dt page 01 april 26 - the peninsula · la havas, esperanza spalding and liv ... sports meet held as...

Don’t employ little ones: Amitabh Bachchan

CAMPUS | 3 COMMUNITY | 6 ENTERTAINMENT | 12T | 12

Noble International School students

celebrate Earth Day

ALF honours Wajeh Wajhatek Destination

Imagination volunteers

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016 @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatarEmail: [email protected] thepeninsulaqatar

TRIBUTES TO A ONE-MAN BAND

P | 4-5On his own, Prince was a revolutionary

recording artist and one-man band.

The other half of his musical legacy

were his many collaborations and

contributions, whether joining Stevie

Wonder on stage or writing future

hits and giving them to other artists.

| 03TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016

CAMPUS

DPS-MIS organises

workshop for teachers

DPS-Modern Indian School (DPS-MIS)

hosted a workshop on the topic

“Personal Leadership Skills - Building

Trust, Respect and Credibility” to optimise

leadership and other skills required by

the educators for a holistic development

of the students. The resource person was

Dr Debashis Chatterjee, a Harvard Scholar,

Business Professor and internationally

acclaimed author who has served as

leadership coach to political leaders

and CEOs of major Indian organisations

and trained more than 15,000 school

principals and teachers.

Professor Chatterjee discussed

about the strategic and changing role

of a teacher in the field of education.

They need to believe that they are not

custodians of knowledge but co-learn-

ers in the process of learning. In the

present scenario, when learning has

been displaced from the boundaries

of the class room, a school should be

a hub for processing learning, not just

dispensing the content. A learner-cen-

tric atmosphere is the need of the

hour to achieve mastery and perfec-

tion. He used various innovative tech-

niques and shared his real life experi-

ences to stress on the fact ‘nothing is

taught until it is learnt’.

NIS students celebrate Earth Day

The students of Noble Internation-

al School (NIS) celebrated Earth

Day by conducting a special assem-

bly. Principal Shibu Abdul Rasheed

gave a speech during the assembly.

It was followed by skit which taught

about the issue and made a tangi-

ble environment impact. Students

performed a dance with the theme

of saving our mother planet and

planted saplings. There were other

fun, educational and action-orient-

ed activities.

World Earth Day is celebrated

every year across the world on April

22 to increase awareness about the

importance of protecting the envi-

ronment.

COVER STORY

04 | TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016

By Hillel Italie AP

On his own, Prince was a revo-

lutionary recording artist and

one-man band. But the near-

ly-40 year career that ended

with his death on Thursday was hard-

ly a private party. The other half of his

musical legacy were his many collabo-

rations and contributions, whether join-

ing Stevie Wonder on stage in Paris for

a spontaneous jam of Superstition or

writing such future hits as I Feel for You

and Manic Monday and giving them to

other artists.

In an industry where collaborations

with other artists and credits are ne-

gotiated as heavily as world treaties,

Prince followed only one credo when it

came to working with others: the love

of the music.

“Oh yes, he loved helping other

people,” said his friend and former fi-

ancee Sheila E, “and helping people by

saying, ‘Hey, here’s a song you might

want to do or like, I think this fits you,

or you know come into the studio and

see if we can work together.’”

In recent years, he boosted singer-

songwriters such as Judith Hill, Lianne

La Havas, Esperanza Spalding and Liv

Warfield, and recorded singers like

Rita Ora. Kendrick Lamar was among

the many who traveled to Paisley Park

for his famous late-night jams.

Among the countless tributes to

Prince over the past few days were

stories of his generosity and inspiration.

On her Facebook page, Erykah Badu

shared a litany of memories: “That time

Prince was your rhythm guitarist then

sent you the picture. The time Prince

was so gracious to come to your club

in the hood of South Dallas and play for

four hours into the night... The time you

recorded ‘Today — the earth song’ at

Paisley Park. All the times y’all shot pool

and argued over religion.”

Ken Ehrlich, the veteran producer of

the Grammy Awards, said about luring

Prince to the 2004 ceremony, where

he would memorably team up with Be-

yonce on Purple Rain and Baby, I’m a

Star.

“I had asked him on several occa-

sions before. I had never had much

success,” Ehrlich said. But as soon as

he heard he would perform with Be-

yonce, Prince replied, “I’ll do it,” the pro-

ducer said.

Prince called him and asked that

they meet at a rehearsal hall in Los An-

geles.

“In one day, he had laid out the en-

tire medley” that he and Beyonce

would perform, Ehrlich said.

“He put his guitar down, and he

looked at me (with) a ‘look what I did’

smile,” the producer recalled. “It was

like a school kid showing off for the

teacher.”

The other half of Prince’s musical legacy

Maurice Phillips (left), the brother-

in-law of Prince, talks with fans

following a memorial service held

inside the Paisley Park compound.

Fans of prince beside a sea of purple balloons and

flowers at a memorial wall outside the Paisley Park

compound of music legend.

COVER STORY


Singer Kandace Springs said that

she was contacted by Prince a cou-

ple of years ago through Twitter after

he saw a YouTube video for her cov-

er of Sam Smith’s Stay With Me. Scep-

tical at first that the encouraging notes

really were from Prince, she was on a

plane to his home in Paisley Park with-

in days and was asked to close his 30th

anniversary concert for Purple Rain. At

the time, she said, she was being en-

couraged to take on an urban hip-

hop sound, but she considered herself

more of a jazz artist.

“He spoke straight into me, ‘You

need to be who you are, not be what

some other people tell you,’ “ she re-

called. Prince was so prolific a song-

writer that demos or B-sides became

hits for others, often by design. Cyndi

Lauper and Mitch Ryder covered When

You Were Mine, an aching love song

originally on the flip side of Prince’s

single Controversy. Prince wrote Shei-

la E.’s signature hit, The Glamorous

Life, while an early song he worked

on, “I Feel for You,” became a smash

for Chaka Khan. Nothing Compares 2

U was Sinead O’Connor’s biggest hit.

For the Bangles, he wrote one of their

biggest hits, Manic Monday, under the

pseudonym Christopher.

