SUNDAY, AUGUST 12, 2018 (PAGE 4)

MOVIE­REVIEW PERSONALITY High on guns and action RATAN KAUL VISHWAROOP II continues from where the first film forward manner and at the same time, some extended ended. After the plan of Al-Qaeda terrorist Omar Qureshi sequences are also added. The manner in which it’s done Ambassador of Public Diplomacy (Rahul Bose) to attack New York City is disrupted by RAW is very bland and disinteresting. Also, VISHWAROOP Agent Wisam Ahmad Kashmiri aka Vishwanathan aka Vis doesn’t have a recall value and the first half wasn’t a criti- Ashok Ogra (Kamal Haasan), the former and his aide Salim (Jaideep cal or commercial success. Moreover, it had come 5 ½ Ahlawat) escape. Wisam’s wife Nirupama (Pooja Kumar) years ago. As a result, most of the moviegoers will have no Festivals and exhibitions play an important slowly begins to accept the fact that her hubby is a dash- clue of the events that unfolded in part 1. But Kamal Haasan role in promoting cultural heritage and ing secret agent and not an effeminate dancer that she and team assume that viewers very well remember what diversity. They are catalysts for intercultural loathed. Wisam, Nirupama, Wisam’s protégé Ashmita all happened in VISHWAROOP. Even after the recap por- dialogue and they reach out to people from (Andrea Jeremiah) and Wisam’s boss Colonel Jagannath tions get over and the film comes back to present day, noth- (Shekhar Kapur) then head to United Kingdom where they ing much happens in the story. The intermission point is different backgrounds and across generations. get ambushed and they suspect that it’s the handiwork of random but in the second half, a new chapter begins with the expat Rajesh Mehta (Ananth Narayan Mahadevan). All this allows us to enjoy diverse range of music and visu- no connection as such to the underwater sequence that al and performing art forms thus enriching our lives. In many Soon Wisam discovers that Omar has planned to explode happened before the interval. This bit too takes a lot of time ways, these events are the embodiment of our civilizational the bombs situated under water since the time of World ethos and heritage. Respecting and celebrating diversity. At the launch of the book on Mr. Narendra Modi War 2 and thereby destroy the city of London. He also finds to come to the main point and once it does, it is very abrupt- ly and hurriedly done. This is particularly true in the case of India - its rich tradi- Credit goes to Ratan for conceptualizing the Delhi Litera- out about another shocking terror attack planned by Omar tions, art and music and literature and films - need a platform in Delhi. What happens next forms the As for acting, Kamal Haasan is decent and tries to give ture Fest in 2013 - a fest that has now become an annual event. for wider dissemination and exposure, thus, fostering under- She also organizes several international conferences, sem- rest of the film. standing and appreciation. inars, and award functions. And these joyous events can only take place only when The annual International Women's Day awards' that she there is conscious effort to seek larger public participation launched over a decade ago is much eagerly anticipated event Kamal Haasan’s story through promotion. That calls for fruitful cooperation in Delhi's calendar. between artists, writers, musicians, authors, government bod- No wonder, Ratan has emerged as a well known name in has some promise and ies …and those who have the requisite expertise in organizing the social, cultural, diplomatic, business and political circles it could have made for such events and create necessary media hype to motivate peo- of Delhi and beyond. Notwithstanding these multifarious ple to attend and participate in these festivals. activities, she continues to be a proud Kashmiri by heart: she a nice, espionage action Coupled with art and cultural festivals, lately publishing is the Executive President of the Kashmiryat Preservation industry too has shown robust growth with many Indians opt- Foundation. thriller. But Kamal ing to write books. Book launches too demand great organi- The Public Diplomacy Forum (PDF) founded by Ratan zational skills to influence sale/readership. Kaul and Shilpa Raina Wahal is in the forefront of shaping Haasan’s screenplay It is in this context that Mrs. Ratan Kaul who describes her- evolving debates across issues, ranging from global gover- is very weak and self a Public Diplomat has earned a name. Looking at the range nance reforms and climate change to peace in their mother- of activities that she engages in, perhaps, one can call her a land Kashmir - showcasing to the global community the Par- disjointed. The true Ambassador