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An evening of rock music
Cultural Correspondent
Djuice DRockstars-2 2007 finally crowned their champion Power Surge on September 9 at Hotel Sheraton's Winter Garden. Six finalists, namely Bortoman, Dour, Dreek, Eclipse, Power Surge and Radio Active gave their most rocking performances that night.
The four months long process of auditioning, grooming involved bands from all the six divisional headquarters. With Bangladesh Musical Band's Association (BAMBA) as the strategic partner and from a list of almost 400 rock bands, 20 were chosen by the esteemed judges for a rock camp at Fantasy Kingdom, Ashulia for a grooming session. From that list of 20, six finalists were chosen for the grand finale or the much anticipated gala night.
It was an exhilarating experience of rock and roll. The lights, stage, sound and the whole ambience reminded the cheering audience of the silver screen picture 'School of Rock'.
It was Dreek to perform first, followed by Bortoman, Eclipse whose music was vibrant, and then Dour with their mellow rock song in their own style. They played good keyboards, commendable chorus line complimented by a good vocalist.
Then it was time for the two most ultimate rock groups - Power Surge and Radio Active, who shared the ultimate competition. Power Surge's song had very good guitar riffs, great energy and great stage show...almost kept all the audiences head banging and jumping on their toes - they brought this whole new era of thrash metal in Bangladesh. Radio Active had a soulful song performed with great guitar solo, nice effects, good vocals harmony and a very creative flute-ish end to their song which wowed the audiences greatly.
For the audiences across the country, stay glued to Channel-i to know more about Drockstars-2 2007.
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BFDC accords reception
to Sayeed, Biplob, Sagar
Cultural Correspondent
The Bangladesh Film Development Corporation accorded a reception programme for Abu Sayeed and Golam Rabbany Biplab and producer of the two films Faridur Reza Sagar. They were honoured for their films Nirantar and Swapnadanay. Both the films received award at the international festivals and earned critical acclaim both at home and abroad.
The event, in association with the ministry of information and Banglalink, was held at the National Theatre Hall of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on Friday. Secretary of the information ministry, Didarul Anwar was present as chief guest while secretary of the home affairs ministry, Abdul Karim was present as special guest.
Renowned film actor Abdul Razzak, film directors including Chashi Nazrul Islam, Gazi Mazharul Anwar and public relation manager of Banglalink, Solaiman Alam were present at the function. ANM Badrul Amin presided over the reception programme. 'This recognition will inspire us to work better', said Abu Sayeed at the programme.
Besides the government, influential people should extend their support for making quality films, he added. After the reception programme, film artistes performed at the cultural show.
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Bengal Music releases two mixed albums
Cultural Correspondent
On the fourth day of the on-going music festival, the Bengal Music Company Limited released two mixed music albums titled 'Jhal Muri-1' and 'Jhal Muri-2' on the festival premises at Basundhara City Mall in the city on September 9.
Popular singers Habib and Bappa majumdar jointly released the album while the Chief Executive Officer of Bengal Music Company Limited, Shayan Chowdhury Arnab, was present at the programme.
The signers hoped for the success of the younger singers and also hoped that the audience would enjoy the songs of the album.
The organisers said that the younger singers of the albums were very promising and hopefully they would perform still better in their next works.
Seventeen popular and promising singers have sung sixteen songs of the albums.
The singers of 'Jhal Muri-1' are Punam, Tahmid, Abida, Gourab, Sajib, Shahana Bajpie, Bappa Majumdar, Armin and Nabila.
The singers, Shobbotta, Shuvo, Laura, Rupom, Srabonti, Wakil, Ornob and Nancy sang in the album 'Jhal Muri-2'.
The ceremony was followed by the live performances of the singer.
The singers sang their respective popular numbers and some from the albums.
The singers delighted a good number of audiences, who thronged at the festival.
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Sarwar to receive child literary award
Cultural Correspondent
Sarwar-ul-Islam has been nominated for the M Nurul Qader Child Literary award for his novel Kalopari.
He will receive a crest, a certificate and Tk 10,000 cash as prize.
He has written 32 books and of them, Kanabagir chha, Khokar chhara khukur chhara, Lal surjyer desh, Lokta paliye gelo are mentionable.
Sarwar has been working as a senior sub-editor at the daily Prothom Alo.
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Poor standard of Bangladeshi films: Search for a remedy
Farida Shaikh
Bangla films may be anything, but not vulgar. It is not the other side of vulgarity. Just a small example as a starter, Bangla films produced by Zahir Raihan were excellent and beyond comparison with present-day Bangladeshi mainstream movies made to entertain the ordinary filmgoers. Jibon Thakay Naya, a black and white Bangla film comes very close to some one hundred best films ever produced in the world. Amjad Hussain's social films Golapi Akhon Trainay or Sundari or Alor Misil are notable and good entertainment for any audience. However there is no denying that just as beauty, or vulgarity lies in the eyes of the beholder, in case of film the viewers' vulgarity extends beyond, to encompass the emotion of the film producer as well.
The Bangladesh Film Censor Board (FCB) had refused to issue a censor certificate to the film Matir Moina (Clay Bird), cancelling the earlier decision to issue an 'uncut' certificate to the film. The director Tareque Masud was informed that the film was unfit for public projection .It contained 'religiously' sensitive material.
The director said: "...As a former Madrassah student, I have portrayed not only religious tolerance and broadmindedness of Bangladesh society but also a positive, credible and objective picture of the country against the negative propaganda of the Western media about Madrassahs".
Matir Moina provides a subtle view of Islam, rather than the stereotypical Islam-bashing view of the Western media. We believe the FCB of Bangladesh committed a grave error by banning this film. This action will only give ammunition to those who portray Islamic culture as rigid and unyielding. Rather than protecting religious sentiments, the ban will only stifle open discussion and progressive change.
