20 years on, 'Veer-Zaara' still resonates across borders
Two decades ago, when Bollywood was still discovering cinema's transformative power, a film that forever redefined love for a generation came along. The legendary Yash Chopra’s "Veer-Zaara", released in 2004, is not just a love story set against the backdrop of political and cultural divides; it is a timeless saga and a poetic rendering of yearning, sacrifice, and boundless commitment. Back in the day, this classic story of a love between an Indian man and a Pakistani woman defied the limitations of mere romance and became an emotion in itself. After all these years, "Veer-Zaara" remains iconic, a film cherished for its artistry, music, and the undying love that it portrays.
1w ago
From screen to street: The timeless influence of film costumes on fashion trends
One of the most enduring examples is Audrey Hepburn's black dress in "Breakfast at Tiffany's". Designed by Hubert de Givenchy, the dress exemplified elegance, simplicity, and a touch of mystery. This little black dress became an essential wardrobe item, redefined as a fashion staple worldwide
1w ago
Freedom is more than the absence of oppression
Dissent in Bangladesh has been met with hostility, with individuals being labelled as traitors or enemies of the state for expressing opposing views.
1w ago
‘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.
2w 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.
2w 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.
3w 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.
3w 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.
3w ago
November 12, 2024
20 years on, 'Veer-Zaara' still resonates across borders
Two decades ago, when Bollywood was still discovering cinema's transformative power, a film that forever redefined love for a generation came along. The legendary Yash Chopra’s "Veer-Zaara", released in 2004, is not just a love story set against the backdrop of political and cultural divides; it is a timeless saga and a poetic rendering of yearning, sacrifice, and boundless commitment. Back in the day, this classic story of a love between an Indian man and a Pakistani woman defied the limitations of mere romance and became an emotion in itself. After all these years, "Veer-Zaara" remains iconic, a film cherished for its artistry, music, and the undying love that it portrays.
November 10, 2024
From screen to street: The timeless influence of film costumes on fashion trends
One of the most enduring examples is Audrey Hepburn's black dress in "Breakfast at Tiffany's". Designed by Hubert de Givenchy, the dress exemplified elegance, simplicity, and a touch of mystery. This little black dress became an essential wardrobe item, redefined as a fashion staple worldwide
November 9, 2024
Freedom is more than the absence of oppression
Dissent in Bangladesh has been met with hostility, with individuals being labelled as traitors or enemies of the state for expressing opposing views.
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
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
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
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
‘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
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
‘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.
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