of Art and Culture, and Public Diplomacy. adise that Kashmir was. She is a Social Architect and a Peacenik. Always elegantly dressed, Ratan is always thinking of new- sequences are not She has been in the forefront of organizing art fairs and er ways of showcasing our rich cultural heritage, promoting exhibitions to enhance opportunities for artists, broadening artists and authors and ways to further the cause of peace stitched together well. the contemporary art audience, and establishing a continuous across religious and caste divide and international borders. dialogue between artists and public. In not too distant past art One newspaper described her path-breaking, proactive Kamal Haasan’s story has some was bought for art's sake and not for investment purpose. and pragmatic- encapsulating her personality and several promise and it could have made for a Today commerce defines art scene- thus attracting decent roles that she performs with great ease and sophistication. buyers. She plays an important role in projecting young tal- nice, espionage action thriller. But Apolitical by nature, Ratan hobnobs seamlessly across par- ented artists who otherwise would remain unnoticed. ty barriers: Sonia Gandhi, Sushma Swaraj, Shashi Tharoor, Kamal Haasan’s screenplay is very weak Late last month Ratan organized an event that saw the Farooq Abdullah etc… and disjointed. The sequences are not stitched together his best shot. But due to faulty writing and execution, his inauguration of the Prithvi Fine Art & Cultural Centre, New That she is at ease with all shades of politicians is only performance gets affected. Also, some of his dialogues are well. There are some individualistic scenes involving Delhi - founded by noted artist and poet Sangeeta Gupta. because she remains singularly focused in her mission and Wisam and Nirupama and even Wisam and his mother difficult to decipher. Rahul Bose has a very short role this I first met Ratan at a book launch several years ago, and does not allow herself to be sucked into political maneuver- (Waheeda Rehman) that stand out. But these scenes have time since the film goes off track and hence he gets limit- since then I have been a witness to her commitment and pas- ing that defines Lutyens Delhi. no connection as such to the main plot and that’s not good ed scope. He hams all the way like never before. See it to sion for promoting art and culture and introducing authors - She is a recipient of several Awards and accolades, fore- for a film that’s actually an action entertainer. Atul Tiwari’s believe it! Pooja Kumar makes her presence felt more in both known and new to the general public. most among them being 'Ambassador of Peace ' from the Peace dialogues are simple and aren’t memorable. the sequel and gives a fine performance. Also she adds the Authors, editors and other book-minded people talk a lot Federation at Geneva and the PRIDE of INDIA in the catego- Kamal Haasan’s direction is very poor and he complete- required sizzle in few scenes. Andrea Jeremiah too has a about the importance of book launches to generate lots of ry of 'Outstanding Woman Achiever '. ly lost the opportunity of taking this franchise forward better fleshed out role and she’s confident. Shekhar Kapur media coverage, favourable reviews and word of mouth Ratan is an alumnus of Sophia College, Ajmer and has nicely. The film doesn’t involve or move viewers at all and is dependable. Ananth Narayan Mahadevan is memorable momentum. earned her Master's Degree in Linguistics from Delhi Univer- there are too many tracks running simultaneously and but his track doesn’t serve much of a purpose and it was It is true that book launches that she arranges do not guar- sity. She is an excellent communicator. none of them leave an impact. What works are the few flawed. Jaideep Ahlawat gets some scope only towards the antee book's success and authors are not doomed if there is Ratan is also Vice President of Indian Council of UN Rela- scenes that are helmed well like Ashmita and Wisam find- tions and Consulting Editor of Business Sphere. She is also end. Waheeda Rehman is endearing but again, her track no launch. But a successful launch has its own rewards. ing the bug in the room in UK, the action sequence in the "Launching a book is exhausting. There are so many mov- associated with J & K NGO -Aashiana. is just forced in the film. Yusuf Hussain is okay while Rajen- beginning, the underwater action madness and Wisam’s ing pieces of getting a book out on the market. It is lot of hard In short, Mrs. Ratan Kaul is one of the most prominent heroic entry in the finale. dra Gupta is disappointing and it was frustrating to see work," Ratan explains. faces