Cinema has a language of its own: Buddhadeb Dasgupta
Buddhadeb Dasgupta is one of the brightest names in Bengali cinema today. Winner of multiple national and international awards for films like “Bagh Bahadur”, “Tahader Kotha”, “Charachar”, “Uttara” and “Kalpurush”, he is also a highly-regarded poet. The director spoke to The Daily Star during a recent visit to Dhaka.
DSCC mayor defies dogged dog lovers
Despite repeated calls by animal rights groups to not relocate stray dogs of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh’s instructions to relocate canines have been carried out over the last two days.
DSCC mayor defies dogged dog lovers
Despite repeated calls by animal rights groups to not relocate stray dogs of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh’s instructions to relocate canines have been carried out over the last two days.
This city is theirs too
If one can even remember a time before the Covid-19 pandemic, one of the most familiar scenes on the streets of Dhaka were people gathered around tea stalls – snacking, smoking and chatting with friends, colleagues or even total strangers. And almost inevitably around every such gathering would be a friendly canine face or two, waiting eagerly for a kind soul to throw a piece of cookie or cake.
‘Why did I even get tested, if no one would check?’
Ever since the Malaysian authorities imposed a stringent lockdown in the country in March, Asif Rahman had been counting down the days in his small Kuala Lumpur apartment till when he could reunite with his family in Bogura.
Dreams incomplete
From a young age, he believed in helping people in whatever way he could. Whether it was staging protests for the causes he believed in, saving lives of people trapped in building collapses, or rescuing stray animals in distress, he believed in acting upon his beliefs.
Launched while in 'test phase'?
While the launch of a circular bus service -- that promises convenient short-distance commutes around Dhanmondi and nearby areas -- has generated excitement among many citizens of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), they might have to hold their horses for just a little longer.
Justice Habibur Rahman: A life of subdued greatness
His would not be an ordinary life. The year was 1952, and the movement demanding Bangla as a state language of erstwhile East
The year Pokemon started showing up in the streets of Dhaka
The moment you hear someone is an avid 'video gamer', you form an image in your head: someone socially awkward, probably not the physically fittest, crouched in a corner of a room on their PC or a TV, smashing buttons on a keyboard or a joystick… or someone constantly glued to their smartphone screen, tapping away furiously, oblivious to the world around them.
Berlinale drops by Dhaka
In terms of ticket sales and admissions, it holds the bragging rights for the biggest annual film festival in the world, but the Berlin International Film Festival—or Berlinale, as it is better known as—is not just about its numbers.
Stuck between a foot-bridge and a hard place
To paraphrase Syed Mujtaba Ali, “A foot-bridge will cure pedestrians' woes, but what will cure the foot-bridge?”
Shironamhin release “E Raate”
Popular rock band Shironamhin has released a new song on their YouTube channel, an old but obscure number by the band only the most hardcore of fans have heard before. The song is part of the film “Amra Ekta Cinema Banabo” that has been in the making for the better part of a decade.
We must break free from existing system
The failure to implement communist ideologies in the societal system has shaped the course of this subcontinent for the worse, Professor Emeritus of Dhaka University Serajul Islam Choudhury observed yesterday.
“Operation Jackpot” coming to the big screen
Giasuddin Selim took nine years between his first film and second, but it appears his fans will not have to wait that long for his next.
“I don't like to chop time like potato fries”
Akram Khan's debut film “Ghasphul” released in 2015 to largely positive reviews, but it is with his second feature “Khancha” that he really gained attention. The film was Bangladesh's entry to the 90th Academy Awards in the foreign language category, and won best film, best director and best actor (for Azad Abul Kalam) at the 20th Meril-Prothom Alo Awards. The director recently sat down with The Daily Star for a candid conversation about his filmmaking philosophy, influences and more.
Jaya Ahsan transfixes in first “Debi” teaser
“Debi”, the upcoming Anam Biswas film bringing Humayun Ahmed's iconic fictional character Misir Ali to the big screen for the first
First look poster of “Debi” launched
There has been considerable excitement surrounding a film called “Debi” ever since it was announced a little over a year ago, and for good reason. The first and foremost of them is who it's by and who it's about
Giasuddin Selim delivers on his promise
There was considerable buzz surrounding “Swapnajaal” ever since it was announced, and that discussion only gathered pace as the film neared its release – from the choice of the central cast to the secrecy surrounding its plot details.
