MARCH 17-23 2013
Making Sense of Self Defence
MARCH 17-23 2013
Cover Story
14 Defend, Deflect, Defuse Being prepared may spell the difference between being a victim or a survivor
Features
26 Skin Deep With sweat, blood and a whole lot of convincing, the tattoo trend is on the rise
Travel
33 Musings on the Mekong After enduring colonialism, conflict and communism, Vietnam today is a forward looking nation, seeking its place in the sun
26
Regulars
6 People & Parties: Out and about with Pakistan’s beautiful people 44 Reviews: Love in Kinshasa 46 Healthy Living: Keep Your Whites Pearly
33
44
4
Magazine Editor: Zarrar Khuhro, Senior Sub-Editor: Farahnaz Zahidi, Sub-Editors: Ameer Hamza, Heba Al-Adawy and Dilaira Mondegarian. Creative Team: Amna Iqbal, Jamal Khurshid, Essa Malik, Maha Haider, Faizan Dawood, Samra Aamir, Sanober Ahmed. Publisher: Bilal A Lakhani. Executive Editor: Muhammad Ziauddin. Editor: Kamal Siddiqi. For feedback and submissions: magazine@tribune.com.pk Printed: uniprint@unigraph.com
PEOPLE & PARTIES
Nadia Hussain
Anoushey
Fahad Hussayn in collaboration with Ittehad Textiles launch their debut collection in Karachi
Faiza Lakhani and Tasneem Merchant
Frieha Altaf and Wasim Akram Abeer
6 MARCH 17-23 2013
Fauzia
PHOTOS COURTESY CATALYST PR AND MARKETING
Farah Khan and Areeba
MARCH 17-23 2013
Irsa Farooqi
Hira Tareen
Ayaan Fahad Hussayn
Wardha Saleem and Nubain Mathira
8 MARCH 17-23 2013
Zhalay Sarhadi
PHOTOS COURTESY CATALYST PR AND MARKETING
PEOPLE & PARTIES
MARCH 17-23 2013
PEOPLE & PARTIES
Luscious Cosmetics reveals its limited edition range of nail colours in Lahore
PHOTOS COURTESY M IMRAN FAREED AND AMJAD BHATTI
Alizeh Waqar
Fia
Anum and Shehrbano
Cybil and Zara
Sophie and Redah Misbah
Meher and Samina
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Alyzeh Gabol MARCH 17-23 2013
Nina
MARCH 17-23 2013
MARCH 17-23 2013
MARCH 17-23 2013
COVER STORY
the 3 d’s of self defence In these troubled times, you need to know how to DEFEND yourself, DEFLECT attacks, and DEFUSE dangerous situations BY HEBA AL-ADAWY
14 MARCH 17-23 2013
(Continued on page 18) MARCH 17-23 2013
15
COVER STORY My hand shakes as I lift the heavy steel revolver and point it at the man standing in front of me. As my finger touches the trigger, his hand shoots out in a flash; a split second later, my arm has been painfully twisted and the gun is in my wouldbe victim’s hands. “This is how we disarm,” he says as he puts away the unloaded revolver and casts his eye on his other
students as they mill about this makeshift training center.
Clad in a bright Jui Jitsu uniform, 42-year-old self-defence instructor Gohar Gul is clearly a hard task-
master, surveying his trainee fighters with a steely gaze as they prepare their ‘fighting stance’ — knees
bent and fists raised high. It is half an hour into the session; they have run 4km outside the training centre, have flipped tires weighing 90kg-95 kg, and are now ready to fight. “The first rule of self-defence
“When I train, I feel at par with my male colleagues. I may not be on their level physically, but mentally I am.”
is that there are no rules,” Gul’s confident voice echoes loudly.
Suddenly a voice chimes in from the back of the studio
room, and there are sounds of scattered laughter. The pal-
pable tension has dissolved with a joke. “Oye, fighter. Se-
rious ho!” exclaims Gul, his otherwise tough expression
relaxing into a smile. In this class of twelve, the eldest is twenty-three, and the youngest, a girl, is seventeen.
