Saina, the biopic of Indian sportswoman Saina Nehwal, is a simplistic treat – if you are content with eating vanilla ice cream, that is.
Writer-director Amole Gupte tries to chart the story of India's first badminton player to rank number one in the world, and the sacrifices she had to make to achieve such sporting success.
One of her smaller sacrifices was to completely change her diet, and give up ice cream. When she does cheat, vanilla is all she is allowed to indulge in. And to be clear, vanilla can taste as good as any other flavour, in certain situations.
The film's star, Parineeti Chopra, had big shoes to fill, considering she replaced Shraddha Kapoor as the titular Saina Nehwal after the film's production was already well underway. But despite her best efforts, she doesn't quite fit the mould.
She does, however, score points in the more emotional scenes and one gets the sense that her bonding behind the scenes with the real Saina Nehwal helped Chopra get the athlete's mannerisms right.
The essence of the film, the action on the court, is deftly handled in Piyush Shah's cinematography. An uplifting theme song, Parinda, with music from Amaal Malik and penned by Manoj Muntashir, is another strong point.
These elements are enough to inspire anyone to pick up a racket – or at least marvel at the path forged by a girl from the north Indian state of Haryana.
In 2002, I interviewed Nehwal and her mother Usha Rani, and the sacrifices made by her parents (her father Harvir Singh had a government job with the agriculture department) were clear. The quiet background support of fellow India international badminton player and husband Parupalli Kashyap is captured well by actor Eshan Naqvi in the film, but it is Meghna Malik in her role as Usha Rani who really stands out.
It is also no secret that, off the court, Nehwal had a turbulent relationship with her coach Pullela Gopichand, who is characterised as S Rajan in the film and portrayed by the reliable Manav Kaul. The details are conveniently glossed over.
As is the contribution of Vimal Kumar, who was by Nehwal's side when she reached world number one status, after parting ways with Gopichand for a three-year period. There is just a veiled confession from Nehwal, where she admits, after a confrontation scene with Rajan, that she went to patch things up but ended up making them worse.
There is also no reference to her failings at the 2012 Olympics, when she lost her composure and had to settle for a bronze medal. It was still an achievement for an Indian shuttler, but a blight on Saina's career.
But perhaps that is the case with most biopics – they ignore the less convenient elements of any subject's life. So while it may be plain vanilla for some, the film may well be a luxury treat for others.
Saina is in UAE cinemas now
The biog
Age: 59
From: Giza Governorate, Egypt
Family: A daughter, two sons and wife
Favourite tree: Ghaf
Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense
Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
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Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Fight Night
FIGHT NIGHT
Four title fights:
Amir Khan v Billy Dib - WBC International title
Hughie Fury v Samuel Peter - Heavyweight co-main event
Dave Penalosa v Lerato Dlamini - WBC Silver title
Prince Patel v Michell Banquiz - IBO World title
Six undercard bouts:
Michael Hennessy Jr v Abdul Julaidan Fatah
Amandeep Singh v Shakhobidin Zoirov
Zuhayr Al Qahtani v Farhad Hazratzada
Lolito Sonsona v Isack Junior
Rodrigo Caraballo v Sajid Abid
Ali Kiydin v Hemi Ahio
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
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Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
Tips for used car buyers
- Choose cars with GCC specifications
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- Check for oil leaks
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Tarek Kabrit, chief executive of Seez, and Imad Hammad, chief executive and co-founder of CarSwitch.com
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Starring: Vidya Balan, Sanya Malhotra
Director: Anu Menon
Rating: Three out of five stars
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
