Community

P6
Community
ASD’s sixth graders
recently marked
their fifth Qatar
History Day with a focus on
the dynamic changes the
country has experienced in
the past 20 to 30 years.
P20
Community
Filipino
forum HERO
Qatar has
welcomed volunteers
to join them in
walking more than
150 orphan canines.
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Jumada II 29, 1437 AH
DOHA
COVER
STORY
THRILLED: Dana Alfardan
22°C—30°C TODAY
LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 13
PUZZLES 14 & 15
Dana’s
day
Top Qatari composer and
songwriter makes waves
debuting classical crossover
album Sandstorm. P4-5
2
GULF TIMES Thursday, April 7, 2016
COMMUNITY
ROUND & ABOUT
PRAYER TIME
Fajr
Shorooq (sunrise)
Zuhr (noon)
Asr (afternoon)
Maghreb (sunset)
Isha (night)
4.02am
5.20am
11.36am
3.05pm
5.55pm
7.25pm
USEFUL NUMBERS
EVENTS
Emergency
999
Worldwide Emergency Number
112
Kahramaa – Electricity and Water
991
Ooredoo Telephone Assistance
111
Local Directory
180
International Calls Enquires
150
Time
141, 140
Doha International Airport
40106666
Labor Department
44508111, 44406537
Medical Commission
44679111
Mowasalat Taxi
44588888
Qatar Airways
44496000
Weather Forecast
44656590
Hamad Medical Corporation
44392222
44393333
Qatar General Electricity and
Water Corporation
44845555
44845464
Primary Health Care Corporation
44593333
44593363
Qatar Assistive Technology
Centre
44594050
Qatar News Agency
44450205
44450333
Q-Post – General Postal
Corporation
44464444
Qatar University
44033333
ote Unquote
u
Q
Design is not
just what it looks like
and feels like. Design is how it
works.
— Steve Jobs
Community Editor
Kamran Rehmat
e-mail: community@gulf-times.com
Telephone: 44466405
Fax: 44350474
Senyar Championship
DATE: Until April 16
TIME: 8am-10pm
VENUE: Katara
As part of its strategy and in celebration of our glorious
heritage, Cultural Village Foundation – Katara is organising
for the fifth consecutive year Senyar Championship. This
annual marine competition comprises fishing and pearldiving contests for Qatari nationals with valuable prizes
allocated to the winning contestants. The championship aims
to revive ancestral heritage whilst highlighting the traditions,
customs and values associated with Qatari marine life.
The Merlin Magic Show
DATE: April 8-17
TIME: 4pm
VENUE: The Magical Festival Village
Witness absurd occurrences; in an exclusive 10 days Magic
show at The Magical Festival Village. It will be a mind blowing
performance by Cezar Balasoiu, the performance blends
amazement and style to create an unbelievable entertainment
experience like no other. It will be combined numbers of
close-up magic, appearances and disappearances.
Mall Cinema (1): Batman Vs.
Superman (2D) 11.30am; The Boss
(2D) 2.30pm; Mr. Right (2D) 4.30pm;
The Boy & The Beast (2D) 6.30pm;
Mr. Right (2D) 8.45pm; Darvinte
Parinamam (Malayalam) 10.45pm.
Mall Cinema (2): The Boy & The
Beast (2D) 11am; Kung Fu Panda 3
(2D) 1.15pm; The Boy & The Beast
(2D) 2.45pm; Kung Fu Panda 3 (2D)
5pm; Batman Vs. Superman (2D)
6.30pm; Batman Vs. Superman (2D)
9pm; The Dead Room (2D) 11.30pm.
Mall Cinema (3): Darvinte
Parinamam (Malayalam) 11.30am;
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2):
The Dead Room (2D) 11.15am; The
Boy & The Beast (2D) 12.45pm; The
Boy & The Beast (2D) 3pm; Ki &
Darvinte Parinamam (Malayalam)
Ka (Hindi) 5.15pm; The Boss (2D)
12.15pm; The Boss (2D) 5pm; Ki &
7.30pm; Mr. Right (2D) 9.30pm;
Ka (Hindi) 7pm; Shaket Dabous
(Arabic) 9.15pm; Before I Wake (2D) Before I Wake (2D) 11.15pm.
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (3):
11pm.
The Boy & The Beast (2D) 11am;
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1):
Shaket Dabous (Arabic) 1.15pm; The
The Boss (2D) 11am; Mr. Right (2D)
1pm; Kung Fu Panda 3 (2D) 2.45pm; Dead Room (2D) 2.45pm; The Boss
(2D) 4.30pm; Mr. Right (2D) 6.30pm;
Kung Fu Panda 3 (2D) 4.15pm;
Before I Wake (2D) 8.15pm; Shaket
Batman Vs. Superman (2D) 6pm;
Batman Vs. Superman (2D) 8.30pm; Dabous (Arabic) 10pm; The Dead
Batman Vs. Superman (2D) 10.45pm. Room (2D) 11.30pm.
Thursday, April 7, 2016
BOOKS
10
3
COMMUNITY
ROUND & ABOUT
top
GULF TIMES
MOVIES
1. Jojo Moyes: Me Before You
2.Various Artists: Entertainer Qatar 2016
3. Jeff Kinney: Diary Of Wimpy Kid 10 Old School
4. Bounty: Flowers Gardens
5. Zoe Sugg: Girl Online On Tour
6. Jennifer Niven: All The Bright Places
7. Robin S Sharma: Monk Who
Sold His Ferrari
8. Robert T Kiyosaki: Rich Dad Poor Dad
9. Jojo Moyes: After You
10. Johanna Basford: Lost Ocean
1. Spectre
2. Goosebumps
3. Descendants
4. Mad Max 4 Fury Road
5. Ant Man
6. Maleficent
7. Arthur 3 The War Of Two Worlds
8. Intern
9. Paranormal Activity The Ghost
10. Black Work
MUSIC
TV-SERIES
1. Suits S1&2
2. Downton Abbey S 1-6
3. Arrow S3
4. Prison Break S2
5. Gotham S1
6. Mad Men The Complete Final Sea
7. Flash S1
8. Modern Family S1-6
9. Walking Dead S1-5
10. Nikita S1-4
1. Various Artists: Now 93
2.Yanni: Sensuous Chill
3.Various Artists: Grammys 2016
4.One Direction: Made In The A M
Hardcoverbook Del Ed
5. Rihanna: Anti
6.Various Artists: Brit Awards 2016 Db
7. Coldplay: Head Full Of Dreams
8. Adele: 25
9. Justin Bieber: Purpose
10. Various Artists: We Love Disney
Courtesy: Virgin Megastores, Landmark and Villaggio Mall
Shifting Sands
DATE: Until July 7
VENUE: Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim
Museum, Alsamariyah
MA students of UCL Qatar are organising
and curating an exhibition as part of
UCLQurates. In the very recent past, Qatar
has undergone a significant transformation;
through these developments, people have
had to adapt to the changing landscape in
which they live.
Comedy In The Park
DATE: Today
TIME: 7pm
VENUE: Ritz-Carlton Doha
Catch East India Comedy’s Sorabh Pant,
Sahil Shah and Sapan Verma take down
Bollywood!An annual show where these
three roast the worst performances in
Bollywood.
Songkran Festival
DATE: April 15
VENUE: Grand Hyatt, Doha
Get ready to get soaked with Grand Hyatt
Doha’s very own Songkran celebration.
Award-winning Thai restaurant Isaan will be
commemorating Songkran with a Thai New
Year Gala Dinner on April 13 and closing
with a special Songkran Chatuchak
Brunch on April 15. For details, call
44481250.
The Proclaimers Live In Qatar
DATE: April 29
TIME: 7pm
VENUE: InterContinental Doha
Following a hugely successful 2015 UK and
Ireland tour, The Proclaimers are travelling
much more than 500 Miles in 2016 as they
continue to play to fans all across the World.
IconicEvents proudly present Scotland’s
most well known and loved identical twin
brothers The Proclaimers.
Yamativo Salsa Classes
DATE: Every Monday
TIME: 7pm
VENUE: Radisson Blu
It’s always fun and always challenging.
Let’s meet and learn some moves every
Monday night. You don’t need to do
anything, just join us. Level 1 (intermediate
level) 7pm and for beginner level 8pm. Be
there are Raddison Blu Hotel Cabana Club.
Beach Volleyball World Tour
DATE: Tomorrow
TIME: 4:30pm -9pm
VENUE: Gharafa Sports Complex
Catch this event live in The Beach
Volleyball Arena, at the Al Gharafa Sports
Complex! April 4-8. Free entrance!
The Tainted Veil (film screening)
DATE: Today, tomorrow
TIME: 7:30pm
VENUE: Museum of Islamic Art
Whether a veil of the soul, the mind or the
body, the layers of the veil in history and the
many meanings behind it will be revealed.
The hijab is a head covering, and ‘women
are either judged for wearing the hijab or
for not wearing it’. In The Tainted Veil, the
challenges surrounding these ideas are
exposed in a debate featuring diverse guests
and extraordinary stories. For more info,
visit http://www.dohafilminstitute.com
Let’s Celebrate Womanhood
DATE: Tomorrow
TIME: 9am
VENUE: FCC
FCC Vanithavedi has been organising
various programmes for Malayalee women
in Qatar as part of the World Women’s
Day celebrations since January. The
programme, ‘Let’s celebrate womanhood’
will be held at FCC from 9am. Oottupura,
presentation and sale of regional food
items and various cuisines from Kerala;
exhibition and sale of bags, dresses and
ornaments paintings and crochet made by
women are all being organised as part of the
celebration. There will be competitions for
children of class 1- 8. For more details, call
30956695,30018879,7321436.
