Sir — The Ujjwala scheme, the Centre insists, has brought a smile on the faces of women in poor households. Nearly four crore LPG connections have been dispensed according to official figures. But the rising price of LPG cylinders in Calcutta has turned consumers glum. A non-subsidised cylinder now costs over 900 rupees, straining household resources. Should the government explore ways to regulate LPG prices? Otherwise, Narendra Modi may face the wrath of the middle class in an election year. This could spell disaster for the Bharatiya Janata Party that has relied on the patronage of the middle class. As it is, Achchhe Din has run out of gas.
Kamalapati Sircar,
Calcutta
Rough waters
Sir — The film, Thugs of Hindostan, is set in the late 1700s when the British used trade to dominate India’s princely states. But why did the protagonists have to be pirates? Could the thugs not have been portrayed as thuggees — robbers who ran amok in the subcontinent once upon a time? Even if one were to make allowances in the name of artistic licence, the plot of the film does not stand. But credit must be given to the production designer and the cinematographer for their excellent work. The CGI work was commendable as well. It is encouraging that the Indian film industry is capable of churning out such advanced and lifelike graphics. Too bad that the screenplay is boring and does not hold the attention of the audience.
Ranen Acharya,
Jamshedpur
Sir — Even though Thugs of Hindostan received scathing reviews, I thought it was a wonderful film. Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan do complete justice to their roles. The female leads, Fatima Sana Shaikh and Katrina Kaif, too, must be lauded for their acting. The dialogues of the film are inspiring and can give any mainstream patriotic movie a run for its money. One cause for the criticism of the film could be the high expectations that people have of Khan. It must be admitted that the film was not as good as his ventures usually are. But Thugs of Hindostan is still a film worth watching.
Soha Anwar,
Bokaro
Sir — The high-budget film, Thugs of Hindostan, failed to receive good reviews from the critics. Movie buffs, too, have been less than enthusiastic about it. The main reason for this is the weak plot. Amitabh Bachchan tries to give his best to the role of a pirate and his performance is one of the better things about the film. But Bachchan does seem to have lost some of his vitality with age. Then, Katrina Kaif, is underused in the film. Fatima Sana Shaikh does not manage to meet up to the standards of Bachchan or Aamir Khan. Ever the perfectionist, Khan is his usual best. His comic timing is especially notable. Yet, the film does not work.
Haran Chandra Mandal,
North 24 Parganas
Grave illness
Sir — It is a matter of great concern that India continues to have the highest burden of pneumonia and diarrhoea child deaths in the world. This fact came to light when the International Vaccine Access Center released a report titled Pneumonia & Diarrhea Progress Report 2018. This critical condition is largely owing to the fact that India’s healthcare system falls woefully short of ensuring that the most vulnerable children have access to preventive and curative treatment. The report analyses how effectively the countries surveyed are delivering the 10 key interventions that can prevent pneumonia and diarrhoea. Some of these measures are ensuring breastfeeding, access to vaccination, antibiotics, oral rehydration solution and zinc supplements. The ministry of health and family welfare should take the lead in starting an awareness campaign to ensure that people are made aware of the importance of taking preventive steps.
All deaths are tragic, but when children die before they are able to realise the potential of their lives, it is doubly sad. The government should be prompt in ensuring that India’s children get to live long lives.
M.F.U. Tandvi,
New Delhi
