C VER S Y Aleppo - Gulf Times

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Jumada II 11, 1437 AHSunday, March 20, 2016

CommunityThe International School of

London-Qatar’s 2016 International Family Food Fair witnessed a footfall of around 1,000.

CommunityAward-winning Japanese director

Naomi Kawase speaks about how she got drawn to the magic of films.

P7 P20

Ode to Aleppo

31 cheers for Syrian photographer

Ammar Abd Rabbo’s kaleidoscope

of a city that refuses to die. P4-5

COVER

STORY

Photo by Anand Holla

Community EditorKamran Rehmat

e-mail: [email protected]: 44466405

Fax: 44350474

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PRAYER TIME

Fajr 4.22amShorooq (sunrise) 5.39amZuhr (noon) 11.42amAsr (afternoon) 3.08pmMaghreb (sunset) 5.47pmIsha (night) 7.17pm

We must use time wisely and forever

realise that the time is always ripe to do right.

— Nelson Mandela

Sunday, March 20, 20162 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

Kapoor and SonsGENRE: Comedy, DramaCAST: Alia Bhatt, Fawad Khan, Siddharth MalhotraDIRECTION: Shakun BatraSYNOPSIS: Rahul and Arjun Kapoor, two estranged

brothers are forced to return to their childhood home when their 90-year-old grandpa wants to see them, then gets a

heart attack. While living under one roof, family secrets unravel and misunderstandings are on the verge of turning into tragedy. Rahul and Arjun both fall in love with the same girl, which is where the problem starts. This problem adds a great disturbance between the two.

THEATRES: Landmark, The Mall

Kung Fu Panda 3GENRE: Animation, Action, AdventureCAST: Jack Black, Bryan Cranston, Dustin Hoff manDIRECTION: Alessandro Carloni, Jennifer YuhSYNOPSIS: Continuing his legendary adventures of

awesomeness, Po must face two hugely epic, but diff erent threats: one supernatural and the other a little closer to his home. In 2016, one of the most successful animated franchises in the world returns with its biggest comedy adventure yet,

Kung Fu Panda 3. When Po’s long-lost panda father suddenly reappears, the reunited duo travels to a secret panda paradise to meet scores of hilarious new panda characters. But when the supernatural villain Kai begins to sweep across China defeating all the Kung Fu masters, Po must do the impossible-learn to train a village full of his fun-loving, clumsy brethren to become the ultimate band of Kung Fu Pandas!

THEATRES: Landmark, The Mall, Royal Plaz

Mall Cinema (1): Emelie (2D) 2.30pm; The Dressmaker (2D) 4pm; London Has Fallen (2D) 6.15pm; Frankenstein (2D) 8pm; The Wave (2D) 9.30pm; Pugazh (Tamil) 11.15pm.Mall Cinema (2): Kung Fu Panda 3 (2D) 2.30pm; Zootropolis: Zootopia (2D) 4.15pm; Kung Fu Panda 3 (2D) 6pm; Solace (2D) 7.45pm; The Witch (2D) 9.45pm; Solace (2D) 11.30pm.Mall Cinema (3): Maheshinte Prathikaram (Malayalam) 2.15pm; Kapoor & Sons (Hindi) 4.30pm; Kung Fu Panda 3 (2D) 7pm; Maheshinte Prathikaram (Malayalam) 8.45pm; Kapoor & Sons (Hindi) 11pm.Cinema Land Mark(1): Emelie (2D) 2.30pm; The Dressmaker (2D) 4pm; London Has Fallen (2D) 6pm; The

Divergent Series:Allegiant (2D) 7.45pm; The Wave (2D) 9.45pm; Frankenstein (2D) 11.30pm.Cinema Land Mark(2): Zootropolis: Zootopia (2D) 2.30pm; Kung Fu Panda 3 (2D) 4.15pm; Kung Fu Panda 3 (2D) 6pm; The Witch (2D) 7.45pm; Solace (2D) 9.30pm; Solace (2D) 11.15pm.Cinema Land Mark(3): Pugazh (Tamil) 2.30pm; Maheshinte Prathikaram (Malayalam) 4.45pm; Kung Fu Panda 3 (2D) 7pm; Pugazh (Tamil) 8.45pm; Maheshinte Prathikaram (Malayalam) 11pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1): Kung Fu Panda 3 (2D) 3pm; Kung Fu Panda 3 (2D)

5pm; Kung Fu Panda 3 (2D) 7pm; Solace (2D) 9pm; Solace (2D) 11pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2): The Divergent Series:Allegiant (2D) 2.30pm; Zootropolis: Zootopia (2D) 4.30pm;

Frankenstein (2D) 6.15pm; London Has Fallen (2D) 8pm; The Wave (2D) 9.45pm; The Witch (2D) 11.30pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (3): The Dressmaker (2D) 2.45pm; The Dressmaker (2D) 5pm; The Divergent Series:Allegiant (2D) 7pm; Frankenstein (2D) 9pm; Emelie (2D) 11.15pm.Asian Town Cinema: Maheshinte Prathikaram (Malayalam) 5.45, 6.30,8, 8.45, 10.15 & 11pm; Puthiya Niyamam (Malayalam) 5.30, 8 & 10.30pm; Pugazh (Tamil) 8.45pm; Kapoor And Sons (Hindi) 6.15 & 11.15pm.

Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change

3Sunday, March 20, 2016 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYROUND & ABOUT

EVENTS

BeHealthy4lifeDATE: March 25TIME: All dayVENUE: Sharq Village & Spa Beach AreaBeHealthy4life focuses on four elements

essential in promoting healthy living. These elements include Healthy Eating Habits, Not Smoking, Exercise and Physical Activities and Handling stress. Beach Volleyball is one of the series of F318’s sports events to promote the BeHealthy4Life campaign as this kind of sport provides the quickest calorie burn of any type of volleyball.

White Night in the DesertDATE: March 25TIME: 1:30pmVENUE: Khor Al UdeidArabian Adventures Qatar (AAQ), the

pioneer inland tour company in Qatar, organises White Night in the Desert featuring The Doha String Quartet. After the successful White Night in the Desert a couple of years ago, the group will once again serenade the guests at Arabian Adventures Qatar’s traditional camp in Khor Al Udeid on March 25.

Animal ParkDATE: Until April 2TIME: 4pmVENUE: Qatar Sports ClubAnimal Park features animatronic models

of dinosaurs and other large animals. The park is located on an empty lot near the Qatar Sports Club in West Bay. This park is inspired by Jurassic Park and includes; animatronic Dinosaur, King Kong and Godzilla models as tall as 8m. An area for children is also available for fun interactions with smaller robotic animal models.

Fitness and Health ExpoDATE: March 22TIME: 5:30-7:30pmVENUE: Grand Hyatt DohaThe Grand Hyatt Doha and Zumba Fiesta

Qatar proudly present first ever Zumba Master Class of world-class standard in Qatar. Steve Boedt is an award-winning industry leader, teaching and performing around the world. Special guests include the dynamic dance and Zumba performer from Spain, Jon Martin and funky firecracker and Zumba jammer from Dubai, Rellu Pats.

Spring Summer 2016 CollectionDATE: March 31TIME: 7pm-9pmVENUE: The Gate Mall, West BayThe exciting launch event will be open

to the public on March 31 at The Gate Mall, for which Salam and Noor have fused art and fashion in a museum-type installation called ‘The Fashion Dream House’. The

exhibition will feature various spaces from a house setting (living room, garden, bedroom), using clothing from the latest fashion collections inspired by the season’s focus on pastel colours and Noor’s art to bring to life everyday living scenes in a playful way.

Techstars Startup ProgramsDATE: March 23TIME: 2pmVENUE: Qatar UniversityStartup Weekends are 54-hour events

designed to provide superior experiential education for technical and non-technical entrepreneurs. Beginning with Thursday night pitches and continuing through brainstorming, business plan development, and basic prototype creation, Startup Weekends culminate in Saturday night demos and presentations.

Spring Exhibition MIADATE: Until July 16TIME: 10:30am- 5pmVENUE: QM Gallery Al RiwaqAn exhibition of 15 contemporary

Chinese artists, curated by internationally acclaimed New York-based Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang, will be on view at the QM Gallery Al Riwaq. The exhibition will be the major highlight presented in the context of the Qatar China 2016 Year of Culture. Artworks exemplifying each and every artist’s unique artistic language and methodology will be displayed in individual galleries.

