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Star Movies lines up premiere fare on Fridays
MUMBAI: Taking an inspiration from the Friday obsessed hysteria ridden world of Hindi film industry, Star Movies has lined up a special ‘Friday Premiere’ band starting this May.
Starting 7 May, Star’s English movie channel will air its latest Hollywood acquisitions every Friday. The channel will jump-start its Friday premiere band with Jackie Chan’s latest box office flick The Tuxedo, followed by About A Boy, Catch Me If You Can and Femme Fatale.
Since last month, the channel has been airing box office hits and Oscar-winning Hollywood films like The Pianist, Road To Perdition and The Ring.
The first movie in the premier slot is Jackie Chan’s latest box office flick The Tuxedo. Released in 2002, the film stars Jackie Chan as Jimmy Tong, a lowly chauffeur to millionaire Clark Devline, played by Jason Isaacs.
Devlin has an accident that sends him to the hospital and Tong has to fetch some things for him from his house. As he reaches Devlin’s home, he unknowingly discovers and tries on Devline’s tuxedo, which has extraordinary powers. This discovery thrusts Tong into world of international intrigue and espionage and pairs him with a rookie partner, played by Jennifer Love Hewitt.
The next premiere is Hugh Grant starrer About A Boy on 14 May 2004. Based on Nick Hornby’s popular British novel, it is a story about a trendy, rich, child-free and irresponsible Londoner Will, who is in his thirties. The comedy-drama is all about how Will’s search for women forces him to invent an imaginary son and attend single parent meetings of available women.
As a result of one of his liaisons, he meets Marcus, an odd 12-year-old misfit with problems in school. Will and Marcus soon become friends and as Will teaches Marcus how to be a cool kid in school, Marcus in turn helps Will to finally ‘grow up’.
The critically acclaimed hit by director Steven Spielberg Catch Me If You Can is lined up for 21 May 2004.
Starring Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio, the movie is an autobiographical tale of a con-man Frank Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio). A master of deception and a brilliant forger, Abagnale worked as a doctor, a lawyer and as a co-pilot for a major airline before 18 birthday.
At the age of 17, Frank became the most successful bank robber in the history of United States. FBI Agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks) had made it his prime mission to capture Frank and bring him to justice, but Frank is always one step ahead of him, baiting him to continue the chase, says the release.
The final showdown is the revenge thriller Femme Fatale scheduled to air on 28 May 2004.
Directed by renowned director Brian De Palma, it is a contemporary film noir about an alluring seductress suddenly exposed to the world (and her enemies) by a voyeuristic photographer. He also becomes ensnared in her surreal quest for revenge. The movie with an undercurrent moral ambiguity and titillating corruption, stars supermodel Rebecca Romijn-Stamos and Antonio Banderas in De Palma’s licentiously complex narrative.
As for the menu this Friday, the channel is all geared to premiere Paul Hunter’s action-packed directorial debut Bulletproof Monk. on 30 April 2004 at 9 PM
Set in San Francisco, the movie revolves around a mysterious and immortal Tibetan Kung Fu Master and Monk. He has spent the last 60 years traveling around the world protecting an ancient scroll, which holds the key to unlimited power, says a company release.
Starring Chow Yun-Fat, Seann William Scott and Jaime King, Bulletproof Monk is based on three comic series by Flypaper Press published in the late 90s.
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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.