“(Prince) really liked our first album,”

the Bangles’ Debbi Peterson told MTV

UK in 1989. “He liked the song Hero

Takes a Fall, which is a great compli-

ment, because we liked his music. He

contacted us, and said, ‘I’ve got a cou-

ple of songs for you. I’d like to know

if you’re interested,’ and of course we

were.”

Sometimes, just a phone call was

enough. In the early 1980s, Stevie Nicks

was working on her solo album, The

Wild Heart. The Fleetwood Mac singer

had heard Prince’s Little Red Corvette

on her car radio and loved it so much

she decided to write an answer song,

Stand Back, which became a Top 5 hit

in 1983. While in the studio, she came

up with a crazy idea: Call Prince himself

to help out.

“I said, ‘Prince, this is Stevie Nicks,

and I wrote a song to your song ‘Lit-

tle Red Corvette,’ and we’re at Sunset

Sound right now, and I was wondering

— first of all, I wanted to tell you that I’m

giving you 50 percent of (the royalties)

it if it ever goes anywhere, but are you

in town?’” Nicks told MTV.com in 2009.

“If you are, how would you feel about

coming down and playing on it?’ Nev-

er in a million years did I think this man

would be like, ‘I’ll be right there.’ He was

there in 20 minutes and he played (she

mimes instrumental parts of the song

on ‘Stand Back,’) and he was there an

hour and a half, and then he left.”

People listen to Bells of Minneapolis ring

out Prince tribute at the city hall.

Tony Hill uses a keyboard to control the bells of

Minneapolis city hall during his musical tribute to Prince.

Dean Spencer who was a childhood

friend of music legend Prince, stands

outside one of the deceased star’s

early homes at 1244 Russell Avenue

in Minneapolis, Minnesota.


COMMUNITY

ALF honours Destination Imagination volunteers

Al Faisal Without Borders (ALF)

Foundation organised a din-

ner to show appreciation to

the entire team of volunteers

for their contribution to the Wajeh

Wajhatek Destination Imagination (DI)

Qatar 2016 Invitational Tournament

which was held at the QNCC in Febru-

ary. Among the main guests were Ali

Talal Mar’e, Executive Director of the

ALF Foundation and Mead Jobran Al

Qahtani, Executive Director of Qatar

Voluntary Centre.

The four-day competition, hosted

by ALF, was originated to challenge

young people to use their skills in cre-

ativity, critical thinking, problem-solv-

ing and teamwork. Twenty four out of

315 Qatar-based teams from 1,00 local

schools were declared winners of the

Tournament. The winning teams have

also earned the right to participate in

the DI global finals that will take place

from May 25 to 29 in Knoxville, Tennes-

see in the US.

“I take this opportunity to thank

each and every volunteer for their ded-

ication and hard work in making the

event a huge success. Their efforts are

truly appreciated,” said Ali Talal Mar’e.

“Teamwork makes the dream work

and the success of the Destination Im-

agination Qatar 2016 Tournament is

one such example. It would not have

been possible without the tireless ef-

forts and teamwork of the volun-

teers. They have demonstrated that

with proper organisational skills and

a good work ethic, events of any size

can be turned into a memorable suc-

cess. From the information desk right

up to the management team they have

set an example for others to follow,” he

added.

At the dinner volunteers were pre-

sented certificates of appreciation

in several categories covered during

DI tournament including: Gates Su-

pervision Team, Exhibition Assisting

Team, Information Desk Team, Prep-

arations Team, Logistics Team, Regis-

trations Team, and VIP Management

Team.

Mead Jobran Al Qahtani said: “The

outcome of the Qatar 2016 Wajeh Wu-

jhatek DI event was extremely satisfy-

ing and we are proud to be a part of

it. In keeping with our objectives, we

believe strongly in volunteerism and

make every attempt to reach out to or-

ganisations in Qatar who need our as-

sistance in making events a success.

The spirit of volunteerism is important

in encouraging participation in com-

munities at all levels.”

Al Thakhira Youth Center honoured cham-

pions of tournaments of Asian Expatriate

Sports Meet held as part of ‘Mithluka Ana’,

a social awareness campaign. Barwa Strik-

ers won the championship defeating Sandya Group,

while Al Athiyya Elevens won over QCon CC in the

cricket tournament, in the final matches held at Al

Khor Barwa Sports Complex. The badminton tourna-

ments were held at Al Thakhira Youth Center in which

Al Khor Youth Club won the championship defeating

Al Thakhira Youth Center. Sixteen teams in each tour-

nament participated.

Ahmad Ibrahim Al Muhannadi (Assistant Di-

rector, Al Thakhira Youth Center), . Eisa Saleh Al

Muhannadi (Executive Member, Al Thakhira Youth

Center) and Abdulla Ali Al Muhannadi gave away

trophies and prizes on the final day of each tour-

nament. Yasi rValiyaparambil (President, Youth Fo-

rum Al Khor), Noushad Abdul Latheef (General Con-

vener, Asian Expatriate Sports Meet) also attended

the ceremony.

The ‘Mithluka Ana’ (being together ) campaign is

meant to create social awareness and highlight the

attributes of Qatari culture, tradition, rules and regu-

lation among Asian and Arab expat communities re-

siding in Al Khor and Thakhira. The campaign is be-

ing run in partnership of Thakhira Youth Center and

Youth Forum supported by Qudrat Social Develop-

ment Center, Community Policing of North Security

Department and Eid Charity.

The activities include volleyball, tug-of-war and

family get-together.

Al Thakhira Youth

Center honours expat

sports meet champions

MARKETPLACE


Sheraton Grand Doha Resort &

Convention Hotel recently host-

ed a special event at its Italian

restaurant La Veranda, for chil-

dren from the Shafallah Center.

More than 20 children with intel-

lectual disabilities participated in the

up close and personal exclusive pizza

making class conducted by head Chef

Alessandro and were provided with

some insights into the cooking tech-

niques used to make their own pizzas.

Nick Heath, Sheraton Grand Doha’s

Complex General Manager, said: “As re-

sponsible citizens of Qatar, it’s our duty

to help raise awareness and break down

any barriers, to integrate people with

special needs into our society and bring

about positive change. We wanted to

provide a fun and engaging environment

to our special guests to support their de-

velopment, boost their confidence and

increase their independent living skills.