It's time to weave “Swapnajaal”
Films that appeal to critics and the general audience alike are rare to come by, and that is true everywhere in the world. Nine years ago, “Monpura” broke that ground, appealing to film lovers across Bangladesh with runs as long as nine-months in theatres, as well as sweeping five National Awards.
Film professionals, BFDC at loggerheads
Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) has been celebrating National Film Day on April 3 since 2012, with elaborate programmes in the capital under an initiative of Ministry of Information.
Matir Projar Deshe
Matir Projar Deshe (English title: Kingdom of Clay Subjects), the debut feature by Bijon Imtiaz, has been on the radar of the serious Bangladeshi cinephile for a couple of years now, as news popped up sporadically of the film going to one film festival or another. After winning Best Film at Chicago South Asian Film Festival (ahead of heavyweights like Hansal Mehta's Aligarh and double-winner at Cannes
Hollywood film to revolve around Bangladeshi Rais Bhuiyan
An upcoming big screen project centred on the aftermath of the infamous 9/11 attacks in the USA is set to follow Raisuddin Bhuiyan, a US immigrant and Bangladesh Air Force veteran who narrowly survived a killing spree that took the lives of two other immigrants.
“Kaler Putul” releasing March 30
Aka Reza Ghalib's feature debut “Kaler Putul” has received its censor certificate, and is all but confirmed to release on the last weekend of March.
Matir Projar Deshe releasing March 23
“Matir Projar Deshe” (English title “Kingdom of Clay Subjects”) is finally set for release in Bangladesh on March 23, after its successful
An upsurge of youthful effervescence
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's raised index finger at the Racecourse Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan) on a scorching Sunday
THE SHAPE OF WATER sweeps over 90th Oscars
Guillermo Del Toro's fantasy romance “The Shape of Water”, about a mute cleaning woman falling in love with a sea creature, backed up its 13 nominations at the 90th Academy Awards, taking back four Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director.
Taking Bangladesh's architectural heritage to the World
Not many people may know this, but bungalows, found today all over the world and a ubiquitous symbol of a tasteful, luxurious life,
“Swapnajaal” gets uncut censor clearance
Giasuddin Selim's long-running big screen project, “Swapnajaal”, is finally ready for release. The film has received an uncut censor clearance certificate, and is likely to release in the first week of April.
Farooki reveals first look of Saturday Afternoon
Mostofa Sarwar Farooki's unveiled the first glimpse into his secretive project “Shonibar Bikel” (English title “Saturday Afternoon”) on Wednesday, in the form of an image given 'exclusively' to international film trade magazine Variety.
Gems of Nazrul release 'Mrityu Nai' marking Feb 21
Gems of Nazrul, an initiative to portray National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam's musical genius in new light and popularise his spirited songs, has released its seventh music video - “Mrityu Nai”, marking Language Martyrs’ Day and International Mother Language Day.
The Immortality of Spirit
Gems of Nazrul, an initiative to portray National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam's musical genius in new light and popularise his spirited songs,
Cinema, from the inside out
One of my favourite childhood memories about cinema is of sitting on one of the large floor mats placed on an open field in a tiny
The Song of Scorpions: An Indian tale seasoned to Western taste
How far will you go for love? How much will you put at stake, especially if you're a camel trader in the deserts of Rajasthan head over
Curtains on 47th edition of IFFR
Armando Iannucci's political satire “The Death of Stalin” (a film banned in five countries including Russia) brought this year's
“The Widowed Witch” wins top prize at 47th IFFR
The 47th edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam awarded Chinese director Cai Chengjie's “The Widowed Witch” its top
Rollicking in Rotterdam
The 47th edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) continues at the Dutch city of South Holland, with a bevy of films
An underwhelming experience
A museum is meant to be a gateway—a magical door into another world at a different time and place. For those (like this writer) who are not avid readers and are more visual learners, there are not many places better than museums to learn, experience and marvel at the wonders of the world.
