The 6th edition of the South Asian Film Festival (SAFF) to be held in Panaji, Goa, from September 15 to 18, will pay tribute to Bangladeshi director Tareque Masud, who died in road accident, and late Bollywood veteran Shammi Kapoor. Four films from Bangladesh will be screened at the Festival — “Meherjaan” by Rubaiyat Hossain, ... Read more
Art & Culture
“Kagojer Phool was to be the prequel to Matir Moina”
— Jayanta Chattopadhyay Actor-reciter Jayanta Chattopadhyay has known Tareque Masud closely, and worked with him, for nearly three decades. Starting with voice-over for “Adam Surat” (a documentary on artist SM Sultan — one of Masud’s earliest works), Chattopadhyay acted in “Matir Moina”, “Ontorjatra” and “Runway”. The actor was cast in “Kagojer Phool” which was to ... Read more
Memorial programmes for Tareque Masud, Mishuk Munier and Mridulkanti Chakrobarty
Cultural organisations in Dhaka are holding programmes to pay tribute to the recently deceased filmmaker Tareque Masud, cinematographer and CEO of ATN News Mishuk Munier and folk researcher Dr. Mridulkanti Chakrobarty. Production house Gadhar Paal will hold a memorial programme and film screening for Masud and Munier. The programme will be held this evening at ... Read more
DU cultural team to visit India
To keep an invitation from the External Affairs Minister of India, SM Krishna, a 21-member cultural delegation from the Departments of Theatre and Music of the University of Dhaka led by the Vice Chancellor of the Dhaka University, Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, will visit India on a goodwill visit from August 22 to 27, says ... Read more
Tareque Masud . . . history’s storyteller
We grieve… , Tribute Tareque Masud . . . history’s storyteller Syed Badrul Ahsan You could not help being arrested by Tareque Masud’s gaze. There was always a shine to the eyes, and it came with that perpetual smile which could only draw people to him. There was every reason for him to be aloof, ... Read more
Film industry in grave shock
Cultural arena in the country deeply shocked at the death of renowned filmmaker Tareque Masud, who was among six killed in a road accident on the Dhaka-Aricha highway in Manikganj on Saturday morning while returning Dhaka from the shooting spot of his upcoming movie titled Kagojer Phool. A huge vacuum has been created in the ... Read more
Sujit Mustafa—a true devotee of Nazrul Sangeet
“In my lifetime, I want to see a society which will reflect Nazrul’s thoughts on secularism, progressiveness and equity,” says Sujit Mustafa in a conversation with daily sun recently. Whenever one thinks about Nazrul artistes of the country, the name that immediately comes up to mind is Sujit Mustafa. Sujit Mustafa, a talented
Embracing Lalon’s message
In conversation with Shofi Mandal Seasoned Lalon singer and teacher Shofi Mandal was born on December 13, 1953 at Daulatpur, Kushtia. His father, the late Maolana Ahad Ali Mandal, was a fourth generation (according to the ‘guru-shishya’ tradition) disciple of Fakir Lalon Shai. Shofi Mandal’s initiation in music happened at the age of eight. At ... Read more
Photo, painting exhibition at RU marking World Indigenous Day
Students of Rajshahi University (RU), representing the ethnic communities, organised a day-long photo and painting exhibition on the campus to mark World Indigenous Day on August 9. Adibashi Students Association of Rajshahi University (ASARU), a body of ethnic minority students of the plane land, organised the exhibition at the university central library premises
Lalon’s songs can educate the most educated of minds
Fakir Lalon Shah (1774-1890), was a Bengali philosopher poet. He lived in the village of Chheuria in the district of Kushtia,Bangladesh. Lalon composed numerous songs and poems which describe his philosophy. Among his most popular songs are: khachar bhitor auchin pakhi, jat gelo jat gelo bole, dekhna mon jhokmariay duniyadari, paare loye jao amay, milon ... Read more
International Indigenous Day 2011
Painting competition for children A regional painting competition for primary level students from the ethnic communities was held at the hall room of CARITAS Regional office in the town on July 31. PARLAM (Protection and Establishing Rights on Land of Adibasi in Mymensingh), Manosher Jonno Foundation (MJF) and IPDS jointly organised the competition marking the ... Read more
A cornucopia of Tagore plays produced this year
70th Death Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore A cornucopia of Tagore plays produced this year Producing Rabindranath Tagore’s plays are considered daunting. Even deft directors and producers often get intimidated by the bard’s works. As a result, Dhaka theatre audiences haven’t had the opportunity to witness the Nobel laureate poet’s mastery on the stage as often ... Read more
A unique telling of Muktadhara
70th Death Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore A unique telling of Muktadhara “Muktadhara” (The Waterfall), written in 1922, is widely acclaimed as one of Tagore’s finest dramatic work. The symbolic play has been interpreted as Tagore’s nationalist critique of colonial exploitation. Many believe the play also indicates the bard’s admiration for Gandhi and his rejection of ... Read more
Taking a path less treaded Rana Kumar Sinha
Jodi tor dak shune keu na ashe tobe ekla cholo re… Rana Kumar Sinha had always been keen on the cultural aspects of life and became an activist in the late 1970s. The Sylhet-based Rabindra Sangeet singer took a path that made him out-of-place in his own community when he was young. Small towns tend ... Read more
Remembering Zahir Raihan
Legendary Bangla filmmaker, litterateur and freedom fighter Zahir Raihan was born on August 5, 1935 at Majupur in Feni, according to his younger sister Shahenshah Begum, however, most of the documents related to his birth anniversary state that Raihan was born on August 19, 1935. If the family source is taken for granted, today is the ... Read more
World of solitude
Kibria Exhibition at Bengal Gallery To pay homage to the great artist Mohammad Kibria, Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts has organised a 15-day long special exhibition, titled “Tribute to Mohammad Kibria”. The exhibition is now on at Bengal Gallery in Dhanmondi. The exhibition comprises Kibria’s artworks from the collections of Matiur Rahman, editor of the ... Read more
Uttarayan’s ode to monsoon
Cultural programme at Shilpakala Academy Marking the 150th birth anniversary of Tagore and the first anniversary of music school Uttarayan, a cultural programme featuring Tagore’s monsoon- themed songs along with recitation was held at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on July 29. With the theme “Ebong Borsha”, the event also featured instrumental ... Read more
Aly Zaker—image of a theatre icon
Aly Zaker, a well-known theatre personality of the country, has presented himself as a versatile character in our cultural arena. He played an active role in the country’s Liberation War in 1971. He is also a trustee of the Liberation War Museum, a writer and the owner of Asiatic Marketing Communications Limited. Besides working as ... Read more
Of Art, Aesthetics and Shadhona
In conversation with Lubna Marium Lubna Marium — aesthete, danseuse, dance pioneer, teacher, choreographer and impresario is a pioneering figure in the contemporary South Asian cultural scenario. Daughter of illustrious parents Colonel Quazi Nooruzzaman and Professor Sultana Zaman, Lubna Marium has dedicated a lifetime to the promotion of culture, particularly dance and other performing arts. ... Read more
SM Sultan Utsab begins in Narail tomorrow
SM Sultan Utsab 2011, an event sponsored and supported by mobile phone operator Banglalink, will begin in Narail tomorrow. Sheikh Mohammed Sultan (1923-1994) was one of the legendary painters in Bangladesh. He won the Ekushey Padak in 1982, Bangladesh Charu Shilpi Sangsad award in 1986 and the Independence Award