The pandemic might have put many productions on ice in 2020, but 2021 is shaping up to be a promising year with some big-budget period dramas and exciting biopics set to hit the big screen.
Here are five worth your time when they arrive at cinemas.
'Kurup'
Dulquer Salman plays the titular role of Sukumara Kurup – one of the most wanted criminals in Kerala – in this Malayalam-language biographical crime drama. With an impressive star cast that includes Tovino Thomas, Sobhita Dhulipala and Manoj Bajpayee, it will be interesting to see directors Srinath Rajendran and Vini Vishwa Lal’s take on one of the longest-standing cases in the judicial history of the Indian state.
'Malik'
Fahadh Faasil's films always generate a lot of interest – mainly because of the actor's versatility and his ability to effortlessly portray any role. Malayalam-language film Malik was one of the most anticipated releases of 2020, but will finally hit screens in 2021.
Faasil physically transformed to play the titular role of Suleiman Malik in this political thriller. The film is inspired by real-life events involving a revolt by a minority community, and the story is told over several decades, from the 1960s to present day. Sushin Shyam, the man behind the brilliant soundtrack of 2019's Kumbalangi Nights, will also be composing the film's score.
'Ponniyin Selvan'
Storied director Mani Ratnam is adapting Kalki Krishnamurthy’s historic five-volume novel of the same name for his next Tamil-language project. Popularly considered to be the greatest novel ever written in Tamil literature, this period drama features more than 50 characters. Ratnam’s feature will see Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Vikram, Karthi and Trisha Krishnan take on pivotal roles.
'RRR'
SS Rajmouli, the man behind Baahubali, one of the most expensive films ever made in India, is back with a new period action drama in Telugu. Not much has been revealed about the film, except that it is a fictional account of two freedom fighters, Komaram Bheem and Allure Sitarama Raju, set in the 1920s. The film's massive star cast includes NT Rama Rao Jr, Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn and Alia Bhatt.
'Drishyam 2'
Fans of the 2013 film Drishyam will be happy to see Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba Hassan and Esther Anil Malayalam reprise their roles for a sequel. Mohanlal recently announced that the teaser will debut at midnight on Friday, January 1, so not much is known about the plot of the sequel.
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
The five pillars of Islam
Zidane's managerial achievements
La Liga: 2016/17
Spanish Super Cup: 2017
Uefa Champions League: 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18
Uefa Super Cup: 2016, 2017
Fifa Club World Cup: 2016, 2017
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wes%20Ball%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Owen%20Teague%2C%20Freya%20Allen%2C%20Kevin%20Durand%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Country-size land deals
US interest in purchasing territory is not as outlandish as it sounds. Here's a look at some big land transactions between nations:
Louisiana Purchase
If Donald Trump is one who aims to broker "a deal of the century", then this was the "deal of the 19th Century". In 1803, the US nearly doubled in size when it bought 2,140,000 square kilometres from France for $15 million.
Florida Purchase Treaty
The US courted Spain for Florida for years. Spain eventually realised its burden in holding on to the territory and in 1819 effectively ceded it to America in a wider border treaty.
Alaska purchase
America's spending spree continued in 1867 when it acquired 1,518,800 km2 of Alaskan land from Russia for $7.2m. Critics panned the government for buying "useless land".
The Philippines
At the end of the Spanish-American War, a provision in the 1898 Treaty of Paris saw Spain surrender the Philippines for a payment of $20 million.
US Virgin Islands
It's not like a US president has never reached a deal with Denmark before. In 1917 the US purchased the Danish West Indies for $25m and renamed them the US Virgin Islands.
Gwadar
The most recent sovereign land purchase was in 1958 when Pakistan bought the southwestern port of Gwadar from Oman for 5.5bn Pakistan rupees.
Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
The specs
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Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
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