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Fingerprint Pictures acquires remake rights to ‘A Better Tomorrow’ from Fortune Star
MUMBAI: Fingerprint Pictures, a production company set up by producer Park Hyung Jun has acquired the remake rights to multi award winning film A Better Tomorrow (originally directed by John Woo, starring Chow Yun Fat) from Fortune Star Entertainment, the distribution division of Star Group.
Fingerprint Pictures is currently recruiting scriptwriters and a director for the Korean remake, which is planned for production in 2007. Fingerprint Pictures is also working with Fortune Star Entertainment to bring in a high profile producer for the project.
Fingerprint Pictures together with Fortune Star Entertainment will handle the international distribution of the remake outside of Korea.
“We are delighted to work with Fingerprint Pictures, a renowned production company, to remake this classic title from our library, A Better Tomorrow. We are especially excited about the prospect of bringing this incredible story back to a new generation of viewers in Asia as well as the rest of the world,” said Fortune Star Entertainment general manager Peter E. Poon.
Hyung Jun added, “We are thrilled and honored to have acquired the rights to remake one of the most prestigious films in Hong Kong’s history. This remake represents a landmark cooperation between the film industries of Hong Kong and Korea, and we look very much forward to bringing this wonderful story to new audiences everywhere.”
A Better Tomorrow tells the story of two brothers: one a successful counterfeiter and the younger a fledgling police academy graduate. The plot revolves around the conflict caused by the younger sibling learning about his brother’s criminal lifestyle. Meanwhile, the older sibling is struggling to change his evil ways. Along the way are a number of action-packed heists, double-crosses and shootouts.
In 1986, A Better Tomorrow won awards for Best Film and Best Actor (Chow Yun Fat) at the 6th Annual Hong Kong Film Awards and for Best Director (John Woo), Best Actor (Ti Lung), Best Cinematography (Horace Wong Wing Hang) and Best Sound Recording at the 23rd Annual Golden Horse Awards.
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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.