He added: “We would like to thank

Shafallah Center for their continuous

efforts to give children with special

needs the same opportunities and ex-

periences as others and for allowing us

to host the students to a fun and en-

gaging pizza making activity.”

Sheraton Hotel holds special

event for Shafallah children

PMG will be hosting a programme on Friday between 6-9 pm at Deccan Hall. It will include performances by an Indo-Pak group in Qatar, and singers Mohindher

Jalandary and Jaweed Iqbal Bajwa. The event is sponsored by Delight Printing, Air Arabia, Oman Airlines and Ambassador Travel and is organised by Nazakat

Ali Khan.

Banana Island Resort attends Arabian Travel Market

Banana Island Resort Doha by

Anantara’, the luxury brand’s first

resort in Qatar, developed by Al Rayy-

an Hospitality, will make their exhi-

bition presence at the 2016 Arabian

Travel Market (ATM). The annual event

will run until Thursday at Dubai World

Trade Centre.

For ‘Banana Island Resort Doha

by Anantara’, ATM 2016 is one of the

best opportunities to participate in an

international exhibition to showcase

their unique project to a wider regional

community. ATM 2016 will also provide

the brand with a dedicated platform to

establish new relationships across the

region with industry partners and help

promote Qatar’s ambitious develop-

ment plans within the travel and tour-

ism industries. In particular, the team

will highlight the salient features of the

resort that have made it the preferred

destination for families across the re-

gion in a very short span of time.

Resort’s representatives will be

present on ground to offer a detailed

overview on the property and its

unique offerings – from the exotic din-

ing options, to sea sports and ground

activities, as well as promoting the first

and only over water villas in Qatar.

Banana Island team will take the

visitors through a virtual tour introduc-

ing the first Balance Wellness Centre in

a resort in the Middle East.

The unique centre features stun-

ning surroundings and a wide range

of services designed to complement

the grandeur of the island. Spanning

more than 342sqm for both male and

female sections, this health and well-

ness destination offers guests a collec-

tion of unique treatments and person-

alized services.

PMG event on Friday


FOOD

By Ellie Krieger The Washington Post

One of my favourite conven-

ience ingredients that I al-

ways have on hand in the

freezer is whole-grain piz-

za dough. Most grocery stores carry

it nowadays, and many local pizzeri-

as will sell you a ball of their dough. I

consider it a staple because — way be-

yond just a vehicle for red sauce and

piles of cheese — a pizza crust can be

a blank canvas for all sorts of fun, cre-

ative and healthful combinations that

reflect any season of the year.

The accompanying recipe is for a

pizza that says “primavera” simply and

elegantly, because it’s topped with

creamy, lemon-spiked ricotta cheese,

roasted asparagus and fresh bas-

il. To make it, you give the asparagus

a head start by roasting it in the ov-

en, then you use the same (now con-

veniently preheated) baking sheet to

build and cook the pizza on.

The whole-grain crust is stretched

thin, so the pizza is not overly bready,

and it crisps nicely in the oven. Over

the years, I have come to relish this

stretching process. As with other

doughs, if it is fighting you and keeps

bouncing back into shape, take a break

for a few minutes to let the dough re-

lax. (It’s a good time to take a sip or

two of wine.) Or try Sara Moulton’s

trick of lightly oiling the work surface

before rolling out the dough. When

you pick the dough up again it will be

more supple and amenable to stretch-

ing.

After the crust is laid on the bak-

ing sheet, the lemon-zest-laced ricotta

cheese is spread on, then piled with the

roasted asparagus and a generous show-

er of Parmesan cheese. Once it’s baked,

and the cheese is melted and golden

brown, the pizza is crowned with ribbons

of fresh, perfume-y basil leaves for a piz-

za at once light, fresh and satisfying.

Krieger’s newest cookbook is You

Have It Made: Delicious, Healthy, Do-

Ahead Meals (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt,

2016). She blogs and offers a weekly

newsletter at www.elliekrieger.com.

Asparagus and Ricotta Pizza4 servings. From nutritionist and

cookbook author Ellie Krieger.

Ingredients12 asparagus spears1 tablespoon olive oil1/8 teaspoon salt1 tablespoon cornmeal, for the

work surface12 ounces whole-wheat pizza

dough, defrosted if frozen3/4 cup part-skim ricotta cheese1 teaspoon finely grated lemon

zest1 ounce Parmigiano-Reggiano

cheese, freshly grated (1/2 packed cup)

Freshly ground black pepper6 large or 12 small basil leaves

StepsPreheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Trim any woody ends from the as-

paragus. Place the spears on a baking

sheet, drizzle with the oil and toss to

coat, then sprinkle with the salt. Roast

for about 6 minutes, or until the aspar-

agus is just tender. Transfer to a cutting

board to cool slightly, then cut the as-

paragus into 3/4-inch or 1-inch pieces.

Reserve the baking sheet, with the oil

still on it, to use for the pizza. Increase

the oven temperature to 500 degrees.

Sprinkle a work surface with the

cornmeal and use a rolling pin and/or

your hands to stretch the dough into

a 12-inch round. Place the dough onto

the baking sheet that you used to roast

the asparagus.

Stir together the ricotta and the lem-

on zest in a medium bowl, then use the

back of a spoon to smear that mixture

over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border

for the crust. Arrange the asparagus on

top, sprinkle with the Parmigiano-Reg-

giano cheese and a few turns of black

pepper. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or

just until the cheese is melted and

browning, the asparagus is softened,

and the crust is browned.

While the pizza’s in the oven, stack

the basil leaves, roll them and then cut

crosswise into very thin ribbons (chif-

fonade).

Garnish the just-baked pizza with

basil, then cut into 8 wedges. Serve hot.

Spring is the season and a crust is the canvas


FASHION

By Robin Givhan The Washington Post

The rumours have at long last

been confirmed that Hedi Sli-

mane is leaving Saint Laurent,

the house that he renamed

and reinvented.

In the four years that the designer

served as creative director, Saint Lau-

rent racked up double digit, year-to-

year growth and is now a brand with

yearly revenue of more than $1bn. Sli-

mane produced some of the indus-

try’s most discussed and debated

collections — beginning with his cele-

bration of California youth culture and

indie rock to his final Paris presenta-

tion that exploited the grotesquerie

of 1980s ostentation.

