Elita Karim

Elita Karim

Glad to be alive!

Singer; Writer; Editor of Arts and Entertainment, The Daily Star; Loves books, visuals, sleep and eating bowls of apples, pears and oranges.

Tagore’s Gitabitan and the bookshelf of a Bengali household

It has been 81 years today since Rabindranath Tagore, a Bengali polymath, poet, composer and the first Bengali Nobel Laureate, breathed his last. In these 81 years, much has changed in the world, including the modernisation of his compositions. Tagore’s songs—Rabindra Sangeet, as they are known—are still popular amongst Bengali music lovers.

My visit to the Grammys

When I was arriving in Phoenix, Arizona last year for my Humphrey Fellowship, I did not imagine that I would get to be a part of one of the most prestigious musical celebrations of the world – the Grammys.

Women in Translation Month: Why we need more of Selina Hossain

The women in Selina Hossain’s books are strong, because the author herself likes to be inspired by the reality around her.

Remembering the contemporary great: Humayun Ahmed

To me, he was a weaver of stories from lands and cultures, all within Bangladesh, that I would never have heard of otherwise. Growing up abroad amidst mixed cultures and languages, Humayun Ahmed kept Bangladesh within me and in thousands of others like me.

Bookstores, around the world

Needless to say, some of the best moments of my life have been spent inside bookstores.

‘Memoirs of Dacca University’: Turning the pages back to the ’40s

The first of July has always been a busy day. With remembrances, special anniversaries and the beginning of a new financial year, the day also reminds us of how fast time passes, as half of the year flies by at the blink of an eye. Yesterday, however, the day was extra significant, because Dhaka University turned a century old. The only known institution in Bangladesh turning 100 (to my knowledge), and that too an important one both academically and historically, led me to look for books and other published items from the past which would speak at length about the university.

In conversation with Kishwar Chowdhury

I applied for MasterChef Australia during lockdown last year. My son was on my back until I handed in my application, and the rest is history!

The book that I would like to read

Today I would like to talk about a book that I have been waiting to read for a very long time. After years of procrastination, luckily, I finally got hold of a copy and decided to write my thoughts about it—what I expect from it, why I would like to read it and of course, experiencing the sheer eagerness of waiting to turn the pages of a new book; a new adventure.

January 1, 2020
January 1, 2020

From Prematal to No Land’s Man

It is not every day that one is invited to Tahsan Khan’s home, even if it is for an interview. It was a cold night, and as the hours were

December 31, 2019
December 31, 2019

40 years down, Miles to go

Established in August, 1979, Miles had become a household name within a few years, thanks to their out-of-the-box compositions, bringing about a new wave of pop-rock sound in Bangladesh.

December 7, 2019
December 7, 2019

A new chapter in Mithila’s book

Rafiath Rashid, popularly known as Mithila, is an actor, writer, a development professional, a mother and also an occasional singer – not necessarily in the mentioned order.

November 1, 2019
November 1, 2019

A heart-to-heart with Asaduzzaman Noor

Born on October 31, 1946, freedom fighter and former Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor began his journey as an actor with theatre. His memorable roles include Baaker Bhai from Kothao Keo Nei, Nandail’er Yunus from Maatir Pinjirar Majhe Bondi Hoiya and Chhoto Mirza from Ayomoy, among many others. At the moment, he is attending a cultural festival titled ‘A Season of Bangla Drama’ in London organised by London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Recently, Noor shared his thoughts with Elita Karim of The Daily Star.

October 10, 2019
October 10, 2019

‘Licensed to kill’

A glance through Abrar’s social media handle says a lot about him.

September 1, 2019
September 1, 2019

Stories with a Purpose

As opposed to what some of the seniors in the field would say, this year, both the Eid seasons actually brought about telefilms and stories, even though few in number, reflecting positive changes where storytelling and acting were concerned.

August 2, 2019
August 2, 2019

Words from a commoner

Tagore songs take me back to my childhood. They remind me of the nights when my mother would stay awake well past midnight to watch over me while I studied for my board exams.

June 28, 2019
June 28, 2019

Creating more opportunities: face to face with Cherie Blair

Cherie Blair, a British barrister, lecturer and writer, is also the Chancellor of the very first (and probably the only) Liberal Arts school / university in Bangladesh, Asian University for Women (AUW), located in Chattogram.

May 8, 2019
May 8, 2019

Celebrating 158 years of Rabindranath Tagore

Tagore spoke of prayer, love, patriotism and passion. He also spoke about freedom to learn, to express and to stand up for one’s own beliefs. On the occasion of his 158th birthday, we caught up with the leading Tagore artiste Rezwana Choudhury Bannya, who spoke about learning, academics and her plans for today.

April 5, 2019
April 5, 2019

Nawazuddin to star in Farooki flick

Mostafa Sarwar Farooki, for the first time, is making an English-language film -- “No Land's Man” -- that will star the illustrious Indian actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, according to Variety, an entertainment magazine.

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