lot of creative skills that because I like oil paint and this The drawing made her realise the my favourite medium but the thing and in the techniques I use,” she are developed in the project can is my first oil bottle. I had this extent of her skills and she intends is that I would repeat the same adds, referring to her foundation translate into any majors that they old book cover which I was using to pursue her majors in drawing style of drawing with different course. would have but also into students’ for rubbing but at the end of the and design. objects over and over but my Professor Payne says the project lives.

Some of objects in the drawings come from the local culture. Students were asked to make inquiries into what the idea of home is to them. 12 GULF TIMES Tuesday, January 26, 2016 COMMUNITY INFOGRAPHIC Tuesday, January 26, 2016 GULF TIMES 13 LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE COMMUNITY 3 tips for breaking the DIY barrier

hether inspired by A veteran DIYer might not need countless cable some tools someone performing shows or the a project for the fi rst time might. desire to have the And to fi t these needs, purchasing perfect kitchen, specialised tools to do a specifi c Wmore people are doing their own task — like drilling through concrete home improvement projects. — while avoiding the cost of hiring a Laying hardwood fl oors, installing contractor. plumbing and replacing windows has become another DIY task like Consider ROI changing your oil. Look in depth at the tool you Consider these following tips in need to buy and at the diff erent determining how to tackle your next brands on the market that fi t for job. your budget. Private label brands often off er value. And instead Assess the job of bouncing from one hardware Defi ne what you want to store to the next, utilise product accomplish. Determine your comparison tools online to timetable, budget and the project compare and contrast product life, scale and scope. Match your tools value, capabilities and quality to from there. determine the best ROI. While DIY projects often save Research the project and tools money, they also provide an Many people turn to professionals enhanced pride in ownership for jobs they could do themselves associated with seeing your because they don’t know what tools handiwork. With the right tools, you they need. To avoid the high cost of can tackle any home improvement hiring a professional, research tool project. Ultimately it’s the person reviews, equipment magazines and who makes the tool, not vice versa. even retailer websites to help guide So grab your tool belt, slide on your you with your tool selection. work gloves and get it done. One’s skill level also plays a factor when it comes time to choose a tool. © Brandpoint

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

Jupiter the planet of opportunity and good luck remains out of Don’t let someone get away with doing or saying something today Finally things are slowly but surely getting back on track with phase today through (May 9) in Virgo, your sixth house of hard work, which doesn’t sit well with you at all. If you instinctively feel that Mercury the planet of communication and clear thinking moving health and wellbeing. You are being given a chance to redo and someone is bullying you, stop them right there. direct. Your ruler is in Capricorn, your eighth house of joint rethink your work situation. investments, an area to focus on.

CANCER LEO VIRGO June 21 — July 22 July 23 — August 22 August 23 — September 22

If you don’t feel like going out today, then don’t force yourself to In order to feel productive today, you need an incentive. Mercury the Be open to a new romance coming your way today Virgos. The Moon be social, Cancers. You’re a ‘nesting sign’ most of the time and with planet of planning and communication finally moves direct in your in your sign, along with Venus and Mercury in your romance zone Mercury finally moving direct in your past karma zone, today could sixth house of hard work today and for the next few weeks, you will are all wonderful factors in you finding someone special. Capricorns be one of those days when you feel like being home. have a nice burst of energy. are your perfect match up.

LIBRA SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS September 23 — October 22 October 23 — November 21 November 22 — December 21

Don’t allow someone to come between you and a good friend today. Be careful you don’t off er some unsolicited advice today Scorpios If you are honest and open about money today with yourself and Gossip is one of the unfortunate by products of relationships and which might not be as appreciated or wanted as you think it is. You or your significant other, everything will fall into place. Mercury the unfortunately, things can get out of control with just a few words. tend to have a rather intense way about you sometimes too which planner is now moving direct in your second house of money and might add more to your words. self–esteem. Things are becoming clearer to you now.

CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES December 22 — January 19 January 20 — February 18 February 19 — March 20

With the planet of communication and clear thinking finally moving Make the most of this time Aquarius — with the Sun in your sign and With the planet of communication and planning Mercury moving direct today in your sign and your first house of ego and personality, Uranus your ruler in Aries, your communications zone. Time if of direct finally in your eleventh house of friendship through (February it’s the perfect day to say something that has been bothering you for the essence and for those of you who have been unable to make up 14), you and your friends will be back on track, ready to forgive, some time and getting it off your chest. your mind of late, you will now. forget and move on. 14 GULF TIMES Tuesday, January 26, 2016 COMMUNITY PUZZLES/CARTOONS

Wordsearch Adam

Theatrical Pooch Cafe

ACTOR DIRECTOR PLAY APPLAUSE DRAMA PROMPT ASIDE ENTRANCE PROPS AUDIENCE EXIT SCENE AUDITORIUM FLAT SCRIPT CAST GREASEPAINT STAGE CRITIC LIGHTS WINGS CUE LINES CURTAIN MAKEUP 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. Tuesday, January 26, 2016 GULF TIMES 15 PUZZLES COMMUNITY

Quick Clues Colouring

ACROSS DOWN 1. Symbol (4) 1. Wizard (8) 3. Got (8) 2. Concede (5) 9. Facer of facts (7) 4. Ceremony (6) 10. Gentle push (5) 5. Recuperating (12) 11. Lavishness (12) 6. Fundamental (7) 13. Accompany (6) 7. Profound (4) 15. Involuntary reaction (6) 8. Quarrel (12) 17. Mental (12) 12. Unambiguous (8) 20. Banish (5) 14. Ratify (7) 21. Zealot (7) 16. Precipices (6) 22. Most distant (8) 18. Extreme (5) 23. Worry (4) 19. Deviate (4)

Cryptic Clues

Answers

Wordsearch Codeword

ACROSS DOWN 1. Every one can be found in 6 (4) 1. Leave bin to become something to be 3. Message issued in haste? (8) coveted (8) 9. Written proof when a number express 2. Taken by unsuccessful pugilistic pain and hesitation (7) nobleman? (5) 10. Ordain when activity is partly 4. Unrefined, with your old listener in necessary (5) front (6) 11. Preconception? Certainly not! More of 5. Wilful and formerly magnificent, it a postscript! (12) appears (12) Yesterday’s Solutions 13. Put to sea and provide a meal outside 6. His pet is unpopular in form ... (7) (6) 7. ... leads to this, in fact, with a terrible QUICK CRYPTIC 15. Scanty poles, note (6) result!(4) Across: 6 Doleful; 7 Pivot; 9 Proud; 10 Freedom; Across: 6 Express; 7 Repel; 9 Beats; 10 Plaster; 17. Making lengthy mistakes with 11 8. Dutiful omissions, perhaps, but certainly German sums (12) not lengthy departures (12) 12 Destitution; 14 Confederate; 18 Present; 19 12 Predominate; 14 Constituent; 18 Reactor; 19 20. It may be painful if it falls from a tree 12. Mean to have something for breakfast Vital; 21 Lapel; 22 Convene. Miner; 21 Steer; 22 Release. on one’s foot! (5) in barely pointless surroundings (8) Down: 1 Court; 2 Reduce; 3 Buy; 4 Direct; 5 Down: 1 Expel; 2 Crater; 3 Ass; 4 Reason; 5 21. Agitation fancied by ... (7) 14. Even battledress can be! (7) Solomon; 8 Craters; 11 Student; 13 Journal; 15 Beneath; 8 Clamour; 11 Advisor; 13 Molests; 15 22. ... dishevelled master, for example (8) 16. Hoodwink with a lot of noise in the 23. Boast loudly of famous vicarage? (4) package (6) Fasten; 16 Thieve; 17 Haunt; 20 Tow. Sachet; 16 Noised; 17 Feast; 20 Yen. 18. Bury part of the interest (5) 19. Smell of a backward insect (4) 16 GULF TIMES Tuesday, January 26, 2016 COMMUNITY POP SPOT in brief

Glenn Frey

The death of Eagles co-founder Glenn Frey continues an horrendous run of music icons passing away in recent times. David Bowie, Scott Weiland, Lemmy Kilmister and Natalie Cole are just the bigger names. These are now joined by Glenn who died from complications arising from rheumatoid arthritis, colitis and pneumonia. He formed Eagles in 1971 with Don Henley, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner. They became one of the biggest-selling bands of the 1970s with six US chart-topping albums, five number one singles and total sales of well over 150 million records. Glenn wrote or co-wrote many of the band’s biggest hits. Hotel California, which is said to be played on a radio station somewhere in the world every second of every day, is generally regarded as their most popular song. But when asked which song he would play if he knew he only had five minutes to live, Glenn revealed his all-time favourite Eagles track to be One of These Nights. Live performances of the song can be found on YouTube. But a fan-made video MAKING THEIR PRESENCE FELT: Snakehips’ Oliver Lee and James Carter accompanying the recorded version of “One of These Nights” is posted at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=TTgk1qEJn_4 David Bowie

