Independant movies are gaining traction in Bollywood. AFP
Independant movies are gaining traction in Bollywood. AFP

There is more to Indian films than Bollywood blockbusters



I write to you in reference to Vishwas Kulkarni's article Indie in India: How the landscape of Bollywood is shifting away from the blockbuster (June 8).

This piece underlines just how much the Bollywood film industry has changed, shifting from traditional blockbusters to a bold new type of cinema with a plethora of creative talent.

I have always been an admirer of Bollywood films and have watched all the big blockbusters for more than three-and-a-half decades.

K Ragavan, Bengaluru

We all have a responsibility in cutting back on plastic use

I write to you in reference to Patrick Ryan's article Tide is turning in battle against single-use plastic in the UAE (June 8).

As a regular plogger in Dubai, I can tell you that 95 per cent of the rubbish I pick up is plastic.

Not enough is being done to encourage consumers to decrease their use of plastic or to persuade companies to use alternative materials.

I would love to see a national policy banning plastic use in the country.

We collectively need to rethink the way we live but if we keep giving individuals the choice to pollute, then they will do so when it is more convenient or cheaper.

Szilvia Olah, Dubai

This is a welcome initiative but I think we could also benefit from raising awareness about plastic bag use in supermarkets. Employers should provide proper training to supermarket staff so that they ask if the customer wants a bag, instead of giving them out automatically.

Personally, I keep a reusable tote bag on hand to reduce my use of unrecyclable plastic.

Darren Banner, Abu Dhabi

Gaming addiction: does it qualify as a mental disorder?

The creators of online games foster addiction by awarding points and prizes when the player has not been successful after many attempts to keep them locked into the game.

Some people have a tendency for addiction and such strategies will keep them glued to their screens for hours on end.

If this problem is met with poor parenting, then I think the risk for addiction will be high.

However, I do not think that gaming addiction is to be viewed as a mental disorder I believe it is a bad habit that is encouraged by game developers, society and peer pressure.

Name withheld by request

Thoughts and prayers to the families of bus crash victims

I write to you in reference to Ramola Talwar Badam's news item Dubai bus crash: survivors tell of traumatic accident that left 17 dead (June 8).

May God have mercy on the victims. May their souls rest in peace. I send my condolences to their families.

Eze John Bosco, Nigeria

The Bio

Name: Lynn Davison

Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi

Children: She has one son, Casey, 28

Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK

Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Favourite Author: CJ Sansom

Favourite holiday destination: Bali

Favourite food: A Sunday roast

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
NO OTHER LAND

Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal

Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham

Rating: 3.5/5

Things Heard & Seen

Directed by: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini

Starring: Amanda Seyfried, James Norton

2/5

THE SPECS

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine 

Power: 420kW

Torque: 780Nm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Price: From Dh1,350,000

On sale: Available for preorder now

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

Results

United States beat UAE by three wickets

United States beat Scotland by 35 runs

UAE v Scotland – no result

United States beat UAE by 98 runs

Scotland beat United States by four wickets

Fixtures

Sunday, 10am, ICC Academy, Dubai - UAE v Scotland

Admission is free