Spring Exhibition MIA
DATE: Until July 16
TIME: 10:30am- 5pm
VENUE: QM Gallery Al Riwaq
An exhibition of 15 contemporary Chinese
artists, curated by internationally acclaimed
New York-based Chinese artist Cai GuoQiang, 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.
Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: gtlisting@gmail.com, Events and timings subject to change
Yamativo Salsa Classes
DATE: Every Monday
TIME: 7pm
VENUE: Radisson Blu
It’s always fun and always challenging.
Let’s meet and learn some moves every
Monday night. You don’t need to do
anything, just join us. Level 1 (intermediate
level) 7pm and for beginner level 8pm. Be
there are Raddison Blu Hotel Cabana Club.
FOODIE CHOICE
RESTAURANT: Spice Market
LOCATION: W Hotel, West Bay
Offering up a generous menu of
Southeast Asian cuisine, the concept
behind the restaurant is that through the
design and food you are transported into a
Vietnamese street market, or a Thai food
stall.
4
GULF TIMES Thursday, April 7, 2016
COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
Hit by Sandstorm
Dana Alfardan scores big with her latest album as collective verve
of The Doha String Quartet & Friends brings out the essence of
Sandstorm in all its soothing tonal glory, writes Anand Holla
PERSONAL TOUCH: “Sandstorm is a very personal album with every single one of the songs being of significance to me,” says Dana Alfardan.
B
y the rhythmic
crescendo and the
fervent tempo of
Lustre, the last piece
of the evening, one
could swear to have experienced
the whole gamut of moods and
emotions that the music of Dana
Alfardan seeks to stir up.
The art-splattered insides
of the acoustically rich Anima
Gallery, The Pearl, was the
choice of venue for the choicest
of audience — a long list of
dignitaries and Doha’s upper
crest. For top Qatari composer
and songwriter Dana Alfardan,
debuting her latest album,
Sandstorm, had to be done in
fine style and finer grace. Enter
The Doha String Quartet &
Friends featuring maverick Syrian
solo violinist MAias Alyamani,
delivering a tour de force of
an instrumental concert on
Monday evening, much to the
cheering audience’s delight.
All 11 songs from Sandstorm
have been composed by Dana
Alfardan, who was understandably
thrilled by the performance.
Right after the show, Dana told
Community, “I spent the past two
years compiling this material; all
the songs and arrangements. My
entire life I have wanted to get
into classical music, but I have
never been classically trained.
So, obviously, for me to be able
to showcase the entire content of
my upcoming classical crossover
album, and to actually see the joy
on the people responding to it is
mind-blowing.”
The 11 tracks that the ensemble
played were The Beginning,
River Dance, Pride of a Nation,
Sandstorm, Music Box, Spirit
of Thunder, Tango Swing, Etat
D’Ame, Layla, Distance, and
Lustre, featuring MAias Aylamani.
Standout tracks on the album
include Pride of a Nation, a
musical tribute to Qatar, which is
a great source of pride for Dana;
and Music Box, which is inspired
by the magical, haunting and
nostalgic quality of music boxes,
and successfully translates both
the simplicity and purity of that
sound.
Then there’s Spirit of Thunder,
a song that “captures the
emotional storm before the calm”
and is characterised by light, hope
and growth; and Layla, Dana’s
musical ode to her adorable little
daughter, who she regards as her
greatest inspiration.
“Sandstorm is a very personal
album with every single one of
the songs being of significance to
me. I am thrilled with the results
and the overwhelmingly positive
reaction from this evening’s
audience,” Dana said, “Since the
band has spent the past week
recording this album, which is
set to release around a month
from now, and rehearsing the
material and tightening it up, the
show worked out wonderfully.”
While Dana is the composer of the
record, Tim Baxter is the musical
director.
Thursday, April 7, 2016
“It’s very rare to
have a person
with so many
different artistic
qualities. I
appreciate the
value of what
Dana is doing
as at the end of
the day, she is
representing her
country, Qatar”
— Ignacio
Escobar,
Ambassador
of Spain
5
COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
It’s the collective verve of The
Doha String Quartet & Friends
that brought out the essence of
Sandstorm in all its soothing tonal
glory. Dana said she knew the
show would be a success as she
has worked with the Quartet on a
lot of occasions.
“Since I did the show with
QPO in February, they have been
a part of our journey. Now they
understand exactly where the
vibe is at and they bring their own
character to it. Like with Tango
Swing, I was completely taken
aback by how the lead violinst
took the lead, sped up the tempo,
and brought a new spirit and
character to the piece,” Dana
pointed out.
The Doha String Quartet was
founded by Nina Heidenreich,
violin; Dmitri Torchinsky, violin;
Andrea Mereutza, viola; and
Christoph Schmitz, cello — all are
part of the Qatar Philharmonic
Orchestra. The group was quick
to establish itself as one of the
premium quality groups in GCC,
and has performed at nearly every
stage and venue in Qatar as well
as further afield. The Quartet’s
repertoire ranges from early
baroque through to compositions
of the modern day, and the group
frequently collaborates with
other musicians on projects that
include the full range of activities
from CD recordings and Opera
House recital evenings through
to corporate entertainment
bookings, company dinners and
product launches.
Aylamani said, “Dana composed
Lustre and I arranged it. It’s our
first collaboration and it was a
fantastic experience. I hope to
do more of such collaborations
in the future because we share
good work chemistry. As for the
concert, it was great to have an
involved audience such as this, as
we musicians feed off their energy
during a performance and vice
versa.”
Ignacio Escobar, Ambassador
of Spain to Qatar, who was one
of the guests at the show, said,
“Attending a concert by Dana in
this environment is actually like
GULF TIMES
PROWESS: The Doha String Quartet during the show.
being transported to some other
place. You don’t think you are
in Qatar anymore. Besides, the
combination of music and modern
art is impressive.”
Escobar finds originality to
be the most admirable trait in
Alfardan. “It’s very rare to have
a person with so many different
artistic qualities. I appreciate
the value of what Dana is doing
as at the end of the day, she is
representing her country, Qatar,”
Escobar said, “The music she has
composed has a lot of local Arabic
flavour and when it blended with
classical music performers from
the Quartet, who are part of one of
the best orchestras in the world,
and Aylamani’s violions, the result
was incredible.” For Escobar,
the music was reminiscent “of
tango with local flavours, and
swing, blues and jazz played with
classical instruments”.
Dana, who is also the CEO of
DNA Records, the first Qatari
record label, admits that her
music belongs to a difficult genre
when it comes to promoting it.
“How many people are really into
classical music? So I try to make
my music as listener-friendly
as possible. I have succeeded
in that,” she said. Meanwhile,
Sandstorm will be available for
CENTRE-STAGE: Dana Alfardan with the whole cast of the evening, including The Doha String Quartet.
download towards the end of May.
Of all the post-show
compliments Dana was heaped
with, she found the one likening
her music to a movie score the
most. “I have always wanted to
have my music in films,” she says,
smiling, “And a lot of people told
me that this music took them to a
different place. ‘I can imagine this
in a film’, they said. I was really
thrilled to hear that.”
6
GULF TIMES Thursday, April 7, 2016
COMMUNITY
Students take notes as Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim al-Thani shares insights.
Celebrating nation’s rich history
ASD recently organised their fifth annual Qatar History Day. By Anand Holla
T
o enhance the
understanding of Qatar’s
rich history and its
commendable growth,
the American School of
Doha (ASD) has been honouring
a most welcoming tradition –
its annual Qatar History Day
celebration.
The school’s sixth graders
recently celebrated their fifth
annual Qatar History Day
with a specific focus on the
dynamic changes the country
has experienced in the past 20 to
30 years. This week-long event
organised by sixth grade Social
Studies teachers, Mike Simmons
and Andrew Dodd, as well as
Middle School Librarian, Lauren
Elliott, has become a mainstay at
the ASD.
The opening ceremony saw
falconer Farhan al-Sayeed share
his knowledge of falconry and its
deep-rooted connections to Qatari
culture. Professional oud player
Abdulaziz al-Haidos also attended
and performed traditional songs.
Students gathered in small
groups and interviewed over 35
local citizens and residents to
collect oral histories. Middle School
Principal Rob Gohr said, “I was able
to listen in as one of our speakers
described what it was like growing
up in a time when there were no
shopping centres. She described
what the Souq used to look like
and how the community worked
together for the benefit of all.”
Stories were told about a garden
as big as a football field, when there
was only one hotel, and about the
Falconer Farhan al-Sayeed shared his knowledge of falconry and its deep-rooted connections to Qatari culture during
the opening ceremony.
city of Doha with no streetlights.
Also, about times when wells were
the primary water source and pearl
diving was the main economic
force.
ASD Director Dr Thomas
Hawkins said, “Qatar History Day
is a wonderful chance for American
School of Doha students to engage
with great Qatari storytellers to
learn about the heritage, traditions,
customs and lifestyle of Qatar. The
Qatari students are proud to have
their parents and grandparents
attend to tell their stories, while
guests from outside the ASD
community are delighted to come
back each year to tell more stories to
more of the ASD students.”
