His close friend, actor Sohel Rana, spoke to The Daily Star this afternoon about the late actor Javed.

“Darpane Sharatshashi” was written by Manoj Mitra and originally directed by Aly Zaker, two towering figures of Bangla theatre. The 1992 staging became historic for its rare collaboration between Desh Natok and Nagorik Natya Sampradaya.

The finale opens today (Wednesday), January 21, at 6:30 pm at the Experimental Theatre Hall of Shilpakala Academy. Urmi Opera from Mohammadpur, Magura, will stage “Premer Shomadhi Tire”. The play is written by Nirmal Mukhopadhyay and directed by Shamim Khandakar.

A vehicle from Akshay Kumar’s convoy was involved in a road accident on Monday night in Mumbai’s Juhu area. The actor and his wife Twinkle Khanna were travelling in a separate car ahead of the convoy and were not injured.

A Bangladeshi television drama has crossed borders, gaining attention among Pakistani viewers alongside its growing popularity at home. Titled “Eta Amaderi Golpo” (This Is Our Story), the series was created with inspiration from the popular Pakistani drama “Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum” and has sparked widespread discussion since its release.

Veteran Bangladeshi film actor Ilias Javed passed away today at around 12:00pm at his residence in Uttara. He had been suffering from illness for a long time. His death was confirmed to The Daily Star by Apurba Rana, joint secretary general of the Bangladesh Film Directors’ Association.

The winners were announced on the closing day of the festival, where “Saatao” emerged as the top film in its category. The film has previously been screened at several national and international festivals and has received multiple accolades over the years.

After decades of artistic achievement, Abul Hayat continues to write; not out of obligation or ambition, but for the enduring joy that words bring him.

The Berlin International Film Festival has announced the competition lineup for its 76th edition, revealing a programme that blends politically charged cinema, intimate character studies and star-driven features from across the world.

Dwip, a gallery well-known for its bold approach to art and being vocal about every social issue possible, is currently hosting a solo art exhibition by Shikdar Saikat titled “This Show is a Waste of Time”. Partnered by Ghartera and Sarridon Collective, this show talks about the current social, political, and economic situation of our country, fuelled by ignorance, fascism, extremism, misogyny, and the misuse of religion, through satire and dark humour. But just like a usual “aware” millennial, the artist made unique, high-quality artistic memes instead of going for typical or traditional methods.

Curated by a team led by architects Marina Tabassum and Tanzim Wahab, both participants in the movement, the museum preserves graffiti, debris, and personal belongings left behind on the day protesters stormed the residence. Exhibits include bloodstained clothing of victims and the final letter of a 16-year-old protester.

Written by acclaimed playwright, director and actor Mamunur Rashid, “Guinea Pig” is a sharp satire rooted in Bangladesh’s socio-economic and political reality. The story exposes how ordinary people are treated like test subjects by the state apparatus and the affluent, highlighting deep disparities in how life and dignity are valued.

“Sinners,” directed by Ryan Coogler of “Black Panther” fame, is a period horror drama set in the segregated American South. It stars Michael B. Jordan as twin brothers battling both supernatural and human evil in 1930s Mississippi. He is widely expected to earn a best actor nomination.

Director Nasir Khandaker said, “This award is a tribute to the hard work and passion of our entire team. It encourages us to keep experimenting with the power of sound in movies.”

In his application, Khan clarified that the circumstances and structural framework under which he had previously resigned remain unchanged.

Global K-pop sensation BLACKPINK has secured a rare distinction by becoming the only K-pop group to receive an Honourable Mention on Billboard’s “Greatest Pop Stars of 2025” list.

In an unprecedented move for Bengali cinema, advance tickets for the upcoming film “DeSu7” have gone on sale 10 months before its theatrical release, marking a first for the industry. The film reunites popular on-screen pair Dev and Subhashree Ganguly on the big screen after nearly a decade.

Rabindranath Tagore’s celebrated short story “Shasti”, previously adapted for the screen by Chashi Nazrul Islam in 2004, is set to return in a new cinematic form—this time reimagined for a contemporary audience.

After a gap of a decade, singer Balam is set to release a new solo album. Speaking to Prothom Alo on Monday (January 19), the artiste said the album will be titled “Mawla” and is scheduled for release this Eid-ul-Fitr. The album will feature six songs, with the title track and most of the compositions and musical arrangements already completed.

In addition to these projects, Chowdhury completed shooting for Raihan Rafi’s “Andhar” quite some time ago, and the film is now awaiting release. “I believe it’s going to be another strong piece of work,” he said.