Chinese Silk ArtDATE: March 24-May 9VENUE: QM Gallery in KataraThe second major exhibition of the

Qatar China 2016 Year of Culture, ‘Silks from the Silk Road – Chinese Art of Silk’, presents silk as a theme, and as a special local product of Zhejiang that played an important role in trade along the Silk Road. The exhibition highlights ancient and modern Chinese silk works, with around 100 pieces due to be showcased at the QM Gallery in Katara over a period of 6 weeks.

Qatar International Food FestivalDATE: March 22-28VENUE: MIA ParkQatar Tourism Authority will organise

the seventh edition of Qatar International Food Festival under the theme “a different side of food”. This year’s festival will be extended to seven days and expanded to other landmarks and eateries, including: the Pearl-Qatar and Katara Cultural Village. Chinese food lovers will also have plenty to look forward to, with Chinese cuisine featuring as part of “Qatar-China 2016 Year of Culture” celebrations.

Pakistan Cultural Festival DATE: March 31-April 3VENUE: Katara Cultural VillageBiggest made in Pakistan expo, ethnic

food street, huge kids zone, live musical concert by Pakistani singers, folk dancers, performances and more.

Shrek the Musical!DATE: Until March 19TIME: 7:30pmVENUE: QNCC TheatreShrek the Musical! tells the touching story

of a hulking green ogre who, after being mocked, feared his entire life by anything that crosses his path, retreats to an ugly green swamp to exist in happy isolation.

Al GannasDATE: Until Oct 30TIME: 9am - 11:30 amVENUE: Al Gannas SocietyAl Gannas Association is participating in

the ‘Our culture is a school’ programme by organising many activities for the students every Monday and Wednesday of the week. These activities include explanations on hunting and related tools, kinds of falcons and preys, in addition to workshop on how to carry a falcon, set a traditional tent (made of goat & camel hair), prepare traditional Arabic coff ee, etc.

Weekends at Aspire ZoneDATE: Until March 24TIME: 4pm-9pmVENUE: Aspire ParkAspire Zone Foundation invites you to

come along with your family and friends, and to bring your kids every Thursday for outdoor sport fun activities, including football, volleyball, competitions and games for boys and girls, from 4pm to 9pm.

Childhood Cultural CenterDATE: Until March 31TIME: 9am-10:30amVENUE: KataraChildhood Cultural Center participation

in ‘Schools Enrich our Culture’ programme includes a variety of educational and artistic workshops.

Art ExhibitionDATE: Until April 18VENUE: Porto Arabia, Pearl Diff usion by Peter Zimmermann — A

mesmerising solo exhibition of colourful, futuristic works. Anima Gallery, Parcel 17, Porto Arabia, The Pearl-Qatar. Contact: 40027437

Qatari Agricultural Product YardsDATE: Until June 30VENUE: Al Mazrooa, Al Zakheera, Al

Khor, Al WakrahThe Ministry of Environment has opened

the 4th season of Qatari agricultural product yards for selling locally produced fruits, vegetables, poultry, fi sh and livestock. Work in these yards will continue for seven months. The yards will operate three days a week on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 7am to 5pm, with livestock vendors in Al Mazrooa operating at the same times throughout the week.

Ladies day at BeachDATE: Every MondayTIME: 9am-7pmVENUE: Sheraton DohaFor all the ladies in Doha! Do you feel

like taking some time off for yourself? Come join us at the Sheraton Resort for an all-day-access to the beach and pool, along with aqua gym aerobics for free. Nestled on the edge of Qatar’s West Bay with an unbeatable and uninterrupted views of the blue sea. Our pool and beach adds an exciting experience to enhance your senses of relaxation. Enjoy only for QR100 per person.

Join in our Walk-in WeekendsDATE: Every Saturday VENUE: MIA AtriumMIA art education and calligraphy teams

off er walk-in workshops in MIA’s atrium every Saturday. These walk-in workshops are for open for all family members.

Pub QuizDATE: March 28TIME: 8pmVENUE: Shehrazad, Radisson BluBring your team of six or less to compete

over fi ve rounds of intellectual battles. Quiz starts at 8pm sharp, registration from 6pm. Winning teams receive vouchers for food and beverages within the hotel. As Shehrazad is a bar then a valid Qatari ID or original passport is required for entry.

FOODIE CHOICE

RESTAURANT: H akkasan LOCATION: St Regis HotelThe design of the restaurant is made

up of small dining areas, rather than one big open space, which helps create a more intimate environment. It’s the food though that’s Hakkasan’s crowning glory; from the delectable ‘Pan-fried Wagyu beef in spicy Szechuan sauce’ to the mouth watering ‘Stir-fry Chilean Seabass’.

Cultural Diversity festivalDATE: Until May 31TIME: 7:30-9pmVENUE: Katara Beach Over 20 countries from all over the world are showcasing their traditions and heritage.


COMMUNITY COVER STORY

“There’s a human side to this tragedy”

—Ammar Abd Rabbo, celebrated Syrian lensman

SUNDAY CONVERSATION

Photo by Anand Holla

—Ammar AAbbd Rabboo, celleebbraatteedd SSyyrriiaann lleennsmmaan

I really believe it’s our

duty, and mine as a Syrian, to document

what is happening and show the world.

If we don’t do it, who will

By Anand Holla

What becomes immediately apparent upon taking a good look at Ammar Abd Rabbo’s new solo exhibition ‘Aleppo’ is the tasteful proclivities of the city’s people, even a sense of joie de vivre, while being swept into the throes

of devastation.Through his spread of 31 photographs, Syrian photographer

Abd Rabbo, who is regarded as one of Arab world’s noteworthy photojournalists, tells us, among many things, the cultured sophistication of the people of Syria.

“There’s amazing beauty and very high standard and tastefulness of living among the people of Aleppo. Even if they are poor, they are careful about the way they eat or conduct themselves. You can see many such instances in these pictures taken during the war,” the Damascus-born Abd Rabbo tells Community moments before the exhibition opened on Tuesday at Building 22 of Katara — it is on until March 30.

Marking the fi fth anniversary of the Syrian Revolution, the exhibition presented by Katara and the French Embassy in Qatar, serves as homage to the civilians trapped in Syrian cities. As Abd Rabbo rightly points out, there are several instances of the “tastefulness” of Aleppo’s people.

In one photograph, an armed soldier guarding a part of a crumbling souq amidst heavy shelling is seen seated next to


COMMUNITYCOVER STORY

a cup of tea on a little stove and smoking his sheesha. In another picture, we see the dilapidated portions of a bombed building being turned into the shooting locale for a local comedy TV series. There are other striking, everyday pictures, such as that of a boy selling green plums on a handcart, or a bunch of youth dancing in their neighbourhood even as their vicinity is plunged in violence.

Such daily life depictions tell us a lot about who these people are, feels Abd Rabbo. “What was important for me was to convey the human side of Aleppo’s people — their humanity, their dancing, chanting, eating, going to school, going to markets. It’s important to show that despite everything collapsing in Syria, there’s a human side to this tragedy,” Abd Rabbo says.

Thought-stirring and deeply aff ecting, Abd Rabbo’s photographs off er an earnest glimpse into just how the Syrians are getting by in the war-torn state. “Most people have the idea that Syrians are either monsters like the Daesh or the regime, or that they are refugees and have all left Syria. These pictures insist and show that the people of Syria are living there, defending their homes in spite of a massive humanitarian crisis,” Abd Rabbo says.

To add to the world’s eroding empathy and understanding of the situation, “most of the tragedies in Syria have been totally dehumanised,” Abd Rabbo believes. “When you see people beheading people, or throwing them off the top of buildings, you tend to distance yourself from it all. You feel like you don’t want to be involved with these people. Unfortunately, that takes away the humanity from the Syrians, which is what I wanted to bring to the fore.”

The photographs doff a hat to the “eternal” city of Aleppo. There are four pictures that show Aleppo’s citadels and markets before the war and several that document the dark aftermath — dusty debris of buildings, streets barred by bedspreads and rugs to protect people from snipers, school children returning from class. As a whole, they are a testimony of Aleppo’s struggle to live despite its martyrdom, feels Abd Rabbo.

“It’s a besieged city that suff ers from hunger and shortages like the other cities of Syria,” he says, “But it’s one of the oldest cities in the world and it is an ‘eternal city’. It’s destroyed but it will be rebuilt again.”

Abd Rabbo admits that it has been a diffi cult place to access. “The roads are fraught with danger. The city is constantly shelled. There are no borders anymore, as we know. Journalists are kidnapped or killed. But I really believe it’s our duty, and mine as a

Syrian, to document what is happening and show the world. If we don’t do it, who will?” he asks.