One of the highlights of the
event had the sixth grade students
visit the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim
al-Thani Museum, dressed in
traditional Qatari attire. This visit
enabled the students to gather
pictures of artefacts related to the
oral histories shared the previous
day.
The museum contains more
than 18,000 artefacts ranging
from bicycles built in the 1880s
and a Ford Model T, to pearl diving
equipment, full-sized dhows,
centuries-old weapons, and rare
fossils. A favourite of the students
was a replica of a Qatari house
with many of Sheikh Faisal Bin
Qassim al-Thani’s personal items
on display.
During the trip, students met
Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim al-Thani
himself. He answered questions,
revealed the origins of the museum
and even gave a tour of some of his
private collections, as the students
jotted down notes.
Sixth grade Social Studies teacher
Andrew Dodd said, “Qatar History
Day provides our students the
opportunity to examine the history
of Qatar in a way they have not
experienced before. Oral history has
a proud tradition in this part of the
world and for our kids to embrace
this first-hand was tremendous.”
Dr Hawkins added, “Qatar
History Day brings the history
of Qatar to life, and presents
yet another chance for the ASD
community to grow ever stronger.”
Earlier this year, the 18th edition
of the ASD’s Friendship Festival
was celebrated with great energy
and participation. It was not just
a family fun day done exceedingly
well; it was the culmination
of collective celebration for
kids, parents, teachers and the
community at large. Every year,
more than 4,000 people visit the
festival in the five hours — 12pm to
5pm — it lasts.
This year, too, every corridor, hall
and cafeteria space of the school
throbbed with the young energy of
children and their excited parents,
as several others seemed happy
shooting the breeze in the lush
lawn, indulging in outdoor fun and
games. An open welcome to the
community, the much-awaited
festival is aimed at promoting
community spirit, friendship, and
co-operation amongst students,
school staff, parents, local business
owners, and visitors.
Thursday, April 7, 2016
GULF TIMES
7
COMMUNITY
Jordanian community football
team falls at last hurdle
Over 40 amateur community teams participated
in the National Sports Day Futsal tournament
By Umer Nangiana
L
iving up to the expectations
of their huge fan base, the
members of expatriate
Jordanian community
football players made it to
the final of the National Sports Day
Futsal tournament, but fell at the last
hurdle.
Entering the tournament as
underdogs, the Copacabana team
comprising Jordanian expatriates
remained a tough to beat team to the
very end of the tournament hotly
contested by more than 40 amateur
community teams.
In the final, held at Abdullah bin
Suhaim Hall of Qatar Sports Club,
the Copacabana team lost to Ezdan
Holding team 3-1 to finish second
in the championship. Both teams
received huge support from the fans
gathered in good numbers at the
arena to cheer their respective teams.
Cheers from the Jordanian fans
were louder throughout the match,
particularly in the first half when
Copacabana scored first to take a 1-0
lead. However, the Ezdan Holding
team quickly equalled the score
before moving on to score two more
goals in the second half of the match,
just as the underdogs Copacabana
went on an all-out attack in search of
more goals.
“The skill level of our players
was very good, and at times much
superior. However, the Ezdan team
players were much fitter than our
players perhaps and in the end that
made the difference,” Zaid Eideh, the
goalkeeper and Sporting Director of
Copacabana team, tells Community.
The final match of the tournament
started with a colourful ceremony
with many Qatari dignitaries in
attendance. The match officially
CHAMPIONS: Ezdan Holding team with their winners’ trophy.
kicked-off after an enthralling
performance by a Palestinian dance
troupe who presented the traditional
Dabke dance.
The Ezdan Holding Group
team lifted the trophy in a festive
atmosphere as they won this cup
for the first time. The Jordanian
community team, sponsored by
Copacabana, a Brazilian restaurant in
Wakrah Souq, received the runnersup trophy.
Players from both side received
medals with some players winning
Copacabana with their runners-up trophy.
individual accolades for best
performances throughout the
tournament.
The championship featured
teams from a large spectrum of
society involving teams representing
multiple expatriate communities
besides public and private entities
and community schools.
Professional players were not
allowed to participate, as the idea
was to give amateur players a chance
to participate and demonstrate their
skills. The championship celebrated
the spirit of Qatar National Sport
Day.
Multiple schools, banks,
companies, ministries and sports
clubs participated in the tournament.
“We won our first four matches
in the group to reach the last 16 and
then qualified for the quarter-finals
before moving on to the finals. I think
our team did really well to come
this far,” says Eideh. “Nobody had
expected this team to get this far as
we were kind of underdogs in this
tournament,” he adds.
Almost all of their players
are Jordanian. They have been
participating in different
tournaments held for communities
or companies.
Prior to this championship,
the Jordanian community
team participated in and won a
football tournament and a Futsal
championship in January this year.
They also won the Nations Cup
last year and the Asian Nations
Cup.
In that tournament, Eideh says,
they managed to beat some really
good teams like Lebanon, Tunisia
and China. They also intend to
participate in this year’s edition
of the tournament. He says they
have a pool of about 30 players and
some of them have been national
players back in Jordan.
“They have come here and are
working in different capacities as
coaches or trainers besides playing
with our community team. We are
not just playing football, we are
also training other young players
whenever we find time,” says
Eideh.
Futsal, he says, is different from
football in that it is a 5-player team
event and the ball is a little heavier.
It is easier to control but harder
to keep. Most of the top players in
world football started in futsal as
it helps you with skills, says the
Copacabana team manager.
Futsal not just helps with
developing skillsets, but with
temperament as well, as you are
playing under pressure most of
the time and need to move the ball
very fast.
Eideh says their team has always
received a lot of support from the
Jordanian community living in
Qatar. He also praised the facilities
available in Qatar, which he said
are unmatched.
8
GULF TIMES Thursday, April 7, 2016
COMMUNITY
Noted Indian cardiac surgeon speaks
at Shastrayaan 2016 inauguration
SIFQ’s Shastrayaan aims to tap into geniuses amongst school students
through various contests, competitions and science tours. By Anand Holla
Dr Valiathan speaking at the event.
D
own in Doha for a
brief while on Friday,
renowned Indian
cardiac surgeon Dr M
S Valiathan addressed
the audience at the grand
launch of Shastrayaan 2016, an
educational initiative by Science
India Forum Qatar (SIFQ).
“Significant achievements in
research can be made only if the
research is discovery-driven,
the technological work productoriented, and the people involved
have a clear and positive mindset,”
Dr Valiathan said in his speech.
Dr Valiathan, who was
the Director of Sree Chitra
Tirunal Institute for Medical
Sciences and Technology in
Thiruvananthapuram for 20
years, has contributed immensely
to the development of medical
technology by developing
indigenous prosthetic valves and
a series of disposable devices
such as blood bag, oxygenator
and cardiotomy reservoir, and
vascular graft which are now in
commercial production.
In Doha, Dr Valiathan launched
Shastrayaan 2016, which is
a journey through science.
Shastrayaan taps into geniuses
amongst school students
through various contests, science
filmmaking competitions,
learning by doing research in
sustainable scientific projects
and science tours to important
institutions in India and
culminates in a gala event towards
the end of the year. More than
eight Indian schools have pledged
support and have delegated
enthusiastic teachers to be part of
Team Shastrayaan 2016.
Chairman of Science India
Forum, Manoj Pillai, welcomed
the gathering and released the
yearlong activity calendar.
Dr Mohan Thomas, founder
chairman of Birla Public School
and a noted surgeon of Qatar,
and principal AK Srivastava
commended the selfless work
undertaken by the forum.
Citations and awards were
distributed to teams who won
laurels at the National Children’s
Science Congress last December
in Chandigarh. NCSC’s Academic
Co-ordinator’s trophy was
also awarded to Sri D K Varma.
General secretary Shreedevi
Ananthakrishnan proposed a vote
of thanks, the event was anchored
by Sweta Bharadwaj, and the
hall buzzed with good audience
presence.
Having pioneered biomedical
research in India, Dr Valiathan is
credited with the development
of artificial heart valves, blood
bags, oxygenerators, and vascular
grafts, among other pathbreaking devices.
Born on May 24, 1934, in
Mavelikara, a small town in
Kerala, India, Dr Valiathan’s early
education was in a government
school in Mavelikara and then
HONOUR: Dr M S Valiathan being felicitated by dignitaries at the event.
at the University College,
Trivandrum. Dr Valiathan’s
medical education began at the
Medical College in Trivandrum,
where he studied from 1951
to 1956. He then received his
F.R.C.S. from Royal College of
Surgeons Edinburgh in 1960.
Later, he received Cardiac
Surgical training in the John
Hopkins and Georgetown
University hospitals, US and
served as Professor of Cardiac
Surgery at the Sree Chitra Tirunal
Institute of Medical Sciences and
Technology for 20 years. He also
led a group which developed a
tilting disc heart valve and other
cardiovascular devices which are
commercially produced.
His professional contributions
are recognised by election to
many academies in India and
abroad, and by the award of the
Hunterian Professorship of the
Royal College of Surgeons of
England. He has published several
outstanding research papers on
endomyocardial fibrosis Cardiac
Surgery, Bio Materials & Artificial
Internal Organs, Health & Health
Policy. He has undertaken the
monumental work bringing out
the foundational text of Indian
Medicine in Sanskrit – Charaka
Samhita.