With the fighters duly disciplined, Gul turns his atten-
tion towards me once again with a reassurance that the exercise need not be repeated again. The disarming tech-
nique he so painfully demonstrated is only taught to select clients who train with him personally. My
sigh of relief slightly dulls the sharp pain that is still searing through my arm when, next, he orders me
to kick him with full force. At last, I comply only to find my foot striking what feels like solid rock. This now unflinching muscular frame is the product of many hardships endured on the ground, and 32 years of apprenticeship in martial arts.
“I started from the footpath,” Gul begins his story. “I ran away from my village after my parents were
killed, and I had no family or shelter. I roamed from one city to another in search of a home for years, subjected to abuse, fighting many battles for survival.” He points at his students: “You see, these people come here to train, but for me, my whole life was a test of self-defence.”
At the age of ten, Gul’s life took a turn similar to that of Daniel’s in the famed movie Karate Kid. He
encountered his own Mr Miyagi by chance while practicing at the ‘Khadda Ground’ in Islamabad, then an
empty plot of land. Approaching the martial arts instructor, he asked about joining the classes being held in the ground. “I began to cry when he told me about the fee because I could not afford them,” Gul recalls,
“but he finally agreed to take me under his wing. Within a month’s time, I became his favourite student.”
“Teaching martial arts is not just a job, but a duty.” For many Pakistanis, conflict and crime are part of their daily lives, whether in the biggest of cities
or the smallest of chaks. Stories of street crime at the nearest street or traffic signal are reiterated over
drawing room conversations, with only slight variations. The only solution, Gul says, is to be prepared for the worst. To him, teaching martial arts is not just a job, but a duty.
For this reason, he gives free classes at Amir Khusro road to all those who cannot afford the cost of his
18 MARCH 17-23 2013
regular classes. “Everyone should know the skill, and not just the elite of the country,” he says.
On a number of occasions, he has used this art to defend himself against street crime and to ward
off aggressors. “When you are in a conflict situation, you only have a few seconds to utilise your skills. Otherwise your mastery over martial arts is useless,” he says. “Last year, my wife and I were approached
by two mobile snatchers. It was a sensitive time because my wife was in her last stages of pregnancy. When the man took out his gun, I acted within seconds. I was slightly injured, but my mission was
accomplished; I managed to disarm him.” Gul explains that there are 45 vulnerable points in the body
that can be targeted. The combat style one chooses to adopt depends on the situation: Jiu Jitsu is best for one-on-one combat, whereas Muay Thai is preferred when faced with two or more opponents.
I wonder out loud whether knowing these techniques will incline you to get into fights more easily, and
whether it would be safer to simply comply with would-be robbers. “I don’t think so,’ Gul says, shaking his head. “Unless you take a stand against something, you will never be
able to put an end to it. If each person complies with the
criminals, then that is a green signal for them to continue their activities.”
But fists, no matter how quick and well-trained, are
no match for firearms and one must gauge the danger in a situation before making a move. “It is about knowing
“Your tongue and your brain are much better weapons than any gun or fighting style you can learn.”
when to act, and keeping your mind in control. You can-
not fight back if you throw yourself in an emotional rage.”
One of Gul’s students, 21-year-old Usman Shah also says that one must have the skill to defend one-
self, regardless of whether you choose to use it. “You can either invite trouble by defending yourself, or get you’re a** kicked by not doing so,” he says in a matter of fact tone. But he recognises the uses and
abuses of this art. “Whether the skill is used as a defensive or an offensive measure depends purely on
the person. There could be someone who would only want to show off, or another, genuinely humble person, who would only try to protect and defend himself.”
Usman’s fellow student, Tariq Ali, agrees: “There are times when you have to back down, and other
times when you have to push forward.” Another 20-year-old student, Shayaan Paracha recalls using
his skills to overcome two muggers who approached him when his car broke down. “Luckily, they were unarmed,” he says. Although he managed to chase them away, he cautions: “You should never think that you won’t get hurt, because you are taking a risk in the end.”
While no one would endorse the idea of taking on armed robbers, nowhere is the need for martial
arts more acutely felt than in cases of street harassment or sexual assault. In recent years, more and more women are flocking to self-defence classes, throwing all convention to the winds. Many are even
encouraged that similar workshops are now being held for young women after the infamous gang rape in New Delhi. Training in this art not only keeps them fit, but also gives them a sense of empowerment.
