Since a slew of ultra-long haul flights has entered in the market in 2018, Airlines seem to be in a tough competition of ‘Whose is Longer’.
Singapore Airlines has decided to restart its epic 19-hour flight between Singapore and Newark Airport in the New York City area. This flight, which will cover 15,300 kilometers, eclipses the
17-hour 14,500 kilometer flight that Qatar Airways currently operates between Doha and Auckland, New Zealand. This is, however, not the first time that Singapore Airlines has operated on this route. It operated the same service for a few years until 2013 using an Airbus A340-500 initially in a business-class-only layout, later adding Economy Class seats as well. This time round, Singapore Airlines will use the new Airbus A350-900 Ultra Long Range (ULR) aircraft that has only two engines instead of the Airbus A340’s four. In fact, it was the high cost of fuel that made Singapore Airlines stop the service initially. The more fuel-efficient Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines on the new plane will keep the costs down. However, Singapore Airlines is not cramming passengers in this plane, operating this variant with just 161 seats instead of the usual 253 seats on the A350 they use on other routes, as it has done away with Economy Class and configured the aircraft with Business and Premium Economy Classes only.
But is 19-hours stuck inside a thin metal tube, well, in the case of the A350 a carbon-fiber reinforced plastic tube, a bit much? That is the call passengers will have to take. Does it make more sense to fly directly between two cities that are global financial hubs in this case than taking a stopover? Currently, Singapore Airlines flies into New York via Germany’s Frankfurt airport. The quickest service between the two cities currently would take around 21 and a half hours with a stop in Hong Kong. That too involves a 16-hour flight over the Pacific Ocean, not all that much less than a 19-hour flight.
Indeed, a whole new generation of aircraft, starting with the Airbus A340 and Boeing 777, began a whole new era of very long haul flights. These planes as well as modern navigational aids that allowed flying over the Arctic, almost over the North Pole, made possible hitherto unheard of flights such as direct from India to the United States possible. Today, Air India and United Airlines both use Boeing 777 aircraft to fly non-stop between India and the US; Air India uses a Boeing
777-200LR to operate a 12,400 kilometer flight between Delhi and San Francisco. Thirty years ago, before the Boeing 747-400 took to the skies, flying between these two cities would take at least three stopovers, often four and could mean almost two whole days of travel instead of 14 hours in one plane right now.
Anybody, who has taken a connecting flight through a mega-hub airport such as Dubai International, London Heathrow or Frankfurt Germany, knows the rigmarole and headache of trying to connect from one flight to another complete with going through security, finding gates or in the case of delayed flights or worse, weather delays and cancellations during the European winter, finding yourself in a strange country with few funds and no visa to enter. While airlines are bound to provide some relief to passengers under new legislation in Europe and America, they can and do get away with ‘acts of God’, which is an euphemism for bad weather. At London Heathrow, for example, it is joked that even a flake of snow can shut the airport down.
But this writer, having taken some ultra long-haul flights himself, knows how terribly disconcerting such flights can be. Flying on Emirates Airline between Dubai and Los Angeles is a 16-hour 13,400 kilometer journey, the longest flight operated on the massive A380 Superjumbo. Even in Business Class with a fancy bar and lounge at the back of the upper deck of the plane, there is this sensation of being trapped and after all, how many movies can one possible watch and how many hours can you sleep. Even in a plane as spacious as the A380, being stuck in the Economy Class for that period of time would not be something to look forward to.
Returning from that visit to the United States from Seattle, this writer snoozed away for seven hours only to wake up and discover there were six more hours of flying time still to go. Six hours is the amount of time it takes to fly between Delhi and Istanbul, for example. Of course, if you are a smoker in today’s day of militant anti-smoking campaigns, spending over half a day in the air can be terrible. Not that a stopover helps, Heathrow Airport, among others, has banned smoking on its premises. And then, even if you are not a smoker, there are the associated health risks of such long haul flights, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and other problems associated with the thinner air inside an aircraft, let alone the claustrophobia of a flight. But flying is still the safest mode of transport on a per-kilometer basis. I mean, would you rather drive between India and Europe?
That said, direct flights no matter how long, are better, and the technology available to us today makes them possible. The next generation of planes, such as the Boeing 777X and later versions of the A350 due to enter service by late-2019 or early-2020, will make the holy grail of flying possible, a non-stop flight between Sydney and London. Imagine that. A century ago, ships used to take four weeks between the two cities (Southampton, rather) and the first scheduled Imperial Airways, the precursor to today’s British Airways, flights between London and Brisbane, the aviation hub of Australia back then took 25 days to make it on this route (we have used the modern names of cities): London — Paris — Rome — Brindisi — Athens — Cairo — Gaza — Baghdad — Basra — Bahrain — Sharjah — Gwadar — Karachi — Jodhpur — Delhi — Kanpur — Allahabad — Kolkata — Sittwe — Yangon — Bangkok — Penang — Singapore — Jakarta — Surabaya — Rambang — Kupang — Darwin — Cloncurry — Longreach — Brisbane with a few other unnamed stops along the way for fuel. In many of these cities, the aircraft made a night-halt as flying at night was then considered unsafe as pilots needed to rely on traditional magnetic compasses and visual landmarks as their only navigational tools.
