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Cementing BRICS
Hijacking melas
Rapists’ progress |
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Getting gas from Iran
‘Unfriendly’ roads
Fights, camera and mindless action
No rhyme or reason Not quite Twilight
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Cementing BRICS The just-concluded BRICS Summit in Durbin has gone beyond political rhetoric and announced the creation of a development bank as a rival to the West-dominated World Bank and IMF. The four emerging economic powers - which were dubbed “BRIC” by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O’Neil - came together as a block to protect and promote their common interests. South Africa joined later to make it “BRICS” and now Indonesia is knocking at the door.
The loose arrangement of five countries have divergent economies, varied political systems (China and Russia are autocratic) and even conflicting foreign policy goals. They trade more with Europe, the US and Japan than among themselves. Besides agreeing to set up a development bank for funding infrastructure projects, the BRICS countries have planned a $100 billion “Contingent Reserve Arrangement” to deal with currency fluctuations, a council to promote business within the group and a think tank to lend it intellectual weight. China has for long complained that the current world financial architecture is favourable to the US and the European Union. After the 2008 financial meltdown and the subsequent slowdown, the emerging economic powers are wary of western institutions that are inadequately regulated. Any of them in trouble can dry up liquidity globally. To meet with such an eventuality China and Brazil have entered into a $30 billion currency swap agreement. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has the distinction of attending all BRICS summits. He used the occasion not only to have an introductory meeting with the new Chinese President, Xi Jinping, but also convey India's views on key bilateral issues, including the negative balance of trade and the construction of dams by China across the Brahmaputra. On his part, Xi Jinping raised the Tibet issue, which is understandable. The boundary dispute, of course, will take time. China is not supportive of the demand of India, Brazil and South Africa for permanent seats on the UN Security Council. Despite such differences and conflicts of interest, BRICS has not only survived but also grown over the period and proved Western doomsayers wrong.
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Hijacking melas
The
Hola Mohalla festival in Anandpur Sahib became yet another occasion for both the major political parties in Punjab to throw a barrage of verbal barbs at each other. Even as the Nihangs displayed their dexterity and skill by putting up stunning displays of martial arts, political leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Congress took to the stage and launched forth on the misdeeds of the other party and its leaders. Traditional festivals like the Baisakhi celebrations at Talwandi Sabo, the Maghi Mela at Muktsar or the Rakhar Punia at Baba Bakala, all are significant occasions which are attended by lakhs of people. They have their own distinctive weave of culture, tradition and religion that draws in the crowds year after year. Unfortunately, these cultural and religious festivals have become political stages these days. Even though it is easy to understand the lure of addressing captive audiences, it is not so easy to comprehend why these very political parties choose not to debate on political and other issues in the forum meant for this very purpose, the state Assembly. Seldom are the seats of the Assembly hall full, more often than not there is a confrontation that inevitably leads to legislators either boycotting the session, or being barred from attending it on some ground. However, when it comes to stages outside the ‘confines’ of the Assembly, these very leaders go all out to project their points of view, even provoking the other party. It might be too much to expect politicians to stop using festivals that form the warp and woof of the cultural fabric of Punjab for political jousting. However, we can certainly ask them to ensure that what they do does not become an indecent display of political muscle power. Surely, our political leaders can provide leadership by giving guidance to people who throng these melas. What better way to lead than by setting an example of decorous conduct and dignified addresses? |
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Rapists’ progress
After
the Punjab government announced a ‘Safe City’ project for Amritsar with a provision for installing CCTV cameras, sensors and other security gadgets the city continues to earn notoriety for being among the most unsafe towns for women. With a high flow of tourists, including foreigners, it is sad that not a day goes without a crime against women. By the admission of Bathinda MP Harsimrat Badal, as many as 75 per cent of those booked for rape go scot-free and money usually plays a major role in turning the law in their favour in Punjab. Adding to the notoriety of the town’s pathetic credentials for women’s safety is a book released recently by a British woman, Caroline Oulton, who has penned “Dumped! A Single Mother Shoots From The Hip and Unsafe Attachments.” Oulton has recounted her gang rape by three men in Amritsar when she was a 19-year-old. Her male friend was beaten with rocks and bottles and she was flung off the roof of a shed where they had been taken by one of the men on the pretext of a dinner invitation to his parents’ house. The most offending part of the book is that she was jeered at by the local Magistrate when she failed to recognise the rapists in an identity parade Things have gone only worse since Oulton’s gang rape 40 years ago. On Monday a 20-year-old woman, an employee in a cellphone shop, was abducted and allegedly gang-raped by four youths in a moving car. Later, she was abandoned near a school in the cantonment area. On Thursday a student of Guru Nanak Dev University was molested and thrashed when she was returning home from a tuition class. Today, the country can boast of sensible laws in place to protect its women, their proper implementation should be aided with technological tools. Safe city status has to be taken seriously to maintain the holy status of this city. |
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We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another. —Luciano De Crescenzo
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Getting gas from Iran
The much delayed India-Pakistan-Iran (IPI) gas pipeline is back in news. Of course, without one "I" - India. Iran and Pakistan marked the start of Pakistani construction recently when the Presidents of the two countries came together for the ground-breaking ceremony.