17-year-old Ladain is the youngest martial arts student in her class. Her parents were not enthusias-
tic about her training, but she was driven by her passion. “I think it is important, especially as a girl,” she says. “When I train, I feel at par with my male colleagues. I may not be on their level physically,
but mentally I am.” But despite the obvious confidence martial arts training has given her, she knows
19 MARCH 17-23 2013
COVER STORY
where to draw the line. “This doesn’t mean I’m going to act like a hero or a superman if someone approaches me with a gun.”
Those days are long gone when thefts took place only in unlit alleys in the middle of the night. Much
of street crime today happens just as much in broad daylight on a busy street. Riding on motorbikes, armed muggers are able to stop vehicles at gun point, as by-standers watch, either too scared or too late
to intervene. Often police officers also shrug themselves off such incidents. In a country where shotguns and fake firearm licenses proliferate, one is faced with a very formidable opponent indeed.
“I think of how I would mug me” For Naveed Khan, founder of the security consultancy Aftershock-CEM, self-defence goes well beyond simply learning martial arts. It’s based on being proactive, taking precautions and learning lessons. “It
is a rule of thumb, and not just in Pakistan, that when you are getting mugged, always comply; never
resist,” he says. Lamenting the ‘glorified’ culture of guns and guards in Pakistan, Khan advises that people should learn to not put themselves in a compromised situation. “I think of how I would mug me,” says Khan, as he gives a list of precautions to keep you out of trouble. These include discovering
alternative routes with lesser stops on the road, avoiding deserted banks and ATMs, keeping a spare
phone, a duplicate NIC and a list of important numbers in case of emergency. “You would be surprised how many people don’t know the most important numbers — fire or ambulance,” he says.
And then, there is the oft-neglected question of training in basic first aid and CPR. “In a survey of 500
people, only 7% knew about first aid and CPR,” he says. Equally important for Khan are crowd management and conflict resolution skills through which a volatile situation can be neutralised. When threat-
ened with mob violence, martial arts training may be rendered moot, but Khan believes that there is another way out. “There is always one person who will either make it worse for you or help you get
away. Learn to control that one person. Have a loud, confident but polite tone, and never look down. Tell
them that you are there to talk” he says. “Your tongue and your brain are much better weapons than any gun or fighting style you can learn.”
While such an approach to self-defence may appear quite against the grain in Pakistan, it worked for
Rauf Ali*, a security officer who had trained with Aftershock on conflict management. When his car
crashed with another in D.H.A Phase IV, tempers began to flare and an angry crowd began to gather.
At this point, Ali made a grand show of taking the gun he was carrying, and putting it back in his car
— visibly out of his reach. This was his tactic to earn the crowd’s trust, to show that he was there to talk and not to fight. Were it not for his composure and his presence of mind, the situation could have turned explosive any moment.
In this more holistic approach to self-defence, hand to hand combat is absolutely the last resort. “[Use
it] only when you have no other option whatsoever, or when you have already been hit and it is about to get worse,” is what Khan advocates. To this end, Khan does teach the use of certain self-defence methods geared towards protecting yourself from the advances of the aggressor.
As the security situation continues to worsen in Pakistan, ordinary citizens feel that they are pretty
much on their own, the only options being to either sit back helplessly or to learn how to protect themselves. When it comes to the latter, learning self-defence techniques isn’t just a way to impose order on the chaos that surrounds them, but could also make the crucial difference in a life or death situation.
“We need to start thinking more proactively about our security,” says Khan. “So learn a skill and be
prepared.”T
*some names have been changed to protect anonymity
20 MARCH 17-23 2013
FEATURE
skin deep
Blood, sweat, tears and a whole lot of convincing… that’s what goes into making a tattoo in Pakistan BY SONIA MALIK
For tattoo artists in Pakistan, the process of making tattoos does not begin with a needle, it begins with an argument. The often heated discussion usually involves the tattoo artist offering multiple religious, philosophical and psychological rationalisations for getting a tattoo. Zohaib Amjad Butt, who runs a tattoo studio in Lahore DHA’s Y
Block, recounts one such encounter: A girl accompanying a client once forced him into an argument about tattoo art being forbidden. “I offered her simple logic: How could an art form, which can help
people deal with scars or remind them of a motto they want to live by, be sinful?” The discussion went on for about two hours and end-
ed with the girl being convinced in Zohaib’s argument. Ironically,
the tattoo she had come in for was no more than two words on her little finger. “More time is spent explaining and convincing than really working,” complains Zohaib, who spent three months in Bangkok training in tattoo art.