When you think of a flight like that, in old, unpressurised and noisy piston-engined planes and were patently unsafe, you would be glad about modern aviation. It is remarkable that it is only 115 years since we first took to the skies in powered flight, just 60-odd years since the first jet-powered planes took to the skies and about 30 years since the first really long-range plane, the Boeing 747-400 started service. Modern aircraft have made the impossible seem possible and are making routes possible that earlier we could never imagine. So what if you are stuck in a middle economy seat for 19 hours with strangers all around you? Just remember how it was like back in the day and you’d be glad that there is big screen in front of you and maybe even internet access. The times, they certainly have changed.
(The writer is Managing Editor, The Pioneer)
Writer: Kushan Mitra
Courtesy: The Pioneer
Situated on the left bank of river Beas at an altitude of 2,047 meters, Naggar is an ancient town in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, India. Once capital of the Kullu kingdom, the place boasts of rich history and legends. Home to interesting sights and fine walks (including the Chandrakani Pass trek to Malana in the Parvati Valley), and some good guesthouses and restaurants, it’s a fine place for a few days’ relaxing stay. Writer Somen Sengupta revisites an important page in the book of history.
An academically-enriched Russian family once fell in love with India and its people. In India’s life and culture, they found academically-relevant topics that intrigued them. On July 24, 1928, they founded a small institution in Darjeeling. They named the institution “ Urusvati,” a Sanskrit word meaning “the light of the morning star”. It was the Himalayan Research Institute.
But soon, its address had to be changed. It was moved to a hill top, surrounded by dense pine, oak and deodhar trees of Punjab. A rich tale from history was already blended in its chronicle. Movement of the Roerich family to a new location did not take away from the institute’s glory; it simply added a new chapter of richness to its cultural heritage.
Naggar — the new location of the institute proved to be perfect for it. A part of the Kullu valley, it was still largely disconnected from the rest of India as there was hardly any communication at that point of time. Taking every risk that came their way, the Russian family finally found a new nest in Naggar, where for many years, the royal family of Kullu had had their settlement.
Situated on the bank of river Bias, the hill top known as Naggar was a shining flame of India’s history. Although as a hill retreat it was in no way comparable with the Shimla or Darjeeling of the British Raj days, it still had a unique charm. It was never a holiday retreat for European rulers. But, it was pregnant with several tales from mythology, legend and history.
Far away from the din and kerfuffle of city life, it slept in the lap of a deep pine forest, overlooking a jaw-dropping panorama of snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas. Nestled in the deep apple orchard and green glades, Naggar of the Kullu valley houses small relics from an ancient time. It also boasts of a unique castle built of ingredients typical to Kullu. Situated near the bank of Bias, this place is perhaps the richest hill village of India — in terms of heritage.
The story of Naggar dates back to more than 1400 years ago when the capital of Kullu was shifted here by king Bishudh Pal. The unique stone castle of Naggar was built by Raja Sidh Singh more than 500 years ago. Legend has it that stones were collected from an abandoned palace of Baragaon fort of Rana Bosal and transported by a long human chain across the river.
It was the royal seat of the Kullu dynasty before the capital was shifted to Sultanpur. In 1846, after it was captured by Sikhs, British Asst. Commissioner Major Hay had purchased it and modified it. He added a staircase, a fire place, chimneys, etc. It became an amalgamation of things indigenous and things English. Now, a heritage hotel under HPTDC, the castle is the gem of this heritage hill top. It houses an excellent museum with rich collection artifacts and dresses like pattu, chola, thippu etc. The air inside the castle of Nagger is fresh yet heavy. The mind blowing panorama that it offers from every corner of the castle covers dotting snow-capped mountains and a river that flows just next to the valley.
However, little history and a big doze of local legend add a touch of pensive notes that create a tune of melancholy where tears of a suppressed queen walk silently. Legend goes that after including Lahul into his kingdom, King Raja Jita Singh expressed a desire to have a girl from Lahul as his queen to enrich his already big collection of wives. Thus, officials went on to select the most beautiful girl of Lahul. Finally, a young girl named Rasili was presented to him. Rasili became one of his youngest wives but she could never give her heart to his much married old husband. A homesick queen, she was depressed from the beginning. Raja Jita Singh kept doing his best to entertain her.
Then came a day when a wrestling competition was arranged at the royal palace where the official wrestler of Kullu was challenged by a young wrestler from Lahul. After a tough fight, when the young man from Lahul finally floored the official wrestler of Kullu, the entire forum was sunk in silence. There was just one person cheering. It was none other than Rasili, the Lahul queen of the Raja. She was so ecstatic by the victory of her native man that she threw her pearl necklace to him. This led to a very public expression of anger by the king as she was openly scolded by him. The insulted queen committed suicide on the same night by jumping from the balcony of the castle into the flowing river, down in the valley. The wounded spirit of the queen is still believed to be inside the castle and sound of her silver anklet still haunts people.
If this is enough to create an aura of this castle then there is more to make one excited. The construction of the castle has been done in the “ Kathkooni” style of architecture. It is a distinctive school of engineering where typical kullu ingredients of rough hewn stone slabs are used with interlocking techniques, supported with wood beams in layers. There is no use of iron or any other metal in any kind of fixing. The construction is so strong and shock bearing that the castle survived in 1905 Kullu earth quake overcoming the wrath of tremors that grounded almost all construction, including a part of Kangra fort.
Built in influence of Indo-Tibetan style with long veranda and a corridor, the castle has almost magical brown and grey colored stone and wood. It looks so picture perfect that when the sun shines, its wall turn light golden, giving a superb expression of rich wood carving on its wall, carnies, pillars and rooftops. The passage and courtyards of the castle are decorated with rich artifacts and trophies of wild animals killed by the royal family. Two massive gates of the castle are built out of extracting a single trunk of tree. One gate is sized 85 ft by 39 ft by 3 ft.
