“It feels like I haven’t slept in … for ever,” says Ayan Mukerji, the director and writer of Brahmastra, a new Indian superhero trilogy, after announcing yet another release date for its first instalment.
“I was 29 when I started working on the film. I’ll be 39 by the time it releases. My peers have made multiple films, gotten married and had kids in the time I’ve made this one movie.”
The film, starring real-life superstar couple Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt as well as veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan and South Indian superstar Nagarjuna, was initially meant to be released in August 2019, but was delayed on four separate occasions. Last week, Mukerji unveiled the film's first official poster and a new release date in September 2022, more than three years after its intended release.
It’s tough not to feel sorry for Mukerji. To say that Brahmastra’s journey so far has been long, winding and challenging would be an understatement.
The Brahmastra trilogy was announced in October 2017 on Twitter by its producer Karan Johar, to be completed over a decade. Bankrolled by four production houses – Fox Star Studios, Dharma Productions, Prime Focus and Starlight Pictures – the first part alone is rumoured to have cost more than 300 crores Indian rupees (about $40 million), to be released simultaneously in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada languages.
It’s unusual for a Bollywood movie to be announced as a trilogy from the start, let alone in a genre that is yet to see much success in India. The last two big-budget superhero films to come out of the country – Ra.One (2011) and Krrish 3 (2013), starring superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan respectively – were widely panned, evoking more cringe than awe.
Mukerji could well be the home-grown superhero auteur India’s been waiting for, or he could fail at an almost unprecedented scale. And given that Mukerji’s filmography spans only two films – Wake Up Sid (2009) and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013) – both slice-of-life romances, albeit hugely successful ones, there is still a lot of potential for things to go wrong.
To his credit, Mukerji seems to be wearing the pressure lightly.
"My previous films were made in the tradition of the films that came before it. Wake Up Sid was my interpretation of Dil Chahta Hai. Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani was my take on Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge,” says Mukerji. “But as much as I love superhero films, I honestly couldn’t imagine creating something like a Marvel Universe because there simply didn’t exist a template for it in India, which is probably why the others weren’t doing it either.
"But towards the end of YJHD, I just knew it in my bones that I had to do it. I thought I was the right age, ability, energy and experience level to attempt something this ambitious. And here we are.”
In Brahmastra Part One: Shiva, Kapoor’s titular character Shiva travels two timeframes – contemporary India and another of 3,000 years ago – in an attempt to understand his fire-based superpower. All he knows as he undertakes the journey is that he shares a mysterious connection to the most powerful and potent divine weapon in the universe – the Brahmastra. His quest is supported by his lady love Isha, played by Bhatt, and guided by Bachchan’s Professor Arvind Chaturvedi.
“My modernised version of Dumbledore-meets-Gandalf,” says Mukerji.
The result of thousands of hours of work and rework, it took him years to write the film, he says. “I can’t even quantify the amount of work of this mammoth film. I had to first let the thought marinate, then scope out the storyline for three films in my head. Then I started the back-breaking job of understanding action and visual effects. Then budgeting, then learning that I can’t do what I want to do with the budgets I have, then doing it again and again, and again. Too many people have made too many sacrifices to make Brahmastra happen.”
The story has nothing to do with religion, but it does use symbolism that I’ve been attracted to powerfully all my life
Ayan Mukerji,
director
Delays never bode well for a film, let alone for one mounted at Brahmastra’s scale. Roping a real-life couple to play the lead in a movie that takes half a decade to churn out is tricky at best, and a disaster-in-the-making at worst.
Mukerji’s own leading man is well-versed in the tragic ways a movie can be ruined when soured relationships are combined with production delays, given the fate of Jagga Jasoos. The 2017 film starring Kapoor and Katrina Kaif, once highly-anticipated, barely managed to make a blip at the box office upon release after many delays caused, at least in part, by Kaif and Kapoor’s breakup.
But Mukerji, 38, isn’t worried about Brahmastra looking dated, and is completely comfortable with his casting decisions.
“It had to be Ranbir, Alia and Mr Bachchan. We went with the people who most naturally fit the part,” he says. “As for looking dated, I’m not worried at all. We were shooting until last month, we still have some visual effects left to finish. It’s going to be a visual delight, and as an Indian, you’re going to be proud of it when you see it, I can guarantee that.”
Mukerji's film draws inspiration from Hindu mythology. Brahmastra is considered the most powerful among the many weapons of the gods in Hinduism. Similarly, Shiva is one of the principal gods in the trinity of the creator (Brahma), the preserver (Vishnu) and the destroyer (Shiva) trinity.
The director, however, insists his film's story is not religious.
