Today marks the 109th birth anniversary of legendary folk singer Abbasuddin Ahmed (October 27, 1901-December 30, 1959). He was born at Balarampur under Tufanganj subdivision in the district of Cooch Behar, now in West Bengal. His father, Zafar Ali Ahmed, was a lawyer at the Tufanganj Subdivisional Court. Abbasuddin’s interest in music grew through attending cultural ... Read more
Entertainment
Tomalika’s return on silver screen
Apart from her successful innings in “Notun Kuri”, Tomalika Kormokar has proved her versatility by winning the National Film Award for her performance in “Kitton Khola”. And there’s more. After a long hiatus the brilliant artiste is all set to hit the silver screen again, appearing in Humayun Ahmed’s latest directorial venture “Ghetu Putro Komola”. ... Read more
“Proshnobodhok”: Trifling with trafficking
Movie Review “Proshnobodhok”: Trifling with trafficking Dr. Habibul Haque Khondoker The telefilm “Proshnobodhok” is a love story presented in a sensitive manner by Adnan Al Rajeeb, a young director who also wrote the heart-warming screenplay. The romantic tale however clouds the purported theme of the film: the hazards of human trafficking. Tisha in “Proshnobodhok” is ... Read more
Shahrukh’s rendezvous with Dhaka well underway
Known the world over as “King Khan”, Bollywood superstar Shakrukh Khan will be in Bangladesh to perform at a show in the Army Stadium, Dhaka. Event management group Antar Showbiz is organising the event. A press conference was held yesterday at the Marble Room of Dhaka Sheraton Hotel in this regard. Chairman of Antar Showbiz, ... Read more
Mahurat of Humayun Ahmed’s latest film “Ghetu Putro Komola”
Shedding light on a bygone era The mahurat (formal launch) of Humayun Ahmed’s film “Ghetu Putro Komola” was held on October 23 at Channel i’s Tejgaon office, in the capital. A press conference was held on the occasion as well. Impress Telefilm is the producer of the movie and will eventually arrange its world premiere. ... Read more
Jibanananda Das: Defining 20th century Bengali poetry
During the later half of the twentieth century, Jibanananda Das emerged as the most popular poet of modern Bengali literature. Popularity apart, Jibanananda had distinguished himself as an extraordinary poet presenting a paradigm hitherto unknown. It is a fact that his unfamiliar poetic diction, choice of words and thematic preferences took time to reach the ... Read more
Single-episode play Paani on ntv
Single-episode TV play “Paani” will be aired on October 24 at 9:30 pm on ntv. The play has been directed by Noyeem Imtiaz Neamul. The story of the play zooms in on water shortage that Dhaka residents face everyday. The play follows a newly married couple and delves into the issue through their daily life. ... Read more
Salman, Anil, Fardeen to play double in No Entry sequel
The sequel to the hit film NO ENTRY is being planned. Producer Boney Kapoor claims that the first draft of the script is ready. The film is penned by Anees Bazmee and he will only direct it. The title of the film will be NO ENTRY MEIN ENTRY. In the sequel, Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor ... Read more
Sunshine Deol: Sunny Turns 56!
His lazy smile and hunky frame had scores of women (and many males too, ahem) drooling over him. Sunny Deol, the eldest son of veteran actor Dharmendra, turns 56 on October 19, 2010. The actor, producer, director, just like other star son, has struggled to make his own identity, beyond that of being his father’s ... Read more
Lara Dutta, Priyanka in Don 2
Lara Dutta plays Shah Rukh Khan’s moll in Don 2, the role Eesha Koppikhar played in the original. Meanwhile, Priyanka Chopra encores the leading lady’s role. Icy winds blew across Germany’s capital city the minute Priyanka landed. Says a source, “Lara was already there a week before Priyanka. An insider reveals, “The two barely exchanged ... Read more
Monalisa busy with Eid plays
Model-turned actor Monalisa has already performed in many plays and has won some awards including the BIMA Award from London, Bangladesh Reporters Association award, Dhallywood award from America, Channel-i performance award and the Meril Daily Prothom Alo award ’02. One of the promising actors in the small screen, Monalisa, entered the media as a ramp ... Read more
Remembering the mystic
Programme to observe the 120th death anniversary of Lalon A five-day programme has been chalked out to observe the 120th death anniversary of Fakir Lalon Shai at Chheuria Lalon Akhra in Kushtia. The programme starts from today. Lalon Academy, an organisation consisting of elected people to oversee Lalon’s shrine, is organising the programme in association ... Read more
Fakir Lalon Shai … 120 years on
The news of Fakir Lalon Shai’s death was first published in the newspaper Grambarta Prakashika, run by Kangal Harinath. The newspaper noted that Lalon died on October 14, 1890 at the age of 116. Based on that article, researchers point that Lalon was born in 1774. According to Bangla Calendar the day was Pahela Kartik. ... Read more
Cradle of contemporary Bangladeshi art Charukala
The institute is seemingly a working progress. The number of students enrolled annually has gone up — from 80 to around 120. The Graphic Design department has a new computer lab. Students of FFA now have options to work part-time (at media houses and ad firms) and the commercial aspect of BFA and MFA degrees ... Read more
Abu Sayeed’s “Rupantar” to be screened at Mumbai film fest
Director Abu Sayeed’s award-winning film “Rupantar” will be screened at the Third Eye Asian Film Festival to be held in Mumbai later this month. “Rupantar”, starring Jayanta Chattodpadhyay, Ferdaus and Shakiba among others, will be shown in the Spectrum section of the festival and is the only entry from Bangladesh. Sayeed told The Daily Star that ... Read more
Making learning fun
Two new educational shows on BTV English in Action, which initiated “BBC Buzz”, is launching two new television programmes — TV serial “Biswash” and game show “BBC Janala-Mojaye Mojaye Shekha”. Made by the BBC World Service Trust, both programmes will be aired back-to-back on BTV and BTV World, starting from October 16 at 2:15pm. They ... Read more
Popular TV and film actor Challenger passes away
Accomplished TV and film actor ASM Tofazzal Hossain, better known to the audience as “Challenger”, passed away on October 12 at 9:20 pm at his Shekhertek residence in the city. He was 51. Last year in July, during shooting the play “Onath Babur Bhoy”, directed by Golam Sohrab Dudul, Challenger suddenly felt ill. Later in ... Read more
Desh TV and ETV to air special programmes on Durga Puja
To celebrate the festival of Durga Puja, Desh TV and Ekushey Television will air several special programmes. While Desh TV has planned special programmes for three days, ETV will air its Puja-specials over two days. The Puja-special programmes on Desh TV will go on air from October 15, kicking off with Morshedul Islam’s feature film ... Read more
Sustaining the arts
Dance performances at Chhayanaut With several arts institutions in Bangladesh running dance programmes for over a decade now, it is heartening to watch the remarkably high standard of performance by Bangladeshi dancers. A few have received recognition in India from prestigious institutions. However, making a living out of dance is still a struggle in Bangladesh. ... Read more
Dancer Munmun explores acting
Dancing means very much to her and she loves it more than everything else. Munmun Ahmed, an established Kathak dancer, who has achieved this position after years of learning, hard work and perseverance, has been showing a keen interest in acting in dramas and films alongside her dancer career nowadays. Munmun is playing the role ... Read more