At the courtyard of the Naggar castle stands “ Deotibba” or the seat of royal deity. It is known as Jagatpati temple, a Sati pith. Again, legend runs strong that this temple was built on the wish of queen Rasili for whom God and Goddesses carried stone from the Goshal hill of Lahul, her native place in form of bees and birds.
The biggest magic of Naggar is perhaps in its heritage temple walk where in one walk, four different temples built in four different schools of architecture open new avenues. Local people call it “Char Dham Yatra” a poor and needless comparison with the Char Dham of Uttarakhand.
The first temple that comes in the yatra is none other than the Gouri Shankar temple and the first blast of surprise starts from there itself. Known as the last archeological monument of Gurjjara-Pratihar tradition, Gourishankar temple enshrines idols of Shiva, Parvati and baby Ganesha with many other stone-carved musicians and devotees. This is a stone-built, exquisite shikhara-styled temple with nine floors and an exception in this region. Opposite this one, another temple named Narsingh Devta Temple is situated.
What comes next in the walk is Pauri Baba Temple at a place named Jiri. It was originally a cave temple and now built in wood and stone with a roof deeply influenced by a hill temple school of the region. Next comes a Krishna temple at a place named Thava, a small hill city once visited and mentioned in the travelogues of Chinese traveler Xyan Zang who came here in the 7th century. Today, this temple is the only relic of that human settlement seen by Xuan Zang. The temple was built in the Gupta-era style with carved stones and a Shikhara at its pinnacle. The original temple was badly damaged in the 1905 earthquake and the present temple was rebuilt in the same year. During festivals, the deity of the temple travels in a chariot.
The last temple of this heritage walk is Tripura Sundari temple (it has nothing to do with modern state of Tripura, though), which has been built in pagoda style with excellent wood carving. The deity is known as Goddess of three worlds and the three-tiered temple is built in deodhar wood. Base floors are supported on the pillars while the top one is circular. This is an exceptional piece of work.
Now, let’s come back to the story of a Russian family that decided to settle here and establish a world-class international institute of complex studies. From 1923 to 1928, a Russian academician named Nikolay Konstantinovich Roerich travelled across border of India, Tibet, Mongolia, China and Russia covering incalculable number of archaeological ruins, historical monuments and other places of interest. This expedition also helped him to collect several books and sacred texts, and artifacts.
With all those, his dream of establishing a world-class international institute of complex studies with a true blend of ancient knowledge and modern scientific discovery shaped up here in the quaint Himalayan valley. This institute was just ahead of its time. Its area covered a profound study of archaeology, natural science, Tibetan medicine, cultural history of Asian people, Astronomy, Astro Physics, Biology and Metal energy. A world-class laboratory was founded in 1930 where along with Russians, Tibetan Lamas and Indian researchers soon joined.The institute conducted several expeditions in the first few years in remote and difficult places like Lahul, Kangra etc and enriched its library. Such was the reputation of Institute that soon its members started working with Michigan University and Harvard University of USA and Museum of Natural History of Paris.World famous statesmen and scientists like Albert Einstein were aware of its contribution. It attracted the attention of Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose, Sir CV Raman, Radhakriishnan, Abanindranath Tagore, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Rabindranath Tagore.
With the end of the World War II in 1945, the institute faced acute cash crunch and many activities gradually became non-functional. Finally, with the initiative of Svetoslav Roerich, an Agreement of Co-operation was signed between the Russian Govt and the Institute. It is again buzzing with new support from the Indian Government. Its main focus is on fine arts and science.
Today, the institute houses an extra ordinary museum with artifacts, paintings and several memorabilia of Roerich family. It has a huge collection of sculpture, handcrafts, dolls, books both from Russia and India. Needless to say it has huge old photographs and texts that give a correct testimonial evidence of the life of this place in that era. The biggest treasure of the museum is rich collection of original paintings of father and son.
Paintings of Nicholas and Svetoslav Roerich are so distinctive and special that one can not take his eye off from them.The subject of the paintings cover their entire academic life where we see landscape of central Asia to Russian folk dancers.In every stroke of brush father and sone had created a silent history far away from the sight of common people.
Rabindranath Tagore was so impressed by the paintings of Nicholas and his son Svetoslav Roerich who later on married and settled with Devika Rani the first super heroine of Indian silver screen that he wrote to them “Your pictures profoundly moved me. They made me realize that truth is infinite.When I tried to find words to describe to myself what were the ideas which your pictures suggested, I failed. It was because the language of words can only express a particular aspect of truth. When one art can fully be expressed by another, it is a failure. Your pictures are distinct and yet are not definable by words – Your art is jealous of its independence because it is great.”
Naggar is an amazing exception in terms of its importance as a heritage place. Apart from its visual delights of natural beauty, its relic of an ancient city, an extra ordinary castle and a research institute with outstanding reputation have made Naggar a lighthouse of history where in clandestine heritage silently meets with wisdom.
Writer: Somen Sengupta
Courtesy: The Pioneer
Sanjay Dutt’s efforts are looking real as the actor Ranbir Kapoor is looking convincing in the first blooms of the Sanju.
Actor Ranbir Kapoor, glimpses of whose portrayal as Sanjay Dutt in the trailer of Sanju has left the audience asking for more, says he really wants the senior actor to like him and his work.
