Renowned writer, producer and television personality Faridur Reza Sagar, Managing Director of Impress Telefilm Ltd, has joined the American-Indian-Bangladeshi film, No Land’s Man, helmed by internationally acclaimed director Mostofa Sarwar Farooki. The film is predominantly English, with some dialogue in Hindi and Urdu. It stars renowned Indian actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, celebrated Bangladeshi musician and actor Tahsan Khan and promising Australian actor Megan Mitchell, among others. The music of the film is composed by renowned Indian composer and Oscar-BAFTA-Grammy winner, A R Rahman.

Renowned thespian Masum Aziz started his journey as an actor in 1972. Alongside commendable stage performances, he has been honoured with a National Film Award for his performance in Ghani (2006). He is one of the founding members of Dhaka Padatik, one of the most prolific treatre troupes in the country. Among other passions, his strong liking for music has also surfaced over the years. In a candid chat with The Daily Star, Masum Aziz talks about his recent activities, career highlights and more.

Popular rock band Dalchhut, led by Bappa Mazumder, will perform live from their studio in the charity concert, Songs for Hope. Initiated by iSocial and Kallyani, the online fundraising concert intends to help those harshly affected by the pandemic. Kallyani is a social organisation of community-based female changemakers, working for women, children and adolescents.

Towfique Ahmed earned his name in the music industry with the rap duo, Rajotto. The young artiste is known to raise social issues through his music, a trait that rap fans have come to appreciate. Recently, Tui Parish was released as a tribute to frontline workers who are putting their lives at risk during the pandemic. “I wanted to dedicate this to the Covid-19 soldiers, as a gesture of respect,” says Towfique. The song’s lyrics, which motivates everyone to help out in any capacity, has been written by the rapper himself.

Celebrated Indian actor Sheena Chohan recited the poem in the Bengali version of Pravasi (The Migrants), an animated short film about the plight of migrant workers amid the pandemic. The film is helmed by six-time National Film Award winner, Kireet Khurana. The Hindi and English versions of the poem were recorded by Taapsee Pannu, and it has been dubbed in several other Indian languages. The animation director of the film is Vivekananda Roy Ghatak.

Promising artist Dinar Sultana Putul’s artwork series, titled Buckminster Fuller’s Dymaxion, is currently on display at Priyasri Art Gallery, Mumbai, India. The unique medium, with handmade colour from stone and indigo on paper has attracted art enthusiasts. The exhibition concludes on June 30. The artist is planning to hold her solo exhibition in Dhaka and Mumbai, alternately.

Ekushey Padak awardee and eminent singer Ferdousi Rahman celebrates her 78th birthday today. Born in 1941, she is the only daughter and the youngest child out of the four children of legendary folk singer Abbasuddin Ahmed, popularly known as the ‘Emperor of Bengali Folk Songs’. In 1965, she became the youngest recipient of the President’s Pride of Performance Medal. Later, she was honoured with numerous accolades, including the National Film, Lifetime Achievement and Independence Awards. The musical icon is the face of the programme, Esho Gaan Shikhi. In a candid chat with The Daily Star, the artiste looks back on her journey.

Each year, the Government of Bangladesh provides grants to several full-length and short films. For the 2019-2020 budget year, the Ministry of Information announced the grant list on June 25. A total of 25 films were selected this year. The ongoing pandemic has led to huge losses for the film industry. As a result, the government increased the number of films that will be receiving grants.

Television actor Mahadi Hasan Pial’s parents passed away from complications of the novel coronavirus disease, recently.

Mahdia Ansara Anuranon from Sir John Wilson School won the third prize, while Mahir Tazwar from Islami Bank international School & College won the second prize and Dwaipayan Kar from Drexel International School, Dhaka, won the first prize in Category A (4-6 years old).

Known for his modern approach in presenting stories, celebrated director Redoan Rony started out on television, before making a mark in the world of cinema with films like Chorabali (2016).

Noted thespian, director and playwright Mamunur Rashid spearheads Aranyak Natyadal, one of the most prominent theatre troupes in Bangladesh.

Installation, a relatively new genre of contemporary art, is practiced by postmodernist artists.

The event was also attended by HE Rina P Soemarno, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia to Bangladesh and His Excellency Amir Farid Abu Hasan, Acting High Commissioner of Malaysia to Bangladesh. Niharika Momtaz, Founder of Bangladesh Art Week said, “Almost half of the winning bids were from Non-Resident Bangladeshis. While the live auction is over, we still have an ongoing silent auction which will end on June 26 at 11:59 pm BST.”

Prominent film director, writer and presenter Debashish Biswas has made a documentary about Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who passed away recently. Titled Hotya Sheshe Atyahotya, the 30-minute film focuses on Rajput’s career, love life and struggles among other things.

Owned, one of Bangladesh’s most prolific young rock bands, released their single Omor yesterday, accompanied by a visual marvel of a music video. The animated video, the result of a gargantuan effort by Locust Productions, overtook all conversations involving music lovers yesterday for its brilliant, gritty portrayal of Owned’s grunge roots.

The Horizon Sessions, a music festival, hosted by students and alumni of Sunbeams School Dhaka is organised in honour of Niloufer Manzur, a pioneer of education in Bangladesh. The initiative, supported by Friendship NGO, aims to raise awareness and funds for COVID-19 and Cyclone Amphan relief. The funds will go towards building COVID-19 testing booths in rural Bangladesh and rebuilding homes, reservoirs, and embankments destroyed by Cyclone Amphan in the south. Uttaran will undertake the latter project.

To keep people engaged during the coronavirus pandemic, Cartoon People launched their online contest, titled Cartoon People Gaan-Toon Caricature Challenge, recently. In the first edition of the challenge, artistes from all over the country were asked to present their caricatures of renowned musician Jon Kabir.

Film shoots across the country were shut down for over two months.

As children and families in Bangladesh continue to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new Sisimpur episode aims to support them.