The two are hoping that the pipeline would be complete in time to start delivery of 21.5 million cubic metres of gas per day to Pakistan by December 2014. There was much political symbolism involved in this move by Islamabad and Tehran as both nations are trying to snub the US which has been against this pipeline and has been trying to isolate Iran for its nuclear programme. During the ceremony, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused "foreign elements" of trying to undermine Iran's relations with Pakistan and to thwart the Islamic Republic's progress by using its nuclear programme as a pretext. "I want to tell those individuals that the gas pipeline has no connection whatsoever with the nuclear case," Ahmadinejad thundered. Rapidly rising energy demand in India and Pakistan has been the impetus behind the proposed gas pipeline from Iran's outfields through Pakistan to India. It is expected that this joint gas pipeline project would play an important role in cementing ties between Iran and Pakistan and that Pakistan's annual royalty from this project would be about $500 million to $600 million. The proposal, however, had been stuck for a long time because of differences between Pakistan and Iran on pricing and on methods to supply gas to India. Both India and Pakistan had contended that Tehran offer a price for gas in line with global practices for long-term contracts and had rejected Iran's gas pricing formula wherein the gas price is linked to Brent crude oil with a fixed escalating cost component. The price Pakistan was demanding for security and transit from India also made India wary of the project. And then there was the US opposition to the project though both India and Pakistan had indicated that the project remained a foreign policy priority despite the pressure from the US. In the end Pakistan decided in 2009 to finalise the gas pipeline deal with Iran, connecting Iran's South Pars gas field and Pakistan's Balochistan and Sindh provinces. The pipeline is expected to start operating from 2014, exporting more than 21 million cubic meters of natural gas daily to Pakistan. However, the deal remains a controversial one even in Pakistan because of the high price that Iran is charging. India quit the project in 2009 though officially New Delhi continues to claim that it has kept its options open to join the project at a later date even as China has evinced keen interest in joining the project. For India, the issue of Iran's reliability as an energy provider is the main one. There is little evidence so far that Iran would be a reliable partner in India's search for energy security. A number of important projects with Indian businesses and Indian government have either been rejected by Iran or have yet to be finalised due to last-minute changes in the terms and conditions by Tehran. To date, Iran accounts for only about 8 per cent of Indian oil imports. Moreover, both of the major energy deals recently signed with great fanfare, and raising concerns in the West, are now in limbo. India's 25-year $22 billion agreement with Iran for the export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) has not produced anything since it was signed in 2005, as it requires India to build an LNG plant in Iran. The plant would need American components, which might violate the U.S. Iran-Libya Sanctions Act. The other project-involving the construction of a 1,700-mile, $7 billion pipeline to carry natural gas from Iran to India via Pakistan-is also stuck. The current Indian government initially viewed the pipeline project as a confidence-building measure between India and Pakistan, but when pressure started mounting, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh went so far in 2005 as to say that he did not know if any international consortium of bankers would underwrite the project, given uncertainties about Iran. The Indian strategic community has never been in favour of the pipeline proposal