Ranbir interacted with the media at the trailer launch of Sanju along with Paresh Rawal, Manisha Koirala, Rajkumar Hirani, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Sonam Kapoor, Dia Mirza and Vicky Kaushal.
Asked how he felt portraying various phases of Sanjay’s life, Ranbir said: “When I was a child, I had a poster of Sanju sir on the wall of my cupboard, and through this film, I am in his shoes. I think in my life, I really want Sanju sir to like me. I know I never can be the man he is, but in whichever way that I go about in my career as a person and even through this film, I really want Sanju sir to like me because I feel that he is man that I respect a lot and I really look up to him. I hope that he feels that I have represented his life in very honest and improved way.”
The film’s trailer gives a rushed glance at the various phases and challenges Sanjay has faced in his personal life, in which he has waded through a battle with drugs, multiple relationships and legal troubles.
How does Ranbir summarise the trailer? “We have worked on this film for two years. Through the trailer, we tried and represented the best version of the film as we can excite the audience. I always had belief in film, script and in Raju (Hirani) sir’s vision, so it’s way bigger than the trailer for me. The trailer is just short window of what’s going to come in the film,” added the actor, who has tried to walk, talk and look like Sanjay Dutt for the film.
With the ups and downs in Sanjay’s life, did playing the character take an emotional toll on Ranbir? He said: “As an actor, I was very excited to play this part. So, it doesn’t bother you that much but when I was acting I was really imagining what he must be going through because I am just acting in the film putting makeup and stuff, so I think just thinking about what he must be going through was such an inspiration for me that the film was fairly easy. And also to have an incredible cast and Raju sir around me, everything was smooth sailing.”
In the trailer, the makers have revealed that Sanjay had 308 girlfriends at one point in his life.
Asked whether he will reveal the number of girlfriends if he ever had a biopic made on his life, Ranbir said: “No… I actually won’t allow. I don’t think I am a courageous man like Sanju sir to give my life out so openly. But my count has been less than ten, so people can’t make a biopic on me.”
Ranbir’s father and veteran actor Rishi Kapoor had praised the young actor’s work when he had watched the trailer of Sanju for the first time. Did that make him emotional?
He said, “Besides being my father, he is also an actor whom I really admire and respect, so when Raju sir recorded his reaction and sent it to me, that time I was shooting for another project. My father never tells me on my face that I have done a good job. It really moved me and made me emotional because every father wants his son to do well but my father is very careful that he doesn’t give compliments for free.”
Sanju is produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. The film is releasing on June 29.
Writer: Team Viva
Courtesy: The Pioneer
After giving remarkable performances in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Veer-Zaara and the winner of the National Award for her Supporting Role in Irada, Bollywood actress Divya Dutta talks to Musba Hashmi about her upcoming biopic Manto and her recently released movies. She mentioned during her talk that she is a greedy and versatile actor.
Tell us about the biopic on Manto?
The film throws light on the life of Saadat Hasan Manto, a popular Pakistani writer, playwright and author. The story talks about the tumultuous years of Manto and his journey from India to Pakistan during Partition. Director Nandita Das has beautifully woven stories about his writings on the two nations that became the reason for its rise and fall.
What role did character, Kulwant Kaur, play in his life?
She was just a part of a short story that he wrote. It is a very small yet integral role. She was one of the women who he found very independent and liberating in her thoughts and actions. She speaks her mind and is proud of her sexuality. She was probably someone Manto may have come across in real life. She takes pride in loving her husband who ends up raping a Muslim girl. When she finds out, she kills him.
What challenges did you face?
Nandita asked me if I would be comfortable doing some intimate scenes with Ranvir Shorey in the presence of the crew and I was fine with it. I don’t call them challenges because as an actor, you are playing a character and telling a story.
Any scene that was out of your comfort zone?
I had to be to totally uninhabited since Kulwant is like that. She is somebody who is totally passionate about her sexuality and I had to bring that out naturally and effortlessly. When the camera said ‘action’, I forgot about all the inhibitions and became the character. When the scene got over, people from the crew were awestruck and told me that shot was done beautifully. Das was very sensitive to the bold scenes and I will always appreciate this gesture from her because the shot could have been awkward. But she made sure I was at ease with Shorey.
When did you first read about Manto?
When I was in college, I was told Manto was a very controversial writer and not to read much about him. But I still managed to read one or two stories by him and loved them. It was much later, a just a couple of years back, that I actually read his work again and thoroughly enjoyed and found a connection with what he has written.
You have been part of other biopics too. What kind of approach do you have?
When you are playing a real life character, you have to take care of a lot of things like drawing similarities between real and reel story and how convincingly you play the real part on big screen — how close you come to the true story. Since my role in Manto is a part of one of the short stories written by him, I had the liberty to give my own colour to the character something that you can’t do in a biopic.
How was your experience working with Nawazuddin Siddiqui?
Technically, this is my third film with him after Badlapur and Babumoshai Bandookbaaz but in Manto, I don’t share a screen space with him since I’m a part of the story written by Manto, played by Nawaz). So we are not together. But working with him in other films was a delight. He is a humble person, has a superb sense of humour and is a dear friend. Even at Cannes after the screening of Manto, we went out together and had loads of fun.
Does a movie make an actor or vice-versa?
It is the movie and a good script that makes an actor popular. You can’t rise above a bad film.
You won a National Award for Irada for Best Supporting Role. Has the recognition come late?
