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AXN wages war in western territory next month
AXN has announced a slew of films catering to viewers nostalgic for the wild west and good old fashioned war films. The westerns will air on Tuesdays and war films will air on Fridays at 10 pm beginning April.
The action commences on 2 April with Soleil Rouge. The films stars Charles Bronson and Ursula Andress. Based on a true event in the American west in 1870, the film deals with a robbery on board a train. The target is a gold Japanese sword, meant as a gift from the Japanese Emperor to America's President.
On 5 April, Tora! Tora! Tora! takes centrestage. Unlike last year's release Pearl Harbour which is embarrasingly full of American jingoism, this film shows the war from the Japanese viewpoint. Japan's motivation stemmed from a strong sense of patriotism and honour, so much so that the soldiers did not think twice about sacrificing their lives for their country.
On 9 April, Buffalo Bill and The Indians with Paul Newman and Harvey Keitel take pride of place. Buffalo Bill was considered an important show and now Indian chief Sitting Bull is about to get involved. However, the chief has an agenda of its own which involves the American President.
On 12 April, watch one of the greatest war films ever made. The Longest Day won two Oscars for Special Effects and Cinematography. It chronicles all the events leading upto the D-Day invasion of Normandy which turned the war in the allies' favour. The Germans expected the invasion to occur at Calais, but are taken by surprise by Eisenhower's attack. The film stars John Wayne, Sean Connery and Richard Burton.
On 19 March, another great war film Patton will air. George C. Scott who won an Oscar refused to accept it saying that actors should not compete against each other. General George S Patton and his army General Omar N Radley are examined. While Patton was brave and resourceful, he had a bad temper and was not diplomatic in difficult situations.
On 23 April, rock icon David Bowie tries his hand at the Western in The Man who Fell to Earth. The story centres around Thomas Newton who leaves England to go to America. He starts amassing a fortune to help him accomplish a mission and soon suspicion grows among the people about the source of his riches.
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Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
