On December 20, “Priyo Maloti” graced 20 cinema halls nationwide. Featuring Mehazabien Chowdhury in the titular role of Maloti Rani Das, the film marks a significant milestone for both the actress and its director, Shankha Dasgupta, as their silver screen debut.
The Monsoon Revolution represents an unprecedented effort by the government to decentralise and professionalise the Bangladeshi film industry. By fostering regional talent and offering a platform for diverse storytelling, this initiative aims to reshape the industry. More than just an effort to develop skilled filmmakers, it is a step toward amplifying Bangladeshi narratives and creating works that resonate both nationally and internationally.
In an effort to understand the challenges and tentative guidelines, The Daily Star reached out to board members and stakeholders. Their insights highlight the complexities of transitioning from the long-standing censor board to a modern certification body.
With its universal message of hope, “A Rising Lioness: In Search of Beauty” speaks not only to burn survivors but to anyone facing disabilities, neurodiversity, or societal exclusion. By portraying a journey of courage and transformation, the production inspires reflection on the values of empathy, and inclusion, and celebrates the human spirit of resilience.
On a quiet autumn evening, we visited Arnob’s studio, Kolorob, where he shared reflections on his musical career, insights into his creative journey in art, and his upcoming projects.
In times of national crisis, Bangladesh’s entertainment industry is often among the hardest hit. From artistes to crew members, everyone faces hardship due to a lack of work and opportunities. Actor Ziaul Roshan has recently expressed concerns about the struggle to maintain a stable livelihood in such uncertain times, highlighting the challenges when work for artistes dries up.
Marking a decade in showbiz, Sayed Zaman Shawon has captivated audiences across television, OTT platforms, and the big screens. Known for his acclaimed roles in Mabrur Rashid Bannah’s “Brothers” series, Shihab Shaheen’s “August 14”, Ashfaque Nipun’s “Sabrina”, and Golam Sohrab Dodul’s “Mobaroknama”, Shawon’s adaptability shines through each project.
Behind this essential aspect of filmmaking are the lighting technicians, whose efforts often go unnoticed. In Bangladesh, however, these technicians face an uncertain future, as the industry battles deep financial challenges.
She earned immense popularity after portraying Hridi in the much-acclaimed film “Aynabaji”, in 2016. Masuma Rahman Nabila is now set to grace the screens after a long time, with Raihan Rafi’s film “Toofan” where the actress has paired up with Shakib Khan, for the first time. She also shared the screen with Chanchal Chowdhury in this project, who was her debut film co-actor.
The release of the energetic title track of “Toofan” (titled after the film) several days ago, amped up its reception across social media platforms almost immediately. Notably, Tahsan Shuvo, the man behind many title tracks for Bengali films, was also the one who penned the lyrics of the song.
The usual scenario of attending any film festival is that artistes go to showcase their films. An unusual scenario took place when Bangladeshi actress Ashna Habib Bhabna returned from the 77th Cannes International Film Festival, after scoring a Malaysian movie.
After completing “Shongbad”, the actress wants to take a break. Being the homesick kind, she mostly enjoys her own company, however, she also shared that she needed a vacation this time. “I want to explore a new country this time. It depends on my mood; whenever I feel a little pride in myself, I want to run to the hills and mountains, it makes me feel grounded and helps me to stay humble. When I feel exhausted, I prefer going near the sea, as it helps me to be calm.”
The talked-about singer, praised for her performance in the recent advertisement jingle “Boishakhe Banglami-Hok Ullash”, recently dropped by The Daily Star office for an exclusive photoshoot. While sipping a cup of black coffee, fitness enthusiast Dola spoke about her career in music and law, revealed her fitness secrets, and provided exciting updates on her musical journey.
Adnan and Tanveer Hossain’s co-produced Filipino short film “Radikals” has been nominated for its world premiere at the prestigious 77th Cannes Film Festival, at the 63rd Semaine de la Critique (SDLC) of Cannes, this year.
A journey that commenced with modeling a decade ago has taken Irfan Sajjad to immense popularity. The actor has managed to make his way to the OTT with several projects, such as “Koli 2.0”, “Dour” and “Baba Someone’s Following Me”, amongst others.
Earlier, the first look of FS Nayeem in the "Kaalpurush" teaser surprised the audience, as he underwent a massive transformation, gaining 30 kgs for his role.
World Record Store Day was founded by Chris Brown, who owned American Bull Moose Music, and Eric Levine, the owner of Criminal Records. Thanks to their collaboration, the inaugural World Record Store Day took place in 2007. Since then, it has become a globally recognised and celebrated event.
While the director claims that the project has no connection or does not intend to promote LGBTQ in any way, it is now a question to the audience who have watched and praised the production—what actually went wrong?