David Bowie’s latest album, Blackstar, was Unique duo forced already heading towards number one in Britain before his death was announced. But it has now ended Adele’s seven-week reign atop the Billboard 200 and become David’s first US chart- topping album. One of his numerous greatest hits packages, Best of Bowie, is at number four while David’s out of anonymity iconic 1972 album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, hit number They describe their sound as being Late was the fi rst track we ever released. 21. By Geoff rey Rowlands inspired by golden-era hip hop and R&B “We knew All My Friends was something In the UK album chart, ten of David’s LPs hold mixed with more modern production special throughout the creative process. positions in the top 40 with 19 in the top 100. In techniques. Their fi rst release which Tinashe and Chance blended perfectly on the the singles chart, 13 of his songs are listed in the ry searching the Internet for attracted media attention was 2013’s On & track and we couldn’t be happier about the top 100 with five among the top 24. pictures of Snakehips. You On which featured the voice of Australian music we created.” won’t fi nd many. The London- singer George Maple. “We’ve had lots of club and dance Future based electro-house producers, “George is a Sydney native but lives in chart hits but never previously had any musicians and DJs are decidedly London,” Oliver revealed. “Ev erybody thinks mainstream pop chart success,” Oliver Rap star Future has not been resting on his coy.T So much so that it is only in relatively George must be a man so I reckon they’re added. “But we felt this could be the track laurels since topping the Billboard 200 with recent times that Oliver Lee and James shocked when they hear the On & On vocal. which took us beyond the Radio 1 dance his third studio album, DS2. The man born Carter allowed interviewers to know their Her name isn’t even Georgina, it’s Jess, but shows and into the mainstream playlists.” Nayvadius Wilburn recently released a chart- names. she got the idea of having a contrived stage Already a massive hit in the UK and topping joint mixtape, What a Time to be Alive, “We wanted our music to be the focus of persona as George Maple. By the time she Australia, All My Friends is being tipped to with Canadian rapper Drake and is back again attention,” Oliver explained. “If you enjoy realised this wasn’t for her, she was stuck fi nd similar success in America. now with another mixtape, Purple Reign. the music, why should you need to know the with the name.” “The lyrics have been compared with All 13 tracks can be heard and downloaded for identity of the people who created the tune? Snakehips have worked with George on Alessia Cara’s Here,” James remarked. “Both free at www.datpiff .com/Future-Purple-Reign- As long as you know it’s by an act called other tracks, including her solo material. songs are about being in situations where mixtape.760632,html Slowed down versions of Snakehips then that’s all you need if you They did the same with Sinead Harnett, the everyone is supposed to be having a good the mixtape, plus DJ Truth’s remixes of every want to look for our other work.” featured vocalist on their 2014 single, Days time but not everybody feels like that. song, are also available. Access these by typing So, why did they eventually reveal their With You. “All My Friends is about nights in a club Future Purple Reign in the website search box. names? “We like to establish continuing where people are getting wasted. The “It was reaching a point where our relationships with the talented people who lyrics deal with recognising the problem Aurora anonymity was becoming as much of a story appear on our tracks,” Oliver stated. “We and wanting to escape from this seemingly as our music,” James admitted. “This was work with them in the fi rst place because endless self-destructive cycle.” The John Lewis Christmas television commercial the exact opposite of what we wanted. We we admire their ability so, if all goes well, All My Friends should feature on the duo’s always promises success for any artist providing realised if we just told people our names then it’s only natural that we’d want to work with forthcoming debut album. the musical accompaniment. 2015 was no all the concentration could be on our music.” them again.” “We’ve been working on our album for the exception with 19-year-old Norwegian singer The boys met in 2012 during business trips Whether they will again work with R&B last few years,” Oliver admitted. “We keep / songwriter Aurora Aksnes reaching number to Hong Kong. They were introduced by a singer Tinashe and hip hop star Chance The getting sidetracked on to other projects. We 11 on the UK chart with her cover of the Oasis mutual friend. Rapper remains to be seen. But the success of play so many shows, which we absolutely track, Half the World Away. “Our friend had more insight than we their single, All My Friends, surely suggests love. Then there are remixes to do and new She is back now with her own song, Conqueror. did,” James laughed. “We didn’t initially future collaborations are a must. songs to create. It is taken from Aurora’s debut album, All My appreciate how perfectly we complemented “The whole thing has been an amazing “We’re not even sure if we should include Demons Greeting Me As A Friend, which is each other and didn’t get on all that well at experience,” James remarked. “Tinashe and songs we’ve already released which people scheduled for release on March 11. fi rst. But it became evident that my strengths Chance knew about us from the remixing know or make an entire album of new tunes. Conqueror is the latest track posted at (no were Oliver’s weaknesses and vice versa. work we’ve done for artists such as Banks, Whatever we decide, the album should be www.) soundcloud.com/auroraaksnes. Half the What we were lacking as individuals was The Weeknd, Bondax and Wild Belle. out some time this year but I’m not making World Away is not on here but the off icial video made good as a duo.” Actually, our remix of Wild Belle’s It’s Too any promises.” is at www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYKU7DfEJT4 Tuesday, January 26, 2016 GULF TIMES 17 BOLLYWOOD COMMUNITY