His contributions to medical
sciences and technology have
brought him many honours and
awards such as the Fellowships
of the Indian Academy of
Sciences, Indian National Science
Academy, National Academy
of Sciences, India, National
Academy of Medical Sciences,
Indian National Academy of
Engineering, Third World
Academy of Sciences, American
College of Cardiology, the Royal
College of Physicians of London
and the International Union of
Societies of Biomaterials and
Engineering, apart from the
prestigious Padma Bhushan and
Padma Vibhushan awards.
Currently a National Research
Professor of the Government of
India, Dr Valiathan is engaged
in promoting research in
basic science, based on cues
from Ayurvedic concepts and
procedures. The research in
prominent institutes is being
supported by government
funding in the form of “A Science
Initiative in Ayurveda” (ASIIA).
Thursday, April 7, 2016
GULF TIMES
9
COMMUNITY
QR10,000 collected in donations for Palestinian refugees during RSAT Olympiad
Through the recently concluded RSAT Olympiad, student donations of QR10,000 to Rota were sent to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. More than 300 students from 20 high schools sat the redesigned
SAT (RSAT) exams in the Olympiad, ahead of its official roll out in the Middle East in May.
THE One hosts its 11th blood drive
THE One Qatar recently hosted its 11th annual Blood Donation Drive recently. While 63 donors
registered, 18 staff members and 16 customers passed the screening tests to donate blood. The
blood collected from these individuals can save up to 102 lives, according to the Hamad Medical
Corporation’s (HMC) blood donor unit. In 2013, THE One was recognised by HMC’s blood donor unit
for being one of the 12 companies in Qatar to consistently lead and organise mobile blood donation
campaigns. In the past 10 years, THE One has helped collect over 250 pints of blood, which could
potentially save up to 750 lives.
Grand Hyatt to host Songkran festival
Grand Hyatt Doha Hotel & Villas’ garden will celebrate
one of the most delightful and anticipated Thai
celebrations of the year — the Songkran water festival.
The festival marks the New Year according to the
Thai lunar calendar.
The hotel will celebrate Songkran on April 13 with
Doha’s Thai community along with the city’s top
media contacts with a special dinner priced at QR290
for the soft beverage package and QR399 for the
special beverage package.
Part of the Thai tradition consists of using water
to convey love and amity, therefore guests will be
soaked wet making it one the most amusing and
memorable nights of the year. The celebration
continues at Isaan on April 15 for a special Songkran
Brunch from 12:30pm to 3:30pm, which offers a
unique and authentic Thai experience in Doha with a
very rich and diverse menu. Guests can enjoy a soft
drink brunch for QR290, a special beverage package
for QR399 and the Moet brunch for QR850.
Located on the second floor, Grand Hyatt Doha Hotel
& Villas’ signature restaurant, Isaan, has become
2015’s leading southeastern restaurant in Doha.
Awarded ‘Best South East Asian Restaurant 2015’
by Time Out, ‘Favourite South Eastern Restaurant
2015’ by Fact and the certificate of excellence
from TripAdvisor, Isaan sets the bar high with its
authenticity, exotic flavours and warm service,
providing guests with an exceptional Thai dining
experience.
10 GULF TIMES Thursday, April 7, 2016
COMMUNITY
Eggspectation opens
first branch in Qatar
E
ggspectation, an iconic
Canadian restaurant-café,
opened its first branch in
Doha at Medina Centrale,
The Pearl-Qatar recently.
The newly opened restaurant-café
concept, complete with delicacies
from across the world, is committed
to surpassing ‘eggspectations’ with
its extraordinary menu options for
the ultimate all day, meet and eat
dining experience.
Eggspectation Qatar’s primary
focus is in preparing quality food
across their menu for breakfast,
lunch and dinner, promising
extraordinary service while still
maintaining a relaxed and pleasant
atmosphere. Featuring an innovative
menu with over 120 items that
promises to tickle your taste buds,
Eggspectation has an expansive
choice of savoury starters, fresh
salads, extraordinary pastas, worldclass main dishes, mouth-watering
burgers, traditional sandwiches and
savoury crepes, as well as flatbread
pizzas and delectable desserts,
making for a fanciful globalised fare
from around the world.
Staying true to its name,
Eggspectation is well known for
its signature egg dishes including
the egg benedict with its famous
hollandaise sauce made from real
fresh eggs and butter straight
from Montreal, and a number of
rich omelette options — heavily
influenced by Italian and French
gastronomy.
Setting it apart from other dining
concepts in Qatar, Eggspectation
also boasts an authentic Italian
pizza oven, tomato sauce made from
Italian San Marzano tomatoes, and
coffee beans from Naples, Italy for
Fried Chicken ‘N Waffles at the
restaurant.
The Eggspectation Qatar team.
gourmet Italian espresso and freshly
brewed coffee every day. In line with
its Canadian heritage, Eggspectation
Qatar will also be using real, French
breads which are imported from
Montreal for their bagels and French
toast options.
Eggspectation Qatar owner, Sami
Azrak said: “Eggspectation Qatar is
thrilled to be opening its first caférestaurant in Qatar at The Pearl, and
this is a very exciting time for all of
us. Eggspectation is renowned for its
creative international menu with an
eclectic selection of fine fare, which
includes many styles of eggs that
truly make this restaurant a one-of-
its-kind. We look forward to the local
community warmly embracing us
and are confident that Eggspectation
Qatar will become the place to meet
and eat.”
Co-founder and owner of
Eggspectation Restaurants, Enzo
Renda said: “Eggspectation has
been offering an elaborate dining
experience with its serene ambiance
and scrumptious menu, complete
with vegetarian and non-vegetarian
delicacies from across the world, for
more than twenty years now. Now
the local community in Doha will
be able to dine at Eggspectation,
and experience this unique setting,
from an eclectic menu to the modern
interior finishing’s synonymous with
all Eggspectations around the world.”
Creating a unique dining
experience, Eggspectation Qatar
connects and infuses the food
and restaurant service with its
architectural design, feel and
influence. Giving it a distinct
look and feel is Eggspectation’s
eye catching wall made from
real Canadian barn wood that is
weathered and treated before being
reassembled. Along with a unique
marble beverage bar countertop,
imported from Montreal, the
beverage bar serves as one of the
focal points of the restaurant. At
the beverage bar, people will be able
to enjoy a number of fresh hand
squeezed orange and grapefruit
juices, Eggspectation’s famous
smoothies which are blended inhouse with real fruit and berries for
that additional homemade taste, as
well as a wide assortment of Italian
coffees.
The restaurant-café is also fitted
out with a private dining room,
making it the ideal location for a
private gathering, meeting or party.
Originally opened in Montreal,
Canada back in 1993, Eggspectation
has already made a mark worldwide
with multiple locations across North
America, India, Dubai and now Qatar.
There are plans for an additional
two Eggspectation restaurants to
be opened in Qatar over the next 24
months.
Eggspectation is located at
Building 10 Unit 58, Al Hambra
Street, Medina Central, The PearlQatar and is open daily from 8am to
midnight.
Mannai Air Travel holds blood donation drive
Mannai Air Travel recently arranged a blood donation drive in co-operation with Hamad Medical
Corporation’s blood donation unit. Farukh Sardar, Mannai Air Travel General Manager, said, “Blood
donation drives are an extension of Mannai’s corporate social reasonability initiatives. I am very pleased
to see both old and new employees participate in this great cause. Their personal commitments are an
integral part of the success of our blood donation drives enabling us to give more to our community.”
Mannai Air Travel has organised similar blood donation drives in the previous years and continues to
host the programme among its employees. Mannai Air Travel is joined by other travel service divisions
within the group including Mannai Holidays, Space Travel, and VFS.
Thursday, April 7, 2016
GULF TIMES
11
COMMUNITY
PARTICIPATION: There were a large number of activities planned for the occasion.
BBQ members gather for autism
B
est Buddies Qatar
members gathered in
front of The Torch Doha
hotel recently to mark
World Autism Day.
Members from Amal Center for
Special Needs, Qatar Institute for
Speech and Hearing, Step By Step
for Special Needs, and Al-Tamakun
School participated in the numerous
activities designed to spread
awareness about autistic people.
The event was organised by
BBQ in co-operation with HarleyDavidson Owners Group Qatar
Chapter (H.O.G. Qatar Chapter) and
The Torch Doha.
In the beginning of the event,
Best Buddies Qatar specialists held a
brief training on The World Autism
Awareness Day for H.O.G. Qatar
Chapter members.
The day was filled up will
sharing fun time. Over 40 H.O.G.
Qatar Chapter members arrived
on their bikes — an impressive
demonstration for the public and
attendees. Most of them came
with their spouses, which made
the awareness campaign a family
activity.
H.O.G. Qatar Chapter members
then paired up with BBQ members
with Autism to participate in
different games and competitions:
hula-hops, kids volleyball, baby-
foot, basketball, hoopla, collecting
puzzles, colouring motorcycles and
others.
Laalei Abu Alfain, The Executive
Director of Best Buddies Qatar,
said: “Best Buddies Qatar is glad to
have this opportunity to hold World
Autism Awareness Day. We believe
this day will attract attention of
numerous people and inspire them
to support people with autism.
