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Tagore's death anniversary observed
Robab Rosan
The country observed the 66th death anniversary of poet Rabindranath Tagore on Monday.
The government and a number of socio-cultural organisations held a range of programmes to mark the day, where speakers recalled the influence of Tagore on Bengali culture, literature, music, and education, among other things.
The Bangladesh Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha remembered the poet through a two-day cultural programme which began on Monday at the Shawkat Osman Auditorium of Central Public Library at Shahbagh, Dhaka.
More than 100 artistes presented Tagore songs and recited a number of his poems at the programme styled Nishidin Alok Sikha Jaluk Praney.
The doyen of Tagore singers in Bangladesh and the president of the organisation, Kalim Sharafi, inaugurated the function sponsored by GrameenPhone.
The secretary general of the organisation, Tapan Mahmud, said they had shortened the length of the programme to save up some money to donate it to the flood victims.
The second day's events under the programme will begin at 5:30pm. The Bangla Academy organised a programme of discussion, poetry recitation, and musical performance in its seminar room to observe the day.
Abdus Selim presented a paper titled 'Rabindranath in English' at the programme chaired by Syed Manzoorul Islam. Syed Mohammad Shahed, Shafi Ahmed and Mosud Mannan took part in the discussion.
The Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy observed the day through discussion followed by a cultural programme in its National Theatre Hall in Segun Bagicha.
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Arabic calligraphy show ends
Cultural Correspondents
God is beautiful and loves beauty - Hadith
The abstract beauty of Arabic alphabet attracts the Pakistani painter Suman Ali Rizvi, like many other non-Arab artists through centuries. To her, Arabic calligraphy is a primary symbol representing unity, beauty and power.
In the exhibition, titled 'Praises for Allah', Suman presents the Quranic verses using the media of collage, foil, glazed and burnt paper. Backgrounds of most of the works are abstract, with some exceptions. Her use of dots creates an impression of the dots in peacock feathers.
In her first calligraphy exhibition Suman comes with 25 artworks. She thinks 'calligraphy is not merely an art form but involves divine and moral representations.' Her works brings the viewers to the divine world and gives the touch of divinity. The artist is basically an impressionist but this time she has mixed a little of abstraction in her works.
Suman, who has been living in Dhaka for two and half years, is inspired by a few of the major calligraphy masters in Pakistan but she would not compare her works with them 'as these are totally different and has their own unique style, she said.
This is the first solo calligraphic exhibition of the artist in Dhaka but the artist joined several group art exhibitions in Pakistan, including, group art exhibition at Shakir Ali Museum in Lahore in 1997 and group art exhibition in Karachi in 1998. She had her first solo exhibition at the National Art Gallery in Islamabad in 1999.
Born in Hyderabad in Pakistan in 1976, Suman did her graduation in fine arts in 1998 from Karachi School of Arts and Architecture.
The artist expressed her gratitude saying 'seeing the positive response here I think that the people of Bangladesh understand art and creativity more then any others as Bangladesh is known as the hub of art and culture. I am extremely thankful to all the viewers and television and print media as they have played the most important part in promoting my work.'
Her exhibition, inaugurated on August 3 at Drik Gallery in Dhanmandi, conclude on August 9.
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Two-day documentary film festival held at TSC
Cultural Correspondent
No doubt, Bangladesh is rich with picturesque natural scenes, diverse ethnic life, myriad historical sites and various cultural activities.
The country is proud of the longest sea beach in the world in Cox's Bazar, the biggest mangrove forest of Sundarbans, the second largest Buddhist monastery, interesting folk culture and attractive life of ethnic communities.
To uphold the beauty of Bangladesh among the students of Dhaka University, the Dhaka University Tourist Society (DUTS) arranged a two-day festival of documentary show at the auditorium of the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) of Dhaka University from August 6.
Vice chancellor of Dhaka University, Professor Dr SMA Faiz inaugurated the festival and a website of the DUTS as chief guest on August 7.
Proctor of Dhaka University, AK Firoz Ahmed; chairman of Public Administration department of the university, Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah and adviser of the society Saiful Hossain Sahed attended at the inaugural function.
It was presided over by Jony Mong, chairman of the society.
Dr SMA Faiz asked the students to take initiatives more for the development of the country's tourism sector.
He said that both the government and private organisations should come forward to uphold the beauty of Bangladesh with the aim of expanding the local tourism.