In announcing his departure,

François-Henri Pinault, the CEO of

parent company Kering, said: “What

Yves Saint Laurent has achieved

over the past four years represents a

unique chapter in the history of the

house. I am very grateful to Hedi Sli-

mane, and the whole Yves Saint Lau-

rent team, for having set the path that

the house has successfully embraced,

and which will grant longevity to this

legendary brand.”

Slimane’s tenure was dynamic and

it was lucrative. It was undeniably pro-

vocative. But did it mean anything?

In the ever-churning fashion indus-

try, brands are regularly reinvented,

modernised or transformed. But once

a brand is reborn, the idea of sticking

around to nurture its growth over time

has become nearly obsolete. The de-

signers who are brought in to lead an

aesthetic upheaval are increasingly be-

coming short-timers. The average ten-

ure is currently about three years. Can

a foundation that is lasting and influen-

tial be constructed in so short a time?

Slimane’s work at Saint Laurent —

still widely called Yves Saint Laurent

before he took over — helped spur a

renewed interest in grunge. He was

adept at taking the uniform of youth

(at least as it is defined by a particular

population of thin, mostly white, rock-

a-philes) and up-marketing it. A dress

that on the runway looked like a be-

draggled Goodwill find was, on closer

inspection, extravagantly embroidered,

constructed of fine silk and supremely

expensive.

He took classics such as the wom-

en’s tuxedo — le smoking — or the uni-

versal motorcycle jacket and cut them

with a narrower silhouette, tweaked

the proportions and made them sex-

ier, but with an air of nonchalance. He

gave the clothes attitude. His attitude.

Yet, if one gave the collections some

thought, it was possible to suss out

the links to the brand’s rich history: its

long-standing celebration of youth cul-

ture, its fondness for the subversive, its

delight in shocking.

Despite the exquisite construc-

tion, however, the clothes often looked

common. The models in his final show

— an examination of big shoulders, tight

skirts and skyscraper pumps — looked

like desperate strivers. The aesthetic

was riddled with teasing cynicism. As

commerce, the clothes seemed aimed

at consumers’ worst insecurities. The

ones that have them convinced that

expensive is always better and that cer-

tain labels can vouch for one’s wealth

and status. Slimane’s was not always

the work of fashion’s better angels but

it spoke powerfully about many of its

consumers.

The clothes that Slimane produced

during his time at Saint Laurent will

likely not become part of the broad-

er fashion vocabulary — ideas that

other designers might use to expand

the possibilities of attire. The house’s

namesake gave women now classic

garments such as le smoking and the

safari jacket. It’s hard to imagine any

of Slimane’s creations finding a place

in history. His hyper-skinny cuts have

had significant impact on menswear,

but that is a proportion that was real-

ized during his tenure at Dior Homme

from 2000 to 2007.

But Slimane did provoke thought.

He made observers consider what

should be declared precious. He

placed renewed value on youth cul-

ture. Instead of calling Paris home

base, Slimane lived in Los Angeles and

he turned the fashion spotlight on that

city — a part that existed beyond star-

lets, movies and the red carpet — in a

way that no other designer has. His pe-

nultimate show was an ode to rock ‘n’

roll at the Hollywood Palladium.

And even more than Balmain’s Ol-

ivier Rousteing, with his army of Insta-

gram devotees, Slimane stiff-armed

the fashion industry’s keepers of pro-

tocol and traditions. He refused to be

judged. He didn’t lift fashion up; but

he didn’t bring it down to street lev-

el either. His work was somewhere in

between the optimism of high, flow-

ery beauty and the clear-eyed ease of

street style. It lived at the nexus of cyn-

icism, willfulness, indulgence and self-

regard. And consumers loved it.

Did Hedi Slimane leave a legacy at Saint Laurent?

Hedi Slimane was adept at taking the uniform of youth (at least as it is defined by a particular population of thin, mostly white, rock-a-philes) and up-marketing it. A dress that on the runway looked like a bedraggled Goodwill find was, on closer inspection, extravagantly embroidered, constructed of fine silk and supremely expensive.


HEALTH & FITNESS

By Ariana Eunjung Cha

The Washington Post

Scientists funded by the Simons

Foundation Research Initiative

on Thursday announced the

launch of an online research

initiative that aims to gather DNA and

other information from 50,000 peo-

ple with autism and their family mem-

bers.

Although the cause of the social

communication disorder is unknown

and believed to be a mix of environ-

mental and genetic factors, scientists

have identified some 50 to 70 genes

that may play a role in the condition.

Some estimate that a total of 350 or

more could be involved.

The long-term study involves re-

searchers from more than 21 medical

institutions, including Boston Children’s

Hospital, the University of North Caroli-

na-Chapel Hill, the Kennedy Krieger In-

stitute, and Weill Cornell Medicine.

Autism diagnoses are rising in the

United States at a high pace, and a

survey estimated earlier this year that

one out of 45 children aged three to

17 have the condition. The issue has

strained state and federal resources

for special needs and created whole

industries of companies catering to in-

terventions and therapies.

Autism is considered to be a spec-

trum disorder, which means that some

people are more severely affected

than others. Some of those with the

condition are non-verbal and need

support throughout their lives. Others

are considered to be on the high-func-

tioning end and their symptoms are

significantly milder. Actress Darryl Han-

nah, best known for “Splash,” is among

the celebrities who have publicly spo-

ken about their struggles with the con-

dition.

Among the main controversies sur-

rounding autism are its definition and

methods of diagnosis, which have

changed significantly over the years.

There’s no blood test or other biomar-

ker for the condition, so doctors rely

on parent and teacher surveys, obser-

vations, and a test that simulates how

the person might respond in a typi-

cal conversation. In recent years, the

National Institutes of Health has led a

brain imaging study that looks at dif-

ferent aspects of how the brain de-

velops and activates in children with

autism.

Joseph Piven, who is co-leading

the team at UNC-Chapel Hill, said the

initiative would help accelerate an era

of personalized medicine for people

with the condition. He said the data

from the study “link that data to guide

targeted treatment research based on

a patient’s genetic analysis.”

