How ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ mirrors the social media age
To me, Wilde’s novel articulates the deepest anxieties of the late Victorians and continues to offer us ways to interpret our own experiences.
16 October 2022, 09:42 AM
Of diverse princesses and demigods: Is racebending in fantasy adaptations enough?
Progress is underway, but some studios are still hiding behind the curtain of racebending as if it will solve all of the problems of race innate to cinema itself. Nonetheless, all of it matters—Ariel and Annabeth being portrayed by young Black women—because what we read and watch feeds our imagination.
21 September 2022, 18:00 PM
The Little Mermaid: Has Disney sanitised our expectations from fairytales?
Thanks to 2023's The Little Mermaid, Black and brown girls can finally see themselves as princesses in a film where the protagonist's skin colour is not as instrumental to the story as the princesses' heritage was in Aladdin, Mulan, and The Princess and the Frog.
14 September 2022, 13:24 PM
Anyone can be a hero: Why I love ‘Percy Jackson & The Olympians’
From mental health struggles to characters with different racial and LGBTQ+ backgrounds, the series shines a light on people—and heroes—of diverse identities.
11 September 2022, 13:00 PM
Two upcoming Pinocchio films—why does he still resonate?
Zemeckis' version will likely be a comforting trip into nostalgia and sentiment, an ode to the power of the human heart to do the right thing despite life's many temptations. At the same time, del Toro's will be a dark fairytale with troubling implications, examining how we puppets can learn to think for ourselves.
26 August 2022, 15:02 PM
‘Emily’ and creative freedom in literary biopics
It got me thinking that we are fascinated by the behind-the-scenes lives of our cultural obsessions, and the personal lives of authors can come to feel like public possessions just as much as their works. It is this sense of ownership that can risk conflict over films about literary icons.
20 August 2022, 13:08 PM
International Youth Day: Why I enjoy reading YA books as an adult
We are drawn to stories about first experiences, and YA literature is rich with it. First experiences draw us in because they are the crucible for change.
12 August 2022, 06:37 AM
How BookTok motivated me to read again
It has made literary criticism—often regarded highbrow or excessively academic—feel accessible.
3 August 2022, 13:00 PM
‘Persuasion’, ‘Bridgerton’, ‘Emma.’ What’s missing from these quirky period dramas?
Studios seem to think female characters need to be glossed with a “zany” and “feisty” persona in order to be relevant.
27 July 2022, 18:00 PM
Netflix’s ‘Persuasion’ misunderstands Jane Austen’s novel entirely
The problem with Netflix’s adaptation of Persuasion is that it doesn't know what it wants to be.
15 July 2022, 15:01 PM
Could Ranbir Kapoor's 'Brahmastra' be the superhero film Bollywood needs?
The teaser for "Brahmastra: Part One", starring real-life couple Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt as well as veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan and South Indian superstar Nagarjuna, was released today. It is one of the most anticipated Bollywood films of the year.
31 May 2022, 11:05 AM
Off to Cannes: Representing Bangladesh in the world’s biggest film fest
The star-studded Cannes Film Festival kicked off on May 17, 2022, celebrating all things international film and the actors, directors, and crew behind the scenes.
18 May 2022, 18:00 PM
From the ramp to the screen: Shela is all set for challenges
Shirin Akter Shela is best known as the winner of Miss Universe Bangladesh 2019. Sporting a red jamdani shari with a model hood of Bangladeshi rickshaws and ornaments that emulated Bengali letters, she won hearts with her national costume at the beauty pageant’s final competition in the USA.
21 April 2022, 18:00 PM
An evening with Lata Mangeshkar’s timeless melodies
The musical programme, “Akash Pradeep Jale: A tribute to Lata Mangeshkar”, organised by HSBC Bangladesh, was held at Hotel Pan Pacific Sonargaon in Dhaka on April 1. The event was hosted by Tropa Majumdar.
1 April 2022, 17:00 PM
This is the best time to be an independent artiste - Sonia Hossain
Actress, model, activist, producer, and television personality Sonia Hossain stepped into the limelight with “You Got The Look” in 2003. She was a speaker at the Global SDG Summit 2022 in Delhi this February. We caught up with the multi- talented artiste to find out more about her recent projects.
11 March 2022, 18:00 PM
The Fame Game: Madhuri Dixit deserved a better OTT debut
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.
4 March 2022, 18:00 PM
Sheena Chohan’s ‘Fame Game’
A former Miss Universe participant, Indian actress Sheena Chohan has worked in six films, including Mostofa Sarwar Farooki’s “Pipra Bidda” (Ant Story).
25 February 2022, 18:00 PM
The Father of the Nation through graphic novels
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.
25 February 2022, 18:00 PM
Animating the future
Although animation is only beginning to find its footing in Bangladesh, many have made significant strides in this field in recent years.
16 February 2022, 18:00 PM
I lost weight for the film, only to gain it back again: Sabila Nur
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.
9 February 2022, 18:00 PM