Understandably, it’s hard to be objective in such scenarios and that’s the least of Abd Rabbo’s concerns. “I don’t pretend to be neutral,” he clarifi es, “You cannot be neutral in such a confl ict when you are with families and kids who are being attacked by Air Force planes, helicopters, chemical weapons, tanks, kalashnikovs, basically by anything that’s conceivable.”

Having lived in Libya and Lebanon, Abd Rabbo moved to France in 1978 after the intensifi cation of the Lebanese Civil War. Prior to joining Sipa press agency in 1992, he studied political sciences at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques and worked as a freelancer with various French and international news publications. He later left Sipa to create Balkis photo agency, which is now syndicated by Abaca Press. His works are housed in the Barjeel Foundation, Sharjah; Daniel Barenboim Collection, Berlin; Salsali Private Museum; and The Samawi Collection, Dubai.

While his works have been published in leading and popular publications — from Time Magazine to Paris Match, from Der Spiegel and Le Monde to Asharq Al Awsat — Abd Rabbo’s twenty-year-long career traverses war coverage in Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, and Syria; portraits of heads of states; snapping up celebrities such as Michael Jackson; and covering even the Cannes Film Festival and Paris Fashion Week.

Abd Rabbo’s Aleppo exhibition has already made the rounds of diff erent cities in France such as Paris, Alençon, and Mandelieu, and in Qatar, it has found its friend in the French Embassy.

Ambassador of France to Qatar, Eric Chevallier, said, “This exhibition is a

reminder to us that after undergoing suff ering, pain, violence, torture, and bombings for fi ve years, the Syrian people are still there, trying to survive and still calling for democracy and dignity. We, at the French Embassy, decided to present this exhibition as part of Francophone Days because while Francophone refers to a language and a culture, it also stands for values of respect for the people and solidarity with them. In this context, doing something about the people of Aleppo, and therefore Syrians, was important. Another reason why we came in is because what Syrians are experiencing is the most important human tragedy of this century which addresses all our conscience, far beyond the borders. It is something that all of us, whatever our nationality, must not forget.”

Of the countless instances of “humanity” of the people of Syria that the 49-year-old photographer encountered, he points to a photograph of an old man with a gun and shares the anecdote laced with black humour. “As I saw him man running on the war-torn street with his Kalashnikov, I positioned myself and clicked some pictures. He saw me and came right up to me and asked: ‘Aren’t you ashamed? Are you out of your mind?’ I fi gured I have erred and this man was armed. So I apologised and said that I should have asked him before,” Abd Rabbo recalls.

And then, the old man surprised Abd Rabbo. “He told me: ‘It’s not a problem that you didn’t ask me before. The problem is that I have a cigarette in my hand and it’s a shame to have a photo with it.’ He then stubbed it out and posed for this picture that you now see here. I found it funny. Everything around him was coming down and he still had the manners to keep the cigarette out of the frame.”

a cupp of his shheesdilapiidad tebeing tturna local ccomstrikingg, eva boy seellingor a bunnch oneighbouurhoplunged in vio

Such ddaily lwho thesse peop“What wwas impthe humman side humaniitty, their going too school, gimportrtant to showcollappsing in Syriathiss t tragedy,” Abd R

TThought-stirringAAbd Rabbo’s photogglimpse into just howby in the war-torn stthe idea that Sylik

The heart-breaking juxtaposition of Aleppo’s market before the war and after. A photograph shows how the streets are barred by bedspreads and rugs to protect people from snipers.

An armed soldier guarding a part of a crumbling souq amidst heavy shelling is seen seated next to a cup of tea on a little stove and smoking his sheesha.

An old man on the war-torn streets of Aleppo with his Kalashnikov.

Ambassador of France to Qatar, Eric Chevallier, and Ammar Abd Rabbo at the opening of the exhibition in Katara.


COMMUNITY WEATHER ADDICT

By Steff Gaulter

We’re not really used to seeing so much cloud over Qatar. In fact, the last two weeks have been strangely unsettled, particularly between March 7

and 9, when there was also a lot of rain.The grey weather that shrouded Qatar

throughout this period was the tail end of a band of cloud and rain which stretched all the way from the Caspian Sea, just to the north of Iran. As the centre of circulation spun over the water, the trailing leg of the cloud continued to dangle across us. The heat of the Arabian Peninsula gave extra energy to the weather system, encouraging huge thunderstorms to develop. Some of these storms were very intense and in Doha the winds gusted as high as 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph). In those three days, a total of 21mm (0.8 inches) of rain was reported at the airport.

Most of Doha’s rain during this period fell on March 9. This was the day that the region saw the most intense thunderstorms, which also aff ected the UAE, eastern Saudi Arabia and Oman. Like Doha, many places across the region saw heavy rain that gave large areas of standing water, making some roads diffi cult to navigate. But whilst you may have thought the rain was heavy in Doha, in the UAE, it was something else.

At 11:30 in the morning of March 9, a

severe thunderstorm rolled across Abu Dhabi. This storm battered the city with winds of 126 kilometres per hour (78 miles per hour). The winds tore down carports, fences and advertising hoardings, and anything that wasn’t tied down was tossed into the air. The debris that was picked up by the winds was thrown through the air like missiles, slamming into the side of buildings. A video on social media showed people running for cover as an object smashed into large glass doors, shattering them instantly.

Abu Dhabi and Dubai reported a similar amount of rain to Doha, but the rain wasn’t uniform across the Emirates. One region near Al Ain is reported to have received an incredible 294mm (nearly one foot) of rain during the storms. In some areas, people were seen on the roofs of their cars, waiting to be rescued, while elsewhere cars were seen fl oating down the street. One foolhardy man was even videoed wakeboarding through the fl ooded streets in a dishdash.

The rains were so heavy that they submerged part of the main highway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The police broke through crash barrier in the middle of the road to allow people to turn around and escape the fl ood water, but it wasn’t a quick process. One man said he got stuck at around 9:30am, and eventually arrived home 13 hours later.

As the storms moved east, the people in the UAE breathed a sigh of relief, but the storm hadn’t quite fi nished yet. After causing chaos in the Arabian Peninsula, the severe weather then

tracked across the Gulf of Oman, into Iran and Pakistan.

Pakistan, Afghanistan and India were all struck by thunderstorms. In India, the storms brought rain, lightning and hail. Hail is one of the most devastating types of weather that there is for crops, it can completely fl atten and destroy the plants in a fi eld in a matter of minutes. The key wheat producing states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh were all hit by hail and torrential rain, triggering fl oods and fl attening crops.

Further north the storms brought heavy snow. This prompted the Indian Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment to issue an avalanche warning, warning people not to venture out in avalanche-prone areas.

However, whilst India was struggling with the storms, in Pakistan the situation was far worse. The torrential rain fi rst hit Balochistan in the southwest of the country. It caused signifi cant fl ood damage, and then quickly spread northwards. The storms remained intense, with Islamabad reporting 70mm of rain in just one day, which is nearly the average for the entire month of March.

Just to the east of Islamabad, Murree recorded approximately 175mm (7 inches) in the three days that the storms raged. Murree is a mountainous area, where such a large amount of rain in such a short amount of time would always cause major problems. The excessive amounts of rain would hurtle down the sides of the mountains, triggering fl ash fl oods.

In the Orakzai Agency, one of the federally

administered tribal areas near Afghanistan, the rains were so heavy that they even triggered the collapse of a coalmine. A total of 26 miners were pulled to safety, but eight others lost their lives.

Finally, as the storms tried to cross the Himalayas, they began to lose their intensity and peter out. The majority of the fl ood water has now receded and things are returning to normal. However, for many people from Abu Dhabi to Islamabad, such intense storms won’t be forgotten for a long time to come.

(The author is Senior Weather Presenter at Al Jazeera English channel. She can be contacted on steff [email protected]

or on Twitter at @WeatherSteff )

UNUSUAL: Scenes on March 9, after the rain. The grey weather that shrouded Qatar throughout this period was the tail end of a band of cloud and rain which stretched all the way from the Caspian Sea, just to the north of Iran.

Unsettling thunderstorms in Doha trailing end of a weather system


COMMUNITY

Spirit of friendship and unity at ISL-QBy Anand Holla

When a celebration buzzes with the excitement and energy of a variety of colours, styles,

cultures and voices, it can be safely referred to as truly international. A shining instance of such cross-cultural camaraderie came together at International School of London-Qatar’s (ISL-Q) 2016 International Family Food Fair that witnessed a footfall of around 1,000.

At the recent gathering bustling with a delicious mix of tastes, sights, sounds, and smells from across the world, the participation of people from around 80 nationalities meant authentic delicacies from all over – Egypt, Bulgaria, Lebanon, Vietnam, Colombia, India, Canada, Palestine, you name it – and a food area thronged by hundreds.