outside of Parliament and Board-rooms. VISHWAROOP II’s opening credits are splendid and how he kept on hammering the importance of ‘collateral She has organized numerous class book launches / book Her success lies in elevating the experience of all those who you expect the fireworks to begin right from the first scene damage’. discussions with well known authors and publishers, among attend the various baithaks/ art and music festivals, book and continue till the end. There’s an intense action scene On the whole, VISHWAROOP II is a highly avoidable them was also the discussion on PM Narendra Modi's book launches / discussions, international conferences and semi- nars that she conceptualizes and arranges - thus bringing peo- in the first 15 minutes itself when the car topples after being flick. The film has too many tracks and the narration and in the presence of Arun Jaitely & Prakash Javdekar and sev- execution is flawed and weak. Also at the box office, the eral others. Recently, she hosted a discussion on 'Why I am a ple together as they share diverse experiences. attacked by a terrorist. From here on, the film goes down- film will have a tough time. Hindu' - book by the same name authored by Shashi Tharoor The author is a noted management & media educator. He was earlier Regional hill. The film then depicts some portions of VISHWAROOP - that evoked lots of interest. Director, Discovery Channel ( South Asia) (when Wisam goes undercover in a terror camp) in a fast- Courtesy : http://www.bollywoodhungama.com HEALTHLINES ART & CULTURE Coronary artery disease in women “Brides should follow their hearts” Dr Bhawna Singh rise in triglycerides & LDL cholesterol (Bad Cholesterol) in sapphire blues and softer pastel shades—enthused serum. There is increased prevalence of obesity among by the colours of the vibrant birds and lakes of Cardiovascular Diseases are one of the females. Most do not engage in physical activity and 18% Celebrated fashion designer Anita Dongre’s Ranthambore. The collection is handcrafted in intri- major causes of loss of life worldwide. CAD of them are smokers. collection showcased at the 6th edition of cately embroidered motifs. The lehengas are classics with varied styles of cholis and contrasting dupattas. (Coronary Artery Diseases) that is blockages Depression is 3-4% is more common in women and is a the Vogue Wedding Show in New Delhi this major cause of heart attack. Is there a new look for the bridegroom? If in the arteries of heart, leading to heart Stress of modern life and sedentary lifestyle is common month celebrates the promises of love and so, do elaborate. attack and stroke are the main culprits. in women making them more prone to heart attack. Oral commitment and the vows made of fulfilling Today, grooms can experiment with classic sil- houettes with a modern twist. Be it in the details on The incidence of Coronary artery Disease in women is contraceptive users, who are above 35 years of age and dreams and spending a lifetime together. the buttons, the pocket squares, or the butti print on on high rise. The Inter Heart study carried out in 52 coun- smoke, run for fourfold risk of heart attack and stroke. Sonali Jha Chatterjee caught up with her the inner lining of a bandhgala, there’s always a tries revealed that women have their first presentation of Prevention of CAD and Heart attack among women: minimal touch of modernity. The menswear line sees CAD about 10 years later than men, mostly after * Stop smoking and limit alcohol intake. to know more * Engage in regular exercise for atleast 30 to 40 minutes some traditional safaas and further experimentation menopause. Despite this delay, CAD is increasing more What trends do you see in this season’s with fabric texturing and silhouettes. a day, 5 days a week. rapidly among women. wedding couture collection? What stands out in jewellery and hair- * Maintain healthy diet, low in trans-fats and high in I personally believe that more than following style/makeup for your bridal collection? How fiber. Take anti-oxidants and nutritional supplements as per trends, brides should follow their hearts and what did you work to get that complete look? age. makes them feel special on their wedding day. Apart * Regular check and control of blood pressure is required. Medicine should be taken regularly if advised. * Keep a watch on Blood Sugar and maintain good con- Be it in the details trol, once detected with diabetes. * Obesity is a serious problem & must be addressed on the buttons, the accordingly. Do not ignore childhood obesity. pocket squares, or * Get "lipid profile" checked up and control it through diet, exercise and if required, through medicines