There is a right time for everything. Recognition was always there, it is not like suddenly somebody recognised me. Yes, a National Award takes time. But there is an adage: Better late than never. I am happy that it finally came.
Which character has been close to you ?
I’ve emotionally attached to Delhi-6 because it was a very different role from who I actually am. I had to put in extra effort to play my character — Jalebi, a rag picker. The team helped me get the into the shoes of the character. Also, the entire experience of working with brilliant actors like Wahidaji, Rishi Kapoor and Omji (Puri) was great.
What is your take on the kind of films that are being made like Parmanu…, Raazi and PadMan?
I am delighted that we have such an amazing variety of films coming out. I am more delighted that the audience is loving such films and taking them to the Rs 100-crore club. Even though they are not your typical superstar films, the content and their makers are the heroes.
What are your upcoming projects?
There are about eight films releasing this year. After Manto there is Fanne Khan with Anil Kapoor, Anubhav Sinha’s Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui Hai, a biopic on Malala, a romantic movie Music Teacher, a psychological thriller with Arshad Warsi and Juhi Chawla and another film with Arjun Rampal.
Writer: Musba Hashmi
Courtesy: The Pioneer
Shashwat Sachdev, music composer of recently released bollywood movie ‘ Veere di Wedding’, speaks with the reporter Shalini Saksena about getting a break in bollywood.
How did you get to work with Tony Maserati, the American record producer?
I met him at a workshop that I was a part of in Europe. I kept in touch with him even after the workshop was over. This association led to my working with him. I was invited by him to the US. Then I moved to India in 2015 and have been in Mumbai since then.
Does that mean you go for many workshops?
I come from a non-musical background, my father is a doctor and my mother is a Philosophy lecturer. I myself studied law. So I have an academic background. But I learnt Hindustani Classical vocal for 21 years due to guru–shishya tradition. I learnt western classical piano for 11 years. Though I have been around a lot of music but haven’t got a formal training. I don’t come from a family where I could go for an international degree in music for three years. But it is nice to have a formal connect with music education therefore I had gone for a workshop in audio engineering.
Were you always interested in composing?
Yes, I was always interested in composing even though I learnt vocals. My parents and guru realised early that I needed to learn piano when I was in Class VII so that I could get the right guidance when it came to writing music and that got me started on my compositional career.
Were there any challenge that came in composing for Veere Di Wedding?
Actually, the co-producer of the film Rhea Kapoor and I were responsible for the music in the film. We connected instantly when I met her three years back. I played her my music which was very desi when it came to the kind of music I had composed. But the arrangement was very contemporary. She really liked this. This is basic premise of the music in Veere… For example, there is a bhagara song. Both of us wanted to give it a different treatment so that it had a folk element but was contemporary enough for the young generation to identify with and enjoy.
How did you get your break in Bollywood?
When I had moved to the US, it was for a short period but ended up staying for much longer. But since my music had lot of Indian element to it so people told me that I should move to India. So I moved here— it was only supposed to be for a few months. But then I met Rhea. She is the reason why I stayed on. While working on Veere… I got Phillauri. While my first movie is Veere…, Phillauri released earlier.
What are the challenges that you face as a composer?
The only challenge is in my head — on how to make a better melody than yesterday. Making better music than yesterday and better myself. If I had given a certain kind of music in Phillauri, then how to be different in Veere… To not be repetitive is my aim.
A lot of collaboration is being done with international musicians. What has changed?
Indian musicians have always worked with international artists. Also, we now have the technology and platforms due to the Internet to find and collaborate with an artist internationally. We have the resources that makes it easier to reach out. International artists also want to work with Indian artists.
Did your parents have a problem with you pursuing a musical career?
Actually, my father supported me wholly. People say that they were given an opportunity and that is how they got a break in the industry. For me, what I got from my parents is so much bigger than the opportunity. I was consistently inspired and motivated by my parents. They gave me all the resources that I needed to where I am today. They were extremely encouraging including my sister, who is an architect, and an important part of my audience.
Are you working on some other project?
Like I was simultaneously working on Veere… while doing Phillauri, I have been working on other projects while doing Veere… I am also working with international artistes.
Writer: Shalini Saksena
Courtesy: The Pioneer
37 percent Indian companies who were researched to spend more on travel and entertainment this year; 40 percent feel Indian businesses are expected to invest more than last year in improving administrative process efficiency.
Travel and entertainment are the two segments which have been given a thumbs up by Indian finance executives as they are likely to increase spending. This is followed by investing in improving administrative process efficiencies and investing on mobile technology and hardware and infrastructure in 2018 to help meet their business priorities. According to the 11th Edition of the Global Business & Spending Outlook Survey, commissioned by American Express and conducted by Institutional Investor Thought Leadership Studio, 37 per cent of the CFOs surveyed that they are likely to spend more on T&E than last year, whereas 50 per cent maintained that they are likely to keep the spending same as last year.
The annual cross-industry survey conducted among 870 senior executives across 21 countries with worldwide revenue of more than US$500 million, states that 33 per cent of the Indian CFOs surveyed are likely to spend more on transportation/logistics and 53 per cent on hardware and infrastructure while half of the senior financial executives (50 per cent) aim to increase spending on mobile technology. About 40 per cent of the CFOs surveyed said that they are likely to invest more than last year in improving administrative process efficiency (e.g., streamlining financial, account payables, or procurement process) to help meet business objectives.
