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.

2m 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.

3m 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.

7m 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.

9m 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.

9m 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.

11m ago
May 14, 2018
May 14, 2018

Rick and Morty

Created by Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland, Rick and Morty, which debuted in 2013, is an animated cosmic horror comedy that follows the adventures of the main character Rick, a scientist and alcoholic, and Morty, his grandson, sometimes with the rest of their family. It was the top TV comedy among millennials in 2017, and enjoys retail, digital, livestream, and gaming success.

May 13, 2018
May 13, 2018

Mithila on being a mom

Rafiath Rashid Mithila is the epitome of beauty, talent and grace. She has become the symbol of empowerment, seamlessly maintaining her professional life,

May 12, 2018
May 12, 2018

Intertwining pictures and poetry

They say a picture is worth a thousand words – in Fahad Al Alam's case, those words are now transferred to pages.

April 20, 2018
April 20, 2018

Shape South Asia 2018

Shape South Asia 2018, a four-day conference, organised by Dhaka Hub of Global Shapers Community, an initiative of the World

April 13, 2018
April 13, 2018

An Afternoon of Inspiration with Young Changemakers

Since its inception in 2008, Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center (BYLC) has been working to equip the country's youth with the skills

April 6, 2018
April 6, 2018

Nurturing the Practice of Running

Running is a suitable form of exercise for everyone from adults to children and even the older population. However, while most people are aware that running regularly can keep them happy and healthy, not many follow it. Now, communities have come together to motivate people to explore the city by running through its streets.

February 16, 2018
February 16, 2018

Becoming Strong in Mind and Body

It is no mystery that encouraging people to become physically fit from an early age, make healthy life choices, and establish healthy routines for life has turned crucial

February 16, 2018
February 16, 2018

Setting Their Goals High

Women's participation in sports is often thought to be less appreciated by our community since athletics are largely male-dominated and characterised by masculine qualities such as competition, aggression, and strength.

February 2, 2018
February 2, 2018

Tapping Into Your Creative Self

Tanvir Ahmed, a management executive by profession and a painter by passion, organised his solo exhibition titled “The Line, the

January 19, 2018
January 19, 2018

Made in Equality

Since the Rana Plaza tragedy, the RMG sector has gone through various transformations and improvements to ensure workers' rights