That approach is likely to be a long

way away. Scientists still haven’t been

able to figure out how genes work to

create specific diseases that are meas-

urable in the body, much less how

genes and the environment interact

with each other to create more difficult

to define personality traits. Autism is

primarily treated these days with a bat-

tery of therapies with speech, physical

and behavioral and socialization goals

rather than with medication. With the

complexity and diversity of autism, in-

dividualized treatments are necessary,

but it’s unclear what role genes will

play in which ones will work. For infor-

mation about the study or to sign up, go

to www.sparkforautism.org.

World’s largest study on autism and genes begins


ENTERTAINMENT

By Michael O’Sullivan The Washington Post

Sing Street runs two ways. For

Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, the star of

the new movie musical about

a plucky Irish teenager who

starts a band, the film is just the first

step in what the 16-year-old newcom-

er hopes will be a long career.

“I’ve definitely been bitten by the

bug,” says the young actor, singer and

musician, who is taking advantage of

his school’s “transition year” — inde-

pendent study before the completion

of secondary school — to participate in

the movie’s press tour as he contem-

plates his future. (Walsh-Peelo spoke

by phone from Los Angeles, along with

the film’s director, John Carney.)

For Carney, however, the movie

was a first of a very different sort. Al-

though the 44-year-old filmmaker has

made a name for himself as the writ-

er and director of films centred around

music (Once, Begin Again), Sing Street

was the first time he has worked with

children.

He swears he’ll never do it again.

“I don’t think competition is good for

children,” says Carney, who made hun-

dreds of Irish teens, including Walsh-

Peelo, wait in line for hours to audi-

tion. “There’s only so much you can

say when you’re sending a kid away

empty-handed: ‘Oh, we had these very

specific parameters of what we want-

ed. Unfortunately, you’re not the right

age’ or ‘Your hair was the wrong color.’

It’s just a disappointment for kids, full

stop.”

That said, the director calls the

casting of Walsh-Peelo — a multi-in-

strumentalist who comes from a musi-

cal family of six in County Wicklow and

who toured with Ireland’s Opera Thea-

tre Company as a boy soprano - a no-

brainer. “He just has super confidence,”

Carney says.

The choice of Walsh-Peelo, says

Carney, helped steer the tone of the

film, set in 1985 in a tough public

school on Dublin’s Synge Street, away

from the gritty, almost documenta-

ry feel of “Once.” “Sing Street” is closer

to the esprit of a music video, he says,

and ends with an elaborately escapist

fantasy sequence.

“It’s like ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,’” the

director says. “When you cast some-

one like Ferdia in that kind of role,

you’re not going to make social realism

or cinema verite. People are not going

to believe it.”

The roots of the film are semi-au-

tobiographical, inspired by Carney’s

memories of discovering the power of

music — and music videos — as a teen-

ager in his native Dublin. A bass player,

he got his start as a director by shoot-

ing videos for his former band, the

Frames. His passion for melding music

and cinema shows in his most recent

films, each of which uses song to ad-

vance the story.

“It’s incredible how much a piece of

music or a song can move drama for-

ward, or slow it down,” he says. “Even

in life, like when you’re at the end of

a huge argument, and neither of you

can find the word to describe how you

feel, and the argument just keeps go-

ing. Then a song comes on the radio,

and the argument is suddenly over.

Words would be an offense — or use-

less — in a sense. That can happen in

drama. Music can score your life.”

Walsh-Peelo agrees, calling his own

nascent songwriting a form of therapy.

He has surprisingly mature and eclec-

tic musical tastes for one so young: Jo-

ni Mitchell, Nick Drake and the Beatles

are in his music library — on vinyl, no

less — along with MP3s by the neo-soul

singer D’Angelo and the retro-roots

bandleader Pokey LaFarge.

“I was just listening to what was

around the house,” says Walsh-Peelo,

who credits his mother, a professional

singer and music teacher, with inspir-

ing him and his three siblings to pursue

music. Oldest brother Tadhg is a ses-

sion musician; Oisin is studying com-

position at college; and younger sister

Siofradh plays the violin.

Walsh-Peelo says his close rela-

tionship with his siblings informed his

performance in “Sing Street,” which

spotlights the special bond between

Walsh-Peelo’s character, Conor, and

his older brother Brendan (Jack Rey-

nor), a mentor in matters both roman-

tic and musical. “No woman can tru-

ly love a man who listens to Phil Col-

lins,” Brendan tells his baby bro, who

has become smitten with a slightly old-

er girl (Lucy Boynton) who is dating a

Genesis fan.

The film is dedicated to “brothers

everywhere,” as a tribute to Carney’s

late older brother, Jim, about whom

the director prefers to maintain some

privacy. “I don’t want to go into that,”

he says when asked about their rela-

tionship. “I think it’s inappropriate to

use people in your family in those con-

versations.” What he will say is that

the dedication alludes to “the siblings

in one’s life — older or younger — who

give you permission to find out who

you are, and to help you on that jour-

ney.”

That theme is a recurring one in

Carney’s last three films, each of which

revolves around beginnings — of rela-

tionships, of careers. It’s underscored

by casting newbies like Walsh-Peelo

and the couple at the center of “Once.”

(Of that film’s Glen Hansard and Marké-

ta Irglová, only Hansard, Carney’s old

bandmate from the Frames, had ever

acted, in “The Commitments.”)

Carney says that, in some ways, he

regrets his brief flirtation with Holly-

wood for Begin Again, which starred

Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo (along

with the screen novice Adam Levine of

the band Maroon 5 and TV’s The Voice).

“After the experience of working

with (Keira), I really wanted to get away

from the sort of movie-star thing and

go back to working with non-actors

and amateurs. Keira was — I’m trying

to see how I can put it diplomatically -

a little bit jaded,” he says.

There’s little of that in Sing Street,

which celebrates the optimism of

youth.

“There is a certain realism that de-

scends as the curtain comes down on

life,” Carney says. “Sing Street” is his at-

tempt to recapture what he calls the

“truth” of that youthful feeling. As for

his own plans, Carney insists he has

none. He’s open for any offers, includ-

ing a musical biopic - a popular trend -

“if the right way of telling a story comes

along.”