“Ninety per cent of people come with the concept that tattooing
is forbidden,” says Zohaib. “They are sceptical and usually ask me about tattoos and religion.”
“My argument is that, how can something that has no social,
psychological or physical disadvantages be unlawful?” He explains
further, “It’s just an imprint, a result of ink penetrating under the first multiple layers of your skin. It isn’t covering your skin. Mehndi (henna) usually gets absorbed in the same part of one’s skin as a
tattoo. The only difference is that a tattoo stays on longer than
26
mehndi. I tell my clients that the purity of your prayers is based on your conscience and intent, and not the tattoo on your body.” MARCH 17-23 2013
Most people who come in aren’t really that creative. They want tattoos of either their name or their spouse’s name It does not end there either. The clients never come prepared and
Zohaib usually has to help them decide on tattoo ideas. “Most people
who come in aren’t really that creative. They want tattoos of either
their name or their spouse’s name. As many as 50 per cent do not know what they want to get,” says Zohaib. “I usually interview the clients and then suggest something suitable for their personality.”
“I tell them not to hide anything from their tattoo artist or their
doctor as the repercussions will last forever,” Zohaib remarks jokingly. “I also advise them not get something they would regret later.”
“Teenage boys usually come in asking to get the name of their
girlfriends tattooed into their skin. In most cases, I see them again
in a few months when they show up and ask me to remove it,” says
Zohaib. “I tell them to get a tattoo they will always appreciate or something that would spark a positive sense of self, and to avoid getting skulls or bones or negative words.”
“While most of them initially don’t know what to get, you can
usually predict what they would finally settle on,” says Karachi-
based tattoo artist Asif Raza. “Girls in their early 20s are fond of but-
terflies, floral designs and zodiac signs,” says Raza. “The guys are more interested in dragons or the names of their spouses written in kanji — a system of Japanese writing using Chinese characters.”
Alizeh, who got a butterfly tattoo her wrist, says she didn’t want
to opt for something flamboyant. “Too much can draw too much judgment, particularly in Pakistan. This is just for me and my friends and family to see.”
Raza, who runs a tattoo parlour in Karachi, says that he gets a fair
share of clients who want to get tattoos of their favourite celebri-
ties, music bands and even African and Indian tribal symbols. “The tattoo trend grows with a developed culture. Tattoo art is a recent phenomenon in Pakistan and it will be sometime before people are
completely comfortable with the idea of getting a tattoo,” says Raza.
Zohaib, who has a tattoo of a coffin and a clock with the word
‘ashes’ written in Japanese letters, says that the hardest part is getting your first tattoo. “Many people consider it a painful process but tattoo enthusiasts liken it to a buzz,” he says. “Most people get
hooked on tattoos after getting their first and usually keep coming back for more.”
Nabeel, another tattoo enthusiast, has had a Polynesian symbol,
Japanese lettering and a chain-themed arm band done by Zohaib. He’s also had three tattoos done in the US, and says that while local MARCH 17-23 2013
27
FEATURE tattoo artists aren’t up to Western standards,
they are definitely making progress. “One thing I’ll credit Zohaib with is for
actually sitting with clients and discussing the pros and cons of
the tattoo they want to get.
Personally, I feel that people should avoid getting tats
connotations.” Tattoos
have
with negative or religious
also become very popular
among those suffer- ing from skin discoloration,
injuries or surgical scars. Zohaib has had some cli-
ents who have had visible scars on their faces or Viti-
ligo (a disease which causes discoloration). “Finding a colour matching ones’ skin colour is hard and can
add to the cost,” he says. “A lot of women now also prefer getting tattoos to hide their stretch marks instead of undergoing tedious surgical procedures.”