Best Buddies Qatar expresses its
gratitude to H.O.G. Qatar Chapter
members and The Torch Doha
for making this event happen and
their support of Best Buddies Qatar
mission to enhance lives of people
with and without intellectual and
developmental disabilities through
social integration and one-to-one
long lasting meaningful friendships.
”
Sheikh Khalid al-Thani, director
of H.O.G. Qatar Chapter, said:
“We are always eager to support
the organisations that work with
people with special needs. This
is not our first experience. We are
happy to make the first step towards
a long-term co-operation with Best
Buddies Qatar and we are looking
forward to future mutual events.”
After the Maghrib prayer, The
Torch lit up in blue, the symbolic
colour of autism. The awareness
campaign ended-up with the
release of 200 blue balloons in the
sky. Best Buddies Qatar and H.O.G.
Qatar Chapter members distributed
gifts to attendees and colleagues:
bandanas, T-shirts, mugs and cups
to mark the day memorable.
Sherif Sabri, the general manager
of The Torch Doha, said, “The Torch
Doha Hotel accommodated a unique
event on World Autism Awareness
Day to enhance life of people with
intellectual and developmental
disabilities through social
integration. We arranged digital
screens inside and outside The
Torch to highlight our participation
in the campaign to raise awareness
on autism.”
Lyricist Varma hopeful of Malayalee music’s future
M
alayalee music is
slowly but steadily
getting back to
meaningful poetry
with the arrival of
a number of young poets who care
about and nurture the essence of the
language. This was said by popular
Malayalam lyricist Vayalar Sarat
Chandra Varma.
Varma was answering queries of
journalists at a briefing organised
by the hosts of ‘Upasana’, a music
show to be held tomorrow (April
8) at Birla Public School. “While
there are some directors who insist
on [their vision for the] musical
compositions, there are others who
grant all the freedom to lyricists and
music composers and are prepared
to accept changes based on their
suggestions,” said Varma.
The veteran Malayalee lyricist
said that though there have been
repeat requests from music lovers
for rollicking numbers at music
concerts, such songs last only for
some time before fading away.
“Whereas melodies remain forever,”
he said while describing why songs
composed by Devarajan Master
based on his father’s lyrics are still
remembered by music buffs.
Varma, who has penned scores
of quality songs for the Malayalam
film industry and several poems
for publications has come to
Doha on an invitation from
Changanachessry NSS College
Alumni Association (CHANSSQatar), which is staging a four-hour
music concert in honour of his
father and legendary Malayalam
poet Late Vayalar Rama Varma at
Birla Public School.
Varma added that he felt great
that his father is still remembered
abroad, even 40 years after his
death. He also thanked CHANSSQatar for holding a music concert
based exclusively on the songs
penned by his father and himself.
“Such concerts are very rare these
days and it becomes so special to me
Vayalar Sarat Chandra Varma speaking at the press conference announcing the details of Upasana.
as this is happening in a country that
is thousands of miles away from my
homeland,” he said.
Upasana — the title is derived
from one of Ramavarma’s famous
songs — will be anchored by
Varma. About six singers, led by
playback singer Nishad Kumar will
perform.
12 GULF TIMES Thursday, April 7, 2016
COMMUNITY
INFOGRAPHIC
Thursday, April 7, 2016
GULF TIMES
13
COMMUNITY
LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE
7 steps to patio perfection
table, rocker or swing among the 50,000
individual home decor items carried.
Replace cushions on your current set
If your current patio furniture is in good
shape but just in need of some freshening,
it’s easy enough to give it new life with small
tweaks like updated patio cushions. Cushions
are the crowning touch to catch the eye on patio
furniture, and you can find hundreds of patterns,
shapes and styles of patio pillows and cushions.
Add a water feature
One of the best ways to create your own
oasis can be with a water feature. Easy to
find and simple to set up accessories like a
fountain can bring the harmony of water to
your outdoor environment.
D
affodils bloom brightly by the
back door, temperatures are
balmy, cookout season is on
the horizon and you’re ready to
give your outdoor living space
a breath of fresh air. Great patios and decks
enhance your enjoyment of spring and
summer, and boost home value, so it’s well
worth the investment to update and upgrade
your home’s exterior living space.
Update your patio furniture
Whether your current patio set is worn out,
you need more seating or are just in the mood
for a whole new look, new patio furniture can
change the way you feel about your outdoor
environment — and how much time you
spend there! Whether you want traditional
wicker, durable metals or exotic woods like
Eucalyptus, you can find the right dining set,
settee, chaise lounge, glider, ottoman, coffee
ARIES
March 21 — April 19
A New Moon in your sign today heralds the official start of your
cosmic new year, Rams. Only you know what you are hoping to
achieve in 2016 and for the next year. With the New Moon in your
sign today, it’s high time you visualise it and actualise your plans,
dreams and schemes.
CANCER
June 21 — July 22
In your career and ambitions zone, today’s New Moon is just the
thing to push you forward professionally — a push that could very
well reverberate for the next year.
LIBRA
September 23 — October 22
Venus your ruler and the planet of love and relationships is joined
today by a New Moon in Aries, your opposite sign and your one
on one relationship zone. If you know it’s time to cut the cord with
someone...today’s the day.
CAPRICORN
December 22 — January 19
Don’t think you are asking too much at this point goats. A New Moon
along with Venus and the Sun are all beaming around your fourth
house of home and family. If you need to reconnect with someone in
your family, this is the perfect time to do it.
Make some shade
When you need a break from the sun, but
aren’t ready to head indoors, shade can help
you stay outside so you can enjoy the fresh
air longer. You can add shade in many ways,
from installing a retractable awning over the
deck or patio to strategically planting trees or
climbing vines on a trellis.
Heat up your grilling station
What outdoor environment would be
complete without a great grill? Accessories
TAURUS
April 20 — May 20
In your past karma and self–renewal zone, today’s New Moon is sure
to have you rethinking the way you have handled things lately and
wish you could redo over. Well luckily for you bulls, you can. Start
redoing today!
LEO
July 23 — August 22
Today’s New Moon highlights your fellow fire sign of Aries, your
ninth house of higher education and spirituality. Can you take time
out today to meditate Leos? Even if it’s simply a 10 minute silence
session?
SCORPIO
October 23 — November 21
Play hard, work hard Scorpios. That’s your mission statement today
and for the next few weeks, with a New Moon in your sixth house
inspiring you onwards and upwards. If you’ve been slacking off
anywhere, now’s the time to stop.
AQUARIUS
January 20 — February 18
Being open and honest with people isn’t one of your most favourite
things to do — be honest now! You talk a big game but revealing too
much isn’t really your thing. However, if there is something you really
do want to impart, today is the day to do so with the New Moon.
make grilling fun and easy, and ensure you’ll
look and operate like a pro when whipping up
summer fare. From grilling mitts to barbecue
tool sets, burger and kabob grilling baskets,
grill toppers and even taco shell baskets, you
can outfit your grill station with everything
you need for a great grilling experience.
Lighten up
When you’re having a great time outdoors,
who wants to go inside just because it’s dark?
Add some lighting to your outdoor living
space to create ambiance and allow you to
enjoy your patio long after the sun goes down.
You can invest in hard-wired patio or deck
lights, go eco-friendly and easy with solar
lights, or choose from an array of batterypowered or candle-fired lanterns.
Use decor to create a theme
Just as your home’s interior has a design
theme, choosing a theme for your patio or
deck can pull the look together. Whether your
taste is different, you can find decor items
that underscore the theme. Wall decorations,
outdoor rugs, decorative planters and
flower pots, wind chimes and statuary all
work together to create a look you’ll love
throughout the spring and summer.
© Brandpoint
GEMINI
May 21 — June 20
In your eleventh house of hopes, dreams and wishes, now is a great
time for you to make a new friend or reunite with someone you
haven’t seen in a while but whom you have been thinking about. No
doubt they have been thinking about you too.
VIRGO
August 23 — September 22
A New Moon today in your joint resources and financial sector
suggests that if you feel something isn’t working out for you money
wise — especially when other people are involved — that it might
be a good time to review whatever it is you’re doing or reshape it
somehow.
SAGITTARIUS
November 22 — December 21
Venus the planet of love and romance alongside the Sun and today’s
New Moon in Aries, your fun and self–fulfilment zone make this one
of those special days Sags. In fact, if you haven’t made plans tonight
— either with your other half or your friends — make them now!
PISCES
February 19 — March 20
Money — a necessary evil in life and not something that is as easy
to make as spend, right? Today’s New Moon helps you focus on
your second house of money and self–worth, Pisces — and while
you might be tempted to go out and splurge, the Universe advises
otherwise.
14 GULF TIMES Thursday, April 7, 2016
COMMUNITY
Wordsearch
Adam
Pooch Cafe
Number Theory
BASE
BINARY
CONGRUENCE
CUBE
DECIMAL
DIVISOR
EQUATION
FACTOR
FERMAT
GAUSS
INDEX
INTEGER
LOGARITHM
MERSENNE
MODULO
PERFECT
POWER
PRIME
QUOTIENT
REAL
ROOT
SQUARE
Codeword
Puzzles courtesy: Puzzlechoice.com
Every letter of the alphabet is used at least once.
Squares with the same number in have the same letter
in. Work out which number represents which letter.
Garfield
Sudoku
Bound And Gagged
Sudoku is a puzzle based
on a 9x9 grid. The grid is
also divided into nine (3x3)
boxes. You are given a
selection of values and to
complete the puzzle, you
must fill the grid so that
every column, every anone
is repeated.
