Maisha Islam Monamee

The author is a student of Institute of Business Administration (IBA) at the University of Dhaka and a contributor at The Daily Star.

‘Do Patti’: Of sibling rivalry, domestic strife, and missed opportunities

Set in the fictional hill station of Devipur, the Shashanka Chaturvedi directorial “Do Patti” tells the story of twin sisters Saumya and Shailee (featuring Kriti Sanon), whose strained relationship is compounded by a shared connection to Dhruv Sood (played by Shaheer Sheikh), a wealthy businessman with a violent streak. Saumya, the more docile sister, becomes Dhruv’s wife and soon faces the horrors of domestic violence, while Shailee, the flamboyant and rebellious twin, harbours a deep jealousy toward her sister.

5d ago

How Shah Rukh Khan’s flawed characters make for authentic roles

In Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan is primarily synonymous with the romance genre. For decades, the star has brought unforgettable love stories to the silver screen. But while he is most celebrated for his iconic, idealistic roles, SRK’s most compelling performances actually come from his portrayals of flawed lovers—characters who reflect the messier, more nuanced realities of love. These are not heroes with all the answers; they are sometimes selfish, reckless, insecure, and even destructive. It is this raw imperfection that makes SRK’s on-screen romances feel so achingly real.

6d ago

Exploring South Asian folklore in horror films

The concept of curses that pass down through generations is also a recurring theme in South Asian folklore and has been adapted into film narratives that focus on familial guilt and karmic retribution. In traditional tales, families are often haunted by the misdeeds of their ancestors, and no amount of modern intervention can free them from their fates. 

1w ago

Driving sustainable growth in Bangladesh's garment sector through local service providers

The demand for consultancy-led, workforce-oriented training mirrors a bigger industry movement toward greater inclusion and sustainability. Factories that have adopted these training models talk of measurable improvements in productivity, product quality, and overall worker morale.

1w ago

‘World Press Photo Exhibition 2024’: A visual journey through global stories in Dhaka

The exhibition grants viewers a glimpse into various social, political, and environmental issues, each photo offering a distinctive perspective. From capturing the journey of migrants to the devastating impacts of climate change, these images transcend mere events, evoking empathy through personal narratives.

1w ago

The escapist lure of OTT’s bling reality shows

In a world where the news feels like a doomsday clock’s countdown and our personal lives consist of work, bills, and endless scrolling of social media platforms, it is no wonder that people flock to OTT-based bling reality shows like moths to a Swarovski-encrusted flame. These glorified exercises in voyeuristic productions like “Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives”, “Selling Sunset”, or even “Bling Empire”, serve a very specific purpose: they remind us that no matter how bad things get in our mundane lives, we can always escape into the sparkly yet vapid vacuum of the ultra-rich behaving badly.

1w ago

‘Unwind Mind’: Exploring art as a pathway to mental wellness

In celebration of World Mental Health Day, this two-week exhibition, running from October 19 to November 2 at the EMK Centre in Gulshan, brings together photography, digital art, and painting to highlight mental health awareness. 

2w ago

Men’s apologies are not enough

Social media apologies by men do not change the fact that women continue to live in fear, constantly looking over their shoulders, wondering if they are next.

2w ago
November 3, 2024
November 3, 2024

‘Do Patti’: Of sibling rivalry, domestic strife, and missed opportunities

Set in the fictional hill station of Devipur, the Shashanka Chaturvedi directorial “Do Patti” tells the story of twin sisters Saumya and Shailee (featuring Kriti Sanon), whose strained relationship is compounded by a shared connection to Dhruv Sood (played by Shaheer Sheikh), a wealthy businessman with a violent streak. Saumya, the more docile sister, becomes Dhruv’s wife and soon faces the horrors of domestic violence, while Shailee, the flamboyant and rebellious twin, harbours a deep jealousy toward her sister.

November 2, 2024
November 2, 2024

How Shah Rukh Khan’s flawed characters make for authentic roles

In Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan is primarily synonymous with the romance genre. For decades, the star has brought unforgettable love stories to the silver screen. But while he is most celebrated for his iconic, idealistic roles, SRK’s most compelling performances actually come from his portrayals of flawed lovers—characters who reflect the messier, more nuanced realities of love. These are not heroes with all the answers; they are sometimes selfish, reckless, insecure, and even destructive. It is this raw imperfection that makes SRK’s on-screen romances feel so achingly real.

October 30, 2024
October 30, 2024

Exploring South Asian folklore in horror films

The concept of curses that pass down through generations is also a recurring theme in South Asian folklore and has been adapted into film narratives that focus on familial guilt and karmic retribution. In traditional tales, families are often haunted by the misdeeds of their ancestors, and no amount of modern intervention can free them from their fates. 

October 29, 2024
October 29, 2024

Driving sustainable growth in Bangladesh's garment sector through local service providers

The demand for consultancy-led, workforce-oriented training mirrors a bigger industry movement toward greater inclusion and sustainability. Factories that have adopted these training models talk of measurable improvements in productivity, product quality, and overall worker morale.

October 27, 2024
October 27, 2024

‘World Press Photo Exhibition 2024’: A visual journey through global stories in Dhaka

The exhibition grants viewers a glimpse into various social, political, and environmental issues, each photo offering a distinctive perspective. From capturing the journey of migrants to the devastating impacts of climate change, these images transcend mere events, evoking empathy through personal narratives.

October 26, 2024
October 26, 2024

The escapist lure of OTT’s bling reality shows

In a world where the news feels like a doomsday clock’s countdown and our personal lives consist of work, bills, and endless scrolling of social media platforms, it is no wonder that people flock to OTT-based bling reality shows like moths to a Swarovski-encrusted flame. These glorified exercises in voyeuristic productions like “Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives”, “Selling Sunset”, or even “Bling Empire”, serve a very specific purpose: they remind us that no matter how bad things get in our mundane lives, we can always escape into the sparkly yet vapid vacuum of the ultra-rich behaving badly.

October 23, 2024
October 23, 2024

‘Unwind Mind’: Exploring art as a pathway to mental wellness

In celebration of World Mental Health Day, this two-week exhibition, running from October 19 to November 2 at the EMK Centre in Gulshan, brings together photography, digital art, and painting to highlight mental health awareness. 

October 20, 2024
October 20, 2024

Men’s apologies are not enough

Social media apologies by men do not change the fact that women continue to live in fear, constantly looking over their shoulders, wondering if they are next.

October 19, 2024
October 19, 2024

‘Jigra’ packs intense action leaving emotions behind

Showcasing the versatile Alia Bhatt at her most formidable, director Vasan Bala brings a thrilling sibling drama wrapped as a jailbreak story in "Jigra". Produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and Viacom18, the film follows Satya (Alia Bhatt), a fiercely protective older sister determined to save her younger brother, Ankur (Vedang Raina), from death row.

October 17, 2024
October 17, 2024

‘Shilpa Sandhan’: Artistic reflections of contemporary and urban realities

In keeping with the exploration of the current themes in the nation’s art scene, an art exhibition displaying the windows into the complex narratives of our socio-cultural landscape was recently arranged by Zobra the Art Village and Dot to Line at Safiuddin Shilpalay in Dhanmondi. This five-day group exhibition titled, "Shilpa Sandhan", celebrated Bangladesh’s diverse and evolving art heritage, with the hosting of 55 artworks offering vibrant displays of creativity and emotion, from 24 contemporary artists.