Mehta happy ‘regressive Hai and getting trolled for tweeting nonsense’ like Kya Kool about liking the trailer of another Hain Hum 3 rejected sex comedy. But he is currently getting Director Hansal Mehta says he popularity for being the director of is happy that fi lms such as Kya the fi lms with strong content like Kool Hain Hum 3 which he terms his next, Aligarh which has been as “regressive nonsense” are being screened at numerous fi lm festivals rejected while fi lms such as Airlift and receiving good reviews. has opened well at the box-offi ce. Considering the topic of “The good news is that audiences homosexuality that forms a reject fi lms that don’t work and Kya background to the story, he said, “I Kool Hain Hum 3 has been rejected was scared about the censors, the by the audience and has failed. kind of decisions that they were Everyone thought that the fi lm is taking, but the censors did not ask going to work. It got an A certifi cate for a single cut.” with 80 cuts or so. Everybody “I think the censorship is within thought that this regressive us, the censor board has no right nonsense is actually going to make to exist, it is us, our sensibilities, money and that is the sad thing,” and it should be shaped by us. We said Mehta at a panel discussion at have to select what we want to see the Best of Kashish festival. and what we don’t want to see. If “It’s telling the world that our it is inappropriate for me to watch audiences are actually fl ocking to a fi lm, I wouldn’t watch it. I’m not watch such regressive nonsense and going to watch Kya Kool Hain Hum at the same time, Airlift has done 3. It’s more of us as a society,” he two or three times the business. added. I was quite happy to know that He also said he was shocked at audiences do reject fi lms like that,” seeing a censored version of his Aligarh director added. fi lm Shahid on Netfl ix, terming it Mehta too mentioned about the “disgusting” after which he even fact that he himself had made an shot off a letter to the company. adult comedy fi lm Yeh Kya Ho Raha —IANS

CAUTION: Kangana believes people need to be careful about what they say. Freedom of expression can’t be hurtful to others: Kangana ctress Kangana One must understand the power of freedom of expression in India Ranaut, who is words.” “is the biggest joke in the world” uninhibited about “If it can be perceived in many and its “democracy is the second her bold views, says ways, then please value those ‘many biggest joke”. freedom of speech ways’ and come up with the most Kangana, a National Award A“can’t be such that it is hurtful to precise and accurate way to express winning actress, is also one never to others’ sentiments”. yourself, so that if you have to go mince her words. Asked to comment on the state back and evaluate the content of “I get so many backlashes for of freedom of expression in the your comment, you should not be anything and everything that I say, country, Kangana said: “Freedom of in a place where you think that this but that’s okay. I speak because I expression cannot be such that it is does not belong to me.” don’t want to be a darling or ‘goody hurtful to others’ sentiments as we The National Award winning shoes’ for all. I always speak my are a country of so many languages, actress spoke on the sidelines of a mind and whatever I speak, I know religions and colours.” screening of Saala Khadoos. She some people love me and for some, “Forget speaking about the expressed her views when she was I am a badass,” she said. country on a public platform, even asked about freedom of expression On the professional front, the at home or at your workplace, you in reference to ﬁ lmmaker Karan actress is working very hard for should think before you speak. Johar’s recent comment that Vishal Bhardwaj’s Rangoon. —IANS CANDID: Hansal Mehta.