From a scrumptious array of authentic delicacies that could be identifi ed by the country’s fl ags and posters to dance and music performances spanning nearly 80 cultures, the vibrant air of the fair demonstrated the magic steeped in the spirit of diversity, friendship and unity.

Culinary secrets were shared, artisan and crafts stalls presented varied products of creativity, a prize draw yielded a harvest of gifts, and a slew of student activities including Sponge the Teacher – that ingenious little game to settle old scores with your teacher by throwing wet sponges at their face – kept the crowd entertained. Older students helped run activities for the younger ones and there seemed to be something fun for every age group that was present. ISL-Q pointed out that all the profi ts from the event were donated to charity and that the school was able to raise more than QR23,000 for good causes supported by the School and Qatar Charities.

ISL-Q has set new standards of academic excellence and is a leading IB World School in Doha, the school offi cials said. The school is authorised to off er the Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes and is accredited by the Council of International Schools and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

The fun was far from over for the kids. Interestingly, only days after the Food Fair festivity, the ISL-Q, through one of its several such events, had its students take their best shot at mathematics. In the ensuing treasure hunt, students tried to crack tough clues and ran around to look for the next

challenging puzzle. The atrium was fi lled with students involved in activities such as: ‘Pi’ece it Together, Math’stick Tricks, Learning through Curve Stitching and Creating Mandalas, Optical Illusions, and walking through A’Mazing Maths. Students earned points for their house team in the quizzes: Pi or Pie, and Jeopardy. There were also some brave, young – and bright – souls who tried memorising the maximum digits of pi for the Memorising Com‘pi’tition. Lekh Bhatia recited the maximum number of pi digits – a whopping 105 – followed closely by Ga Eun Geo with 104. While there were many prizes won, it was the Red House that took that overall competition trophy.

Last month, close to 100 ISL-Q students participated in a well-received production of The Lion King, engaging an audience of around 1,500 people over three performances. The actors and singers worked hard to deliver their fi nest performances and undertook extensive singing and acting training to improve their performance. Later, they pointed out that apart from enabling them to develop their skills for performing arts, the shared

experience led to them forming bonds with their peers during the show.

ISL-Q will see the visual arts students of Grade 12 Diploma Programme hosting their exhibition ‘Incandescence’ at 5pm on Wednesday. Inspired by their own individual themes through various media, the work is drawn from two years of studio work and provides a glimpse into the fresh talent of the up-and-coming artists of ISL-Q. LITTLE BARISTA: A student sells Columbian coff ee at the fair.

FUN: Sponge the Teacher was a popular activity with both students and teachers.

The turnout at the food fair.


COMMUNITY

New off ice bearers for SLFC By Umer Nangiana

The Sri Lankan Friends’ Club (SLFC) has elected a new president and other office bearers for the ensuing year.

The officials were elected in the club’s annual general meeting at Skill Development Centre (SDC) recently.

SLFC is a voluntary Sri Lankan expatriates’ organisation formed in 2008 that is functioning to help co-ordinate the social welfare activities for the Sri Lankan community in Qatar. The meeting at the SDC was the club’s third Annual General Meeting. The SLFC is attached to the Sri Lankan Coordinating Committee (SLCC), working under the aegis of the Sri Lankan embassy in Qatar.

The new panel of office-bearers includes Nandika Jayashantha as the president, Dulan Thaminda as general secretary, Kithsiri Wanniarachchi as treasurer and Gayan Rukshan as chief co-ordinator.

The club also elected deputies to the office-bearers, co-ordinators and deputy co-ordinators to take care of activities in the fields of sports, art and music, media and welfare. Additionally, eight committee members were elected at the meeting. The members of the club also agreed to nominate Anura

Hettigoda and Dammika Jayasena as advisers to the club.

Addressing the gathering, the newly-elected president Nandika thanked the club members for the support given to him and his newly elected colleagues. He also thanked the members for their participation in the past activities

of the club and extending their support to community activities along with other Sri Lankan expatriates living in Qatar.

“I am thankful to all our members and friends for their complete support to us and I would urge you to continue supporting us [in future as well],”

he said. A large number of the members of the club were present on the occasion.

The club members also adopted the action plan for the ensuing year. The plan includes a blood donation campaign on May 27 at the Stafford Sri Lankan School, a cricket tournament, an art and

painting competition for Sri Lankan children, and a welfare project aimed at a needy rural area in Sri Lanka.

The SLFC remains active in other community activities throughout the year. SLFC provides support to all national and public events conducted by Sri Lankans in Qatar. Besides organising sports, recreational and social welfare activities in Doha, the club also takes part in events of national importance for Sri Lankan community.

Last year, as usual, SLFC was an important member of the organising committee that held the largest public celebration for Sri Lankan expatriates on Sinhala and the Tamil New Year.

Being part of these activities help with the club’s primary aim to enhance Sri Lanka’s image in Qatar and to help develop brotherhood and friendship among different communities of Sri Lankans living in Qatar. Other objectives of SLFC include improving the communal harmony among Sri Lankans, and to highlight the inherent talents of Sri Lankans in Qatar in the fields of art and culture, literature, sports and others.

The club also intends to assist Sri Lankans facing problems in Qatar, help ease problems in Sri Lanka and also assist the Qatari authorities with any requests that they may make about the Sri Lankan community in Qatar.

The 3rd Annual General Meeting of SLFC at SDC.

PEC holds parent-teacher meeting to discuss annual exam results The Pakistan Education Centre hosted a parent-teacher meeting to discuss the annual exam results for the term 2015-16. About 90% of the parents turned up to collect the report cards and discussed the academic progress of their children. Principal Nargis Raza Otho also visited the wing and interacted with the parents. The vice-principals were also present.


COMMUNITY

Ecuadorian ambassador visits Katara Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, the General Manager of Katara, met with Ecuadorian ambassador Kabalan Abi Saab recently and discussed boosting mutual cultural co-operation with the hosting of an Ecuadorian event in May. Dr al-Sulaiti welcomed the proposal, saying that Katara welcomes anything that enriches the domestic and international cultural scene. He added that Katara constantly strives to extend bridges of communication between peoples and be open to diff erent cultures and civilisations. Ambassador Saab praised the eff orts of Katara in providing a common ground between innovators and intellectuals from diff erent nationalities. Katara hosted an Ecuadorian Cultural Week in October 2013 that drew in a large number of people.

Japanese embassy participates in universities and employment fair The embassy of Japan recently participated in the fifth Universities and Employment Fair organised by Al-Wakra Independent Secondary School for Boys and the Department of Academic Guidance, Ministry of Education and Higher Education. HE Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi, Minister of Education and Higher Education, opened the fair and toured the booth. Khalid al-Horr, Director of Higher Education Institute, and Japanese ambassador Shingo Tsuda

were among those present at the fair. Ambassador Tsuda toured the booth along with HE Dr al-Hammadi as they were briefed on the diff erent educational institutions and entities participating in the fair. Many students visited the embassy’s booth and were eager to know about studying in Japan, especially in fields of engineering, medicine, and computer science. Also, students showed their interest in various scholarship programmes off ered by the Japanese universities.


COMMUNITY

Best Buddies Qatar members attend family day Best Buddies Qatar members from Hand in Hand Special Needs Center, Awsaj Academy, Newton International School and Aamal Center were recently hosted by Melia Doha Hotel at a family event. Children aged 3-14 years old and their parents shared creative activities arranged by the Melia team. They prepared Best Buddies Qatar logo on paper mosaics and decorated cakes and cupcakes with the help of executive chef Ahmad Mourhaf and executive pastry chef Abdelnaser Abdulmonsef.Sherief Abouelmaged, the General Manager of Melia Doha, said: “Such an event is a great

opportunity for Melia Doha to contribute to Qatar community. We are glad to hold this family day in partnership with Best Buddies Qatar.”Mohammed al-Sayeed, the Manager of Rehabilitation and Integration Department of Best Buddies Qatar, said: “Such family events provide our members with the opportunities of sharing fun and creative activities with their parents. Best Buddies Qatar expresses its gratitude to Melia Doha Hotel for making this event happen.”