“Classical music should be accessible to every child”
The cello, a bowed string instrument of the violin family, has been one of the major components of Western classical music, be it in
Why this year's BCMF was more significant than you realise
The Bengal Classical Music Festival just completed is sixth edition on the dawn of December 31, and as has been the case in the
Saud delivers a character-rich, wholesome film
Bangladeshi cinema is changing, and that change has become really apparent in the last couple of years. Call it coincidence, call it a
Pori Moni, like never before
The first trailer of Giasuddin Selim's much-anticipated film “Swapnajaal” was released online on Saturday night, on the closing day of the
Classical Music Fest: Chaurasia billed to charm on final night
Curtains came down on the sixth edition of Bengal Classical Music Festival this dawn at the capital's Abahani ground, as tens of thousands thronged the final night of the grand festival.
Bengal classical fest reaches crescendo
The sixth edition of the Bengal Classical Music Festival reached its high point on its fourth day, with some of the biggest names of this year's bill performing on the night and the crowd numbers swelling to capacity.
How BCMF produces immaculate acoustics
On the opening night of this year's Bengal Classical Music Festival, the Dhaka audience experienced something unique: the Astana
Vinayakram livens up day-3 of Bengal Fest
Vidwan Thetakudi Harihara 'Vikku' Vinayakram and his ensemble brought the 6th Bengal Classical Music Festival to life on its third evening, with an astonishing display of Carnatic percussion.
Mesmerising melodies enthral crowd
A magnetic performance on the santoor by living legend Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma stole the show on the second day of the Bengal Classical Music Festival at the Abahani ground yesterday.
A symphonic start to Bengal music fest
The Bengal Classical Music Festival set sail yesterday evening at the Abahani ground in the capital overcoming major obstacles that had one point seen this sixth edition cancelled.
Four must-see instrumental duets at this year's festival
One of the greatest joys in Indian classical music is to see great artistes performing together, joining their individual musical masteries
December 24, 2017
A Tremendous Transformation
Classical music lovers of the country have gone through a bit of an emotional roller coaster in the last couple of months, surrounding
December 23, 2017
“It's not worth dying on stage”
Ibrahim Ahmed Kamal, a bona fide legend of Bangladesh's rock music scene, has bid adieu to his long-time band Warfaze.
December 22, 2017
Five debuting solo artistes to watch out for this year
The Bengal Classical Music Festival has brought nearly every who's who of Indian classical music to the Dhaka Audience over the last
December 15, 2017
Modeling for the Aporajeyo Bangla
Among all the sculptures paying tribute to our glorious Liberation War, the Aporajeyo Bangla, standing tall in front of the Faculty of
December 11, 2017
Bengal Classical Music Fest '17 from December 26-30
The sixth edition of the Bengal Classical Music Festival is finally happening, from December 26-30 at the capital's Abahani Field, organisers Bengal Foundation announced at a press conference yesterday.
December 4, 2017
Big Rock Day: A proper gig long overdue
Rock music has always had an audience in Bangladesh, and as with the genre anywhere in the world, live concerts have been a big factor in creating and growing that fan base. What began particularly with the open-air concerts by BAMBA...
December 1, 2017
“Avengers: Infinity Wars” trailer has MCU fandom in fits
The first trailer for the much-hyped “Avengers: Infinity Wars” was released on YouTube and Facebook Wednesday night, packing together every big screen Marvel hero of mention battling the all-powerful Thanos, in a culmination of the Marvel Cinematic
December 1, 2017
To rise from the storm
Gems of Nazrul, an initiative to portray National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam's musical genius in new light and popularise his spirited songs, released the music video of “Jhor Jhonjhaye Orre Nishan” today, marking December, the month of Victory. This is the sixth production of the initiative, led by eminent Nazrul Sangeet exponent Sadya Afreen Mallick.
November 30, 2017
GRAMMYS 2018
The 2018 Grammy nominations were announced Tuesday night Bangladesh time, with Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar scoring big and a number of snubs that left the music industry and fans scratching their heads.
November 28, 2017
Big Rock Day on December 1
Rock music in Bangladesh has had a formidable foothold in the music scene of the country for about three decades, with a dedicated
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