Myth that I only want Commercial awards best roles in fi lms: Tabu ‘don’t aff ect’ Nawazuddin “This award (Lions Gold Award) is important for me as they select only those actors whose Actress Tabu says it is a “myth” that A National Award winning actor, performances have been really good, compared fi lmmakers feel she will not accept a role that is Nawazuddin Siddiqui says he remains to other awards functions.” anything less than the best one. unaff ected when his critically acclaimed movies “Nobody gave me award for Gangs of “They think that if they come to me with less fail to be recognised at any “commercial” award Wasseypur except Lions Gold Award for the than the best role in the fi lm, she will not do it, ceremonies. character of Faisal Khan, which became iconic. whether it’s comedy or whatever. They feel, ‘give At most Bollywood award galas, it is Bajrangi Now, I am receiving an award for Manjhi, which her the best role in the fi lm or she will refuse it’. Bhaijaan, Piku and Bajirao Mastani which won went unnoticed in all award events even after “So that’s the myth they have about me,” the top honours. Clearly, Nawazuddin’s Manjhi audience liked the movie,” he added. the Chandni Bar actress said here when asked — The Mountain Man — on Bihar’s ‘Mountain Ketan Mehta’s Manjhi — The Mountain Man on the roles that pass her by possibly because Man’ who single handedly cut a road through a was commercially not very successful. But it was certain fi lmmakers feel she prefers intellectual hill to connect his village — has not been in the performances of Radhika Apte and Nawazuddin characters. frame. which pulled audience to the theatre. The National Award winner said she was okay Siddiqui, who appeared at the 22nd Lions The 49-year-old actor, who has dabbled in a with the labels people ascribe her with. Gold Awards here, said: “Commercial awards variety of roles, said: “Stardom is something I do “People will put a tag that is convenient to don’t aff ect me anymore. Those who get the not think about. I am still trying to be an actor.” put on you rather than what you are. I am happy awards, they feel happy and those who are not He will next be seen in Raees and TE3N. — being who I am,” she said at the Kolkata Literary (getting any), feel upset.” IANS THE ARTIST: Tabu Meet. —IANS 18 GULF TIMES Tuesday, January 26, 2016 COMMUNITY HOLLYWOOD