Zohaib, who has inked the skins of famous people
like stage artist Nargis, Pakistani drummer Kenny and Roxen’s lead guitarist, actually quit the army to become a tattoo artist. He began his training with
Lahori tattoo artist Naveed. “This was two years ago. Naveed had been doing it for 15 years at the time,
but a week into the training, Naveed had an acci-
dent and then I had to leave. I went to Bangkok,
trained there for about three months and came back and worked at Naveed’s place, known as
Xtra, for about three months before starting my
own parlour.” Zohaib has been running Pitch
Black Ink (a tattoos and piercing studio) for about 18 months now.
Raza is relatively new to the business, “I stud-
ied fine art from Iqra University, so making tattoos was not so hard for me. I practiced for about
four to six months before starting out professionally,” he explains. Raza recently opened his own
parlour, Devil Art’s studio, in Karachi about four months ago.
Tattoos are priced according to size. In Pakistan,
it costs Rs1,800 to Rs2,000 an inch. Tattoo art-
ists import ink from a US based company, while needles and other disposables are purchased from China.
Once a rare sight in Pakistan, this ink on the
skin, in all its desi variety, is steadily growing in
its demand and soon, it may just give henna a run
28
for its money.T MARCH 17-23 2013
Teenage boys usually come in asking to get the name of their girlfriends tattooed into their skin. In most cases, I see them again in a few months when they show up and ask me to remove it
TRAVEL
musings on the mekong
Scarred by war and stifled by communism, the Vietnamese are now looking to the future
BY ANWER MOORAJ
Saigon has always held a strange fascination for me. Before World War II, it was reputed to be a sleazy French colonial city full of classy restaurants and nightclubs where slinky hostesses in Chinesestyled Chipaos entertained their customers, while sultry sirens sang French chansons made famous by Lucienne Boyer and Josephine Baker.
a visa, and for another there is the language barrier. Neverthe-
The smell in the interior of the clubs, according to a visiting
depressing portrait of total destruction. I chose Ho Chi Minh City
French correspondent, was one part perfume, one part perspiration and two parts Gauloise and Gitanne. In fact, the air was so thick with cigarette smoke you cut it with a stiletto. There was at
times also the unmistakable whiff of incense, the clink of wine
less, I managed to cross all hurdles and finally landed in a coun-
try that had made a remarkable recovery after having suffered the ravages of war. First it was the French: and then the Americans. It was almost as if the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse had galloped across this verdant land of rivers and forests and
harvests of paddy that glistened in the hot sun…and left behind a (formerly Saigon) over the capital Hanoi, because I wanted to see how a more cosmopolitan outpost of the former French empire had been transformed after the communist revolution.
To start with, there are nine million inhabitants and six mil-
glasses as revelers offered toasts with the finest from the vine-
lion motor-cycles in the city! Flags with the five-pointed star and
hats pulled low over their eyes, raincoats turned up at the col-
buildings all over the town, a reminder to the visitor that he is in
yards of Burgundy; as a clutch of spies and double agents, felt
lar, lurked in the shadows and spoke in hushed whispers. Heck, I simply had to see what eventually happened to the place.
Though I have visited every country in the Far East, Vietnam
had somehow eluded me. For one thing, it’s jolly difficult getting
hammer and sickle in blazing red hang from lamp posts and tall a communist country. But signs of a flourishing market economy are everywhere. In some ways, Vietnam follows the example
of China where a communist government dictates policy while
giving a friendly nod to the spirit of laissez-faire. But the resemMARCH 17-23 2013
33
TRAVEL blance stops there because China has become an industrial gi-
ant. The Vietnamese, however, are no ordinary people. They are
resilient and dexterous and though on average short and of slim build, tough in their own way. They also have a fierce sense of nationalism.
The day after landing, my guide Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen took
me to the Cu Chi tunnels situated 70 kilometers west of Saigon.