Al Khaliji sponsors the Gulf English School’s annual career fair Al Khalij Commercial Bank (Al Khaliji) recently sponsored the Gulf English School’s annual career fair, as part of its continuous drive to empower Qatari talents and youth in their transition from academia to career life. The Gulf English School’s annual career fairs bring together Qatar’s leading and established public and private sector institutions, both local and global, off ering them the opportunity to showcase their career advancement opportunities, vacancies and businesses to prominent Qatari talents. The event serves as a networking and knowledge exchange platform, whereby local competencies learn about changing job market dynamics across Qatar’s key growth sectors, explore career choices, and connect with the country’s leading players and organisations for future employment opportunities. In a large-scale mission under the motto “For the youth, with the youth and by the youth”, the

school’s 2016 career fair drew the participation of several schools in Qatar, opening doors for all students to connect with prospect employers and the country’s leading companies. Visitors from 10 schools across Qatar from both the private and independent sectors, attended the event. The sponsorship of The Gulf English School’s annual career fair falls under Al Khaliji’s continuous collaborative eff orts with the country’s leading academic institutions, bridging the gap between the education field and the sector’s job market. As part of these collaborative eff orts, the bank holds regular financial literacy and business education sessions in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University Qatar; in February, Al Khaliji partnered with Carnegie Mellon University for Tajer, a financial markets literacy and education session aimed at secondary students and fresh graduates, off ering them in-depth understanding of financial markets and systems.


COMMUNITY

British Council celebrates achievements of women in Qatar

As part of this year’s Great British Festival Qatar 2016, the British Council’s Springboard Programme for

Women’s Development last week celebrated International Women’s Day by hosting the 2016 edition of the annual Women’s Networking Dinner at the Four Seasons hotel.

Over 100 people from Qatar’s professional women’s community attended the event, including prominent fi gures from the country’s leading professional association, the Qatari Businesswomen Association

(QBWA), including Shareefa Fadel, the founder of Rawda Center, and Hessa al-Marwani, the owner and founder of Frames Group.

Springboard is a leading women’s development programme delivered by the British Council around the world. In Qatar, workshops are delivered to companies, NGOs and ministries, and networking events are held for Springboard stakeholders, alumnae and potential partners.

A large number of alumnae and trainers attended the event to acknowledge the progress and achievements of all Springboard

programme participants and to thank the trainers for their continuous coaching and mentoring. Hessa al-Marwani shared her inspiring success story of overcoming numerous obstacles to emerge stronger and build a successful business in Qatar.

Jacqueline Lawson-Smith, Deputy Head of Mission at the British embassy, added: “As a diplomat who has spent 28 years in the Middle East and North Africa region, I have seen with my own eyes the important role that women’s empowerment plays in a country’s society. I was delighted

to meet so many inspiring Qatari women this evening, and we all need to recognise the responsibility we have to champion the cause of women so that we play our part in inspiring the next generation in fulfi lling their potential.”

Marwa El-Tanbouly, the British Council’s Springboard Manager, commented: “I am delighted with the progress being made by the Springboard programme here in Qatar this year. We have expanded our network of Springboard alumnae to 1,500 women from Qatar, and are engaged with more

than 15,000 women throughout the Mena region. We are working to expand more and to share our experience through the Springboard programme which has helped so many women to achieve their full potential.”

Now in its third year, the Great British Festival Qatar aims to further strengthen cultural ties between Qatar and the UK. The cultural partner of this year’s Great British Festival was Katara Cultural Village, while Qatar Shell, Ezdan Holding Group, Park House Community Initiative and Blue Rubicon Qatar are offi cial sponsors.

Amanda Ingram, Director English Language Services at the British Council, giving her speech.

Hessa al-Marwani, Frames owner and founder, speaking at the event. She shared her inspiring success story of overcoming numerous obstacles to emerge stronger and build a successful business in Qatar.

From left, Marwa El-Tanbouly, Projects Manager at the British Council; Wadad al-Hussani, Springboard Trainer; and another participant.


COMMUNITY

ICAI conducts seminar on oil prices

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) Doha Chapter recently organised a seminar on “Falling oil

price and its impact on the Gulf states” at Doha Bank Auditorium. The seminar was attended by over 120 members of ICAI Doha Chapter and other fi nance professionals.

The seminar explored the current downward movement in the oil price and its economic and social impact in the Gulf region. The seminar was addressed by Dr R Seethraman, CEO of Doha Bank and a leading thinker on economic and global fi nance issues, and by Dr Abdulla Baabood, past director of Gulf Research Centre at the University of Cambridge, UK.

Dr Seetharaman reviewed the current macro-economic outlook of the world economy and change in global dynamics with

the decline in oil prices as the backdrop. While discussing the latest credit rating of the countries in the region, he presented the movement of the major stock market indices, currencies and commodity prices. He emphasised that the current turmoil in the global economy made it imperative for enterprises and corporate entities to monitor, measure and mitigate the risk through which they were passing.

He also mentioned the “excellent steps” taken by Qatar to increase its focus on healthcare and education sectors by allocating QR20bn to each. Both these sectors are important corner stones of a developed society, he said. The total allocations for health, education and infrastructure is QR90bn, which represents 45% of the total expenditure in the 2016 budget, refl ecting the government’s

continued commitment to these sectors, he said, despite the decline in revenues during the current period due to falling oil price.

Dr Baabood, in his keynote address, laid the background of the presentation by explaining the scenario of the society before discovery of oil. He narrated quite a few historical reference and described the circumstances that led to the fi rst discovery of oil in the region in 1938.

By stating that oil is the backbone of the region, he explained the signifi cant impact of oil on the economy, politics and society in the region. He elaborated that rising oil prices lead to higher revenue, budget surplus and increased capital expenditure and falling prices may result in cost optimisation measures due to dampening revenue and cut in the government’s spending and

investment. He quoted the latest examples of various GCC countries and analysed the implication of falling oil price on the Gross Domestic Product and economic growth.

He explained that there is a paradigm shift in the oil consumers and now due to higher demand, China and India are major oil importing countries, rather than European countries and Japan.

In the context of oil prices, he touched upon the geopolitical landscape of the world, which is changing rapidly especially after the spike in the oil price since 1973.

Dr Baabood was of the opinion that falling oil prices may lead GCC countries to explore the possibility of diversifying their source of revenue towards non-hydrocarbon sectors such as tourism, trading, retail and fi nancial services. He stressed upon the need to have

a resilient economy and greater integration with world trade to withstand against the adverse consequences of falling oil price. He explained the importance of energy conservation and pragmatic use of natural resources in the wake of falling oil price. He also talked about the proposed introduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) and rationalisation of taxes to generate revenue.

The Doha Chapter of ICAI was established in 1981 and is the oldest among the 26 overseas chapters of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of India. It is affi liated to the Indian embassy in Qatar. The current membership of the Chapter is approximately 300, who hold key positions in private and public sector establishments in Qatar and are actively involved in support and development of the accounting profession in Qatar.

GROUP PHOTO: The people who participated in the event.

Celebrate Mother’s Day with Cath Kidston

Spoil your special lady this Mother’s Day with one of Cath Kidston’s equally special gifts. Every mum deserves a treat, from a little thank you to a big surprise, Cath Kidston’s unique gifts make spoiling mum easy this year. Each mum has a diff erent wish list, so Cath Kidston has pulled together its very own Mother’s Day edit – there’s something for every mum.


COMMUNITYINFOGRAPHIC


COMMUNITY PUZZLES/CARTOONS

Adam

Pooch Cafe

Garfield

Bound And Gagged

Codeword

Wordsearch

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.

Puzz

les

cour

tesy

: Puz

zlec

hoic

e.co

m

ARNOLD BOOTH BROWNING CARLYLE DICKENS DISRAELI FRITH FROUDE GLADSTONE

JOWETT LANDSEER LEWES MILL MORRIS MURRAY NEWMAN NIGHTINGALE ROSSETTI

RUSKIN SHAW STANLEY SYMONDS TENNYSON WHISTLER WILDE

Eminent Victorians

Sudoku

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.