He also appreciated the DUTS's activities and emphasised the more promotional activities of the domestic tourism by the organisation.
The organisers screened twelve documentaries on St Martin's Islands, Nijhum Dweep, Hatibhanga Tipra Para, river Naf, river Sari, bull fight, teagardens in Shrimangal, Lalbagh Fort, Rajpunah of Bomang Raja in Bandarban, scenic beauty of Lama and Hakaluki Haor in greater Sylhet.
All the documentaries were directed and cinematographed by noted documentary filmmaker A Masud Chowdhury Pitu.
A large number of viewers thronged at the auditorium and enjoyed the films. According to the organisers, these documentary films had already earned a reputation by telecasting through the television channels across the country.
The students got the opportunity to see the country's scenic beauty, cultural activities, heritage and ethnic life through the films.
They also expressed their happiness seeing the large crowd.
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Premiere of Swapnadanay held
Cultural Correspondent
The premiere of Swapnadanay, (On the Wings of Dreams) a full-length feature film by Golam Rabbany Biplob was held at the Star Cineplex on Sunday. The film will hit different theatres on Friday.
Eminent cultural personalities, filmmakers, actors were present at the premiere. Before screening the film, managing director of the Impress Telefilm Ltd, Faridur Reza Sagar, Solaiman Alam of Banglalink and the director spoke about the film.
The film has been produced and sponsored by the Impress Telefilm Ltd and Banglalink respectively.
The plot of the play revolves around Fazlu-- a hawker in the Barendra area who somehow manages to keep his family happy, selling ointments and by playing tricks in the local fairs. His ten year old son assists him in these businesses. The plot takes a sudden turn when the protagonist finds some foreign currency from a second hand trouser bought for his son.
Different roles are played by Mahmuduzzaman Babu, Fazlur Rahman Babu, Rokeya Prachy, Momena Chowdhury, Shamima Islam, Ratan, Soma, Golam Rasul, Shah Alam Kiran and others.
Biplob grabbed the best director award at the 10th Shanghai International Film Festival in last June. He received the award in the Asian New Talent Award category for his clear thoughts and the spirited story-telling.
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Hopkins to unveil Cooper statue
BBC Online
Sir Anthony Hopkins has agreed to unveil a statue of Tommy Cooper in the comic legend's home town, Caer-philly.
The Port-Talbot born actor is patron of the Tommy Cooper Society, which raised £40,000 for the 9ft (2.7m) bronze.
The almost-finished statue is likely to be unveiled later this year, coinciding with the Oscar-winner's 70th birthday.
Organisers said the star, who is known to enjoy impersonating Cooper, told them he was 'honoured and happy' to be asked to attend the ceremony.
The Silence Of The Lambs star, a big fan of the late comic and magician, became a patron of the Tommy Cooper Society last year.
Secretary Tudor Jones explained that they had initially contacted him requesting he send a message to read out at their annual general meeting.
Instead of wishing us all the best, he said he would be honoured and happy to come and unveil the statue,' said Mr Jones. 'We're absolutely thrilled to bits.'
In May, he spoke of his plans to return to Port Talbot for a party on New Year's Eve to celebrate his 70th birthday.
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No slowing down for Jackie Chan
Agence France-Presse, Los Angeles
At 53-year-old, Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan is still doing his own stunts. Retirement, he says, is the last thing on his mind.
His latest film, 'Rush Hour 3,' which opens at the North American box office next week and in his native Hong Kong on August 16, sees him climbing around on the Eiffel Tower without so much as a safety net.
'I did all my stunts, even the scene full of fighting and acrobatics on top of the Eiffel Tower,' he told reporters in Los Angeles this week. 'In that sequence there are no explosions, shooting, just one of the best stunt teams in the world working at the height of its abilities,' he said.
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Monon looks for child performers
Cultural Correspondent
Monon Chalachitra will produce a television drama based on eminent litterateur Mohammad Zafar Iqbal's story 'Bhuter Bari' to be directed by noted filmmaker Morshedul Islam.
The drama will be telecast on NTV on the occasion of Eid.
A group of children, both male and female, aged from 6 to 16 will be needed for the drama. The interested persons are requested to collect forms from the Alamgir Kabir Film Centre, 62 Science Laboratory Road (Cat's Eye Lane) in the city and submit them with photographs by August 16.
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