anyway, as in their opinion, it gives Pakistan too much leverage over India's energy security. Both these projects have also made the unreliability of Iran as a trade partner clear to India. The national oil companies of Iran and India disagree about the legal interpretation of the contract for the export of LNG to India. This deal was signed in 2005 before Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected President of Iran, and was tied to a relatively low market price for crude. India considers the deal final and binding, while Iran has argued that it is not binding because it has not been ratified. Amid the growing global isolation of Iran, sections of the Indian government have suggested that India's participation in the gas pipeline deal might not be strategically advantageous to India, given the very low quantity (30 million standard cubic meters per day) of gas involved. Moreover, it has also been apparent that the Iranian gas is not the lowest-priced option for India. New Delhi has made it clear that although it remains interested in the pipeline project, it would pay for the gas only after it is received at the Pakistan-India border, it would not pay penalty in case of delay, and it is opposed to Iran's demand to revise the deal's gas prices every three years. India's interests in the relationship with Iran, however, have never been strictly commercial. After Pakistan and Iran signed their pipeline deal in 2009, India indicated that it was willing to resume negotiations regarding independently importing natural gas from Iran via sea pipeline, allowing India to get around Pakistan. As Iran and Pakistan move ahead with the project now, India's best option would be to wait and watch to see if the rhetoric of the "peace pipeline" actually matches the ground reality of energy security in its
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‘Unfriendly’ roads It was in the winter of 2009 when I got my life's first chance to visit Chandigarh, about which I had often heard and read so much. During my two months' stay in the alluring city, I enjoyed its every aspect, but for driving on its roads. I know my revelations would surprise everyone but it was a thrilling yet horrible experience. I was putting up in Sector 19. On one fine day I was asked by my hosts to drive a vehicle from that place to Pinjore for dropping someone urgently as no one else who could drive
was available. I reluctantly took over the keys of an Indica car, apparently a 2000 model. The confident Jammu boy in me switched on the ignition, pressed the clutch, put the gear and dabbled the accelerator. It took me only a few seconds to realise that the world here was entirely different, when I was first stopped by the gatekeeper, who said, "Sir, fasten your seat-belt else, the traffic police would impose a penalty". I grudgingly followed the advice and hissed, "Am I going to fly a plane?" Hardly on the road I swerved my car here and there on the wide clean road when a loud honk of a truck shattered my pleasure as a whisker's distance saved the sudden collision. The lady, who was my only companion there and was sitting with me, shouted like anything, "Have you gone insane? You shifted your lane
suddenly". Her yell decimated my confidence like mercury dips in Ladakh during winters. And for the first time in life I learnt that suddenly shifting your lane was a troublesome thing as in Jammu we are allowed to swing over anywhere, any time. If you don't practise that in our city, you will surely be run over by some vehicle. I remember once I was driving on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway and my girlfriend was accompanying me. At that moment I was so lost in her eyes while driving that she yelled suddenly, "Idiot! Look at the road partition. And I suddenly turned the steering. Only Jammu roads can allow you some moments like that. I realised on that day how unfriendly Chandigarh
roads were. But that was not an end to troubles, it was a beginning only. Traffic signals, lane driving, one-ways, smooth roads and disciplined driving of Chandigarh people bothered me most. Anyhow we reached the destination without any damage. Height of discipline I saw, as once, at night, a Chandigarh police cop stopped my car and fined me for using high beam in the city. I recalled Jammu, where there were no traffic signals, no seat-belts. You have the privilege to apply sudden breaks even in the middle of roads, zig-zag driving, overtaking vehicles ahead at any cost, without caring much about lanes or drains. And, once back in Jammu, I vowed to never drive on the unfriendly roads of
Chandigarh.
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A Sajid Khan film is not meant to be taken seriously… he has made that crystal clear time and again. So, don't you dare put on your thinking cap. Full too faltu is howbest one can describe Himmatwala in which Khan revisits the eighties flick the Jitendra and Sridevi starrer movie by the same name. Hence, it's only right that the director writer Khan reminds us at more than one point that it's eighties in which the film is set.
