import string
t = string.Template("""
Variable : $var
Escape : $$
Variable : ${var}
""")
print 'TEMPLATE', t.substitute(values)
s = """
Variable : %(var)s
Escape : %%
Variable : %(var)s
print 'INTERPOLATION:', s % values
TEMPLATE:
Variable : foo
Escape : $
Variable in text: fooiable
INTERPOLATION:
Variable : foo
Escape : %
Variable : fooiable