PUZZLES/CARTOONS
Thursday, April 7, 2016
COMMUNITY
PUZZLES
Quick Clues
Across
6. Whine (7)
7. Storehouse (5)
9. Base (3)
10. Intimidate (9)
12. Delivery (11)
15. Splendid (11)
17. Blowing up (9)
19. Droop (3)
21. Hesitate (5)
22. Harmony (7)
GULF TIMES
Colouring
Down
1. Pulsate (5)
2. Little devil (3)
3. Gala (4)
4. Censure (9)
5. Agreement (7)
8. Calamitous (6)
11. Futile (9)
13. Security (6)
14. Deny (7)
16. Sprite (5)
18. Spoken (4)
20. Appropriate (3)
Cryptic Clues
Answers
Wordsearch
Across
6. Used to swim in the river for a day (7)
7. He’s lost one of the prawns, the blighter!
(5)
9. Time-honoured part of golden wedding
reception (3)
10. Game Doug played at Middlesex as an
agitator (9)
12. Rags thrown on one who buys tiny
jumper (11)
15. State of chicken when red (5,6)
17. Change these upon arriving at the flat
(9)
19. Patient fellow finding employment (3)
21. One giving tips without notice of cover
(5)
22. Can Julie be ready in time for the
celebration? (7)
Down
1. Retire about fifty? Sleep on it! (5)
2. Employ Sue to tidy up (3)
3. Get tired on the green? (4)
4. A sound business escort (9)
5. Possibly team up with egg-head when
one has lost a member (7)
8. Jacob’s wife in car – a Chelsea
supporter? (6)
11. I’d tan it or treat in the usual way (9)
13. No hesitation in taking solarium round
to Jack (6)
14. Bird to phone at nine? Possibly (7)
16. Melody hasn’t finished playing with the
dummy (5)
18. Avoid getting involved in senseless
hunger strike (4)
20. Ladies gathering to see East End
comedian (3)
Codeword
Yesterday’s Solutions
QUICK
Across: 7 Boarding-house; 8 Onlooker; 9 Wary;
10 Lawyer; 12 Embody; 14 Infect; 16 Excise; 18
Slur; 20 Luminous; 22 Sophisticated.
Down: 1 Fountain; 2 Broody; 3 Sink; 4 Aggrieve;
5 Cobweb 6 Tsar; 11 Ruthless; 13 Disquiet; 15
Earthy; 17 Canvas; 19 Look; 21 Mail.
CRYPTIC
Across: 7 Businesswoman; 8 Impostor/
Imposter; 9 Eddy; 10 Stanza; 12 Nation; 14
Chaser; 16 Emblem; 18 Peru; 20 Rational; 22
Light-fingered.
Down: 1 Cup match; 2 Disown; 3 Left; 4
Estrange; 5 Honest; 6 Bard; 11 Aircraft; 13
Operated; 15 Sought; 17 Broker; 19 Eric; 21 Tuna.
15
16 GULF TIMES Thursday, April 7, 2016
COMMUNITY
REVIEWS
The promise of a
renewed vigour for life
By Barbara Vancheri
FILM: I’ll See You in My Dreams
CAST: Blythe Danner, Sam Elliott, Martin
Starr.
DIRECTION: Brett Haley
C
arol (Blythe Danner) has been a
widow for 20 years and long retired
from teaching, but her bedside
alarm still bleats at 6am each day.
The Southern California woman
has her routine — coffee and a morning
newspaper, lunch near her backyard pool, the
occasional game of golf and evening bridge
games with three female friends, and her sweet
dog. When she has to put her ailing, 14-yearold pet golden retriever, Hazel, down, she finds
herself at loose ends.
In I’ll See You in My Dreams, she befriends
Lloyd (Martin Starr) her pool cleaner, tries and
is horrified by speed dating and meets a single
man, Bill (Sam Elliott), who seems too good to
be true. He’s handsome, charming, is a takecharge guy without being disagreeable and
owns a beautiful boat named “So What” after
the Miles Davis composition.
Bill also has an interesting take on people
who retire with all their money and then don’t
know what to do with themselves.
That chapter of life, along with the subjects
of death, dating and how time speeds up,
are among the ones batted around in the
screenplay by director Brett Haley and Marc
Basch.
“No matter what you do, it’s all going to just
run together by the time you’re 50. Time just
goes by quicker,” Carol tells Lloyd, who studied
poetry in college and returned home to be with
his widowed mother who’s been having some
health problems.
Oddly enough, medical woes are not a
regular topic of discussion for Carol and her
pals played by June Squibb, Rhea Perlman and
Mary Kay Place (for the record, Danner is 73
years old, Squibb is 85 and the other two, 67).
They get one of those mature ladies-goneslightly-wild scenes that seems designed
to inject some automatic laughs and while
it’s funny, it feels a little forced and false,
especially for the most conservative of the
quartet.
However, women of a certain age are an
endangered species on the big screen and while
Carol’s East Coast daughter (Malin Akerman)
shows up, she doesn’t become the focus.
I’ll See You in My Dreams, which takes its
title from a Keegan DeWitt song, is a showcase
for Danner, who even delivers a sultry version
of a classic at a bar’s karaoke night. She
brings a quiet dignity, widow’s mournfulness,
banked romantic fires and a streak forged from
independence, stubbornness and vulnerability
to the role.
Carol’s relationship with Starr’s character
(the now grown-up actor from Freaks and
Geeks was in Adventureland and Lifeguard)
stays sweet and heartfelt. Her female friends,
alas, are sketched in broad terms.
As you might expect from a story set
partially at a retirement community, death
calls in a surprising, sudden way but so, too,
does a renewed vigour for life. And that is
a reminder that requires no senior citizen
discount to savour. -Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/
TNS
Promising premise,
but fails to deliver
FILM: The Veil
CAST: Jessica Alba, Lily Rabe, Aleksa
Palladino, Reid Scott, Thomas Jane
DIRECTION: Phil Joanou
N
o one still knows how or
why cult mastermind Jim
Jacobs and four dozen of his
followers took their own lives
in 1985 in the US. The mass
suicide leaves five-year-old Sarah as the
group’s sole survivor. Almost 25 years later,
documentarian Maggie Price (Jessica Alba)
is keen to find out the truth, and she seeks
the help of Sarah (Lily Rabe) in finding lost
recordings that might solve the mystery.
Sarah is reluctantly ready to revisit the
former compound for the first time since
the tragedy as Maggie’s film crew tags
along. What none of them yet realises is
that even though Jacobs and his cult are
dead, their curse most certainly continues.
In search of answers, Price and her crew
stumble upon a pile of old film recordings
that reveal Jacobs’ plans, but their poking
awakens an evil force. There’s far more to
that fateful day than police reports show,
and Price is about to find out the hard way.
Thomas Jane is the only performer who
walks away from this nightmare unscathed,
taking the form of a linen-wearing,
existentialist preacher-type who claims to
have cracked the afterlife’s code. His longwinded but enthralling monologues are
loaded with soothing notes, as he proclaims
to have discovered a path to rebirth.
Scares come at a minimum, and the
ones that do offer a jolt simply aren’t
earned. Joanou loves to slow-pan onto
something inanimate before having it jump
alive, which becomes a nail-biting bit of
frustration as we sniff scares like freshbaked cookies from the room over. — RN
DVDs courtesy:
Saqr Entertainment Stores, Doha
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Bollywood’s ‘bad man’ Gulshan
Grover says a good-looking
average actor can get away as a
hero, but an anti-hero ought to
be an excellent actor. “I believe
that to be a hero, you can get
away with good looks and average
acting skills, but to be a villain,
you have to be a fantastic actor,”
Gulshan said.
On being asked about his
favourite villain, he said: “Look
at the names of great villains in
Hindi films — Pran saab, Amjad
Khan saab, Amrish Puri... all of
them.
“Villains are not going to do
something you can’t predict and
yet they create an aura on screen.
Therefore, it is very unfair to say
any name particularly. I have
learnt from all of them.”
Gulshan is also set to star in a
web movie called BadMan, which
will follow a fictional story of
Gulshan Grover as himself, an
actor who wishes to now be the
hero and not the villain. It will be
showcased on Voot, Viacom18’s
new digital platform.
A host of Bollywood faces
including Rishi Kapoor, Farah
Khan, Shoojit Sircar, Manisha
Koirala have made special cameos
in BadMan, whose title track
has been sung and composed by
Vishal Dadlani.
The 60-year-old actor is
also happy to see the successful
transition of Bollywood actors to
Hollywood nowadays.
“I am proud of the fact that
I have led a mud path between
Bollywood and Hollywood, but
I am more proud to see that
mud path is being cemented and
followed by many actors also
showing tremendous success.
Priyanka Chopra, Irrfan Khan,
Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher
and many more. There will be
many younger actors, who will be
making this transition and making
us all very proud.”