In the past few years, several Bollywood filmmakers have had to issue public apologies, alter portions of their film or rename them in the face of furore caused by the hurt sentiments of several religious factions and communities. The reasons for their objections have ranged from depicting celebrated fictional characters in a bad light, promoting inter-religious love and even character costumes. Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali had to contend with incidents of violence and threats in the run-up to the release of his big-budget film Padmaavat in 2018.
“I honestly don’t think there’s anything in the movie that could offend anyone,” says Mukerji. "The story has nothing to do with religion, but it does use symbolism that I’ve been attracted to powerfully all my life. It’s my way of connecting with my culture and a tribute to my roots.
“In terms of the story, we’ve been very clear throughout that it’s all fantasy. I just felt that this fantasy needs to be grounded in the treasure trove of inspiration and wisdom that exists within my faith, but set in modern India. I felt this combination would help me create something original and inspiring.
“At its core, I think this movie is a powerful love story."
Brahmastra is scheduled to be released on September 9, 2022
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Grand Slam Los Angeles results
Men:
56kg – Jorge Nakamura
62kg – Joao Gabriel de Sousa
69kg – Gianni Grippo
77kg – Caio Soares
85kg – Manuel Ribamar
94kg – Gustavo Batista
110kg – Erberth Santos
Women:
49kg – Mayssa Bastos
55kg – Nathalie Ribeiro
62kg – Gabrielle McComb
70kg – Thamara Silva
90kg – Gabrieli Pessanha
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
UNpaid bills:
Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN budget in 2019
USA – $1.055 billion
Brazil – $143 million
Argentina – $52 million
Mexico – $36 million
Iran – $27 million
Israel – $18 million
Venezuela – $17 million
Korea – $10 million
Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN peacekeeping operations in 2019
USA – $2.38 billion
Brazil – $287 million
Spain – $110 million
France – $103 million
Ukraine – $100 million
RESULTS
Manchester United 2
Anthony Martial 30'
Scott McTominay 90 6'
Manchester City 0
Apple%20Mac%20through%20the%20years
%3Cp%3E1984%20-%20Apple%20unveiled%20the%20Macintosh%20on%20January%2024%3Cbr%3E1985%20-%20Steve%20Jobs%20departed%20from%20Apple%20and%20established%20NeXT%3Cbr%3E1986%20-%20Apple%20introduced%20the%20Macintosh%20Plus%2C%20featuring%20enhanced%20memory%3Cbr%3E1987%20-%20Apple%20launched%20the%20Macintosh%20II%2C%20equipped%20with%20colour%20capabilities%3Cbr%3E1989%20-%20The%20widely%20acclaimed%20Macintosh%20SE%2F30%20made%20its%20debut%3Cbr%3E1994%20-%20Apple%20presented%20the%20Power%20Macintosh%3Cbr%3E1996%20-%20The%20Macintosh%20System%20Software%20OS%20underwent%20a%20rebranding%20as%20Mac%20OS%3Cbr%3E2001%20-%20Apple%20introduced%20Mac%20OS%20X%2C%20marrying%20Unix%20stability%20with%20a%20user-friendly%20interface%3Cbr%3E2006%20-%20Apple%20adopted%20Intel%20processors%20in%20MacBook%20Pro%20laptops%3Cbr%3E2008%20-%20Apple%20introduced%20the%20MacBook%20Air%2C%20a%20lightweight%20laptop%3Cbr%3E2012%20-%20Apple%20launched%20the%20MacBook%20Pro%20with%20a%20retina%20display%3Cbr%3E2016%20-%20The%20Mac%20operating%20system%20underwent%20rebranding%20as%20macOS%3Cbr%3E2020%20-%20Apple%20introduced%20the%20M1%20chip%20for%20Macs%2C%20combining%20high%20performance%20and%20energy%20efficiency%3Cbr%3E2022%20-%20The%20M2%20chip%20was%20announced%3Cbr%3E2023%20-The%20M3%20line-up%20of%20chip%20was%20announced%20to%20improve%20performance%20and%20add%20new%20capabilities%20for%20Mac.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
The biog:
From: Wimbledon, London, UK
Education: Medical doctor
Hobbies: Travelling, meeting new people and cultures
Favourite animals: All of them
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
2019 Asian Cup final
Japan v Qatar
Friday, 6pm
Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
THE TWIN BIO
Their favourite city: Dubai
Their favourite food: Khaleeji
Their favourite past-time : walking on the beach
Their favorite quote: ‘we rise by lifting others’ by Robert Ingersoll
BRIEF SCORES:
Toss: Nepal, chose to field
UAE 153-6: Shaiman (59), Usman (30); Regmi 2-23
Nepal 132-7: Jora 53 not out; Zahoor 2-17
Result: UAE won by 21 runs
Series: UAE lead 1-0
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Closing the loophole on sugary drinks
As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.
The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed:
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
