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.
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.
Hopeful outcomes from the new establishment will take months or years of work, research and the final formation of the act and its accompanying set of rules.
Warfaze, one of the most celebrated bands in Bangladesh, turns 40 years old today. With albums, compositions, awards and several hits to their name, the band has contributed much to the music industry in Bangladesh. They have also played a vital role– through their melodies and lyrics– in keeping the Bengali language alive, thriving and evolving, over several generations and in countries all over the world, where Bengalis live and communicate accordingly.
As I write this, “MaLoMa”, a musical tale of extraordinary lives led by everyday people, is trending number 1 on YouTube Bangladesh & 38 on global YouTube. This song, as a whole, is many stories woven together as one, belonging to people from all walks of life. The stories touch hearts and inspire music lovers to ponder upon life in general. As Arif Dewan and Shagor Dewan sing their hearts out about how mistaken they were about life being a bed of roses, the chaotic city around them comes to life.
It has been a couple of weeks at least since the Bangla New Year celebrations, which we lovingly refer to as Noboborsho. However, Coke Studio Bangla’s “Tati” is still dominating playlists. ‘Taanti’, or in this case “Tati”, refers to the craftsperson or the creator of fabrics, who works with the material called taant – depicting motifs, colourful borders, and softness to touch. Especially in this heat, a taant saree or a fatua is always a welcome addition to an average Bangladeshi wardrobe, allowing one to breathe easy and at the same time, look trendy.
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.
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.
The women in Selina Hossain’s books are strong, because the author herself likes to be inspired by the reality around her.
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.
We have come a long way today and think of a career beyond medical, engineering and architecture – all noble professions of course. Today we have corporates, accountants and marketing professionals on the rise.
Fourteen-year-old Suraiya Akter Risha was just another Dhaka teen – a happy child who would plan a fun weekend with friends and family members, a top achiever at school, maybe even a crazy cricket fan and a music lover – she was just another girl from next doors.
On the occasion of the 40th death anniversary of Kazi Nazrul Islam, a major exponent of Nazrul and a famous Bangladeshi singer of Nazrul compositions, Sadya Afreen Mallick was recently awarded the Nazrul Award 2015.
A Bangladeshi celebration of any kind is incomplete without the song 'Abaar elo je shondhya'; a child growing up
The Girl on the Train' is a psychological thriller which will definitely keep you stuck to your seat for the longest time.
The residents in urban Dhaka are slowly stepping back into their normal lives – attending late night weddings,
The deaths of Tareque Masud and Mishuk Munier are a shock to the pillars of the media industry in Bangladesh. However, the strength and conviction with which they spread their ideas and messages to the young, the ambitious and the aspiring still hold firm and true.
Last week, I braved it out, took a risk and visited the Star Cineplex at the Bashundhara complex to watch 'Finding Dory.' The hall that could probably fit more than 500-800 people, had only half a dozen viewers that day. Clearly, people are frightened to visit malls and
It takes a lot to be a popular business person in the country, especially if one is remembered as an individual who not only is a successful businessman, but also someone who promotes entertainment, hospitality, traveling, outdoor sports and fitness like surfing and running.
Recently, Osama Bin Noor made headlines in Bangladesh, when he went to receive an award in Buckingham Palace, in the wearing traditional garbs – kurta, lungi and a gamcha. Not only did he carry the deshi attire in style, but also managed to impress the world with his ideas and work.