In 1943, Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin drew a series of sketches on the man-made famine that had spread throughout Bengal, killing hundreds of thousands of people. Done in Chinese ink and brush on cheap packing paper, the series, famously known as Famine Sketches, were haunting images of cruelty and depravity of the merchants of death, and the utter helplessness of the victims.

Today, film is arguably presented as a marketing tool rather than a form of art. An odd conundrum we see nowadays is films made in

A video, featuring the poem, Tomar Prithibi Chinte Paro Na, written by award-winning poet Kamal Chowdhury and recited by eminent cultural personality and Member of Parliament Asaduzzaman Noor, was released by Mindshare Bangladesh, through their social media platforms. The video is entirely produced by Ddhoni Chitra Limited, a sister concern of Asiatic 3sixty.

Freedom fighter and cultural personality Syed Hasan Imam began his acting career in 1961. Over the years, he has won several prestigious awards, including the Ekushey Padak (1999), Independence Award (2016) and Bangladesh National Film Award for Lifetime Achievement (2014), among others.

It was, perhaps inevitable for the music industry to see huge losses in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. Since social gatherings can put one’s well-being at risk right now, live shows have been cancelled, hindering the biggest source of income for musicians and putting their future in jeopardy.

On the occasion of Kabi Guru Rabindranath Tagore's 159th birthday, eminent dancer Rachel Priyanka and singer Farhin Khan Joyita collaborated on the classic Krishnokoli, Ami Tarei Boli. Joyita's melodious voice and Priyanka's graceful movements were complemented by a stellar black and white videography by Ariq Anam Khan. Due to quarantine, the artistes collaborated from the comfort of their own homes.

For the last 10 years, Sourav Chowdhury has been working on the important series of artworks, titled ‘Eternal Existence’ and ‘Civilisation'. He focuses on an aura of fantasy, where mythological characters emerge in a playful mood. The artist merges the aspects of primitive cave paintings with the remnants of various world civilisations. Chowdhury is the Artistic Executive Manager of Cosmos Atelier-71 and Gallery Cosmos.

Chhayanaut, country’s leading cultural institution, paid their tributes to Rabindranath Tagore on his 159th birth anniversary through its official YouTube channel on Friday.

Kobiguru Rabindranath Tagore was an immensely talented poet, essayist, writer, spiritualist, painter, composer, educationist and novelist. He was felicitated with the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913. His works have been translated in many languages and serve as an inspiration to millions even today. Even decades after his death, his legacy lives on through his words. On Tagore’s 159th birth anniversary, we take a look at some successful movies that were inspired by his creations.

Today marks the first death anniversary of eminent singer Subir Nandi. The National Film Award-winning artiste won the hearts of millions with his melodious and melancholic songs on radio, television and films. His voice always radiated the essence of his motherland. Let us look back on his musical journey, and some of his greatest hits. Nandi learned folk music from his guru Bidit Lal Das and entered the music industry in 1972 with his first solo song, Jodi Kew Dhup Jele Deye, written by Mohammad Muzakkar and composed by Ustad Mir Kashem. He soon went on to give his first super hit, the title song from the film, Din Jaye Kotha Thake (1979). The song was written by Khan Ataur Rahman. Regarded as the maestro of playback singing, Nandi won his first National Award for Amar Ei Duti Chokh, from the film Mahanayak (1984). Picturised on a heartbroken Bulbul Ahmed expressing his love, the song became an instant hit. A couple of years later, Nandi came back with yet another masterpiece, Koto Je Tomake Beshechi Bhalo, written by Nazrul Islam Babu and composed by Ali Hossain for the film Usila (1986). Ekta Chhilo Shonar Konna, his next superhit from the film Srabon Megher Din (1999), not only got him another National Award, but also became an iconic song in the country. Through the song, penned by Humayun Ahmed and composed by Maksud Jamil Mintu, Suruj Miah (Mahfuz Ahmed) describes Kusum (Meher Afroz Shaon), a simple yet extraordinary village girl, whom he loves dearly, in the film. O Amar Ural Ponkhi Re, written by Humayun Ahmed and composed by Maksud Jamil Mintu for the film Chandrokotha (2003) is a treat for music lovers. This song by Nandi is picturised on Ferdous and Shaon. Bhalobashi Sokale is one his most popular love songs from the film Megher Por Megh (2004). Composed by Emon Saha, the National Award-winning song features Riaz and Purnima. Nandi was honoured with the Ekushey Padak posthumously. He received his last National Award for playback singing for the film Mohua Sundori (2015). Throughout his illustrious career, he sang over 2500 songs. He truly is an irreplaceable asset to the music industry.

Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC), High Commission of India, Dhaka, is organising the webinar, Tribute to Rabindranath Tagore- A ray of hope through Tagore’s Philosophy, on the occasion of the 159th birth anniversary of Kabiguru Rabindra Tagore on May 8.

More than 6,000 event logistics support providers operate in the country, employing around 5 lakh workers. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, their livelihoods face dire peril, as events have stopped altogether due to the risk of infection.

Today marks the fifth death anniversary of distinguished artist Novera Ahmed. Despite being the pioneer of modern sculpting in Bangladesh, she remains one of the most misrepresented artists in the country. She produced just around 100 works. 33 of them are in the collection of Bangladesh National Museum. It is a well-known fact that she chose to lead her life in exile from 1970, first in London and later in France, where she breathed her last in May 2015. She was a confident yet mysterious artist.

Renowned musician and Managing Director of Gaan Bangla Television, Kaushik Hossain Taposh revealed his latest song, Nit Din Jiyan Maran on the occasion of his wife and Gaan Bangla Chairperson Farzana Munny's birthday yesterday. "May 5 is a special day for me," says Taposh, "and if I could, I would give every beautiful in the world to my favourite person." More than 200 famous personalities wished the successful enterpreneur on her birthday through the Gaan Bangla Facebook page.

Marking the 159th birth anniversary of Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore, the dance troupe, Bhabna, led by celebrated dancer Samina Husain Prema, will present a part of their acclaimed dance drama, titled Bhanusingher Padabali. Prema has choreographed and directed the production, which will be released on her Facebook page on May 8.

The home-to-home digital concert, ‘I for India’, was held recently on Facebook. It has raised over Rs 52 crore in donations for COVID-19 relief in India.

Aynabaji, starring Chanchal Chowdhury, Masuma Rahman Nabila and Partha Barua among others, was one of the most successful films of 2016. The film’s director Amitabh Reza Chowdhury expressed his thoughts of doing something new with the team, on Facebook. “Thinking of something to do with Ayna in this crisis of Coronavirus. Let's see what can be done,” he wrote.

Directed by Mostafizur Rahman, Ei Shob Din Ratri, is one of the most popular TV series of the country. The highly acclaimed show won the hearts of millions in Bangladesh when it was first aired.

Bangladesh celebrated the World Intellectual Property Day 2020 recently, on a virtual platform. The programme was jointly organised by the Copyright office Bangladesh, Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Government of Bangladesh and Center for Policy Research, Bangladesh.

Noted actor-director Salahuddin Lavlu began his journey with Aranyak Natyadal. He soon joined the television industry and was well received by the audience for his spontaneity and brilliance. Taking one leap at a time, the artiste began directing television drama serials and captivated the masses with his directorial debut, Molla Barir Bou. Celebrating his journey so far, Salahuddin Lavlu takes a walk down memory lane in a recent conversation with The Daily Star.