It is noteworthy that 90 per cent of the senior finance executives felt that improving cash and working-capital management (including payables, receivables, and inventories) is more important for their businesses this year as compared to last year. Over 60 per cent of the executives said that use of credit (e.g. revolving credit lines, corporate card, “float”) and ability to negotiate better payments terms on payables and receivables as well as volume discounts on purchases with suppliers and customers would yield substantial financial benefit to the company.
Sharing her views, Saru Kaushal, vice President and general manager, Global Commercial Services, American Express Banking Corp., India, said, “India is leading the way in terms of both business confidence and investments. Efficiency has become the keyword as companies take a back-to-basics approach and focusing on the fundamentals — better serving customers and meeting their needs, developing new products, entering new markets and prioritising business transformation and innovation. Businesses are reiterating the need for increasing spend on T&E, optimising cash flow and using it judiciously to grow and protect the business.”
Sharing economy is the name of the game
About 87 per cent of the respondents believes that commercial innovations of the so-called “sharing economy” (eg. those used by ride-sharing services like Uber or lodging services such as AirBnB will have a substantial impact on their industry in the next five years with 60 per cent executives agreeing that their company’s travel policy allows employees to use sharing economy services for lodging or transportation when traveling on business.
Meeting Customer Needs is Top Priority; Spending Plans Centre on Technology
Meeting customer needs better is a top priority for survey respondents in India (63 per cent). Companies are also most likely to focus on cyber-security and the protection of customer, supplier and employee data in the next two years.
Changing role of CFOs
Interestingly, the survey also reveals that 53 per cent senior finance executives see their function as that of a strategic advisor — not as a leader of strategy, nor as a mere supporter of it which in turn speaks of the significant evolution of the role of the finance executive.
Workforce increase anticipated, focus more on retaining top talent
Senior financial executives in India plan to increase their companies’ workforce in the year ahead. In the coming year 97 percent of survey respondents anticipate an uptick in their companies’ headcount. Last year, 20 per cent expected headcount to grow by 10 per cent or more. However, employee growth of 6 per cent or more rose to 77 per cent this year, up from 50 per cent last year. In an effort to attract and retain top talent, companies are also likely to improve the day-to-day working environment of their employees, offer more flexible work schedules and locations and expand career development programmes.
Writer: Team Viva
Courtesy: The Pioneer
Milan suffered extensive setback from Allied bombing during World War II, and that is why there is very little left of its history. The city is smart rather than attractive. The city is cosmopolitan and stylish, writes Vissa Venkata Sundar
After a breathtaking and floaty experience of Venice, I embarked on my last leg of the visit to Italy. It was an incredible 15 days of non-stop travel to some of the ancient cities of the world. Epic architecture and the seductive charms of the past brought me to my knees. History couldn’t have been so richly poetic than what one sees in Italy. The experiences make you see history with a fresh pair of eyes. I was feeling glum and sullen that the clock was ticking for me to bid goodbye to this enchanting country. But bid goodbye in style, that is! Milan beckoned as my last stopover.
Travelling from Venice via Verona to Milan in train was a delightful experience. Once you alight from the train, you will be looking at the gigantic and supersized roof of the Milano Centrale Station. Almost as if making a grand welcome statement to the first-time visitor to the city of style and fashion. King Victor Emmanuel III laid the cornerstone of the station in 1906 without a blueprint, apparently. The World War I led to economic slump in Italy and the construction work of the station slowed down. Thereafter, Benito Mussolini, the then Prime Minster of Italy, expedited the work and wanted the station to be grand and represent the power of the Fascist regime. Therefore, you see Milano Centrale handling 120 million passengers annually, surpassing the clichéd definition of what a railway station façade should be. Far from being a merely functional transit point, the station is adorned with numerous sculptures in Art Deco style. You may mistake it to be some grand hallway of a palace, even as you briskly walk with your luggage towards the exit.
You can’t help but notice how Milan is so discordantly different from the rest of Italy in its texture, buildings, and the views. Milan looks every bit like a grey, flat industrial and indistinguishable urban megapolis, just like any other, badly in need of a scrub. It may seem like an unfavourable description, but after having sodden with Italian history and epic architecture — which is littered in every street of its cities — Milan looked un-Italian for once and modernist in so many ways. I was told that due to the World War II, there is very little left of its history. The city is smart rather than attractive. The city is cosmopolitan and stylish. It is considered to be a leading ‘alpha global city’ and is the second most populous city in Italy after Rome, and has long held the title of being the fashion capital of the world and the world’s design capital. Milan is the hub for arts, commerce, finance, and a tourism hotspot boasting important collections in its museums and art galleries.
Milan suffered extensive setback from Allied bombing during the World War II. One structure that got badly damaged was the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest shopping mall designed by architect Giuseppe Mengoni in 1865. This ornate shopping arcade is also known as ilSalotto di Milano (Milan’s drawing room) and make Milan a shopper’s haven. The galleria’s finest feature is its metal and glass roof, crowned with a magnificent central dome. The roof was the first structure in Italy to use metal and glass in a structural way, rather than just decoratively. The floors are decorated with mosaics of zodiac signs and the floor plan resembles the shape of a Latin cross with an octagonal centre. The arcade is a multibrand fashion wonderland, with who’s who of the luxury retail selling haute couture, jewellery, books, and paintings. You will find here some of the oldest shops and restaurants in Milan, such as Biffi Caffe, founded in 1867 by Paolo Biffi, the pastry chef of the monarch.
