Shayan: Of music and defiance
Shayan’s work is a blend of personal reflection and sharp social commentary, involving themes from lost relationships to biting political critiques. In songs like “Jonotar Beyadobi”, “Bhoy Banglay Bhoy”, “Ei Meye Shon”, and “O Neta Bhai”, she speaks not just of struggles, but of hope for a better world, calling for collective action against injustice.
6d ago
Aly Zaker: Remembering the architect of Bangladeshi theatre
As we celebrate the artiste’s 80th birth anniversary and reflect on four years since we lost him, we remember Aly Zaker as more than just an actor; as a visionary who understood the transformative power of storytelling. His legacy reminds us that art is not merely entertainment—it is the heartbeat of life itself, shaping how we see, feel, and understand the world.
2w ago
Bappa Mazumder’s odyssey lives on
For over three decades, Bappa has been an invaluable asset to the country's music industry, and he continues to work on several projects, including his latest song “Shohorer Chokh”. Additionally, the musician launched a Bangla Ghazal album, titled “Onubhob”, just yesterday.
3w ago
The timeless allure of Jibanananda Das on screen
Known by various titles—“The Poet of Love” and “Poet of Ruposhi Bangla”—Jibanananda's metaphysical and magically realist verses have enchanted countless readers and audiences. His influence spills over from literature into cinema, inspiring iconic works from the 90s rock band Moheener Ghoraguli to films like Sayantan Mukherjee’s “Jhora Palok” and Robiul Alam Robi’s “Moribar Holo Taar Shwaad.”
1m ago
A bittersweet Durga Puja
Dhaka city seems to have experienced a juxtaposition of tradition and trepidation during this year’s Durga Puja celebrations.
1m ago
The artivist
Being a cartoonist is Morshed Mishu’s preferred public identity, or as he describes himself, an “artivist”—someone who practices activism through art in a non-traditional manner. Mishu, who rose to prominence through his political cartoons and social activism, has journeyed to every corner of the country to aid his fellow countrymen.
1m ago
Shah Abdul Karim, the Baul king who sang his soul
Fifteen years ago today, on September 12, 2009, Karim, revered as the "Baul king," passed away, leaving behind a profound yet humble legacy of love and mysticism. Growing up in the flood-prone lowlands of Sunamganj, Karim's music became a lifeline, reflecting the rhythms of waterlogged lands and the heartache of their people. His songs, simple yet profound, captured the essence of rural life, blending spirituality with raw emotion.
2m ago
Prachyanat School honours Kafka with stage adaptation of ‘Metamorphosis’
Kafka's “The Metamorphosis”, published in 1915, remains one of the most unsettling yet profound explorations of alienation and existential dread. The novella's iconic opening—“One morning, Gregor Samsa wakes up to find himself transformed into a giant insect”—sets the tone for a story that delves deep into the absurdity of human existence and the crushing weight of societal expectations.
2m ago
September 26, 2023
‘Mrittika Mohey’: The homebound call of a travelling artist
The title of the art exhibition, “Mrittika Mohey”, by Karu Titas, signifies a homebound call of one’s root and the mystifying allure of it. It suggests that the destination is merely an illusion of completion, while the true significance lies in the journey itself.
September 12, 2023
Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay: Ray’s greatest creative inspiration
Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay, the prodigal son of Bengal, remains an icon of breathtaking narrative style with a distinguished body of work. Today, on his 129th birth anniversary, this article revisits the instance when the author met the brilliant Satyajit Ray for the collaboration that weaved and shaped itself in the history of Bengal’s art and literature.
September 11, 2023
‘Music connected us both’
Rahul Ananda concluded on a serious note, “I don't actually know. I am just doing my work. Some of my work takes me to places, into some people's minds and lives, and that’s how I connect to people myself, spiritually and philosophically. That is the wonder of music and life for me, and I feel that is what connected us both.”
September 11, 2023
Love Letters: A tale of unrequited passion
“Love Letters” remains a haunting tale of unrequited love and missed opportunities, melancholy, loneliness, and desolation. In its oblique and unaffected way, the play illustrates the universal truth that so much of life, if not all, is a solitary journey, a letter we write only to ourselves.
September 10, 2023
Sachin Dev Burman Sangeet Utsav concludes at BSA
Growing up listening to timeless melodies like "Ke Jash Re", and "Tumi Aar Nei Se Tumi", the name Sachin Dev Burman needs no introduction to Bangla song lovers. To pay homage to the legendary lyricist and composer, cultural organisation Banhishikha organised “Sachin Dev Burman Sangeet Utsav, a two-day musical festival, at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the capital.
September 10, 2023
Celebrating the legacy of SD Burman
Thanks to timeless melodies like “Ke Jash Re”, and “Tumi Aar Nei Se Tumi”, the name Sachin Dev Burman needs no introduction to Bangla song lovers.
September 6, 2023
Akira Kurosawa and his extended views on humanity
As one of the most influential filmmakers in the history of cinema, Akira Kurosawa is most popularly known for his films based on stories about samurais, but his greatest accomplishment is perhaps his exploration of the metamorphosis of flawed humanity against nature.
September 6, 2023
Drik honours Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury on 34th founding anniversary
Drik Gallery celebrated its 34th founding anniversary by honouring the extraordinary Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury and his contribution to ensuring equal access to healthcare for all.
September 5, 2023
Rajib Ashraf: A wordsmith’s journey and legacy
"Hok Kolorob" and his other renowned lyrics in musical genius Shayan Chowdhury Arnob's songs, such as, "Naam Chilo Na", "Prokrito Jol", "Ghum", "Dhushor Megh", "Rod Boleche Hobe", "Protiddhoni", and "Mon Kharaper Ekta Bikel", offer merely a glimpse of the actual man Rajib was, said Abdullah Juberee, a journalist and an admirer of the poet.
August 13, 2023
A traveling storyteller of a living culture
On his 12th death anniversary, The Daily Star looks back at the life of this fascinating filmmaker.
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