Asked to pick one film that
is dear to him, the I Am Kalam
actor said: “Each and every film
is dear to me. I put my heart and
soul in every film. I do nothing
half-heartedly. So I have given
whatever I have got to each and
every film.” — IANS
GOOD POINT: Gulshan Grover
Rajkummar Rao wraps
up Newton shoot
Actor Rajkummar Rao has
finished shooting Newton, a
BEREAVED: Rajkummar Rao
17
COMMUNITY
BOLLYWOOD
To be a villain, you’ve
to be a fantastic actor:
Gulshan Grover
GULF TIMES
black comedy directed by Amit
Masurkar. Rajkummar, who
was filming for the movie in
Chhattisgarh, tweeted: “And it’s a
wrap on Newton. Thank you mom
and god for all the strength. Big
thank you to Manish Mundra and
our captain Amit.”
It was during the course of
shooting the film last month that
Rajkummar lost his mother, who
was reportedly unwell for a while
and succumbed to a heart attack.
Apart from Newton, Rajkummar
also has Ramesh Sippy’s Shimla
Mirchi and Hansal Mehta’s Aligarh
in his kitty.
The Kai Po Che actor is working
on another yet untitled project
which is directed by Vikramaditya
Motwane, which will also be
Rajkummar’s first collaboration
with the director.
The actor star will be seen
playing the lead role in the film.
He was last seen on screen in
Vidya Balan, Emraan Hashmi
starrer Hamari Adhuri Kahaani. –
IANS
Whatever I am is my
USP, says Lisa Haydon
By Nivedita
W
ith her not-soconventional
looks and accent,
actress Lisa
Haydon says that
her USP lies in her unconventional
looks and that she never considers
her attributes a hindrance.
Asked whether her
unconventional looks restrict roles
for her in Bollywood, Lisa told
IANS: “I don’t necessarily feel
that way about it in that sense.
Whatever I am is my USP. I don’t
consider any of my attributes
hindrance. I feel everyone has got
their own journey, to be honest.”
The model-turned-actress, who
made her acting debut with the
2010 film Aisha, made a careerdefining move with the portrayal
of Paris-based free-spirited
Bohemian single mom in Vikas
Bahl starrer Queen.
She later on went on to feature
in Shaukeens. Asked why she
hasn’t been seen more often on
the big screen post the success of
Queen, Lisa said: “I think you pick
from what you get offered. I don’t
necessarily get offered all the roles
that other actresses get and I pick
from what I get offered.”
However, the dusky beauty
has some interesting Bollywood
projects lined up. These include
Akshay Kumar’s Housefull 3 and
Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.
She says working with Karan is the
best thing that has happened to
her so far. “I thoroughly enjoyed
working with him. It was definitely
possibly my favourite experience
on set working with him. It’s a very
Dance number with SRK
‘best thing ever’ for Leone
Actress Sunny Leone, who has
danced with superstar Shah Rukh
Khan to a track in Raees, says it is
not just a dream come true for her
ON HER OWN: Lisa Haydon
small role, but probably the best
working experience I have had so
far,” she told IANS.
Besides these two projects,
Lisa is also all geared up for her
next release Santa Banta Pvt Ltd
that stars Vir Das, Boman Irani
and Neha Dhupia in lead roles.
However, her acting career has
never stopped her from coming
back to fashion runways.
She walked the ramp for
designer Monisha Jaising’s show
presented by Magnum. From
being a model in the past to now a
showstopper, Lisa says there is not
much of a change.
“I am now wearing the last
outfit... Earlier it was the middle
outfit. I feel very much the same
about it... I still feel that I am
modelling for a particular outfit
and I enjoy doing it and love it too,”
she said. — IANS
but also the “best thing” that has
happened in her life.
Sunny said: “It was a dream come
true for me to do a dance number
with Shah Rukh. We all want to work
with him and it actually happened ...
It’s the best thing that has happened
to me. I am so happy and proud about
it.
“When you go through
the struggle personally and
professionally, you feel so good that
something so amazing happens. I
hope people like it.”
The song which Sunny is dancing
to with Shah Rukh is reportedly a
new take on the 1980 chartbuster
Laila O Laila from the film Qurbaani.
The original track featured Feroz
Khan and Zeenat Amaan. Sunny said
she can’t talk much about the dance
number, but admits “it was fun”.
“There are a lot of dance moves in it,”
she added.
About her experience of working
with King Khan, she said: “He is
unbelievable, he is so humble. I am so
happy with the fact that I was offered
this song.”
Directed by Rahul Dholakia, Raees
is set in 1980s Gujarat. It tells the
story of bootlegger Raees Khan (Shah
Rukh) whose business is challenged
and eventually thwarted by a police
officer played by Nawazuddin
Siddiqui. — IANS
DREAM RUN: Sunny Leone, left, and Shah Rukh Khan.
18 GULF TIMES Thursday, April 7, 2016
COMMUNITY
HOLLYWOOD
The funny streak continues
Martha Plimpton builds her comedy reputation in The Real
O’Neals, but not everyone’s laughing. By Meredith Blake
T
o children of the ’80s,
Martha Plimpton will
always be known for
playing precocious
teenagers in films like
Running on Empty, Parenthood and
The Goonies. But in a four-decade
career, Plimpton has shown she can
do far more than play the plucky
young heroine.
A turning point arrived in 2010,
when she was cast as Virginia
Slims Chance, the matriarch of a
zany working-class family in Fox’s
sitcom Raising Hope. Plimpton
had spent much of the preceding
decade on the stage, earning three
Tony nominations, and had never
really thought of herself as a comic
actress.
“It was the easiest job I ever
had,” she said recently between
bites of a croque-monsieur at a
quiet Brooklyn cafe. “I could be as
ridiculous as I wanted to be, and it
was fine.”
Plimpton’s funny streak
continues in The Real O’Neals, an
ABC sitcom loosely inspired by
the experiences of columnist Dan
Savage. Plimpton stars as Eileen
O’Neal, a devout Irish Catholic
mother struggling to accept her
newly coming-of-age teenage son.
The part is not an obvious fit
for Plimpton, 45, an outspoken
advocate for reproductive rights,
who arrived at a photo shoot in a
tunic that had been given to her by
a fellow activist and was decorated
with hearts.
Her performance in The Real
O’Neals has already been singled
out for praise. (LA Times critic
Robert Lloyd called her “the
anchor here, as she seems to be
wherever she goes.”) Not everyone
is pleased with the series, though,
as Plimpton learned during lunch
via a text message telling her the
Catholic League had taken out a
highly critical ad in the New York
Times.
How do you respond to
accusations that the show is
anti-Catholic?
When anybody hears that
it’s going to be a show about a
Catholic family dealing with
their teenage son, they assume
that we’re going to be making
fun of Catholics, and it’s just
not the case. What we’re making
fun of is the fear. The character I
play is a homophobe, but she’s a
homophobe because she’s based
her entire value system on her
faith. That’s really where Eileen is
coming from. It’s not coming from
a place of hatred. It’s my hope
that when people see the show,
they’ll understand that we’re not
out to humiliate anyone who is
coming from this perspective.
COMIC COMEBACK: Martha Plimpton in The Real O’Neals.
Did you have any reservations
about returning to the grind of
network TV?
None whatsoever. I felt extremely
“hashtag blessed,” man, to have
been given another chance to make
a living and pay my mortgage.
focus and get her out of my hair for
a second.” We didn’t pursue it really
intensely. My mother was very
insistent that I not become famous
quickly and that, if I wanted to do
this, then I think about myself as an
actor rather than as a celebrity.
Your parents, Shelley
Plimpton and Keith Carradine,
are both actors. Was show
business always a given for you?
It was kind of accidental. I was
eight years old. You’re not really
terribly aware of career decisions at
the age of eight, but I was a showoff
and a pain ... and constantly
performing. My mother and her
friend (theatre director) Elizabeth
Swados were working together
when Liz said, “Maybe we should
put Martha in one of my shows?”
I think my mother sort of felt like,
“Oh, good. It will give her a little
But you did become quite
successful at a young age.
I was lucky. It spoiled me a little.
I thought that I would be sort of a
fabulous leading lady by the time I
was 25, and that was not happening
at all for so many reasons. If you’re
working with all these incredible
people like Ron Howard and Sidney
Lumet and Marty Ritt, you start to
think that you’re hot ... but life’s
got other plans.
I read this really awesome
interview with Winona Ryder
recently where she said that she had
gone through a period in her late
teens where she was losing parts to
me, which I found shocking. When
I was that age, I was thinking, “Why
can’t I play more lead roles?” It’s just
a wonderful reminder to let all that
go and just be present in your own
life or, as my friend Kelly likes to say,
“Keep your eye on your own paper.”
You said you were spoiled. Did
you feel like there were fewer
opportunities as you matured?
Yes. There were so many
fantastic actresses in the ’80s who
had these unusual, interesting faces
and a kind of brio, like Lili Taylor
and Mary Stuart Masterson. It was
possible to be a tomboy. We don’t
have those anymore. That started
to go away in the mid-’90s and
2000s. The standards for female
performers really started to change.
I look like a character actor. Which,
by the way, is something I’m
extremely grateful for, but I think
I had to wake up to that. I got to
play romantic roles in the ’80s, or
at least roles that were central to
the plot. That all changed as I got
older and tastes changed. Because
that changed, there wasn’t very
much for me to do. That’s why I was
doing so much in theatre, because
that just doesn’t apply. Women are
subjected to these cultural trends
in a way that men aren’t. We’re like
the canaries in the coal mine.
Outside of your acting
work, you founded a nonprofit
organization ...
The radical Republican obsession
with women’s bodies is sort of a
national illness. ... It’s, to me, a
fundamental reality. If you can’t
control your own physical life, you
have no control over your life at all.