COMMUNITYPUZZLES

Colouring

Answers

Wordsearch Codeword

DOWN1. Captain (7)2. Freedom (7)3. Seat (5)4. Well-liked (7)5. Concerning (5)6. Comical (5)9. Economic downturn (9)14. Division of a book (7)15. Chief city (7)16. Grain-store (7)19. Contempt (5)20. Horse-race (5)21. Belly-button (5)

ACROSS7. Chess-piece (6)8. Criminal (6)10. Exact (7)11. Normal (5)12. Consumes (4)13. Hold-up (5)17. Card-game (5)18. Just (4)22. Inexpensive (5)23. Speech (7)24. Eraser (6)25. Mend (6)

ACROSS7. Sex duo moving – moving out! (6)8. Shopkeeper is more extreme, it is said (6)10. Tend to slope (7)11. Dunderhead’s skills with arrows (5)12. Displays songs (4)13. Weight of small rock (5)17. Holds on to bags (5)18. Altered last season (4)22. Refuse to have a fight? (5)23. Décor I’m altering for little creatures (7)24. Sketch eradicated partly by engraver (6)25. Choose to steal, we hear, at outdoor feast (6)

DOWN1. Claimed wrongly, but has a point (7)2. Hundred on line have agreement (7)3. The food of love? (5)4. Missile having three-pronged attack! (7)5. Races around to frighten (5)6. Got up for a flower (5)9. Creepy-crawly makes decent pie! (9)14. One of three little ones, quiet in disturbed litter (7)15. Painter gets princess and worker together looking very happy (7)16. Get longer prison sentence (7)19. Attendant places us next to that lady (5)20. Priest receiving hard water will pay this (5)21. British sort of weather is all in the mind (5)

Quick Clues

Cryptic Clues

Yesterday’s Solutions

QUICKAcross: 1 Catch; 4 Breadth; 8 Nothing; 9 Scamp; 10 Rile; 11 Labourer; 13 Slip; 14 Scum; 16 Reassure; 17 Cast; 20 Impel; 21 Chaotic; 22 Larceny; 23 Rural.Down: 1 Controversial; 2 Total; 3 Hail; 4 Beggar; 5 Ensconce; 6 Diagram; 7 Hypercritical; 12 Dissolve; 13 Scamper; 15 Tricky; 18 Astir; 19 Fair.

CRYPTICAcross: 1 Incur; 4 Shivers; 8 Pelican; 9 Shrug; 10 Etch; 11 Bandanna; 13 Late; 14 Prey; 16 Outpaced; 17 Joke; 20 Icing; 21 Plateau; 22 Trestle; 23 Lithe.Down: 1 Impressionist; 2 Colic; 3 Rich; 4 Sunday; 5 Insiders; 6 Errancy; 7 Signature tune; 12 Straight; 13 Lattice; 15 People; 18 Overt; 19 Wail.


COMMUNITY LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE

ARIESMarch 21 — April 19

CANCERJune 21 — July 22

LIBRASeptember 23 — October 22

CAPRICORNDecember 22 — January 19

TAURUSApril 20 — May 20

LEOJuly 23 — August 22

SCORPIOOctober 23 — November 21

AQUARIUSJanuary 20 — February 18

GEMINIMay 21 — June 20

VIRGOAugust 23 — September 22

SAGITTARIUSNovember 22 — December 21

PISCESFebruary 19 — March 20

Don’t be afraid to let your inhibitions run free today Aries. Be you

and be proud of you and what you stand for.

Unless you are fully prepared to deal with something emotionally

draining today, try to put it off until a better time when you are

feeling more secure and in control.

There are only so many things you can cram into one day and today

is a weekend day and a time for you to relax and get ready for your

Lunar Eclipse coming up on Wednesday.

Don’t let your friends make you feel embarrassed about something

you did recently Capricorns. Own it and leave it alone.

There is nothing wrong with standing up for your rights and

decisions and what you believe in bulls. Today is a great day for you

to do so.

There is nothing wrong with missing someone today. Even you get

lonely Leos and miss people from your past.

Someone is trying to give you some really good advice today and it’s

vital you listen to it and take it Scorpios.

A looming Lunar Eclipse in Libra, your fellow air sign and spiritual

zone March 23 is definitely going to have you rethinking things. All

sorts of things.

Sometimes you simply have to take a backseat and let things work

themselves out twins. This is one of those times.

Don’t think twice about asking for help with something you know

you can’t do on your own. Ask and you shall receive, Virgos.

Your ruler Jupiter remains out of phase until mid–May in your tenth

house of career and reputation, which could mean that you might

have to wait until your time comes around for a promotion.

There is nothing worse than feeling as if you failed at something you

really wanted to succeed at. However, today could very well be your

lucky day!

Smart ways to boost your home’s energy eff iciency Y

ou wouldn’t know it with the mild weather we’re having this winter, but spring is fast approaching. Building

industry experts say now is an ideal time to carefully consider and prioritise home renovation plans. Most homeowners will opt to address the cosmetic features of a home when completing a renovation project to add comfort and value. However, it’s often what you can’t see that can have the biggest impact.

Before diving into any home renovations, consider the “skeleton” of your home, known as the building envelope, rather than just the cosmetic features such as chrome fi xtures or granite countertops. For instance, high effi ciency windows are an excellent investment for any home renovation to help drive down

excessive energy waste and high utility costs.

Another easy renovation idea to consider is researching and selecting high effi ciency, green materials in commonly used rooms, such as bathrooms. Low fl ush water systems, solar hot water systems

and even small-scale geothermal energy systems, can reduce energy consumption and your overall carbon footprint while maintaining a comfortable, enjoyable living space for you and your family.

Investing in an eff ective insulation solution also can make

a noticeable impact on reducing household utility costs. Building experts suggest that homeowners completing a home renovation should be as involved as possible in determining the best insulation type for their home. This means that homeowners should actively

research the types of materials available and how well they perform over the long term.

Spray foam insulation is growing in popularity among homeowners since it is an energy-effi cient insulation material that delivers year-round benefi ts. Spray foam insulation works well in all types of homes across the country, regardless of climate, to curb air loss and retain the conditioned air within your home to maintain a consistent, even temperature.

Spray foam insulation performs for the life of the property, ensuring that homeowners can enjoy comfortable indoor temperatures all year round without overrunning their heating and cooling equipment and accumulating high heating and cooling costs every month.

©Brandpoint


COMMUNITYBOLLYWOOD

She didn’t have a script to memorise dialogues from when she had to shoot with Hollywood’s The Dark

Knight Christian Bale in Terrence Malick’s film Knight of Cups. But that didn’t faze her at all, says Indian actress Freida Pinto.

The actress, who found acclaim in the West after Slumdog Millionaire, has no fear of working without scripts, as she says it can get “nerve-wracking” initially but is a very “relaxing, fun and liberating” experience.

“It is right that we had no script for the film. The truth is that Terrence Malick has worked in a lot of his film with pretty much the same format. If you know Terrence Malick, you know what you are getting into and you sign up for it. “It was a different experience. I actually don’t have a lot of inhibitions or fears when it comes to doing something which is not scripted,” Freida told IANS over phone from Los Angeles.

Was it challenging?She said: “It is definitely a bit

nerve-racking on the first day because you don’t know where you are going to go but once you figure that out then it doesn’t really matter ... It is actually very relaxing, it becomes fun and very liberating. It is an experience that I completely embrace.”

The film, which released in the

US last week, follows the life of a writer Rick (Bale) in Hollywood. It narrates his journey in search of love and self. He encounters six women, including one played by Freida, who help him see a way forward.

The film also stars biggies like Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman,

and Antonio Banderas.Freida, who has also been a part

of films like Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Immortals and is also doing her bit for the society by associating with social initiatives like Girls Rising campaign, shares that working with a director like Malick was “an absolutely fantastic experience”.

“One because it was Terrence Malick’s film. It is a special experience ... I don’t have scenes with Cate Blanchett and Natalie Portman.

“The film shows journey that Christian’s character Rick goes through and how these various women in his life have a key to something that he is trying to discover and find,” she said.

As of now, there are a couple of other projects that Freida is working on, but she refrained from delving into details. The actress is voicing Mowgli’s adoptive mother in the Warner Brothers’ motion capture live-action adventure Jungle Book: Origins”, which will hit the screens in 2017. — IANS

No inhibitions in shooting without script: Freida Pinto

CAMBODIA CALLING: Buddhist monks in front of the reflection pool at Angkor Wat. Photo by Sam Garza

LESSONS ON VALUES: Sidharth Malhotra, left, and Alia Bhatt. RELIEF: Tusshar Kapoor

UNFAZED: Freida Pinto

By Venkatachari Jagannathan

Virgin mountains, lush green rice fi elds, accessible jungle, green rolling hills, waterscapes, the world famed Angkor Wat temple, low-cost skilled movie workforce and fast permissions are on off er in

Cambodia for Indian movie makers, said a top offi cial of Cambodia Film Commission.

“Every year around 50-60 movie projects come to Cambodia. Most of them are from Europe, the US and Asia. Indian movie industry is very big and we would like to attract fi lmmakers to shoot here,” Cedric Eloy, CEO, Cambodia Film Commission, told IANS.

The Cambodia Film Commission for the first time is participating in the annual Asia’s largest movie market FILMART organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council for the past 20 years.

According to Eloy, everything is possible in Cambodia and the country is also ideal for shooting TV’s adventure game shows.

When cited competing shooting locations Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and others, Eloy said the costs for the film producer will be higher there as compared to Cambodia.

He said in terms of cost, Cambodia works out cheaper as compared to filming in other countries.

