Theatre fest organised by Swapnodal Chitrangada staged On Sunday, the 5th day of theatre festival organised by Swapnodal, Tagore’s lyrical drama version of Chitrangada was staged at the experimental theater hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. It was the 17th show of the Swapnodal’s current production, directed by Zahid Repon. Tagore wrote the lyrical drama in 1892, ... Read more
Entertainment
Mohajoner Nao staged before sailing to Korea
Subachan Natya Sangsad staged its popular Mohajoner Nao at the Experimental Theatre Hall on Saturday before going to South Korea to participate at the Keochang International Theatre Festival. Shakoor Majid’s play Mohajoner Nao is a biographical sketch of the legendary baul Shah Abdul Karim. The well-composed production, directed by Sudip Chakroborty, attracts the
Bappa Mazumder’s solo album launched
Popular singer-composer Bappa Mazumder’s solo album titled “Bechey Thak Sabuj” was launched in a Dhaka restaurant on August 1. The album features 10 songs about love, patriotism, nature and contemporary issues. The title track, written by Shankar Shawjal, is based on Raga Desh. Other songs in the album are written by Zulfikar Russel, Rasel Onil, ... Read more
Hyder Husyn releases qawwali album
Ami phaisa gechhi known popular singer Hyder Husyn has added a new dimension to his artistic career as a singer by releasing a qawwali album. Hyder Husyn, who has already earned huge plaudits from the audience by presenting different genres of music dealing with various issues, is very optimistic about the latest album titled ‘Qawwali ... Read more
Kaberi Das initiates music school in US
Talented classical music singer Kaberi Das, daughter of classical music exponent pundit Ramkanai Das, is continuing the legacy of her father by running a music school in New York, USA. Children, mostly having Bangladeshi origin, learn classical music at her music school named Sangeet Parisad. In fact, it is the branch of Sangeet Parisad incepted ... Read more
Monalisa’s Eid plans
Model-actress Monalisa is now busy with shooting for Eid-special TV plays and tele-films. She is not doing any new TV serials though two serials — “Joynal Jadukor” and “Pa Rekhechhi Jouboney”, featuring Monalisa, are on air. The busy actress will go to Qatar for shooting another TV serial titled “Mago Tomar Jonno” after Eid-ul-Fitr. “At present I ... Read more
Lucky Enam directs yet another theatre on biranganas
Noted theatre actor-director Lucky Enam is coming up with yet another project on the biranganas of the war of independence in 1971 just after a decade of her first direction of Ami Birangana Bolchhi. Her latest theatre venture Bideho depicts the stories of sacrifices of the war heroines of 1971 through three women actors. Among ... Read more
Cutting across cultures
In conversation with Dr. Samuel Berthet Director of Alliance Française de Chittagong (AFC) Dr. Samuel Berthet is a man of culture. Berthet’s childhood memories conjure up the diverse cultural atmosphere circling his scenic school Ecole du Lac (Pond) at Grenoble, France. “My school was an experimental one in a socially and culturally mixed area where ... Read more
Mega serial involving Bangladesh and West Bengal
A mega serial titled “Roshni”, an adaptation of the novel “Prem Jeno Ek” by Rupok Shah, featuring artistes from Bangladesh and West Bengal (India) will be telecast simultaneously starting from August 6 on Channel i and ETV Bangla. The serial will be aired from Saturday to Wednesday at 5:10 pm. Harinath Chakravarti has made the ... Read more
“I don’t see any of my movies” — Victor Banerjee
Victor Banerjee may have wowed critics as a versatile actor but believe it or not he does not watch his movies as he “hates to look” at himself on screen. “I don’t see any of my movies,” Banerjee told media persons here on Sunday last. The two exceptions, he mentioned, were maestro Satyajit Ray’s “Gharey ... Read more
Nishimon Bisharjan goes to India
Mahakal Natyasampraday will tour West Bengal, India with its latest production “Nishimon Bisharjan”. An adaptation of Rabindranath Tagore’s “Bisharjan”, the play has been dramatised by Anon Zaman and directed by Ashik Rahman. The troupe will leave the country today, informed its chief Mir Zahid Hasan. During their weeklong stay, they will hold three shows. The ... Read more
Bhawaiya on verge of extinction
Eminent singer Ferdousi Rahman observes that bhawaiya, one of the most melodious music genres of the country, is under threat of extinction due to lack of patronisation and practice. In an interview with New Age Ferdausi Rahman, one of most popular bhawaiya singers the country has ever produced, revealed the present condition of the rich ... Read more
The unfamiliar that is all too familiar
Couple of days post Humayun Ahmed’s demise, BTV aired one of his plays. The play, “Nimphool”, was first aired in 1997. Set in a typical Bangladeshi village, the story begins with a mob approaching the home of the headman, ably played by Abul Hayat. A notorious bandit has been caught. The smart-mouthed outlaw, deftly played ... Read more
Six-day theatre fest begins tomorrow
Theatre troupe Swapnodal will pay tribute to Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore, dramatist Selim Al Deen and Indian director Badal Sircar by organising a six-day theatre festival beginning tomorrow, informed the organisers at a press conference held on Monday at the seminar room of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. The festival will mark
“Lux-Channel i Superstar” as a launching pad
In conversation with Rakhi A number of aspiring young actresses who were launched through the “Lux Channel i Superstar” talent hunt, are now busy in the media. These artistes have all the potential to carve out successful careers and may well dominate the media by dint of their talent and hard work. Rakhi is firmly ... Read more
Eid Delights: Innovative “Ittyadi”
A wholesome family-oriented TV show, “Ittyadi”, with innovative ideas, conveys social messages and generates awareness among the masses all with a dash of entertainment. Special episodes of “Ittyadi” during Eid bring up interesting choreography which adds to the extravaganza. The audience is usually treated to a variation in the dance presentation. In the upcoming Eid ... Read more
Most troupes are inactive
Secretary general of Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation (BGTF) Jhuna Chowdhury tells New Age that most of the theatre troupes are inactive across the country. According to Jhuna Chowdhury just over 100 out of over 300 members of the federation are active at present. ‘Just imagine about a hundred troupes are completely inactive and another 100 more
Ahmed Sofa: Voice of the underprivileged
July 28 marked the 11th death anniversary of Ahmed Sofa. On the occasion, writers, social and cultural activists placed wreaths at his grave at the Martyred Intellectuals’ Graveyard in Mirpur, Dhaka. A number of institutes and writers associations also organised discussions on his life and immense contribution to Bangla literature. Ahmed Sofa was one
Then and now
Afzal Hossain on the evolution of TV drama Afzal Hossain is the emblem of our country’s golden age of TV drama. Often regarded as the most successful actor on Bangladeshi TV, Afzal began acting as a member of Dhaka Theatre, when he was a student of the Institute of Fine Arts. He was a regular ... Read more
Sumaiya Shimu is on the go
Actor Sumaiya Shimu is constantly on the go, shooting for many Eid special TV plays. Currently, she is based in Kishoreganj for a single episode play titled “Fantasy Opera”, directed by Mahmud Didar. Shatabdi Wadud stars opposite her. “The story of ‘Fantasy Opera’ is quite interesting. Spectators will be thoroughly entertained by the play during ... Read more