Adjacent to the Galleria is one of the largest Gothic churches in the world. The Milan Duomo crowned with an extraordinary roof, distinctive and bristling spires, is one of the architectural gems of this stylish city that will surely make you transfixed. Oddly, it took 500 years to complete it. Such a magnificent structure also comes with a hefty price tag for the organisation that has been responsible for its construction and maintenance. The marble that was used to build the church was from Candoglia and is not hard as compared to Carrara marble, which is more commonly used in Italy. It is only a matter of time that wear and tear becomes evidently clear. The replacement of the marble was planned so that much of the Duomo would be refaced.
It is another thing that your appetite for all things Italian may not die down soon. But the most coveted spot in Milan — Leonardo Da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’ at the convent of Santa Maria delleGrazie, a Unesco World Heritage site — eluded me. The ludicrously long advance bookings could run into weeks and months. Disappointed at having missed it, I thought to myself that maybe this was a good excuse for me to visit Italy once again to satiate my appetite for this beautiful country. With a stroke of luck, I would rather start my journey from where I inconclusively ended it. Milan, you inspire the world. Be back soon!
Travel logistics
Stay: Magna Pars Suites Milano is a boutique hotel surrounded by lush gardens. The rooms are elegantly decorated with subdued colours and furnished by local designers. For travellers with deep pockets and those who want to enjoy in the lap of luxury, Palazzo Parigi — an opulent hotel at the higher end of the spectrum — will make for a good choice. Cascina Cuccagna is a kitchen, bar guesthouse, which provides an affordable and comfortable stay for budget travellers
Flights: AlItalia serves Delhi and Mumbai with direct flights to Milan, among other destinations in Italy. You can also check out Air India, Etihad, Qatar, and Emirates Airlines for more information on flight connectivity
Writer: Vissa Venkata Sundar
Courtesy: The Pioneer
The Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Swasthya Suraksha Mission is a new and groundbreaking initiative of the Government which aims at providing easily available medical insurance and health services to the poor
It is extremely worrying that nearly 60 million Indians are pushed into poverty because they are, unfortunately, compelled to shell out half of their annual household expenditure to meet medical needs, especially when it comes to hospitalisation. Even after 70 years of independence, there is no real health insurance scheme for 80 per cent of the Indian population.
One of the major healthcare scheme, ‘Ayushman Bharat’, announced by the Union Government in this year’s Budget, is as a game-changer. It aims to ensure better healthcare to the people, particularly from the lower strata of the society. The scheme has two components — the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Swasthya Suraksha Mission (PMRSSM) and health and wellness centres. The PMRSSM, a mega healthcare scheme, aims to provide free health treatment up to five lakh rupees to the poor and vulnerable sections of the society. More than 10 crore identified families, covering more than 50 crore, are entitled to benefit under this mission.
For a focused approach and better implementation of the scheme, a dedicated society, called the National Health Agency (NHA), has been formed to administer and implement the PMRSSM under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
As a first step, to roll out the PMRSSM, several Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) have been signed between four States — Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Union Territory of Chandigarh with the National Health Agency. Rest of the States are expected to follow suit soon.
PMRSSM is expected to provide cashless and paperless access to services for the beneficiary at both public and private empanelled hospitals across the country. There will be no capping on family size. This will ensure that all members of designated families, specifically girl child and senior citizens, get maximum coverage.
Besides, preference is also being accorded to make woman as the head of the family to ensure gender justice. More than 1,300 medical packages have been defined, that covers surgery, medical and day care treatments, including medicines, diagnostics, among others.
The PMRSSM is designed on entitlement basis. This means every family figuring in defined Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC), 2011 database will be entitled to claim benefit under the scheme. States will have an option to use an existing trust/society/not-for-profit organistaion or set up a new trust/society/NGO.
States will also be at liberty to choose the modalities for implementation. They can implement scheme through insurance company or directly through the trust/society or a mixed model.
Notably, a well-defined complaint and public grievance redressal mechanism will be instituted, actively utilising electronic, mobile platform, Internet as well as social media and robust safeguards to prevent misuse, fraud or abuse by providers and users. Pre-authorisation will be made mandatory for all tertiary care and selected secondary care packages.
Almost 1.50 lakh primary healthcare centres across the country will be upgraded and well-equipped with diagnostics, drugs and doctors laying the foundation of India’s new healthcare system. These centres aim for early detection of diseases. Universal health checkup will be ensured of every individual before they attain 30 years of age.
The Government enlists cooperation of State Governments in the true spirit of cooperative federalism, insurance companies, hospitals and diagnostic centres, pharma companies, health fund managers and the corporates. This will transform Indian health sector in a significant manner as it will make healthcare easily accessible and effective to the poorest of the poor. It is the need of the hour.
(The writer is Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare)
Writer: Ashwini Kumar Chawbey
Courtesy: The Pioneer
The reporter Divya Giri says, the Afghan art exhibition highlights how hope continues to thrive regardless of violence in the country.
I have seen so much bloodshed, I think the stories would fill a book,” says Mohammad Salim Attaie from Kabul, a self-taught artist. Currently in India, Attaie is leading a group of artists from Afghanistan including Abdul Fatah Amar; Mohammad Azim Rawofi and Mohibullah Attaie (Moheb Sadiq) for the exhibition, Afghan Art: A Land in Conflict and Hope.
Attaie and his fellow artists have not had it easy and practiced their craft despite what was happening in their country. The war that ravaged Afghanistan for a long time and the Taliban regime that came to power between 1996-2001, ensured that it was really difficult for the artists to practice their art. The Taliban banned the entire spectrum of creativity and performance including clapping, and they destroyed an estimated 80 percent of Afghan cultural heritage, from religious relics to film reels.