The film was selected as the opening film for the prestigious Directors Fortnight section of the Cannes Film Festival. That was the first time a Bangladeshi film was included in this world-renowned festival. On May 16th, the film's premiere received a standing ovation at Cannes.
Not too long ago filmmaker Tanvir Mokkamel noted on harsh, trivial or downright inconsistent censorship regime in the country. "Many of my films were banned including my documentary 'Remembrance '71'. The film focused on the killing of over 300 intellectuals in then East Pakistan. They were kidnapped, blindfolded and shot by the soldiers of the Pakistani army and by Islamic fundamentalists. It was one of the most horrifying periods of our life."
The FCB members made ludicrous comments when Nadir Nam Modhumati (A River Named Modhumati) was being screened before them. It turned out that the film had several shots of boats on the river. "The censors are neither very clever nor very consistent," Mokkamel added. But even the censor board can change its stance, as was the case with his film 'Lalsalu', A Tree without Roots, which focuses on the life of a mullah who puts up a false shrine in a remote village. Contrary to the mood and the tone of the censor board the film went and won several international awards.
The Bangladesh Censorship of Film Rules 1977 are based on the Cinematography Act 1918, amended and modified by the government in 1963, and enacted as The Censorship and Film Act and framed the Censorship of Films Rules.
After 1971 the Film Censor Act of 1963 was amended by President's Order No. 41/1972 and the Film Censor Rules were introduced. These Rules were amended by an Ordinance in 1982. The government framed the Bangladesh Censorship of Film Rules, following which the Film Censor Board was set up in Dhaka.
In the light of the Rules, the Ministry of Information issued 8 instructions for the examination of films on 16 November1985. The instructions were:
Films should not (1) contain anything opposed to the independence of Bangladesh and its integrity, sovereignty, law and order, value systems, social customs and traditions and the country's defense and security forces;
(2) instigate enmity between Bangladesh and friendly foreign countries or incite hatred among the nations;
(3) hurt the religious beliefs and sentiments of the people or cause communal enmity;
(4) incite unethical sinful acts and debauchery, defile the established sense of morality and sanctity or have scenes of nudity, rape, sexual acts, obscene movements of limbs and vulgar dresses, kisses and acts of embracing;
(5) have scenes of cruelty, serious oppression, repulsiveness and brutality;
(6) show serious criminal activities that incite enthusiasm in the minds of the people, draw sympathy for the criminals and create an impression that such acts are recognized in the society.
(7) The seventh instruction says that no copycat film, indigenous or foreign, shall be given a certificate of release.
(8) Finally, the eighth instruction says that films which encourage the practice of dowry shall not be given certificate of release.
These instructions of film examination for the film censor board, consisting of not less than twenty persons, in addition to a secretariat office manned by seven persons, need to take into consideration the greater global situation.
(To be continued)
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Five Bangladeshi students get international painting award
Cultural Correspondent
Five Bangladeshi students, four of them from Scholastica, won the 16th International Children's Painting Competition, said a press release.
Over 14,000 entries from 104 countries were submitted in the competition, jointly organised by the United Nations Environment Programme, Foundation for Global Peace Environment, Nikon Corporation and Bayer. The theme of the competition was 'Climate Change'.
The winners from Scholastica, middle section, Gulshan are Afiya Raisa, Zayan Masood, Ehtesam Abdullah and Raisa Kabir. Afiya and Zayan received fourth, and Ehtesam and Raisa won the fifth prizes respectively.
The institution accorded a reception to the winners and distributed certificates among them.
The winning entries were exhibited at Tromso in Norway on the occasion of World Environment Day 2007. The works will also be displayed in Japan and other countries.
Some of these works will also be used in the 2007 Environment Calendar and circulated through internet, postcards, posters, picture booklets and various publications.
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Britney earns scorn for MTV performance
Reuters/bdnews24.com, Las Vegas
Britney Spears launched her highly anticipated comeback at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, drawing ridicule by dressing up as a stripper and miming her new single.
The 25-year-old singer, whose professional achievements have been overshadowed by her personal crises in recent years, performed 'Gimme More' in a black sequined bikini and knee-high boots.
No longer boasting the buff body that helped drive her to international superstardom almost a decade ago, the mother of two moved sluggishly around the stage at the Palms casino, often with the support of a troupe of dancers.
At one point, the camera panned to rapper 50 Cent, sitting in the audience, who looked bewildered by the action on stage.
'She blew it,' gossip columnist Perez Hilton told Reuters. 'Everybody knows Britney lip-syncs, but that's because she dances so much.
She barely even danced in this. It was so bad. It was painful. It was embarrassing. And Iloved it!'
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G-Series to release Vibe's Chena Jogot
Recently a contract signing ceremony was held at G-Series office at Elephant Road, between one of the popular bands Vibe and G-Series. Among the band members, Fuad Sadi Shuddha, Sabbir Hossain Turja, Saber Ahmed Khan, and Saleh Hasan Ony, and proprietor of G-Series Nazmul Haque Bhuiyan Khaled were present.
The band Vibe is popular among the listeners of underground music. The news of this upcoming debut album will thri1l them. Targeting the Eid-ul-Fitr the album will be released under the banner of G-Series. There are a total of 11 tracks in the album, which are completely different in taste and presentation.
Fuad Sadi Shuddha said, "The tunes and lyrics have been selected after a long experiment. And there are some experimental tracks as well. We tried to deliver a message in the songs. The reality is more complicated then we think or as we apparently see it. Our known world is not what it seems at the first sight. I hope listeners and our fans will like these works." Nazmul Haque Bhuiyan Khaled remarked regarding this album, "I have high hopes regarding this new album".
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