Further, the natural location — jungles, hills, beaches, rivers, rice fields — have not been explored much, Eloy said.

He said the crew has gained experience working with the foreign film units and can speak in English.

On the government side, Eloy said there will not be any import duties on the equipment, and permissions are granted fast.

According to him, the colonial buildings offer filmmakers to shoot their period films. Eloy said foreign crews can work in the country without any required paperwork, and local labour regulation offer the flexibility that film production needs.

Talking about the Cambodian movie industry, he said there are around 15 screens and the number of movies produced are also small. — IANS

Cambodia beckons filmmakers with beautiful locales, low costs

Censor board gave me lot of stress in ’15: Tusshar Kapoor

Actor Tusshar Kapoor says that this year for Holi, he wishes to remove all the stress that the censor board gave him during the release of his recent fi lms.

“I wish I could remove all the stress from 2015, which the censor board gave me. I’m not saying whether it was right or wrong, but there was tremendous stress. And if I could remove it from my memory, it would be great for me,” Tusshar said here.

Two of Tusshar’s fi lms, both comedies — Mastizaade and Kyaa Kool Hain Hum 3 — had released in consecutive weeks in January this year, but all the hassles related to the censoring of the fi lms had taken place last year.

The fi lms were suggested numerous cuts and beeps by the board. Both the fi lms were panned by the critics and had average collections at the box offi ce.

One wonders if Tusshar would like to change the ‘sex comedy’ tag attached to him now?

To that, he said: “My image keeps changing every year ... I don’t think there’s any fi xed image of mine. People consider me a youth hero, a comic hero and a versatile actor... I hope so, and I hope that image is maintained throughout the year, every year till the end of my life... That’s my wish.” — IANS

How Sidharth made Alia realise value of a family

Actress Alia Bhatt, who is busy promoting her family entertainer Kapoor & Sons, has confessed that she never gave enough value to her family, but her co-star Sidharth Malhotra’s lifestyle made her realise the value of a family.

“I am lucky to have family in the industry. When I see Sidharth and how he manages everything here

alone, I realise I don’t have to do anything as my family takes care (of all this),” Alia said. “This fi lm made me realise the true love just not between a man or woman, but a family as well. Earlier I did not give enough value to the support I get from my family,” said the daughter of fi lmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and actress Soni Razdan.

Directed by Shakun Batra, Kapoor & Sons released last week, and also features Fawad Khan. — IANS


COMMUNITY HOLLYWOOD

By Rob Owen

On its face, FX’s The Americans is a spy show, but really it’s the story of a marriage between

two Russian spies, Elizabeth (Keri Russell) and Philip Jennings (Matthew Rhys), who are hiding in plain sight in Ronald Reagan’s early 1980s suburban Washington, DC.

Entering its fourth season, The Americans does what the best TV shows of the #PeakTV era do: It willingly paints itself into and out of corners and isn’t afraid to blow up aspects of its premise in the name of realism.

Like Breaking Bad, which allowed Walt to maintain his drug dealer secret identity for several seasons, but eventually had him spill the beans to his wife, The Americans kept its lead characters’ nationality and true occupation a secret from their oldest child for almost three full seasons, but then let the truth out last year.

The new season picks up with daughter Paige (Holly Taylor) still working through what it means that her parents are Russian spies. And her parents have to work through what to do once they learn Paige confessed her new knowledge to her church pastor.

At the same time, Martha (Alison Wright), who Philip recruited as an unwitting mole within the FBI, learns about the psyche-shattering price she must pay for getting wrapped up in Philip’s work.

Through the fi rst four episodes of the new season, the ever-excellent spy thriller explores the parent-child dynamic, introduces the concept of biological weapons and plays on the suspicions of FBI neighbour Stan (Noah Emmerich).

The Americans is mostly adept at surprising viewers by not tacking in expected directions, although one plot results in a dead end that left

me to wonder, why did the writers spend so much time on that?

At a January press conference during the Television Critics Association winter press tour, executive producer Joel Fields said the show’s writers are most interested in putting the characters in circumstances that will provoke confl ict and growth in relationships.

“What we’re playing with are actually universal relationship dynamics, just under very, very heightened circumstances,” he said. “What’s powerful is you always have to ask yourself how much of yourself are you going to

share, and there’s always a sense of disillusionment from a teenager who’s growing to see his or her parents in a new, more realistic light as they grow up. It just so happens that the stakes for these guys are life and death.”

For Taylor, there’s was a hope that she’d get to put on a wig and begin spying alongside Philip and Elizabeth once her parents’ secret was out. But it doesn’t play out that way.

“If any teenager was in that position and found out such a huge secret, like, what would you do with it?” she said. “No one can really hold all that into themselves.

So I was, of course, surprised and a little disheartened with how Paige reacted and the fact that she told her pastor. But when you really break it down and try and understand her perspective and where she’s coming from, her whole life is a lie. So I fi nd it really understandable what Paige did.”

Historic landmarks featured in season four include Ronald Reagan’s Star Wars speech and the 1983 broadcast of ABC’s nuclear holocaust drama The Day After.

As for how long The Americans can sustain its story — the Russian spies have had plenty of close

calls; eventually they’ll either be caught, killed or return to Russia, right? — Fields said he doesn’t have a defi nitive timeline for the show’s end but it feels like it’s past the midway point.

“If you were to think of a three-act story structure, it feels like we are coming towards the end of the second act,” he said, “and whether it takes a fi fth season or fi fth and sixth season to tell the rest of that story, I think we’ll discover as we start to dig into next season’s work, which will happen as we dig out of this season.” — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/TNS

The Americans returns with a bagful of secrets

Kendrick Lamar takes first helicopter ride in Auckland

Grammy Award-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar, who is to headline the Auckland City Limits Music Festival, took his first-ever helicopter ride on a visit to the Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand.

Lamar began his Auckland adventure with a helicopter flight across Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour to the Waiheke Island.

“What a way to see Auckland, I’ve been able to take my first ever helicopter ride and check out this stunning city from the sky,” Lamar said

in a statement. While on the island, often referred

to as Auckland’s ‘jewel in the crown’, Lamar enjoyed some of the island’s finest cuisine at Cable Bay Vineyard.

“I want to buy a house here, have a studio, make some music... It’s so peaceful here. I want to do everything here, get out on the water on a boat, enjoy the views... Do the butterfly! Haha,” he added.

The rapper, who took home five prizes from 11 nominations at the prestigious Grammy Awards ceremony in February, released a surprise new album made up of outtakes from his album earlier this month. — IANS

Star Wars director sued by former agent

Star Wars: Episode VIII director Rian Johnson’s former agent Brian Dreyfuss has sued him over a 10% commission for the fi lm.

Dreyfuss is suing Johnson for breach of implied contract, claiming the director is refusing to pay him his 10% commission, according to the complaint fi led on Friday in Los Angeles county superior court, reports hollywoodreporter.com

Producer Ram Bergman is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Dreyfuss claims Bergman “orchestrated much of Johnson’s business life” and “adopted a course of conduct to marginalise Dreyfuss and limit his infl uence”.

According to the complaint, Dreyfuss began representing Johnson early in his career and helped him land writing and directing projects, including Looper and Breaking Bad that launched him into the spotlight.

Dreyfuss claims in 2002 he agreed to represent Johnson for a 10% commission on any and all projects that he facilitated, including “renewals and/or options that are exercised or contracts that have been renewed”. The suit claims Johnson agreed to pay that commission whether or not the employment contracts were procured as a result of Dreyfuss’ eff orts and whether or not the employment continued after the end of their agreement. — IANS

HIGH DRAMA: Keidrich Sellati, Matthew Rhys, Holly Taylor and Keri Russell in The Americans.


COMMUNITYHOLLYWOOD

Romantic comedy My Big Fat Greek Wedding is back with a sequel, looking for more laughs about family

antics some 14 years after the original won over audiences. The 2002 movie, which followed young Greek woman Toula (Nia Vardalos) as she tried to get her family to accept her non-Greek love interest Ian (John Corbett), proved a big hit, grossing around $368mn worldwide.

In the sequel, married life and parenthood are the focus of the story, with another big, fat Greek wedding in the works. Since the success of the 2002 movie, Vardalos, who was nominated for an Oscar for her script, has been repeatedly asked about a sequel from fans as well as the producers, husband and wife team actor Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson.

“I wouldn’t say we were bugging her, but it was sort of like, we would check in with her,” Wilson said at the premiere of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 in New York.

“Nia’s a very good friend so we see Nia (and her husband) quite a lot. But it was like, ‘Any thoughts about it? Anything coming up?’”

