• Deepika Padukone’s instinct for picking the right films has served her well lately. And there is a good chance it will extend to her first Hollywood film too namely XXX The Return Of Xander Cage. Frankly the movie is not great or even particularly memorable but it is a terrific showcase for Deepika’s captivating presence, her agility in demanding action scenes and above all, her blazing confidence. Talking about her performance, to be fair Deepika could have pull off this role with her eyes closed. Which is why it is heartening to know that she does not.

From the bumper sticker dialogues to the stray moments of emotion, Deepika approaches the job with schoolgirl sincerity and seriousness, that one does not usually find in this kind of films. Mercifully the audience need not to remember what happened in the last two XXX outings to follow the plot of this one. Vin Diesel returns to the role of Xander Cage who is extreme sport’s enthusiasts turned government operative who was presumed dead in an earlier operation who is conveniently discovered to be alive and is recruited by CIA bigshot played by Toni Collette to recover a committed weapon of mass destruction that was been stolen by highly skilled trouble makers. Deepika plays Serina, a member of that fearless gang who tangles with Xander.

It is a simplistic plot and one that shrewdly allows for a diverse cast presumably so the flick can appeal to the global audience. But only a few, particularly Chinese actor Dony Yen and our actress Deepika are rewarded as anything resembling a real character.

High action star Tony Jaa is the Asian comic, Australian actress Ruby Rose, the tough chic and Bulgarian born Nina Dobrev, a pretty nerd. Curiously the film recycles many of the same themes from Diesel’s more popular fast and furious franchise. To distrust of authority figures, the murky motives of government agencies and the idea that one’s team is one’s family to name a few. But the parallels do not end there. Like those movies, the plot of this one takes the characters on a globe hopping tour plus there is an endless buffet of next to naked women permanently throwing themselves at Diesel.

And yes, even some of the stunts look familiar. For instance, a daring free fall from an airplane. Hardcore action fans are unlikely to complain however. There is a nice scrappy feel particularly one in which Diesel pursues Yen in the direction of oncoming traffic and on the roofs of speeding cars and buses. But director D J Caruso does not restrict heavy lifting to men, giving the girls equal chance to fire heavy artillery, deliver kicks and punches and chase their rivals. Occasionally the shaky camera shooting style might set off a migraine, particularly if you are watching it in 3D. And it is a shame that the film does not give us much by way if a solid villain.

What it does offer is a leading man, who enjoys himself evidently. Diesel plays Xander with a lightness of touch despite all the wall to wall fight scenes. It is a casual throw away and relaxed performance. And the real pleasure of the movie is Deepika Padukone. Weather landing a perfect split in her very first appearance on screen or delivering her lines without a hint of affectation or accent, she gives a lasting impression. In the end, the flick is moderately entertaining, but for the sheer pride for watching our girl add another feather to her cap, you should give it a chance.

Memories take us back but dream take us forward. The dream  that seven Gujarati women has seen has now turn into a brand. Once in our life we have  eaten the famous “Lijjat Papad”. But we have ever imagine  there is a motivational  story behind this Lijjat papad.

Lijjat was the brain child of seven Gujarati women from Mumbai. The women lived in Lohana Niwas, a group of five buildings in Girgaum. They wanted to start a venture to create a sustainable livelihood using the only skill they had i.e. cooking. The women borrowed Rs 80 from a social worker. They took over a loss-making papad making venture by one Laxmidasbhai, and bought the necessary ingredients and the basic infrastructure required to manufacture papads.

Lijjat expanded as a cooperative system. Initially, even younger girls could join, but later eighteen was fixed as the minimum age of entry. Within three months there were about 25 women making papads. Soon the women bought some equipment for the business, like utensils, cupboards, stoves, etc. In the first year, the organisation’s annual sales were Rs. 6196.

In July 1966, Lijjat registered itself as a society under the Societies Registration Act 1860. In the same month, on Chaganbapa‘s recommendation, U N Dhebar, the chairman of KVIC personally inspected the Lijjat. KVIC or Khadi Development and Village Industries Commission is a statutory body set up by the Government of India for development of rural industries. In 1966, KVIC granted it a working capital of Rs.800,000 (0.8 million) and was allowed certain tax exemptions.

In the 1980s, Lijjat also started taking part in several trade fairs and exhibitions, which improved its sales and made the brand name “Lijjat” well-known among the people. The advertising was undertaken through the vernacular newspapers, television and radio. The institution sponsored programs and gave away gifts for the winners of specific shows in the television. The money for advertisements was spent by the Polypropylene Division, which recovered the same by adding it to the price of the bags that it supplied to all the branches and divisions throughout India.

Lijjat received the “Best Village Industries Institution“ award from KVIC for the period 1998–99 to 2000–01. In 2002, the “Businesswoman of the Year“ award was given to “The Women Behind Lijjat Papad” at The Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence. At the awards ceremony, the President of Lijjat urged the State Governments of Maharashtra and Punjab to reconsider their decision of withdrawing the tax exemption on Lijjat’s Sasa Detergent.

In 2002, Lijjat had a turnover of Rs 3 billion and exports worth Rs. 100 million. It employed 42,000 people in 62 divisions all over the country.The 62nd branch became operational at Jammu and Kashmir in 2002, enrolling over 150 members. In 2003, Lijjat received the “Best Village Industry Institution“. It also received the PHDCCI Brand Equity Award 2005. Lijjat marked its 50th year of existence on 15 March 2009.

The growth of the Lijjat is often seen in the larger canvas of women and their empowerment. The organisation has undertaken various efforts to promote literacy and computer education for member-sisters and their families. A literacy campaign for sisters began through literacy classes at Girgaum on 18 June 1999. Later, the managing committee decided to start such classes in all its branches. From 1980 onwards, Lijjat started giving Chhaganbapa Smruti Scholarships to the daughters of the member-sisters.

In 1979, Lijjat teamed up with UNICEF to organise a seminar in Mumbai on “Child Care and Mother Welfare”, as part of the International Year of the Child celebrations. In October 1984, Bhadraben Bhatt represented Lijjat at the UNESCO sponsored international workshop on “The role of women in the assimilation and spread of technological innovation” held at NITIE, Powai. Alkaben Kalia represented Lijjat at the national level meeting on women convened by the National Commission on Self Employed Women.   

Out of this strong belief in quality delivered at an affordable price comes our act of ignoring competitors. Lots of companies selling papads have come and gone. We don’t consider them, we only do our own thing. We do not take into consideration what the competition is doing.

We know that if our quality is good, consumers will buy. Our quality does not differ whether it is for exports or for the local market. There is just one quality. And that’s good quality. Again and again and again!