Of course, in his typical lampooning style he continues to take a dig and tongue-in-cheek even refers to the 21st century disease called swine flu and Save the Tiger campaign. Forget how much of the film is faithful to the original it is in effect a tribute to as well as a spoof of the ever eternal formula masala film (s). So you get to see what you have seen before umpteen number of times. A back of beyond village ruled by despotic sarpanch, revenge saga, hero falling for the daughter of his arch enemy and bashing up a dozen goondas with a flicker of his hand. Actually the film that thrives on fights, camera, action and more action with just a wee bit of romance (Tamannaah, the new Bollywood entrant, looks pretty) is at best time pass. Paisa wasool…. or not…depends on how much of your grey cells you can put in the dormant mode. Even if a few are active you would need all your himmat to brace this one. But in slumber tone you might actually end up laughing at both Khan's audacity to think out of the box within the box and for making Devgn dance. |
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No rhyme or reason
This sequel to Stephen Sommers' 2009 blockbuster has veteran dance-film director Jon Chu making his own moves as a helmer. This sequel picks up right where the last one ended. Dwayne Johnson stars as Roadblock with Channing Tatum returning as Duke, the leader of the Joes, and Ray Park joining them as mute Ninja Snake Eyes. Bruce Willis, Ray Stevenson, Adrianne Palicki, Jonathan Pryce, Lee Byung-hun, Elodie Yung, and RZA also make the support team eventually. The story is as silly as it comes. We just saw the release of Olympus Has Fallen last week in which the White House was under attack by infiltrators from North Korea. In GI Joe Retaliation, a similar story unfurls. There's non-stop action, a huge arsenal of never-ending firepower and constant shifts into Ninja fighting splitting the narrative that seeks continuance in the split-seam variety of fight styles on display. It's a breathtaking series of visual compositions that last for about 15-20 minutes of the total runtime and counts as the most interesting and enjoyable of the varied fighting on display. Chu's direction is choppy as it's teamed with a script that can't make up its mind whether to stick to flash and dash or move to smoothly orchestrated stylised valour displays. The many attempts at comedy are not funny. The acting is little too jaded to count as impressive. Even the 3D doesn't add any special effect.
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Not quite Twilight
Rupesh
Paul translates his own novel into film with this version of the Dracula story. Saint Dracula is in 3D and is set in the modern era and depicts Dracula (Mitch Powell) as a tortured soul after the loss of his one true love. Alone, he takes to wandering the night and hiding by day from those that want to destroy him for the past 150 years. The Prince of Wallachia is of course given a second chance at love with Clara (Patricia Duarte), a nun, also a mortal. So, the conflict is inherent in the love story but the essaying is a little too decadent and the direction just a little too off-colour to appear even half-way interesting. It's almost Twilight but not quite. The tackiness is a definite problem here. While the Twilight series had engaging actors, this one fails to drum up any kind of interest. The kernel of a dramatic story with great conflict was there to be used but Rupesh Paul's skills don't match up to the expectation and makes the whole gory experience seem totally ridiculous. Better take a break from this one!
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movies on tv
Saturday
March
30 Titanic Star movies 2:33PM ZEE CINEMA 7:15AM Main Hoon Durga 10:35AM Tu Chor Main Sipahi 5:10PM Laawaris 9:00PM Mard STAR GOLD 8:05AM Meri Taaqat 11:30AM The Hero: Love Story of a Spy 3:45PM Hukumat Ki Jung 6:30PM Hero No. 1 9:00PM Dhol STAR MOVIES 8:30AM Priest 10:35AM Killers 12:14PM Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines 2:33PM Titanic 6:19PM X-Men: First Class 9:00PM A White Snake's Revenge 11:14PM Safehouse SONY PIX 8:45AM Underworld: Awakening 10:20AM Kung Fu Panda 12:05PM Monster House 1:50PM Red 4:10PM Mission: Impossible 6:30PM Mission Impossible 2 9:00PM Mission Impossible 3 11:35PM Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa ZEE ACTION 7:00AM Kasam Vardee Ki 10:30AM Angaar 1:30PM No.1 Mard 5:30PM Fight Club: Members Only 8:30PM Chandani Chowk to China FILMY 9.00 AM Vaastu Shastra 12.00 Khoobsurat 15.00 PM Pyar Ki Takkar 18.00 PM Daud 21.30 PM Darna Zaroori Hai SET MAX 7:00AM Waqt Hamara Hai 10:30AM Meri Jung: One Man Army 1:40PM Hum Kisise Kum Naheen 5:10PM Robot 9:00PM 1920: Evil Returns HBO 7:10AM It's Kind of a Funny Story 9:05AM Puss in Boots 11:00AM Turistas 12:40PM Wrath of the Titans 2:45PM Ip Man 4:55PM Gnomeo & Juliet 6:40PM New Year's Eve 9:00PM Mission: Impossible-Ghost Protocol 11:55PM Armageddon Sunday
