An Indian hero and her Pakistani counterpart have come together for the very first time as part of a mission to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
Who is uniting them in this quest? The US Embassy in India.
But this is no real-life task force. It is the latest offering from the world of augmented-reality comic books.
Priya's Mask is the fourth adventure in the popular series centred around Priya, India's first female comic-book hero. The series has racked up more than 26 million downloads since it first launched, with storylines that take aim at weighty social issues, such as gender-based violence and human trafficking.
The latest adventure sees Priya team up with Jiya, a popular character from Pakistani cartoon show Burka Avenger.
As well as being an AR comic, Priya's Mask was also released as a film on Wednesday, December 2, with Bollywood stars Vidya Balan and Mrunal Thakur among those lending their voices to the project. Bafta winner Rosanna Arquette, meanwhile, provides voiceovers for an international version.
“The animation, apart from being a nod to caregivers globally, carries a strong message of solidarity, so it was an easy yes for me," said Balan, who narrates Priya's flying tiger Sahas.
Priya, who made her comic-book debut in 2014, is the brainchild of New York author Ram Devineni, while Jiya is the creation of Pakistan pop star Haroon Rashid, who launched Burka Avenger in 2013.
Set against the backdrop of Jodhpur, India, Priya's Mask focuses on the important role of frontline healthcare workers, using the mother of an 8-year-old child as an example. The story also hones in on the danger of spreading misinformation about the coronavirus.
Before the pandemic began, Devineni was intending to focus Priya's latest series on the issue of honour killings in India.
"We still plan to work on an edition focused on this, but everything has been overturned by Covid-19," he tells The National. "Our team felt that the pandemic and its repercussions on women around the world was a critical topic to focus on."
He had been aware of "the amazing" Burka Avenger for some time, and felt compelled to include her in Priya's Mask.
"There are some obvious correlations – both are female superheroes who fight for women’s rights," Devineni says. "Also, the virus does not respect borders, so it was important that two female superheroes come together to fight. The US Embassy in New Delhi helped arrange the meeting and it has been a pleasure working with them."
I want to tell the children of frontline workers that even though their parents aren't wearing capes, they are heroes in their own ways
While admitting the pandemic did create some obstacles when it came to creating the latest series, Devineni says it was a fulfilling experience.
"The mere fact we could produce and release something so quickly is a testament to the times," he says. "All of our comics involve extensive research and interviews with survivors, but that has been very difficult to do because of travel restrictions and lockdowns."
Thakur, who voices Priya, adds that working on the film helped her achieve a lifelong dream of spreading awareness around social issues.
"Characters like Priya and Sahas are putting forth the message of how we need the world to become a more inclusive place to live in," she says.
"I want to tell the children of frontline workers that even though their parents aren't wearing capes, they are heroes in their own ways."
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
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Karwaan
Producer: Ronnie Screwvala
Director: Akarsh Khurana
Starring: Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar
Rating: 4/5
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
Napoleon
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Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt
Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure
Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers
Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