Now every tourist who visits Ho Chi Minh City simply has to see
Now every tourist who visits Ho Chi Minh City simply has to see these subterranean passages built on three levels by male and female rice farmers who, rifle in one hand and plough in the other, were transformed overnight into guerrillas these subterranean passages built on three levels by male and female rice farmers who, rifle in one hand and plough in the other,
were transformed overnight into guerillas. The first level was earmarked for fighting. The second had a hospital with medicines, living quarters, places where they could hold their meet-
ings and where rice and tapioca could be stored. And the third level was for escaping from the enemy. I wondered about ventilation and what the diggers did with the earth they dug up, until
saw some of the pictures. But while I glossed over the tales of
few meters on the surface, with small holes cunningly cut into
two American civilians Norman R Morrison and R Laporte who
my guide pointed to a cluster of what looked like anthills every the sides near the base.
Vietnam is a relatively poor country when compared to Thai-
land, but the people still have a sense of pride and what is called true grit. The Vietnamese don’t talk about the war any more
and would like to forget this terrible period in their history. They want their place in the sun. They are forward-looking and
have extended a hand of friendship to all nations including the United States. Nevertheless, Cu Chi and the War Museum are being preserved specifically for the tourists — the former as a
34
horror in black and white, I did also come across photographs of
burned themselves to death outside the Pentagon to protest the atrocities that were being committed by their country’s soldiers.
Turning to the husband of one of the Aussie women I said “Not all Americans are bad, mate. There were a hell of a lot who joined protest marches. And there were US helicopter pilots like Hugh
Thompson and Lawrence Colburn who saved the lives of Viet-
namese civilians during the My Lai massacre. It’s just the guys who shape the policies that are bad.”
My trip by motor-boat to the four islands of the Mekong Delta
symbol of stubborn and unyielding resistance — and the latter
was most enjoyable. As we climbed into the boat, I noticed each
Museum two elderly Australian women broke down when they
because the mariners believe there are river monsters lurking
as a supreme example of man’s inhumanity to man. In the War MARCH 17-23 2013
of the vessels had a huge single eye painted on the side. This was
sanctuary apparently did the trick, for the woman bore him eight fine children… and they lived happily ever after. The episode was turned into a folk song which became quite popular. And for a
dollar, a rather plump woman, resplendent in bejeweled corpulence, accompanied by two musicians carrying native guitars, sang this song with a certain gusto which was quite fetching.
When it came to shopping, my guide told me it would be better
if I did the bargaining, rather than she, well… because she lived
on one of the islands and wanted to keep friendly relations with
If a married woman does not produce a child within the first three years of marriage she is sent back to her mother her neighbors. All the shops were managed solely by women.
In one of the stalls, I was quite astonished to see a salesgirl who stood at least five feet ten inches in her sandals. She had freckles
on her face and arms and could have passed off as a Lithuanian. She was also jolly attractive.
There was a droll moment when I had invited my guide to
dinner one evening at the Indochine restaurant. It was a classy
place. Tables were separated by a pool shaped like a lagoon (without the gondolas, of course) and four musicians played light classical music and folk songs There was a huge roar of applause from in the depths and the big eyes are there to ward them off. The
the Russian corner in which I heartily joined when the quartet
played Kalinka Maya and Occhi Charneye. My guide, however, was
fishing boats, on the other hand, have no eyes painted on them.
very quiet and sullen. The cause turned out to be the behavior of
roof, and consisted of crab soup, fried elephant-eye fish wrapped
lunch in the Lion Restaurant in Cong Truong Lam Son, the staff
Lunch was served on the second island in a hut with a thatched
in rice paper, two large portions of fried chicken, the fruit of the
season and tea. I used my chop sticks like a native and attacked the viands with gusto. Vietnamese food is supposed to be a blend of Chinese and French cuisine. All I know is that it is delicious.
While I relished the meal, my guide narrated to me a custom
which is still apparently practiced in the country. If a married woman does not produce a child within the first three years of
the elderly waitress. “You see,” Tuyen pointed out, “when we had knew I was your guide and were extremely friendly. But this is dinner, and the waitress thinks this is a courtship and I am trying
to hook a rich European businessman.” I thought it was terribly funny and said so. The waitress was summoned, an explanation was offered and I saw one of the widest smiles I had ever seen this side of Alexandria.