His cinematic alter-ego is similarly

up for whatever may come. “I have to

keep telling myself I can do whatever I

want,” says Walsh-Peelo. “I’m only 16.”

The roots of the film are semi-autobiographical, inspired by Carney’s memories of discovering the power of music — and music videos — as a teenager in his native Dublin. A bass player, he got his start as a director by shooting videos for his former band, the Frames.

Young Irish star of Sing Street looks forward


ENTERTAINMENT

By Subhash K Jha

IANS

Film: Nil Battey Sanatta

Cast: Swara Bhaskar, Ratna Pathak

Shah, Pankaj Tripathy and Riya Shukla

Director: Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari

Rating: ****

Swara’s spontaneous unre-

hearsed seemingly uncompli-

cated interpretations of the

most layered emotions is not

only exemplary, it is a one-woman act-

ing school on how not to like you are …

well, acting.

There are many sequences in

the very oddly titled Nil Battey Sanat-

ta where Swara sweeps you into her

character’s innermost world of melan-

choly and despair without making you

drown in maudlinism.

Playing a domestic help Chanda

who dreams of making her stubborn

spoilt daughter Apeksha (confident

newcomer Riya Shukla) into some-

thing bigger than destiny decrees for

the poor, Swara delivers a virtuoso

performance. She gets the minutest

of Chanda’s feeling on screen without

screaming for attention.

Of course it helps that Swara has

stunning support from her co-stars.

Chanda’s rapport with her thoroughly

unlikable daughter, and more specially

the easygoing kinship she shares with

her employee (Ratna Pathak Shah) are

signs of maturity and wisdom way be-

yond the film’s placard-flashing theme

on female literacy.

Yes, there is a message. And a very

basic one at that. Girls need to get ed-

ucated. Period.

Happily, the film is bogged down

neither by its pedantic ambitions of

making a statement, nor by the pro-

tagonist’s financially challenged sta-

tus in society. Yes, she is a domestic

help. But her employee treats her as

an equal. Yes, she lives in a one-room

chawl in Agra with her daughter. But

the two have a television set blaring

out cheesy hits which they dance to

when they want, and Chinese meals

are ordered for celebrations when the

occasion arises.

Director Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari keeps

it simple. Simple and straight. Thank-

fully there are no bouts of furious sen-

timentality. Swara plays Chanda with

feisty positivity and yet this is not

a character or film that romanticiz-

es poverty. It isn’t even a lyrical cele-

bration of destitution the way Satya-

jit Ray’s Pather Panchali” or Mira Nair’s

Salaam Bombay! was.

Nil Battey Sanatta occupies a world

of half-finished dreams and smoth-

ered aspirations with a spirit of posi-

tivity that is the opposite of despair.

Apart from a few false notes (for ex-

ample the sequence when the daugh-

ter pipes in during class to eulogize

over her mother’s struggles, or that ut-

terly unconvincing sequence where

Chanda visits the excessively kind

collector of the district, played with

a sweet sincerity by Sanjay Suri, the

debutante director strikes no false

notes, covers no ground that the plot

needn’t cover.

The casting goes a long way in add-

ing miles to the director’s long-legged

uncluttered narrative. Of course Swara

holds centre-stage confirming her place

among the most significant contempo-

rary actresses currently on the scene.

But the rest of the cast, including the

young boys and girls in the class that

mother Chanda and daughter Apeksha

attend together, are outstanding.

Ratna Pathak Shah and Pankaj Tri-

pathy (the latter as the extremely be-

nign school principal) remind us what

capable actors can do to a worthy film.

Riya Shukla as the stubborn daughter

slips into an unlikeable part. It’s the

kind of sullen sulky daughter’s role

that Swara had played with conviction

just two years ago in Listen... Amaya.

The smallest of parts in this film

are beautifully carved out. Chan-

da’s neighbour Razia is barely there

on screen. But she matters. Or Ratna

Pathak’s husband—barely a shadow

in the background. But nonetheless a

character.

This morally uplifting inspirational

heartwarming fable is a must watch,

if only to see how difficult it is to be

simple. And how much we miss those

simply told tales of life by Hrishikesh

Mukherjee and Basu Chatterjee.

Swara Bhaskar shines in Nil Battey Sanatta

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has

urged his fans and well-wishers

to pitch in to make “this world a better

place for children” by not employing

them. He tweeted: “Each of us has the

power to make this world a better place

for children. #dont_employ_little_ones”.

The cine icon has raised his voice

against the social menace of child la-

bour at a time when several celebri-

ties like cricketing legend Sachin Ten-

dulkar and chess maestro Viswanath-

an Anand, along with a number of stars

like Soha Ali Khan, Mandira Bedi, and

actor Kunal Kemmu, have joined Reli-

ance General Insurance’s Twitter cam-

paign against child labour that was

launched last week.

Amitabh also appreciated the ded-

ication and talent of the young minds

working in filmmaking.

He posted: “What a day at ‘Pink’!

Watching young talent put in amazing

work ... whole unit claps ... so deserving.

Happiness is being in the company of

incredible young talent! Laughter and

tears of joy! God bless them.”

Don’t employ little ones: Amitabh Bachchan

There are many sequences in the very oddly titled Nil Battey Sanatta where Swara sweeps you into her character’s innermost world of melancholy and despair without making you drown in maudlinism.


TECHNOLOGY

By Chika Ishikawa The Washington Post

“An unprecedented grand

plan.” This is how Egypt’s

State Ministry for An-

tiquities describes the

large-scale survey of pyramids that

started in November last year. Using

the latest technologies, a re-examina-

tion is being carried out on a number

of pyramids, including the Great Pyra-

mid of Pharaoh Khufu, said to be the

largest in Egypt. The centrepiece of the

survey is a Japanese team’s operation

to look through the pyramids using el-

ementary muon particles.

Muon particles are one of 12 ele-

mentary particles that make up mat-

ter. The Earth’s surface is constant-

ly bombarded by muons that are gen-

erated when cosmic radiation hits the

Earth’s atmosphere. The rate at which

these muons bombard the planet is

one per second on an area roughly

the size of a human palm. Muons eas-

ily pass through matter, and can even

pass through bedrock several kilome-

tres thick. Tomographic technologies

that utilise this property have been

used to monitor nuclear materials and

in volcano research. In archaeology,

the number of surveys using this type

of technology is increasing.