Afghanistan’s art scene has seen a revival since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. Contemporary art reflects on what happened in Afghanistan during the past decades and the current challenges. Most artists have not had a formal art training and paint what they see, with what they have. This exhibition is evidence of the ‘never say die’ spirit of the Afghans.
Attaie was born in 1972 and at 16, had to sign up for the army to fight the Russians, who were then occupying Afghanistan. He says, “I left the army when I was 20, and did whatever I could do for a living like selling tea, working at construction sites and peddling dry fruits.”
He took up art in 2001 when he started gallery Nootaq (meaning starting from scratch) in 2002. The Senai Art School gallery which had protected the art works of artists from Taliban admired his style and encouraged him to take in students and mentor them.
Attaie has curated several shows in Kabul including an exhibition at the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and at the office of the president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Attaie says, “Because of the conflict in Kabul, I was forced to leave my home and sell off everything that I had at 15. When I moved to Taliban, art was restricted over there as well. In 2008, I started painting and I preferred oil paint.” But with war all around, Attaie found inspiration in himself. “My family members sell paintings and my brother is an artist too. And this is the fourth time I am displaying my work in India.”
And there is a reason that he keeps coming back to the country. He concludes, “India is one such place where art is nurtured and valued. I am in love with this place.”
(The exhibition is on till May 29 at Annexe Art Gallery)
Writer: Divya Giri
Courtesy: The Pioneer
As reported, film actor Taapsee Pannu, has a busy year ahead as she will be seen in seven films in 2018-19 ranging from Hindi to Telugu cinema. Taapsee is on of the most successful actresses who is dabbling both in Bollywood and South language films with much ease and accolades together.
With five releases in 2017, each different from the other, from critical to commercial success, she paved a niche for herself. She has as many as four films releasing this year and three films in the pipeline. She will first be seen in Soorma, the Sandeep Singh biopic with Diljit Dosanjh followed by Anubhav Sinha’s Mulk and will also be seen in Anurag Kashyap’s Manmarziyaan which is due for a release in September. She has a Telugu film in her kitty titled Neevevaroo which releases in the second half of the year.
‘We as a collective society can only implement change once we initiate discussion, and the conclave on Menstrual Hygiene Day is a fitting platform for us to truly empower a nation of women. Together we can ensure that every female has the right to manage her period safely and with dignity’
— Akshay Kumar
Actress Shriya Pilgaonkar is locked to play the lead in Viu’s forthcoming web series. While the launch date is not yet fixed the cast has been finalised. Pilgaonkar will be part of the thriller. She quipped, “I have always enjoyed watching thrillers and this is my first time exploring the genre as an actor. I loved the story of this series and decided to be on board instantly. I’m really looking forward to it. It’s an incredibly fascinating character.”
Jordan wanted Get Out to be universal
Actor-director-writer Jordan Peele says he wanted to be “racially specific and universal” with his film Get Out. The horror film centred on an interracial relationship between a black American man and his white partner, was a satire on racism and was critically lauded. He became the first African-American screenwriter to win an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for it. “The curiosity of ‘guess who is coming to dinner’ really connected. Besides having amazing actors, a script and execution, it’s a story about race. But is still relatable. Everyone shares the fear of meeting your in-laws, whether you are or not from a different race than them, you are going to fear that they might not accept you in that situation. So I had a eureka moment in writing the script that’s the mould I should make this movie in,for it to be both racially specific and universal,” said Peele.
Writer: Pioneer
Courtesy: The Pioneer
Regardless of increasing concerns for Taj Mahal that the monument is losing its sheen, a survey demonstrates that it is still one of the favorite landmarks among tourists.
Around 400 years after it was constructed, the Taj Mahal continues to grab eyeballs of global visitors and never ceases to amaze them, becoming the sixth of the top ten international bucket list compiled by a travel site. Meanwhile, Angkor Wat in Cambodia continued to top the favourite list. Five Indian landmarks even made it to the Asia list — Taj Mahal (#2), Amber Fort (#9), Harmandir Sahib (#10), Swaminarayan Akshardham (#13) and Gurudwara Bangla Sahib (#14).
The award winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for landmarks worldwide, gathered over a 12-month period. This year’s Tripadvisor awards recognised 759 landmarks across 68 countries and eight regions across the globe. On the domestic India list, the Taj was followed by Amber Fort, steadfast at number 2, a position it has held since 2015. Harmandir Sahib makes its way to number 3 from seventh position last year. There were representatives from more recent constructions as well. Swaminarayan Akshardham in Delhi stood at number 4 while Delhi’s Gurudwara Bangla Sahib stood at number 5. Another construction by Emperor Shahjahan made it to the country list with Agra Fort in Agra coming up sixth. Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, Qutub Minar and Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi and the Bandra Worli Sea Link in Mumbai were the others that made it to the top 10 in India.
The Taj came in at number 6 in the world list of landmarks. It was preceded by Angkor Wat at Siem Reap, Cambodia; Plaza de Espana in Seville, Spain; Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, Italy and Mezquita Cathedral de Cordoba in Cordoba, Spain. In the Asia list, it stood at number 2 where the top spot was occupied by the world leader, Angkor Wat. The other monuments that featured in top five included the Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho) in Bangkok, Thailand; Mutianyu Great Wall, Beijing, China and Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine in Kyoto, Japan.
Top five locations in India
Writer: Team Viva
Courtesy: The Pioneer
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