Ho Chi Minh City has changed from the blood and thunder days
marriage she is sent back to her mother. There are no checks to
when a nation fought for its survival, and seventeen-year old fe-
which can be cured with medication. Well, there is an endearing
junks no longer fold their sails when the Mekong swallows a big
find out if the man is impotent or if the woman has a problem story which has been turned into a popular song based on this theme…which, I am happy to say, has a happy ending. One of
these unfortunate wives, who was apparently sterile, was still loved by her spouse who was most reluctant to give her up. So,
instead of sending her back to her mother, he hid her with one
of his relatives where he could secretly visit her. This cloistered
male guerrillas knocked out tanks with rocket launchers. The red sun at evening, while hundreds of motor-cycles roar on the
embankments and the shops bristle with the fruits of a growing industrial economy. But the countryside is still covered by blankets of emerald green tended by women in triangular straw hats;
and once a month a pale full moon still cuts a jagged silver path on the Saigon River. I wouldn’t have missed this trip for anything.
MARCH 17-23 2013
35
REVIEW
love in kinshasa BY NOMAN ANSARI
Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, War Witch is an unsettling French language drama about a 12-year-old girl named Komona (Rachel Mwanza), a child soldier who is forced to kill her parents by the rebel forces. The film is skillfully directed and scripted by Kim Nguyen, a film-maker who discovered Rachel Mwanza after watching her in a documentary about street children in Kinshasa, the capital of DRC Congo. Mwanza’s performance in the film is quite amazing, displaying a restrained sense of misery and pain accompanied with a quiet strength to survive unbearable circumstances. Her performance is all the more commendable considering that the uneducated actress was unable to read or write at the time of her casting. Perhaps in War Witch, she draws from her own experiences of a difficult childhood, creating a performance that has all the right nuances into making her character believable. Komona’s life is documented year by year, when her rebel superiors are convinced that she has magical powers, a superstition in African culture that is prevalent in the film. Somehow,
video game villains BY AMEER HAMZA AHMAD
Don’t be put off by the trailers: the movie is very accessible, even to those who know nothing about video games. Wreck-It Ralph is the story of Ralph (John C. Reilly), the bad guy in the arcade game ‘Fix-It Felix Jr’. Unfortunately, because of his villainous status, Ralph is ignored and feared by the other video game characters and has to live in a dump full of bricks. Ralph is sick of being a villain and longs to be like the perfect good guy, Fix-It Felix (Jack McBrayer). At some point, he realises that winning a medal is the only way to fame. After a brief spell in a sci-fi shoot-em up, he meets Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman), a ‘glitching’ character who is not allowed to race, in the kiddie friendly ‘Sugar Rush’. Together they make a deal: if Ralph helps Vanellope enter a race, she will win him the medal he is so desperately after. The film is careful with the use of the bevy of real-world video game characters it managed to license. While many gamers will easily recognise Bowser, Dr Robotnik, Zangief, and the Pac-man from the opening scenes, the real fun is in spotting the countless “blink and you’ll miss it” cameos. If you look closely, you can spot Street Fighter’s Chun Li, an “exclamation point” icon from Metal Gear Solid and “Aerith Lives”, a reference to Final Fantasy VII, scrawled on one of the walls.
Komona escapes with a fellow child soldier, an albino named Magicien, played in a fine performance by Serge Kanyinda. At this point War Witch reminds us that Komona is just an innocent young girl, and the film takes a sweet and humorous turn as she and Magicien fall in love, and look to get married. Here, local culture dictates that in order to get married, Magicien must present Komona with a rare white rooster, a quest that earns the boy uncontrolled laughter from the locals. But Komona’s happiness doesn’t last. Tragedy befalls once again, as she struggles to break free from the rebels, and to put the haunting spirits of her loved ones to rest. In order to focus on characterization, War Witch deftly avoids displaying the visuals of bloody massacres. But War Witch is still quite a powerful piece of work, and an important film about a real world tragedy that could use a little more attention.