The Great Pyramid for Pharaoh

Khufu, located in Giza, outside Cairo,

is 146 metres high and weighs 5 mil-

lion tons. It is believed that the pyra-

mid was built more than 4,000 years

ago over a period of about 25 years.

However, the construction methods

remain a mystery. If new hidden rooms

are discovered, they may provide hints

about how the builders managed to

stack the enormous stones.

Participating in the survey from Ja-

pan is a team led by Kunihiro Morishi-

ma, a research assistant professor at

Nagoya University. Morishima, who

specializes in particle physics and as-

trophysics, worked to determine the

position of the nuclear fuel that melt-

ed down at reactors at the Fukushima

No. 1 nuclear power plant using muons

that bombard the Earth from space.

Morishima explained that “the pen-

etration rate of muons changes de-

pending on factors such as an object’s

density. If there are any undiscovered

empty spaces in the pyramids, those

areas will have greater penetration

rates than their immediate surround-

ings.”

The principle used to look through

the pyramids is the same as that used

in X-ray photography. Pieces of special

film, known as nuclear emulsion plates,

are installed in rooms within the pyra-

mids and left for several months. The

film turns black in the areas that are hit

by muons. It is said that when these

films are analysed in detail, the direc-

tion from which the muons came can

be determined. This means the team

may be able to infer not only the pres-

ence or absence of hidden rooms but

also their general shape.

Teams from France and other coun-

tries are searching for clues using

methods such as examining air path-

ways through the pyramids by us-

ing infrared cameras to measure sur-

face temperatures, and taking detailed

measurements of surface irregularities

with small, unmanned drones.

Morishima says: “I am looking for-

ward to finding out to what extent our

technology works. Using the results in

combination with those of the other

teams, I want to reveal unknown parts.”

The survey is scheduled to continue for

about one year.

A survey to look through the pyr-

amids using muons was previously at-

tempted by an American physicist in

the late 1960s. Although that survey

did not find any hidden chambers due

to a lack of data, Morishima read the

research paper when he was a student

and thought he would like to try the

same kind of survey one day.

Although he claims that it became

possible to implement the survey this

time “because the paths of the right

people happened to cross,” it is more

likely that the tenacity and passion

with which he pursued his dream is

what made it happen.

The amount of high-tech research

in archaeology is increasing every year.

Last summer, a team led by Prof. Masa-

to Sakai, a specialist in Andean archae-

ology from Yamagata University, con-

ducted research on the Unesco World

Heritage site Nazca Lines in Peru.

The Nazca Lines were discovered

in 1939 by an American archaeologist

in the Nazca Plateau of southern Peru.

They were created by utilising the color

difference between the dark surface

rocks and the lighter-coloured under-

lying ground. The geoglyphs have var-

ying designs, such as monkeys, hum-

mingbirds and geometric patterns.

With some exceeding 300 meters in

length, there is a theory that the Nazca

people, who had no writing system,

created them as signposts to connect

their villages or as a record of their rit-

uals. They were designated a Unesco

World Cultural Heritage site in 1994.

Sakai’s team announced the discov-

ery of 24 new geoglyphs depicting ob-

jects including a llama, a common ani-

mal in the country.

The discovery demonstrated the

power of a surveying instrument

known as the 3-D laser scanner. It is

capable of detecting to an accuracy of

a few centimeters subtle irregularities

on the surface of the ground that are

difficult to discern with the naked eye.

Sakai’s team conducted a field sur-

vey based on satellite photos, using the

scanner to measure unnatural surface

depressions before analyzing the data

on a computer. As a result, they were

able to find faded and weathered ge-

oglyphs. “There are still fresh discover-

ies of the geoglyphs. We’d like to think

about conservation methods in coop-

eration with the locals,” Sakai added.

Last summer, a team led by ar-

chaeology specialist Prof. Yoshifumi

Ikeda from the University of the Ry-

ukyus announced that a shipwreck dis-

covered off the coast of Nagasaki Pre-

fecture had been identified as part of

the 13th-century Mongolian fleet sent

to invade Japan in an incident known

as Genko. The ship had been buried

under 1.5 meters of sand, which inhib-

ited decay and preserved the wooden

hull of the ship.

By combining the latest underwa-

ter sonic probe with a global position-

ing system (GPS), the team was able

to produce an accurate chart based

on the locations of signals picked up

from materials not normally found on

the seabed, such as ceramics and tiles,

leading to divers being able to accu-

rately investigate.

“We were able to establish an un-

derwater archaeology technique,” Ike-

da said.

Archaeologists are using high-tech eyes

Muon particles are one of 12 elementary particles that make up matter. The Earth’s surface is constantly bombarded by muons that are generated when cosmic radiation hits the Earth’s atmosphere. The rate at which these muons bombard the planet is one per second on an area roughly the size of a human palm.

The Jungle Book (2D/Drama) 11:00am, 3:00 & 5:00pmDemolition (2D/Comedy) 11:30am, 3:30 & 9:30pm

The Ones Below (2D/Action) 1:30 & 5:30pmCriminal (2D/Action) 7:30pmThe Huntsman: Winter’s War (2D/Action) 1:00, 3:00, 7:00, 9:00 & 11:00pm Precious Cargo (2D/Action) 11:30am, 7:30, 9:15 & 11:15pm Kung Fu Panda 3 (2D/Animation) 1:15pmFan (2D/Hindi) 5:00 & 11:00pm

AL KHORKali (Malayalam) 11:30am, 2:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30pm & 12:00midnightTheri (Tamil) 12:00noon, 6:00pm & 12:00midnightThe Jungle Book (2D/Drama) 12:30, 2:45, 5:00, 7:15, 9:30 & 11:45pmSarrainodu (Telugu) 3:00 & 9:00pm

ASIAN TOWN

NOVO

MALL

ROYAL PLAZAVILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER

LAL RANG

BABY BLUES

SHERMAN’S LAGOON

Shankar (Randeep Hooda) is the kingpin of the thriving business of blood-theft in Karnal (Haryana). To get better access to blood-banks, he enrolls himself in a government college where he meets Rajesh. The latter is enamored by Shankar’s aura. They become thick friends and partners-in-crime.