stupid” in 1990, he knew who Stoppard was and had read some of his plays before he was sent the script. “It’s a terrifi c read,” said Roth, who is in Quentin Tarantino’s latest fi lm, The Hateful Eight. Roth met with Stoppard at his place in London about the fi lm. “Gary Oldman was there,” Roth said. “We worked together before with (director) Mike Leigh. Me, Tom and Gary sat and chatted. He was very interested in bringing us together as the characters.” But Daniel Day-Lewis, who was appearing in London’s West End in Hamlet, was also interested in Guildenstern. In fact, Stoppard said, he was supposed to see Day-Lewis CELEBRATED: Stoppard has written such award-winning plays as The Real Thing, Arcadia, Travesties and Night and Day. He also won an Oscar for co-writing in the play that night. the 1998 Academy Award-winning best film, Shakespeare in Love. Roth “told me he assumed that was the end of that if Daniel Day-Lewis was already interested,” Stoppard said. “I showed up at the theater and found out that Daniel Stoppard recalls how he turned Day-Lewis was off that night. I never did get to see him.” And that’s how Roth got the part. “I owe Danny big time,” the actor said, laughing. Rosencrantz play into a movie Roth noted the fi lm was probably more in “Gary’s wheelhouse” than his at the time. “I remember then sitting down The comedy, which stars Gary (Rosencrantz & Guildenstern is the “I don’t know if you saw Gary on By Susan King writing a script for John and realise Oldman as Rosencrantz, Tim Roth only Stoppard play to be adapted for stage. He was an incredible stage looking back I had no idea what a as Guildenstern, Richard Dreyfuss cinema.) actor,” Roth said. “We would fl ock screenplay was,” said Stoppard, who as the Player, Iain Glenn as Hamlet, After Stoppard did agree, to see him, so he was more ready. om Stoppard became has written such award-winning Joanna Miles as Gertrude and Ian Cinecom Pictures became I was completely not ready. I had an overnight success plays as The Real Thing, Arcadia, Richardson as Polonius, received interested in getting involved in done theatre, but I hadn’t done the at age 29 when his Travesties and Night and Day. He generally strong reviews and even the distribution of the movie, classics. I was very nervous about play Rosencrantz & won an Oscar for co-writing the won the Venice Film Festival’s top Brandman said, “if we could raise the Shakespeare aspect of it.” Guildenstern Are Dead 1998 Academy Award-winning best prize over the odds-on favourite, the money. My old boss Lee Rich was So Roth had to have that fear Twas staged at the Edinburgh Fringe fi lm, Shakespeare in Love. Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas. running MGM, which controlled “slapped out of me by Tom,” Festival in 1966. A year later, the Had the Boorman-directed fi lm “Gore Vidal was the head of the underlying rights, and I was able who told Roth just to treat the National Theatre production opened come to fruition, Stoppard said, “it the judges and loved the movie,” to secure those. Then we set out in Shakespearean language “as modern at the Old Vic in London and on would have been a heavy number.” noted the fi lm’s producer, Michael search of a director.” dialogue. It took me a while to adjust Broadway, where it won four Tony But by the time he wrote the Brandman. “He thought it was They didn’t have to look far. to it, but I have to say I really loved Awards, including best play. screenplay to Rosencrantz for the refl ective of everything the Venice Stoppard’s feature directing career it.” The absurdist comedy revolves 1990 fi lm version that was released Film Festival should be celebrating.” began and ended with Rosencrantz The fi lm was shot in and around the two minor characters theatrically in 1991, Stoppard had And now the fi lm has just been & Guildenstern. around Zagreb in Croatia. “It — Rosencrantz and Guildenstern several fi lm projects to his credit, released in a 25th-anniversary “It’s hard to explain why I ended was a marvelous, intense period,” — from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The including co-writing Terry Gilliam’s edition on Blu-ray and DVD with an up doing it,” Stoppard said. “My Stoppard said. “I think we shot for two are always in “the wings” of the 1985 classic, Brazil. interview with Stoppard. memory of this is that it made it 35 days.” Bard’s tragedy, where they briefl y “I knew enough to know that Brandman had always been a easier to get the little money we Stoppard asked for advice from interact with the major characters (a screenplay) shouldn’t get too huge fan of the play and felt it would needed if the writer was directing his crew, including cinematographer from that play including Hamlet, wordy,” Stoppard said. “I felt by that make a good movie. His friend it. I think the theory being since I Peter Biziou. “It would have been Ophelia, the Player and Polonius and time that I knew a little more about fellow producer Emanuel Azenberg, had never directed a fi lm, I might nice to have made a fi lm before this have no idea of their tragic fate. writing screenplays, though I still who had produced The Real Thing turn out to be a great fi lm director. I one,” Stoppard said. And though he Hollywood soon took interest don’t know enough until this day, on Broadway, arranged a meeting realised pretty soon that if this was likes the fi lm, “I would probably like in this young playwright and his really.” between Brandman and Stoppard in going to be adjusted and adapted, to take a few minutes out of it.” existential comedy. He also wasn’t a young Turk any London. I was the person who would be the As to why he never directed “I think there was some interest, more. But Stoppard recalled being least defensive about it. I felt it another feature, Stoppard said that I think, from MGM,” said Stoppard, “What happens when you get initially trepidatious. needed a bit of disrespect. My fear “I didn’t consider myself a fi lm 78, by phone from his country home older is that you feel freer and looser “I think they had to ask me more was it would be over-respected and director then, and I don’t consider in Britain. British director John about defending or protecting your than once,” he said. “In my usual would look like a fi lmed play.” myself a fi lm director now. It just Boorman (Deliverance) was initially original text,” Stoppard said. “I way I backed off . I wasn’t sure Though Roth jokingly described made life easier.” —Los Angeles attached to the project. started having fun with it.” about making fi lms out of plays.” himself as “sort of young and Times/TNS Tuesday, January 26, 2016 GULF TIMES 19 HOLLYWOOD COMMUNITY Why have Oscar movies been so long, lately? At 156 minutes, The Revenant is a challenge. At 187 minutes, The Hateful Eight is only to be approached with full stomach and empty bladder. It’s time film-makers realised epic doesn’t have to mean eternal, writes Alex Hess

