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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
“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.
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.
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.
In recent years, not only did OTT platforms provide us with some fresh new talents, but also initiated comebacks of several popular Indian actresses of the 90s.
A former Miss Universe participant, Indian actress Sheena Chohan has worked in six films, including Mostofa Sarwar Farooki’s “Pipra Bidda” (Ant Story).
As I sifted through the pages of “Mujib”, the graphic novel series depicting the Father of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s life, I could not help but think of how many generations of children could have benefited from this remarkable portrayal of the Father of the Nation.
Although animation is only beginning to find its footing in Bangladesh, many have made significant strides in this field in recent years.
Celebrated actress Sabila Nur is set to star in several Valentine’s Day tele-fictions this year, teaming up with Afran Nisho and Apurba, among others. In particular, her pairing with Apurba is a hit with viewers.
A host of our favourite stars are pairing up for the first time on-screen in different upcoming projects. There is a lot of excitement and anticipation about how they would fare in their given roles. Check out what these pairs have in store for us.
“Black Widow” was one of the most pirated movies of 2021.
This year saw the release of a slew of outstanding Bangladeshi web series and films that had us glued to our screens. As 2021 comes to an end, we bring you a list of some of the best productions, released on OTT platforms.
There has been a sentiment amongst certain sections of people that superhero films, more specifically movies from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), are the “death of cinema”. Many think pieces have been written around this concept. I think there is an inclination from a lot of people to turn their nose up at popular entertainment, and I would like to challenge them to go watch a screening of “Spider-Man: No Way Home”. Watch the sheer joy this movie unfolds for an audience.
National Professor Rafiqul Islam, one of the most distinguished researchers on National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, passed away yesterday at the capital's Evercare Hospital. He was an educationalist, a scholar, writer, and cultural activist. The 87-year-old was the recipient of both Swadhinata Padak and Ekushey Padak, the highest civilian honours in the country. Numerous Nazrul Sangeet exponents fondly spoke about the National Professor with The Daily Star.