The top-notch animation of Wreck-It Ralph feels like a Pixar creation but it was made by Disney Animation Studios. What really sets the movie apart is the different styles of animation used in the different games. ‘Fix-It Felix Jr’ is an 8-bit game and so all the characters move in stuttered pixellated spurts. Their legs don’t move and they bounce around in an abrupt, hilarious way. In the sci-fi shooter ‘Hero’s Duty’ everyone is real life proportioned, while in overly-sweet ‘Sugar Rush’ all the characters are like miniature Bratz dolls. The voice acting is superb. Reilly is perfect as the hulking Ralph and Silverman is great as the sweet but sassy Vanellope. If you are a fan of 30 Rock, you will instantly recognise Felix as Kenneth Parcell the NBC Page. Jane Lynch steals the film as the no-nonsense bossy, space marine sergeant. Wreck-It Ralph is a great film for the family. The plot might be a little predictable but there is a twist in the end which will really throw you off. Stick around for the closing credits as it features the heroes pop43 ping up in several classic games. It is truly worth the quarters.T MARCH 17-23 2013
keep your whites
pearly
BY KIRAN ZAHRA
P
hyllis Diller once remarked: “a smile is a curve that sets everything straight.”
Then why compromise it with yellow and stained teeth? Here are a few simple home remedies to get the star shining on your teeth.
Brush with apples
brushing alone.
Wash the banyan roots well before use.
ment for dull teeth. Apples function as a
olive oil to your teeth after brushing. Gen-
The citrus cure
They work to gently scrub your teeth by re-
three times per week to get rid of the tartar
that make your teeth glowing white. Or-
Juicy, crunchy apples can be a potent treatnatural tooth brush as you chew on them.
moving bacteria and excessive food from the mouth. Just like strawberries, they
tly scrub your teeth and repeat this process
Citrus fruits are great bleaching agents
completely.
anges and lemons contain citric acid that
contain Malic Acid that aids in dissolving
Veggie delight
many whitening teeth products to lighten
cucumbers, celery and broccoli as they are
stains. This natural compound is used in
Eat more vegetables like carrots, radishes,
up the teeth.
natural teeth whiteners. These vegetables
Baking soda
work like a scrub and smoothly clean up
aids in saliva secretion and also helps clean
stains present on your teeth. Lemon juice can be used once a week to rinse your teeth as it helps to remove accumulated stains.
Hydrogen peroxide
the surface of your teeth.
Hydrogen peroxide is anti-septic in na-
ral remedy for sparkling teeth. It is used by
Neem and basil treatment
can easily give you the same result as any
gredient. Baking soda can be added to your
most effective ayurvedic remedies. You can
Baking soda is the most sought-after natumany whitening toothpastes as a main in-
Basil leaves and neem (margosa) are the
regular tooth paste and used when brush-
fix your own tooth paste by mixing mus-
ing.
You can also mix baking soda with a few
drops of lemon juice. This can be used in
place of regular toothpaste. Another way
tard oil with sun-dried basil leaves. It is a powerful treatment for dental hygiene and teeth whitening.
It also protects your teeth from infec-
ture. A cheap bottle of hydrogen peroxide
expensive whitening kit. It is a weak acid and has oxidising properties. Rinse your teeth regularly with hydrogen peroxide
and follow it by a gentle scrubbing with your fingers. Then brush your teeth to obtain the best results.
is to mix baking soda with vinegar instead
tions and bleeding gums. This paste can
Foods to avoid
and easy to follow, and guarantees fruitful
like a toothbrush. Apply this paste to your
is important to abstain from foods
of lemon juice. This remedy is very quick results within a week’s time.
Olive oil Many dentists recommend the use of olive
46
It is highly advisable to apply extra virgin
be used by the help of neem twigs that act
To maintain glowing white teeth, it
teeth and rub vigorously. The twigs re-
that cause staining to the teeth.
lease neem oil that acts like astringent and guarantees white teeth.
oil for stronger and whiter teeth. Olive oil
Banyan roots
that may result in bad breath and gin-
toothbrushes to clean your teeth. These
These foods discolour the teeth and make them lose their whiteness and brightness.
Avoid foods like tea, coffee, choco -
contains Vitamin E that kills bad bacteria
Banyan roots can be used as disposable
lates, soda drinks etc. More crunchy
givitis. It also removes tartar from your
roots carry whitening juices that make
astringent properties should defi-
teeth, which cannot be removed by regular MARCH 17-23 2013
your teeth whiter and gums stronger.
and juicy fruits with cleansing and nitely be a part of your diet.