Maliha Mashiat

‘Rise of Nation’: Liberation War through the ‘eyes’ of refugees at Raghu Rai’s exhibition

Stranger to none, Indian photojournalist and member of the prestigious Magnum Photos, Raghu Rai has been a notable figure in the documentation of the Liberation War of Bangladesh. On May 5 this year, “Rise of Nation”-- an exhibition featuring both released and unreleased photos of the artiste commenced in the capital’s Zainul Gallery, situated at the Faculty of Fine Arts in the University of Dhaka. 

7m ago

Nostalgia for '90s homebound magic: 3 Indian shows that evoke the feeling

An unparalleled and communal feeling of the ‘90s kids staying home during a school day is a joyful look back for many of us. Regardless of whether it was a heavy monsoon day, you were sick, or feigning it, we can all look back at the times we would spend, watching the early runs of our beloved sitcoms on Indian broadcast channels. Some were re-runs of the previous day’s shows or ones that had concluded already, we would follow them religiously. Some even went a bit deeper in their obsession and reiterated the episode for their friends the next day, much like me.

10m ago

Speaking up for Palestine

Commencing yesterday at 5 pm, cartoonists and young artists from Dhaka gathered at Drik Gallery with cartoons and installation art, protesting the Israeli occupation and expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people.

1y ago

The one about feelings: How Chandler Bing taught a generation of men to cope with comedy

Chandler Bing, the witty, sarcastic, and endearingly awkward character, defied the stereotypes of traditional masculinity. In a world where stoicism and emotional detachment were often expected from male characters, Chandler was refreshingly different.

1y ago

Furry celebs: How do our adorable four-legged casts operate?

Be it a beloved companion or a fearsome predator of the wild, animals have long been part of the silver screen, since we began using it as a mode of storytelling. The IMDb listings of animal actors have grown much longer since then. The Daily Star sat down for a conversation with our very own local animal actors and (human) directors, about their experiences and insights.

1y ago

AI-rendered images of deceased artistes: How ethical are these practices?

The rise of Artificial Intelligence-rendered artworks has been embroiled in controversies since its inception. From striking artistes to picketing actors, the utilisation of AI has stirred unease within the creative community. Recently, amidst Bangladeshi social media, the reimagining of actors in various styles, eras and contexts has captured headlines, sparking mixed reactions from a diverse audience. What particularly caught my attention was the rendering of images of late artistes, most notably Salman Shah.

1y ago

Rezaur Rahman: Addressing chaos through comedy

Rezaur Rahman is now gearing up for the upcoming Chorki anthology film series, “Ministry of Love”, supervised by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, where his production “36-24-36” will be featured.

1y ago

22 years of 'Dil Chahta Hai': How much has friendship evolved since then?

Farhan Akhtar at the time wrote and captured something that would truly become the selling point of the film, catapulting it to the ‘classic’ and ‘beloved’ status it has today.

1y ago
March 10, 2023
March 10, 2023

Performative Inclusivity: Will ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ be given a fair chance?

Even if multiple worthy films come from a single country, only one can be nominated. Even then, there is no confirmation that the one nominated will win.

March 8, 2023
March 8, 2023

Mira Nair: The piercing gaze of a female director

Ever the wonderful storyteller, Mira manages to tell such a heart-breaking story which would surely bring a tear to the eyes of dual citizenship holders.

March 8, 2023
March 8, 2023

5 Bangladeshi female-led films for Women’s Day

To be even more specific, the stream of female led films have been sparse, from the time of independence to the booming era of the mid-2000s.

February 16, 2023
February 16, 2023

Buy an artwork and save a life

Artist community comes together for child with heart complications

February 11, 2023
February 11, 2023

Is an ‘overcrowded’ Dhaka Art Summit an encouraging sign?

Whether it is context, knowledge or simply to take part in the dispersion of intellectual property, more people are now visiting art exhibitions. Last weekday’s visit to DAS showed exactly that, with the authority even having to almost prohibit taking pictures of artworks.

January 29, 2023
January 29, 2023

What do Rituparna and Nirab have to say about ‘Sporsho’?

In a recent visit to Kolkata, the two worlds collided as Dhallywood actor Nirab Hossain met up with Tollywood diva Rituparna Sengupta.  The “Casino” famed actor was welcomed with warmth into the actress’s home amid the Saraswati Puja celebrations.

December 27, 2022
December 27, 2022

'Rap music is about poetry and emotion'- Punkstah

An active member of the desi hip-hop scene, Ifteakhar Hossain aka Punkstah has been creating roars and spitting bars since 2010. Having worked beside notable artists like Black Zang and Fuad, Punkstah recently showcased his musical prowess in performing in ‘Fuad live in Dhaka’ .An editor and animator by profession, Punkstah sits down with us virtually to talk about holding up the Bangladeshi flag in the global hip-hop scene, Extraction and the mainstream Bangla music.

December 26, 2022
December 26, 2022

‘The Witcher: Blood Origin’: Magic that missed the mark

Amid the low tide following the departure of Henry Cavill from the role of Geralt Of Rivia, the prequel, “The Witcher: Blood Origin” was finally released on Christmas day.

November 2, 2022
November 2, 2022

An ode to Bengali horror

Horror is a prominent element in Bangla literature, but the same cannot be said for the silver screen. Only a handful of supernatural and cosmic horror/thriller films have been made in the Bengali language.

October 28, 2022
October 28, 2022

Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities

Ever the magician and curator of all things odd, Oscar winner Guillermo Del Toro aims for the streaming platform this time around with his eight-part anthology, bringing together some of the best directors of horror under one series.