he Revenant, Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Oscar-hunting epic, is a fi lm that does many unique and wonderful thinTgs, but perhaps its greatest feat is how it manages to be simultaneously breathtaking and yawn-inducing. Make no mistake: the fi lm contains sensational moments. But at heart it’s a simple man-v-nature yarn that runs along much the same lines as Touching the Void, All Is Lost or Gravity. The diff erence is that the latter three all had the good sense to appreciate that nerve- shredding intensity tends to sag at around the 100-minute mark. The Revenant obliges us to sit watching Leonardo DiCaprio’s beard accumulate frost — as fi ne a sight as that is — for over two and a half hours before the credits roll. It is symptomatic of a trend. Only two of this year’s best-picture Oscar nominees come in at under two hours (the shortest, Brooklyn, doing so by just eight minutes) — and yet 2016’s batch feels charitably short compared with recent others. Three years ago, Zero Dark Thirty, Lincoln, Django Unchained and Les Misérables were all shortlisted for the big prize, regardless of how many minds started wondering what’s for dinner while watching them. Similarly, there’s a range to whittle The Wolf of Wall substitute “set pieces” for each other through skyscrapers, all shame. Doubly so when some of the of reasons why Quentin Street down to less than three hours. “indecipherable pseudoscience” of it too noisy to even catch some best fi lms of recent times — Before Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight isn’t Scorsese’s repetitive debauchery- and you’ve got the gaping pitfall sleep in. Midnight, Under the Skin, Inside on this year’s shortlist, but the fest was fun, but like The Revenant that both Interstellar and Ridley But enough. The point is that Llewyn Davis, Whiplash — worked fi lm’s bloated indiscipline would and The Hateful Eight — and unlike, Scott’s Prometheus tumbled down. some fi lms warrant a lengthy so brilliantly precisely because of be top of the pile, taking the basic for instance, Boyhood — it failed to David Fincher’s Gone running time. Many don’t. You their succinctness. setup of his pithy masterpiece realise that grandeur should be the Girl and Dragon Tattoo adaptations often sense that their makers failed Of course, none of those Reservoir Dogs and spinning it out byproduct of great fi lm-making both tried in vain to cram a hefty to see the wood for the trees in fi lms, bar Whiplash, drew many over three hours, six chapters and a rather than an end in itself. novel’s worth of plot into 150 the fi rst place, setting out to make hat-tips from the Academy. But self-admiring intermission. At the other end of the spectrum minutes, the outcome in both cases an eye-popping enormo-movie there is hope: two years ago, But then the auteur’s vision has to these needlessly drawn-out being a movie that seemed way too and then fi lling in the blanks from Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity, with long since been the enemy of lean premise movies are fi lms that long and not long enough. there (here’s looking at you, James its 90-minute running time, fi lm-making. Sixty years ago, Akira are so jam-packed with stuff Similar accusations can be Cameron). proved that an epic fi lm doesn’t Kurosawa was fl icking V-signs at happening that they have no levelled at Peter Jackson, whose There is surely a large element have to be epically long. Gravity the notion of “90-minute magic” room to breathe. This is the nine-hour Hobbit trilogy is a model here of big-name directors being was economical fi lm-making, by doubling that fi gure and adding main reason Spectre is making of self-discipline compared with granted free rein due to the economically fruitful (raking in on another half-hour for good no waves during awards season, the 12 hours and six minutes that guaranteed ticket sales they bring. more than $200mn profi t), and a hit measure, with Seven Samurai. with Sam Mendes’ insatiable the extended editions of his Lord of That, plus the producers’ eternal with the judges too, hoovering up And a quarter of a century after appetite for set pieces leaving the the Rings fi lms spent amid the CGI fear of the trinket-dispensers seven Oscars. Michael Cimino unwittingly movie on the same overstuff ed landscapes of Middle-earth. paying their movie no heed if it It’s a model that plenty more changed the course of cinema shelf as Christopher Nolan’s Dark More recently, Zach doesn’t at least look like an epic (call should aspire to. As it is, too many history with his 219-minute Knight series. Snyder’s Man of Steel went on for it Dances With Wolves syndrome). directors are failing to recognise snore-fest Heaven’s Gate, Martin It’s a shelf well stocked with two and a half hours, at least 90% Either way, as anyone who’s sat that aiming long isn’t the same as Scorsese was struggling desperately blockbusters from recent years: of which was superheroes throwing through Exodus will tell you, it’s a aiming high. — The Guardian 20 GULF TIMES Tuesday, January 26, 2016 COMMUNITY Last chance to view Luc Tuymans’ works The celebrated figurative painter’s retrospective at Al Riwaq, Intolerance, comes to a close with barely a week to go. By Anand Holla

