In conversation with Kushum Shikdar Kushum Shikdar is riding a high wave with the release of her second movie, “Lal Tip” [on February 17]. Now running at 26 movie theatres across the country, the Impress Telefilm Ltd. presentation has had a good run so far. The actress is excited about the new release, expressing her ... Read more
Entertainment
Vidya Balan wins Indian National Film Award, says she can’t believe it
Vidya Balan, who has bagged all the popular Indian film awards this year for her performance as Silk Smitha in “The Dirty Picture”, has also won the prestigious National Award for Best Actress. Vidya has already scooped up the Best Actress trophies at Filmfare, Screen, Stardust and Zee Cine awards for her searing, uninhibited portrayal ... Read more
Pandit Ramkanai Das on music, recent ventures
Pundit Ramkanai Das is one of the renowned classical music artistes of Bangladesh. However, being a true music maestro, he is also equally proficient in traditional music and Tagore songs. In an interview with New Age the musical genius shared his thoughts on both genres of music and information about his current activities. ‘There are ... Read more
On the rise: Sabbir
Young singer Sabbir has been a regular in the music arena since childhood. After winning an award in “Notun Kuri”, a nationwide talent hunt, as a child artiste, Sabbir later went on to seize the best vocalist award in the “Benson and Hedges Star Search”. His journey didn’t stop there; Sabbir also became one of ... Read more
Artists should explore in various mediums: Selim
Artist Lala Rukh Selim, associate professor of the sculpture department at the Faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University, talks about the perception of sculpture art and the status of the local sculpture scene in Bangladesh, in a recent interview with New Age. The artist/academic is the lead partner from Bangladesh for the three-year exchange ... Read more
Bangladesh Street Theatre Festival begins
Organised by Bangladesh Patho Natok Parishad, a weeklong street theatre festival has begun on March 1. The festival was inaugurated at the Central Shaheed Minar premises in Dhaka. Plays are being staged at the amphitheatre inside Suhrawardi Udyan since yesterday. Sculptor Ferdausi Priobhashini formally inaugurated the festival. Director general of Bangaldesh Shilpakala Academy
Western approach, Bangladeshi soul
Sadik Ahmed talks about “The Last Thakur” A stranger arrives in a small town, poised to quell a long-standing feud, but it soon becomes apparent that he has his own vendetta to resolve. “The Last Thakur”, a British-Bangladeshi film belonging to the Western genre, is the story of a lone gunman who is in search ... Read more
Andrew Kishore on patriotic songs
Eminent singer Andrew Kishore has recently released a patriotic song highlighting the spirit of the Language Movement of 1952. State owned Bangladesh Betar aired the song, titled Palash-er diney palash hoye, written by Rafiquzzaman and composed by Farid Ahmed, during its Amar Ekushey special broadcast, which was well received by the audience. In an interview ... Read more
Musical notes from Down Under
Tête à tête with Akhtar Jahan “I’m Akhtar Jahan, a singer, and a have a band in Australia,” read the cryptic text message. That got me thinking — could this be the same Akhtar Jahan with a remarkable voice, whom I had last heard at the Chhayanaut programmes just before the start of the Liberation ... Read more
Mayor Theatre Festival in Rajshahi begins
The Mayor Theatre Festival started in Rajshahi on Friday evening, celebrating its 2nd anniversary with an array of plays for local theatre enthusiasts. The eight-day festival brings eight theatre groups from around the country to Rajshahi Medical College Auditorium to present a wide variety of plays including “Noshto Neer” by Dhaka Theatre, “Uttorkhona” by Anushilon ... Read more
Talent Unplugged
In conversation with Rizia Parvin Rizia Parvin is a popular name on the music scene, busy with both playbacks and modern music. She recently talked about her life and hectic schedule. Tell us about your latest album? Rizia Parvin: My last album was “Abar Hobe Toh Dekha”, featuring 12 songs by Manna Dey. I admire ... Read more
Shilpakala Academy Celebrates 38th Anniversary
Two-day programme begins today Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy–the premier cultural organisation of the country– celebrates its 38th founding anniversary this year. To practice and uphold local culture and to manifest and evaluate the artistes, the academy was established under the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Act 1974. Now the Academy is functioning under the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Ordinance ... Read more
Ishita turns author
Popular TV actress Ishita is set to make her debut as an author at this year’s Ekushey book fair. Her first book “Nirobe” has been published by Shobdo-Shilpo Prokashoni. On the book, Ishita says it is the story form of a TV drama that she wrote in 2008. The play was aired then and has ... Read more
Laltip released yesterday
Big budget Bangladeshi film “Laltip” was released yesterday. In the run up to the big day, a red carpet premiere show was held at Bashundhara City Star Cineplex on February 15, says a press release. Managing director of Impress Tele-film Limited, Faridur Reza Sagar; director and head of news of Channel i Shykh Seraj; executive ... Read more
First World Bengali Conference to begin in Dhaka tomorrow
For the first time World Bengali Conference is going to be held in Dhaka. The three-day conference will be inaugurated at Osmani Memorial Auditorium at 10:30 am on February 19. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be the chief guest while Nobel laureate Dr. Amartya Sen will be a special guest at the inaugural programme. A ... Read more
Papia Sarwar makes a comeback
When Tagore singers and devotees across the globe have come-up with their best possible efforts celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of the Nobel Laureate poet, prominent singer Papia Sarwar could not remain isolated. Breaking her long eclipse in terms of releasing new albums, very choosy Tagore singer Papia Sarwar has passed an eventful year in ... Read more
Ankhi Alamgir turns TVC model
Popular singer Ankhi Alamgir has turned into a model as she has recently performed in a television commercial of a toothpaste company. But in this TVC, her real identity will not be disappeared, as she will be seen as a singer. The shooting of this TVC was held on January 7 at several locations in ... Read more
12th Dhaka Int’l Film Fest Begins Today
Guerrilla, Moner Manush Compete For Top Prize Nasiruddin Yousuff’s “Guerrilla” and Gautam Ghosh’s “Moner Manush” are among 17 films competing for the top honour at the 12th Dhaka International Film Festival, which begins today in the city. The competition segment features four Iranian, three each from India and Turkey, and two Bangladeshi films. They are: ... Read more
Tribute to a master painter
Weeklong Sultan Mela-2012 begins in Narail The weeklong Sultan Mela-2012, marking the 87th birth anniversary of noted artist SM Sultan, began at Sultan Moncho premises in Narail on December 9. Jointly organised by the SM Sultan Foundation and the district administration, the fair is sponsored by Grameen Phone and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. The ... Read more
2011 In Movies
Last year passed with many ups and downs for the movie industry — with a significant drop in the number of releases. Dhaliwood, the mainstream Dhaka-based film industry, did see the arrival of several new faces, along with the release of Indian films, in 2011. But overall, Dhaliwood failed to emerge from its reliance on ... Read more