Shahidul Islam Mollah’s handicrafts made of tender leaves add aesthetic appeal to even the most sophisticated living room. Mollah recently attracted a huge crowd to Durgabari Road in the town where he was adroitly making such handicrafts using palm leaves. Shahidul, 32, began to learn this craft as a boy and has been in this ... Read more
Art & Culture
Mysticism unbound
In conversation with Birohi Kala Mia Fifty-one year old Baul singer Birohi Kala Mia was born in Sunamganj. His parents named him Md. Habibur Rahman. Kala Mia’s grandfather, the late Jaban Ali, was a mystic and father, late Fakir Mohammad Monohor Ali, was also a Baul singer and songwriter who performed with Baul Shah Abdul ... Read more
Fellow film activists recall Tareque Masud and Mishuk Munier
Federation of Film Societies of Bangladesh in association with Bangladesh Short Film Forum and Bangladesh Documentary Council arranged a daylong memorial programme on August 20 for the recently deceased filmmaker Tareque Masud and cinematographer-journalist Mishuk Munier. The programme was held at the Shawkat Osman Auditorium, Central Public Library in Dhaka. Screening of Masud’s films
Anup Bhattacharya: Many-in-One
Abid Anwar Instantly recognised as an exceptional Tagore singer, Anup Bhattacharya expanded his musical talent to emerge as an extraordinary composer of modern and Baul songs, with many pieces sung by the composer himself. Those who are exposed to Anup’s tonality in Nazrul songs will readily recognise him with the popular phrase ‘many-in-one’. “Boishakhi Megher ... Read more
Selim Al Deen’s three plays staged
On the closing day of the Selim Al Deen Janmautsab 2011, a two-day theatre festival to celebrate the 62nd birth anniversary of theatre icon Selim Al Deen, three plays were staged at three auditoriums of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) on 19 August. Dhaka Theatre brought its production Dhaboman on the stage of National Theatre Hall ... Read more
Remembering an icon
Two-day Selim Al Deen birth anniversary celebration ends Dhaka Theatre along with Bangladesh Gram Theatre, Swapnadal and Desh Bangla Theatre arranged a two-day programme to celebrate the 62nd birth anniversary of theatre icon Selim Al Deen. The programme began on August 18 at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA). It included staging of plays, exhibition and ... Read more
6th South Asian Film Festival to pay tribute to Tareque Masud
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
“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