like the butti print on Statins. the inner lining of * Aspirin is a good blood thinner which should be tak- a bandhgala, there’s Anita Dongre en regularly by post-menopausal women, if advised by a doctor as it can prevent heart attack always a minimal * Regular meditation and yoga keep stress and CAD at bay. touch of modernity. Dietary measures that keep your heart healthy: * Avoid junk, canned, processed food & red meat as they The menswear increase bad cholesterol and uric acid, which are risk fac- line sees some tors for CAD. They also contain saturated fats, which are traditional safaas Major factors for Heart Attack: also harmful. High Cholesterol * Trans-fats should be avoided. These are mainly found and further Smoking in commercially baked cookies, cakes, muffins and Pizza experimentation dough, packaged snacks like microwave popcorns, chips High Blood Pressure with fabric textur- Diabetes and candies, fried food like French fries, fried chicken, Abdominal Obesity chicken nuggets. Pre-mixed products like cake mix, pan ing and silhouettes. Stress cakes, chocolate milk also contain trans-fats. Low intake of fruits * Consumption of ghee and poor control of sugar can lead to lone rise in triglycerides, the bad cholesterol. from the traditional reds Alcohol consumption and pinks, jewel tones are making an appearance in When it comes to accessorizing and jewellery, the * Good amount of green leafy vegetables, specially Physical inactivity couture bridal collections this season. Designers are concept of ? 'less is more' is the key. Wearing one spinach has been found to prevent heart attack. These risk factors accounted for occurrence of CAD in introducing new age, experimental silhouettes that statement piece that complements the outfit works * Sprouts mainly fenugreek seeds are not only rich 90% of men & 94% of women. There is an epidemic of CAD are a welcome change. wonders for the look. For one of our looks, from the in India. It has increased from 27.64 million patients in year source of anti-oxidants but also their high fiber content pre- Where did the inspiration for your collec- 'Odyssey' collection, we opted for a fine Jadau piece 2000 to 61.52 million patients by 2015 in reported cases. vents absorption of fat from food and lowers triglycerides. tion come from? complete with Meenakari enamelling to complement Loss of life in men is 386 per lac population & in women * Add flax seeds and oats to your diet as they are rich in For our new collection 'Odyssey', that we’ve show- a regal bridal ensemble with a scooped neckline. 283 per lac population, which is twice as that of USA. Heart fiber and Omega 3 fatty acids. cased at Vogue Wedding Show this year, we drew Another stand-out look was one where we chose a attacks leading to sudden deaths, before reaching hospital, * Garlic helps in lowering bad cholesterol and keeps inspiration from within the forests of Ranthambore, in women is higher amounting to 52% as compared to men blood thin. that are rooted in eras of heritage. These majestic statement neckpiece and a matha patti and paired it woods have witnessed the harmony and balance of which is 42%. * Nuts like almonds and walnuts reduce bad cholesterol with a gorgeous heritage inspired bridal outfit in our and fatal arrythmias and raise good cholesterol. Walnuts life at its purest.. This collection celebrates the "Diary of a Rajkumari" collection. Reasons for increased susceptibility in Indian promises of love and commitment and the vows women for heart attack: are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids. What kind of challenges did you face while * Omega 3 fatty acids are found in abundance in fish and made of fulfilling dreams and spending a lifetime Women have 15% higher prevalence of high blood pres- together. creating this year’s wedding collection? other sea foods along with Vitamin A and D and are pro- sure than men. Their blood pressure is more under treat- Any particular designs and colours Every task comes with its own set of challenges. ed and poorly controlled. tective for heart. favoured by you this year? Are you trying a However, the feeling of watching your vision coming Women require higher serum level of HDL (Good Cho- * Colored fruits and vegetables are rich in anti-oxi- totally new range of colours? to life is unparalleled. My mantra is to simply love lesterol), that is 50 mg/dl as compared to men that is 40 dants which removes free radicals that are harmful for This season, the colour palette speaks of a variety what you do and work hard to get to your dreams. the arteries. mg/dl, to prevent heart attack. After menopause, there is of jewel tones with deep ruby reds, emerald greens, (IBNS-TWF)