Vardalos told her Twitter followers in 2014 that she was working on the fi lm’s sequel, saying she felt ready for the project after becoming a mother. “I am feeling like it’s time to share it. We have been keeping it a secret for so long,” Vardalos said.

“You know, you work on a movie for a really, really long time and we just had so much fun laughing as we made the movie and now I just want to hear the audience hear it.”

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 hits cinemas worldwide from March 23. — Reuters

14 years on, family back for My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2

Shia Labeouf engaged?

Actor Shia LaBeouf is reportedly engaged to actress Mia Goth.

The 29-year-old actor has been telling people that he and Goth, who have had an on-and-off relationship since 2012, are engaged, reports usmagazine.com.

LaBeouf is believed to have told a grocery store’s cashier about the engagement during a recent shopping trip, while according to an onlooker, Goth was also seen sporting a huge diamond sparkler on her ring fi nger.

Last month, the Nymphomaniac actor referred to Goth as his fi ancée during his live-streamed performance art project Elevate. The couple has been dating since they met on the set of Nymphomaniac: Vol. II in 2012. — IANS

FRIENDS FOREVER: Ben Aff leck, left, Jennifer Garner

RUMOUR? Shia Labeouf

Ben Affl eck, Jennifer Garner ‘good friends’

Actor Ben Affl eck says he and his former actress wife Jennifer Garner are still “good friends”, and get on well for the sake of their three children. The actors share three children — Violet, 10, Seraphina, seven, and four-year-old Samuel. “You know, we’re good friends and we’re doing our best and our kids are fabulous and we’re working our best for them,” Affl eck told talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, reports eonline.com.

The 43-year-old star joked that he thinks his son will end up in “therapy” because the youngster is so

convinced his new movie is real and that co-star Henry Cavill really is Superman.

“I haven’t done anything that my kids can see for a long time, so I thought that would be kind of cool. My son thinks it’s really cool. He came to the set, he saw me, he was a little bit suspicious. He was like, ‘Is that the real Superman?’ He’s four so to him that’s the real Superman.

“When I leave, he’s like, ‘Dad are you going to the Batcave?’ So I’m like, ‘Yes, I am.’ And I know eventually he’s going to be in therapy, like, ‘He lied to me, there’s no Batcave, he’s doing Ellen!’” — IANS

Mariah Carey to marry on exclusive Caribbean island

Singer Mariah Carey will tie the knot with her fi ance and businessman James Packer on the exclusive island of Barbuda in the Caribbean. The “We belong together” hitmaker’s wedding ceremony will be a private aff air with only 50 guests attending, according to TMZ, reports aceshowbiz.com.

Sources close to the couple have said that Carey is planning to exchange vows with Packer this summer on the island, where her fi ance is currently building a private $250mn resort with actor Robert De Niro.

While there is no word on the exact date, it is likely to be sometime after mid-June. The singer is only inviting a small group of friends, who will be fl own in on private jets.

However, the invitations are yet to be delivered. — IANS

Kylie Jenner uses eyeliner for lipstick

Reality TV personality Kylie Jenner created her Lip Kit By Kylie range after she had to use a brown eyeliner to achieve “perfect lips”. The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star had to turn to a brown eye make-up product that she owned in order to create the desired shade for her plumped pout, and it was her cosmetic experiment which ultimately inspired her own lip products, reports ok.co.uk.

“I actually used a brown eyeliner as a lip liner. At the time, I couldn’t fi nd a decent brown lipstick anywhere. So I decided to take matters into my own hands and create my own ... That way, I can never run out of my favourite colour,” InStyle magazine quoted Kylie as saying. The 18-year-old shared that her Lip Kit By Kylie is inspired by 1990s style trends. — IANSSTYLE TIPS: Kylie Jenner

“T he god of fi lming came to me ... cameras and fi lm came to me. I wanted

to know myself and that is how I started making fi lms.” This was award-winning Japanese fi lmmaker Naomi Kawase speaking to an audience at a masterclass of the recently concluded Qumra Film Festival by Doha Film Institute (DFI) here.

She ventured into making fi lms after being challenged by two existential questions, “Who am I?”, “What is my purpose?”

These questions seeded her journey into fi lmmaking despite living in Nara, a close-knit old township with a heritage of over 1,300 years but removed from the bustling industry and limelight of Tokyo.

“I entered a fi lm school. At fi rst, I wanted to go to TV production, but somehow I ended up studying fi lms. When I held the 8mm fi lm camera and started shooting for the fi rst time, I felt it was like a time machine which could take me to the past or future,” Naomi explains in an interview with Community.

“The ‘present’ never disappears, and it can be brought back to life in the darkness. I thought this must be a similar feeling when Lumière brothers fi rst invented the fi lm,” she describes the feeling of the cameras and fi lm coming to her.

Filmmaking for her was a way to look into her, she says. The world she sees through the camera was fi lled with dazzle and variety, just like a treasure box.

“I found out there are things I couldn’t see with my naked eyes, and behind those invisible things there are interesting stories. That is how I got drawn into the magic of fi lms,” says the award-winning fi lmmaker and director.

Born in 1969, the Japanese fi lm director has made many fi lms, most of them documentaries including Embracing which is about her search for the father who abandoned her as a child, and Katatsumori, about her grandmother who raised her.

The youth she spent in Nara has had a drastic eff ect on her

career. Many of her fi rst forays into fi lmmaking were autobiographical, inspired heavily by the rural landscape.

Employing her interest in autobiography, most of her fi rst short fi lms focus on her turbulent family history, including her abandonment and her father’s death.

Naomi became the youngest winner of the la Caméra d’Or award (best new director) at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival for her fi rst 35mm fi lm, Suzaku. She novelised her fi lms Suzaku and Firefl y.

In 2006, she released the 40-minute documentary Tarachime, which she prefers to be screened before her fi lm from the following year. Tarachime revisits Naomi’s relationship with her great-aunt, tackling very personal themes such as her aunt’s growing dementia.

“I was never particularly conscious about appealing to a global audience. I just believe that looking deeply into things around me can eventually get me connected to the world,” says Naomi.

“What we need to challenge is to open up and face ourselves. Sometimes you need to accept your weakness or lazinesss, which can be quite challenging,” she adds.

The Japanese fi lmmaker says fi lms are her “another” life, and it is always there to support her real life.

They are the two wheels of the vehicle which supports her existence.

In her fi lms, she says, reality is the most important element. It is inseparable, just as fi lm is to her life. Naomi told the Qumra masterclass audience she has been

a tough task-master on her actors, confi ning actress Makiko Watanabe to a hospital for four days before shoot began on the protracted death scene that is artistically shot in her movie Still the Water.

“She wanted to run away to Tokyo,” laughed the director. “I put my actors through hardship but I never doubt them. Eventually, she trusted me too, and she today says the fi lm was an important one for her,” she explains.

However, Naomi said she goes by instinct and gives enough leeway to the actors while shooting. Her scripts are not too conversational; they are more explanatory of what the characters feel; the actors have the freedom to read between the lines.

“I am using professional actors in more recent fi lms. There are many non-actors who can express in a real way. But I do not choose just amateurs,” says Naomi.

Being a woman in a male-dominated industry, Naomi has not just managed to carve a niche, she continues to inspire others. In her advice to aspiring female fi lmmakers, she tells them to focus on not giving up and continue doing what they feel is the best. “I am always doing my best in each role as a fi lm director, a woman, and a mother. Everyone has challenges and hurdles, so I never chose those things as a theme of my fi lm,” says the fi lmmaker. Rather, she wants to show a hope in overcoming the challenges.

What is important, she says, is to follow what you believe, to make a commitment, to never give up, and to continue doing what you are doing.

In today’s technological world, Naomi feels both technology and ideas are important for making a good fi lm, however, idea holds prominence. “I think both are important, but idea always comes fi rst, as it is the fundamental of fi lmmaking. Rather than deciding one is more important than the other, I want to choose what is best for each situation. It is up to you to make good use of things that are available,” states Naomi.

In her advice to the younger fi lmmakers, she asks them to fi nd a subject matter “that only you can deliver, because that’s what drives you to create.”


COMMUNITY

Award-winning Japanese director Naomi Kawase speaks about

how she got drawn to the magic of films, which have become an

inseparable part of her existence. By Umer Nangiana

Kawase and the art of filmmaking

LONG JOURNEY: Naomi Kawase became the youngest winner of the la Caméra d’Or award (best new director) at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival for her first 35mm film, Suzaku. She novelised her films Suzaku and Firefly.

Jean-Michel Frodon, left, moderates a Qumra Master Class with Japanese auteur Naomi Kawase.

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