March 31 Set max 6:05PM Ishaqzaade is a romantic drama film written and directed by Habib Faisal, and produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films. The film stars debutant Arjun Kapoor, and Parineeti Chopra in their first lead film. The story of Ishaqzaade casually links with a popular love story Romeo and Juliet. ZEE CINEMA 10:10AM Ram Teri Ganga Maili 2:05PM Vivah 5:45PM Joker STAR GOLD 6:00AM Yes Boss 9:25AM Bal Ganesh 12:00PM Indian 3:50PM Kaalo 5:45PM Ek Aur Ek Gyarah: By Hook or by Crook 9:00PM Dammu STAR MOVIES 8:05AM You Don't Mess with the Zohan 10:20AM National Treasure: Book of Secrets 12:59PM Mr. Popper's Penguins 2:33PM A White Snake's Revenge 4:48PM The Scorpion King 6:56PM Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer 9:00PM Bolt 11:06PM Real Steel ZEE ACTION 7:00AM Prahaar: The Final Attack 10:30AM Dilwale: The Brave Heart 1:30PM Baazigar 5:30PM Military Raaj 8:30PM Lal Baadshah HBO 7:40AM Scary Movie 9:15AM Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 11:20AM A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas 1:00PM Mission: Impossible-Ghost Protocol 4:00PM Armageddon 7:00PM Lara Croft: Tomb Raider 9:00PM The Mask 11:30PM Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows SET MAX 7:00AM Naksha: Unlock the Mystery 11:30AM Mere Hindustan Ki Kasam 1:00PM 1920: Evil Returns 6:05PM Ishaqzaade 9:00PM Main Hoon Khatarnak FILMY 9.00 AM Pataal Bhairavi 12.00 Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani 15.00 PM No Entry 18.00 Chori Chori Chupke Chupke 21.30 PM Mangal Pandey
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Yawn yawn….indeed the film that starts with Sonakshi Sinha gyrating to Thank God It's Friday followed by Ajay Devgn smashing up a street fighter does begin on an insipid note. But the moment our hero returns to his native village the film finds its keel. Not always even but to give the devil his due Khan does manage to walk the thin line between fun and ludicrousness rather well, though not appealing to all kinds of sensibilities at all times. So, more often than not ridiculous does turn bizarre. Dialogues aim at the funny bone but hit home only every now and then. And part of the credit for strange one liners bringing a smile to your face goes to the versatile actor Paresh Rawal who as a sidekick as well brother-in-law to the village head (Mahesh Manjerkar) once again proves his mettle. A lesser actor would have become a buffoon… no more no less but Rawal lifts the character and gives the perfect twist to the inane. Coming from his mouth even downright foolish bordering on gibberish dialogues acquire a funny twang and tang. Manjerkar keeps him company and as per the directorial brief is more funny than menacing. Of course, as Khan marries the formula of yore with his trademark brand even if profane, he seems to be having a ball. Catching the tiger by its tail (lest we forget there is a tiger in place too) as he gives a spin of his own to time tested story of endless Hindi films … no doubt he is having all the fun. Sadly it is not transmitted to the viewers all the time. 
This film is as much a reboot as a sequel with John Chu trying hard to instill some balletic grace to the whole pulverising bullish display of firepower and brawn. There's an action sequence every fifteen minutes with close-ups of artillery, heroes and villains set against each other, fighting for supremacy. The best part in the film is definitely the Japanese section of the story with Ninja fighters scaling treacherous peaks and fighting each other while sliding from one cliff to another.
Even the 3D can't raise the bar to the experience thereof. Blood looks a little too adulterated and thin here just like the plotting and treatment that drives this powerless drama to its unsatisfying climax. 
Titanic is an American epic romantic disaster film directed, written, co-produced, and co-edited by James Cameron. A fictionalized account of the sinking of the RMS Titanic, it stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as members of different social classes who fall in love aboard the ship during its ill-fated maiden voyage. 
Ishaqzaade