claim to the unremarkable aspects of daily life and bigger issues alike, as if remotely struggling for synthesis,” Avgikos writes, in his piece, “Resistance to the dizzying pace of contemporary culture takes many routes in his images. He takes up subjects and events of churning political signifi cance, mediating fi gurative markers in such a way as to provoke unresolvable complexities. Whose history is it? How does media aff ect our consciousness? Can an image be owned?” Tuymans’s paintings are always informed by a subtext that concerns imaging technologies, feels Avgikos. The “photographic,” a notational device that can suggest vague familiarity even when enigma prevails, is one of the ways we locate ourselves in his work, he says. “Compared with generations of analogue culture, the digital era is characterised by unprecedented complexity, rampant uncertainty, and hypermobility,” Avgikos explains, “Today, it seems as if every other person uses a cellphone and billions are online. Digital media enable us to do things we couldn’t imagine 20 years ago. One result is that it is increasingly hard, if not nearly impossible, for many people to fully grasp what is going on. Tuymans’s art has always pivoted on this concern.” Avgikos continues, “The cross-border operations of Tuymans’ paintings raise important questions about global power structures, politics, and economics. When Tuymans paints a picture, we understand that the image has been uploaded and downloaded many times over, stripped of context, retrofi tted ad infi nitum, and its meanings hinge ENIGMATIC: Painter Luc Tuymans at Al Riwaq. Photo by Anand Holla on such operations.” In his piece, Jenevive Nykolak points out, ome Saturday and it’s a wrap on in his piece, says, “In any exhibition of his provoke discomfort and unease,” writes Serota, “The connection between the signifi cance of a one of the biggest solo exhibitions work there is a prevailing sense of menace and “In this he refl ects the artifi ce and uncertainties subject and its appearance has long been central to hit Qatar. As the fascinating Luc unease lying beneath a surface of innocence. of the world in the early 21st century.” to Tuymans’s enterprise. Again and again, he Tuymans retrospective at Al Riwaq Seemingly empty landscapes or rooms, Art critic and historian Jan Avgikos points raises the potential unrecognisability of any inches towards its closure, we off er apparently innocuous still-life compositions, out Tuymans’ remark that the power of representation and casts into doubt the ability insightC into the celebrated fi gurative painter’s blank portraits and fi gures caught in the fl ash painting lies in its ability to slow things down. of an image, recognised or not, to be truly art and ideas, and give you new reasons to not of the photographer’s exposure generate a sense “The refl ective capacity of his work lays adequate to its subject.” miss this last chance to catch it. of disquiet that is only partially explained when With its sheer scale and range, let alone we read the titles. Like the photographs of the content, Tuymans’ exhibition Intolerance hillsides in Serbia or paddy fi elds in Cambodia, elicits awe and wonder. Qatar Museums’ (QM) the full import becomes clear only after we have showcasing of his fi rst solo show in the Gulf is read the caption that tells us that these fi elds of a mega project that courses through 30 years cultivation were also fi elds of death.” of his work, featuring a long series of wall All through his career, Tuymans has paintings and a new body of work, The Arena, addressed diffi cult topics such as colonialism, created specifi cally for the show. post-colonialism, and the propaganda symbols An in-depth, exhaustive catalogue titled of Nazi Germany, and his signature painting Luc Tuymans: Intolerance – available at the style often references the techniques and visual venue, and also as a digital edition through qualities of fi lm, reusing and refocusing images musebooks.com – was published on occasion in ways that can simultaneously compel and of the exhibition. distance the viewer. Put together by Curator Lynne Cooke and Tuymans is an artist whose sharp Tommy Simoens, this 465-page catalogue is observation of the contemporary world is a defi nitive companion to viewing the artist’s deeply unsettling, feels Serota. “There is a works as it off ers interesting perspectives. beauty in his paintings that attracts and seduces Nicholas Serota, Director of the Tate gallery, our eye, while his images carry us into areas that Intolerance The Rabbit