Shababa Iqbal

Shababa Iqbal is a Journalism graduate of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) and a sub-editor of ICE Today. She likes Jane Austen's novels and Disney movies. Email: [email protected].

‘Sunrise on the Reaping’: Fan service and repetitive themes weigh down ‘Hunger Games’ prequel

Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games series has captivated pop culture with its bold take on tyranny, sacrifice, and resistance, spanning Katniss Everdeen’s blazing defiance in The Hunger Games (2008) to her final stand in Mockingjay (2010) against Coriolanus Snow’s cold cruelty.

3m ago

‘Nadaaniyan’: It’s time for Bollywood to wake up to unskilled star kids

There is a great debate about nepotism in Hindi cinema. It's upsetting for everyone when clearly unskilled children of famous people are paraded as readymade movie stars, increasing the rift between the haves and the have-nots and highlighting the inequities of various systems across the screen. "Nadaaniyan", starring Khushi Kapoor and Ibrahim Ali Khan in the lead roles, is yet another example of this.

4m ago

Playing it safe: ‘The Roshans’ compromises its own potential

The Roshan family has been active in the Hindi film industry for multiple generations, contributing to music, acting, and direction for over 60 years or so. Naturally, there was a story waiting to be told. Their dynasty includes the patriarch and music maestro Roshan Lal Nagrath, his sons Rajesh Roshan, the music composer, and Rakesh Roshan, the director, and actor, as well as his grandson Hrithik Roshan, who became an overnight sensation with his first leading role in “Kaho Naa… Pyar Hai” (2000) and is one of Bollywood’s most beloved stars today.

5m ago

Fascism, propaganda, and resistance: ‘Wicked’ as a mirror to our times

The basic premise is a powerful one: What if the Wicked Witch of the West wasn't so bad after all, and what if the Wizard and the seemingly perfect society he oversaw were the real threats?

6m ago

‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ is a maze of missed opportunities

The most positive aspect of “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” (2024) is its unpredictability. While the climactic twist is audacious and unique, the film suffers from clumsy execution, falling short of evoking the intended emotions. It's a fine thought, albeit underwritten, and it deserved a bit more complexity than the film's chaotic momentum allows. Nonetheless, I have to say that I did not see it coming.

8m ago

‘Call Me Bae’: Funny and endearing Ananya excels in this heiress-to-hustler story

“Call Me Bae," created by Ishita Moitra with co-writers Samina Motlekar and Rohit Nair, follows the story of poor little rich girl Bella Chowdhary, affectionately known as Bae, played by Ananya Panday. For those who may not be familiar with generational slang, 'Bae' is a term of endearment used to refer to someone's sweetheart.

10m ago

How long can Emily possibly stay in Paris?

The success of “Emily in Paris” reveals that there's room for both highbrow, thought-provoking TV and light, unchallenging fare. While there are plenty of complex, intellectually stimulating shows, there are times when we just want something easy and predictable—shows like “Suits”, “The Office”, and “Friends” continue to top streaming charts long after their original air dates for precisely this reason. There's comfort in knowing what to expect and in watching a storyline wrap up neatly within 30 minutes.

10m ago

‘My Lady Jane’ shakes up British history with unapologetic romance and whimsy

With the guidance of writer and showrunner Gemma Burgess, "My Lady Jane" translates well into an eight-episode Prime Video series that confirms that history is a lot more fun and watchable when approached with an unapologetically tongue-in-cheek attitude.

1y ago
March 5, 2019
March 5, 2019

CHOBI MELA X: A purposeful discussion on archives

Considered as one of the most significant photography events in Asia and the first of a regular biennale, Chobi Mela - International Festival of Photography, is organised by Drik Picture Library Ltd and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute. 21 countries,

March 1, 2019
March 1, 2019

Rakib Hasan Rahul

Promising lyricist Rakib Hasan Rahul has been penning songs since his school days. With around 150 songs to his credit, the artiste

February 24, 2019
February 24, 2019

Creating the Durjoy collectible toy

Liveaxis, a studio based in Bangladesh, specialises in toy-making, prototyping, brand concept development, make-up effects, custom digital jewelry, board game illustrations and collectible concept art among other areas.

February 21, 2019
February 21, 2019

Portrait of a Cover Artist - Naeem Ahmed

My aim as a cover artist is to reflect the mood and tone of the book, keeping the title and text in mind. Readers should be able to understand how the cover complements the text once they have finished reading the book.

February 20, 2019
February 20, 2019

Portrait of a Cover Artist - Mahatab Rashid

Mahatab Rashid began doodling in notebooks and on walls from a young age. He joined Akantis, a community of illustrators in Bangladesh who aim to develop their visual literacy, in 2014.

February 16, 2019
February 16, 2019

Portrait of a Cover Artist - Morshed Mishu

Talented artist Morshed Mishu, developed a keen interest in drawing from a young age, inspired heavily by comic books. Currently an assistant editor at Unmad, the popular

February 14, 2019
February 14, 2019

Portrait of a Cover Artist - Rakeeb Razzak

“I treat the world as my canvas. I like to express myself through cartoons, whether I want to address any important social messages or ordinary aspects of life,” explains Rakeeb, who is currently a Fine Arts student at University of Development Alternative.

February 13, 2019
February 13, 2019

Portrait of a Cover Artist - Tauhidul Iqbal Sampad

Passionate about drawing, self-taught comic book and cover artist Tauhidul Iqbal Sampad began his professional journey at the age of eight, creating comic strips for Kishor Potrika, a publication of Sheba Prokashoni, founded by Qazi Anwar Hussain.

February 8, 2019
February 8, 2019

The wit and humour of a nation: EARKI'S 2019 CALENDAR

Whether they are used to vent our feelings over certain socio-political issues, or to reinforce our obsessions with prominent celebrities, memes are an easy and funny way for us to communicate with our peers.

February 5, 2019
February 5, 2019

Abhijit Chowdhury

I definitely need to read the story of a novel before I sit down to design the cover for it, because I intend to be particular and