14 TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016

CINEMA PLUS

The Huntsman: Winter’s War (Action) 2D 10:00am, 12:00 noon, 12:20, 1:50, 2:20, 2:40, 4:40, 5:00, 6:30, 7:00, 7:20, 9:20, 9:40, 11:20, 11:30pm & 12:00midnight 3D 11:30am, 4:10 & 8:50pmPrecious Cargo (2D/Action) 10:00am, 12:00noon, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00, 10:00pm & 12:00midnightCriminal (2D/Action) 10:00, 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40pm & 12:00midnight Fan (2D/Hindi) 11:30am, 2:30, 5:30 & 11:15pmBennesbeh Labokra Chou (Arabic) 8:30pmDemolition (2D/Action) 11:30am, 3:30, 7:30 & 11:30pmThe Ones Below (2D/Action) 1:30, 5:30 & 9:30pmThe Boss (2D) 10:00am, 12:00noon, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00, 10:00pm & 12:00midnightThe Jungle Book (2D/Drama) 10:00am, 12:10, 2:20, 4:30, 6:40, 8:50 & 11:00pmThe Jungle Book (3D IMAX/Drama) 11:00am, 1:10, 3:20, 5:30, 7:40, 9:50 & 11:50pm

Kali (Malayalam) 5:00, 6:00, 7:15, 8:15, 9:30, 9:45 & 10:45pm

Theri (Tamil) 7:00 & 10:00pm Sarrainodu (Telugu) 12:30, 3:30, 4:00 & 6:30pm

Vetrivil (Tamil) 11:30pm

Kali (2D/Malayalam) 11:30am, 1:15, & 11:30pm The Ones Below (2D/Action) 2:00pm Theri (Tamil) 2:00

Kali (2D/Hindi) 11:30am, 1:15 & 11:30pm

The Ones Below (2D/Action) 5:30pmThe Jungle Book (2D/Drama) 5:15 & 7:00pmLaal Rang (2D/Hindi) 11:30am & 8:45pmThe Huntsman: Winter’s War (2D/Action) 11:00am, 5:30, 7:30 & 9:30pm Demolition (2D/Comedy) 3:30pmPrecious Cargo (2D/Action) 5:00, 9:30 & 11:30pm Fan (2D/Hindi) 7:00pm Vetrivil (Tamil) 11:15pm

Note: Programme is subject to change without prior notice.

EASY SUDOKU

15TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2016

Yesterday’s answer

Easy Sudoku Puzzles: Place a digit from 1

to 9 in each empty cell so every row, every

column and every 3x3 box contains all the

digits 1 to 9.

Yesterday’s answer

MEDIUM SUDOKU

ALL IN THE MIND

CROSSWORD

BRAIN TEASERS

Can you find the hidden words? They may be horizontal,vertical, diagonal, forwards or backwards.

BRONZE, CHINA, COPPER,

CORAL, COTTON, CRYSTAL,

DIAMOND, EMERALD, GOLD,

IRON, IVORY, JADE, LACE,

LEATHER, LINEN, PAPER,

PEARL, POTTERY, RUBY,

SAPPHIRE, SILK, SILVER,

STEEL, TIN, WOOD, WOOL.

ACROSS

1. Concern (5)

4. Maxim (5)

7. Fruit (3)

8. Responded (7)

9. Chess piece (4)

10. Writer (6)

13. Sagacity (6)

14. Leave out (4)

17. Decorate food (7)

19. Beverage (3)

20. Stitched (5)

21. Travesty (5)

DOWN

1. Thin biscuit (5)

2. Areas (7)

3. Tall story (4)

4. Counting device (6)

5. Perform (3)

6. Duck (5)

11. Short-tailed burrowing rodent (7)

12. Aped (6)

13. Earnings (5)

15. Search and find (5)

16. Professional cook (4)

18. Uncooked (3)

13:05 Thrift Hunters

16:00 Fast N’ Loud

16:50 Fifth Gear

18:30 Bear Grylls:

Mission Survive

19:20 What On

Earth?

20:10 Storage Wars

Canada

20:35 Auction

Hunters

22:40 Life After:

Chernobyl

23:30 Wheeler

Dealers

11:45 Blues Brothers

2000

14:00 500 Days Of

Summer

16:00 Sweet Home

Alabama

18:00 Rush Hour

20:00 Laggies

22:00 Ted

12:25 Bondi Vet

12:50 Dog TV

13:45 Gator Boys

14:40 Treehouse

Masters

15:35 Tanked

16:30 Queens Of The

Savannah

17:25 River Monsters

18:20 Gator Boys

19:15 Tanked

20:10 Queens Of The

Savannah

21:05 Treehouse

Masters

22:00 Gator Boys

11:00 Still Alice

13:00 Boychoir

15:00 Love, Rosie

16:45 Edge Of

Tomorrow

18:45 Blackhat

21:00 Green Street

3: Never Back

Down

23:00 Tammy

08:00 News

08:30 Counting the

Cost

09:00 Al Jazeera

World

10:30 Inside Story

11:00 News

11:30 The Stream

12:00 News

12:30 Viewfinder

Latin America

13:00 NEWSHOUR

14:00 News

14:30 Inside Story

15:00 Marco Polo: A

Very Modern

Journey

16:00 NEWSHOUR

17:00 News

17:30 The Stream

18:00 NEWSHOUR

19:30 Science In A

Golden Age

20:00 News

20:30 Inside Story

22:00 News

22:30 The Stream

23:00 Al Jazeera

World

13:10 Austin & Ally

15:20 Dog With A

Blog

15:45 Miraculous

Tales Of

Ladybug And

Cat Noir

16:10 Violetta

17:00 The Next Step

17:25 Alex And Co

17:50 Dog With A

Blog

18:15 Best Friends

Whenever

18:40 Liv And

Maddie

19:05 Evermoor

Chronciles

19:30 Violetta

20:20 The Next Step

21:10 Good Luck

Charlie

21:35 H2O

22:00 Binny And The

Ghost

22:50 Sabrina

Secrets Of A

Teenage Witch

23:10 Hank Zipzer

TV LISTINGS

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