— Los Angeles Times/TNS
Thursday, April 7, 2016
GULF TIMES 19
COMMUNITY
HOLLYWOOD
Will Ferrell to
star in North Pole
expedition movie
A
ctor Will Ferrell is set
to star in a comedy
based on the true
story of a successful
1968 expedition to
the North Pole. With Temple Hill
Entertainment producing the film,
Ferrell is set to star in the project
which is based on Guy Lawson’s
article in the New York Times
Magazine titled “An Insurance
Salesman and a Doctor Walk Into
a Bar, and End Up at the North
UPHILL JOURNEY: Will Ferrell
Jodie Sweetin overcame addiction to
seek happiness
Fashion industry supports
women financially: Dunst
Actress Jodie Sweetin spent her childhood
entertaining audiences with hit American
TV show Full House but developed
Methamphetamine (meth) addiction during her
20s.
“My story is a story of rising up, overcoming,
falling down and getting back up again,” Sweetin
told people.com.
After taking a break from acting to attend
college, the current Dancing with the Stars
contestant developed a meth addiction and was
hospitalised in 2005 after a night of partying.
Sweetin entered into treatment and turned
her life around, marrying Cody Herpin in 2007
and giving birth to their daughter Zoie in 2008.
In 2010, she welcomed daughter Beatrix with
singer Morty Coyle, whom she wed in 2012.
Sweetin and Coyle separated in 2013, but the
actress found love again and got engaged to
Justin Hodak in January.
“It’s been a slow process of finding myself.
It’s made me develop and blossom and find my
true happiness in myself and in my career and
relationships. The pieces are finally coming
together and creating a beautiful picture that
I never could have imagined,” Sweetin said. —
IANS
Actress Kirsten Dunst says that the fashion
industry is the “only industry that supports
women” financially. The Fargo actress believes
she would not be able to choose the movies
she takes on, without the money coming in
from fashion and beauty campaigns, reports
femalefirst.co.uk.
Pole: The Story of an Accidentally
Pioneering Expedition”, reports
variety.com.
The story follows a group of six
middle-aged men from Minnesota
who spontaneously decide to
mount a snowmobile expedition
to the North Pole. The team
manages to overcome a daunting
array of obstacles to make the first
undisputed expedition ever to reach
the North Pole.
No director or writer has been
roped in yet. Jonathan Kadin,
who is the senior vice president of
Production, Columbia Pictures,
Sony Pictures Entertainment, will
oversee the film for the studio.
Ferrell last starred in Daddy’s
Home and Zoolander 2. Temple Hill
Entertainment produced The Fault
in Our Stars and the Maze Runner
and Twilight franchises.
Ferrell had worked with the
banner in the 2010 comedy-drama
Everything Must Go. — IANS
“If it weren’t for fashion and beauty campaigns,
I wouldn’t have the finances to pick and choose
my projects. Literally, it’s the only industry that
supports women in that way,” InStyle magazine
quoted the actress as saying.
Earlier, the 33-year-old actress has also shared
in the past that she used to feel anxious when she
wasn’t working but has slowly and surely learned
to deal with it. — IANS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Hailey Baldwin
Baldwin finds
showbiz scary
Gwyneth Paltrow
loves French fries
Actress Gwyneth Paltrow says she loves French
fries and could eat it everyday if she could. “I don’t
believe you should rule out any kind of food. I
believe in enjoying life. I’m not a good dieter and
since I’ve had kids, I have loosened up a lot. My
favourite ‘bad food’? French fries. I would eat
them at every meal if I could,” Paltrow told You
magazine, reports femalefirst.co.uk.
The 43-year-old star says she is “realistic” when
it comes to allowing her children any treats, so long
as they balance them with “healthy” options.
“You can’t tell them, ‘No Coke, no cake’. It is
not realistic. Their favourite foods are pasta and
french fries. It’s about trying to augment that
with something healthy,” she said. Paltrow says
FOODIE AT HEART: Gwyneth Paltrow
food is incredibly important to her. “Food means
everything to me. When you walk into a kitchen
and smell something simmering on the stove,
you get a sense of home. Food creates a feeling of
togetherness and nourishment,” she said. – IANS
Model Hailey Baldwin says
showbiz can be “very scary, crazy”
and that it is a very “fake” industry.
“Oh boy! This whole industry can
be very crazy, it’s very fake and can
actually be quite scary at times. But
I think the biggest LOL for me was
that I was pregnant and engaged to be
married,” Baldwin told a TV channel,
reports femalefirst.co.uk.
Baldwin, the daughter of The Usual
Suspects actor Stephen Baldwin
and the niece of actor Alec Baldwin,
shared that “people definitely pay
more attention to everything I do
because of my family”. — IANS
Nicole Kidman is a good gambler
SAFE BETS: Nicole Kidman, left, and Keith Urban
Actress Nicole Kidman’s husband Keith
Urban thinks his wife is a “very good” gambler,
but she says she is very cautious. “She’s very
good. She’s disciplined,” he said. However, the
48-year-old actress says she is always cautious
with her money and only bets “a little amount”.
“Well I’m not very good. I have a little amount
of money, I go and bet that and then I’m done.
I’m that kind of gambler, I’m not going to bet the
house,” Kidman told etonline.com.
The actress adores her husband’s “passion”
when it comes to his work. She spoke about the
48-year-old star’s upcoming LP, and said: “It
is such a crazy good album. “I’ve been living
with all the songs — and even the songs that
didn’t make the album. I’ve seen the work he
puts into it and the love. He’s a musician, so
every little tiny detail is all him, and I love that.
I love that he’s passionate about his music.” —
IANS
20 GULF TIMES Thursday, April 7, 2016
COMMUNITY
DAY OUT: Different community groups and volunteers take part in dog walking activities at the shelter.
Photo courtesy: 2nd Chance Rescue
Volunteers take the shelter dogs out for walk on weekends.
HERO Qatar to the
aid of rescued dogs
In an open-to-all event next week, the Filipino community forum has welcomed
volunteers to join them in walking more than 150 orphan canines. By Umer Nangiana
I
n the spirit of giving back to
community, the welfare organisation
of Filipino expatriates, HERO Qatar,
is taking a volunteer initiative to walk
rescued dogs at 2nd Chance Rescue
Qatar. In the open-to-all event, to be held
on April 15, members of the organisation will
welcome volunteers to join them in walking
more than 150 rescued dogs.
“This event is open for everybody who
wants to join. There are a large number of
dogs in the rescue shelter to be walked and we
would appreciate as much support as we get,”
Cheryl Marielou Valientes, the SecretaryExternal of HERO Qatar told Community.
Many of HERO’s more than 300 members
will participate in the three-hour long event
which will start at 8am. Valientes said it was
their organisation’s first such activity with
the 2nd Chance Rescue, however, they have
been actively taking part in community and
social welfare activities in the past.
“We have accomplished a lot in a
short time since the establishment of the
organisation. It is basically working for the
welfare of Filipino workers living in Qatar but
we also support people in need back home
in case of any natural disaster and calamity,”
explained Valientes.
To realise its vision, HERO Qatar is
committed to provide support in assisting
distressed Overseas Filipino Workers
(OFWs) and the general Filipino community.
Valientes said HERO Qatar works under the
umbrella of United Filipino Organisation in
Qatar which works under the patronage of
Philippines embassy.
2nd Chance Rescue regularly organises events to raise support and awareness towards their cause.
The organisation was formed in January
2015 by a group of individuals who felt the
urgent need to assist the authorities in
helping the distressed Overseas Filipino
Workers in Qatar, which led to create
that intense desire in their heart to act as
volunteers and be of good service to the
Filipino community.
HERO stands for Helping, Empowering
and Recognizing OFWs. In another meeting,
voluntarily attended by 66 individuals, the
organisation drafted together the bylaws
and core values of HERO and the group
has also elected its officers to stand as their
representatives to the Philippine Embassy
in Doha upon submission of bylaws for
approval.
HERO Qatar was granted a certificate of
recognition in February 2015 as a non-profit
organisation with the purpose to build a
strong support group and solid foundation
for the welfare of distressed OFWs to uplift
their current situation and to help the
Filipino community in Qatar and in the
Philippines.
“The outpouring support, assistance, care
and co-operation being expressed to HERO
Qatar by a good number of volunteers has
made it more determined and empowered
to share its ideals, hence, the group is now
working hard to realise its programmes and
activities,” says the organisation.
It continues to grow in the number of
volunteers with common goals. It hopes to
make achieve a milestone in the Philippines
and Qatar history for advancing the welfare
and protecting the rights of OFWs besides
living by its mission and vision leaving a good
legacy to the Filipino community.
2nd Chance Rescue, founded in 2009,
began as a solo rescue mission conducted
by its founder, Abdulla al-Naemi, to help
a family of abandoned puppies he found
helpless and homeless.
Six years later, Abdulla’s vision has
transformed from a simple rescue case into a
full-scale animal shelter that is now home to
over 150 rescued dogs and 50 cats.
At 2nd Chance, they work tirelessly
to rehabilitate and home the animals,
providing all the necessary medical, physical
and emotional care needed until each
animal finds a forever home. As a nonprofit organisation, they rely on the kind
contributions and volunteer efforts of the
animal loving community. The Dog Walk
event by HERO Qatar would go a long way in
helping the shelter attract support for their
cause.