Naveen Islam Toree

Music has always been more than performance for Arzeen Kamal. Through his work, the Los Angeles-based Bangladeshi singer-songwriter and lyricist has sought to bring Bengali musical traditions into conversation with indie pop, folk, and electronic sounds. Long before he began experimenting with genres and production, however, his earliest understanding and appreciation of performance came from a home where songs were part of everyday life.

Artist Masudur Rahman is marking the 104th birth anniversary of Shilpaguru Safiuddin Ahmed with his fourth solo exhibition, “Ontore Ontorikkhe”, currently under way at Safiuddin Shilpalay.

Kim Krizan, who co-wrote “Before Sunrise” with Richard Linklater, discovered the video and left a simple but touching comment: “Thanks for loving our movie.”

A rain-soaked evening at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) set the stage for the launch of the Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) 2027 yesterday (June 19), bringing together filmmakers, students, academics, and industry professionals for a celebration of storytelling and accessible cinema.

Held ahead of World Music Day, the musical evening paid tribute to the legacy of mystic poet and songwriter Dewan Hason Raja, whose songs continue to resonate with audiences more than a century after his lifetime.

This is the question that viewers see on the wall when they first go to “Baakmuhurto / A Turning Moment” at Shala Neighbourhood Art Space, Aloki. It is a question that we have all thought about, but in different ways. Decolonisation has been injected in our veins for centuries, and everyone has wondered at least once in their lives — Who am I without invasion?

For many aspiring musicians, the journey begins in a studio. For Jahidul Islam Hridoy, better known as JD47, it began at a tea stall.

The scent of raw clay, the warmth of terracotta tones, and the stories of generations-old craftsmanship have come together under one roof at the ongoing folk fair “Songs of Fired Earth” at Alliance Française de Dhaka.

A new addition to Dhaka’s contemporary art landscape, Gallery MAFA has officially begun its journey with the group exhibition “A Graceful Beginning”, bringing together a vibrant collection of contemporary artworks by Bangladeshi artists.

Printmaking has often remained one of the lesser-explored forms within Bangladesh’s art scene – admired within artistic circles, yet less familiar to wider audiences than painting or sculpture. Over the past few weeks, however, Kala Kendra in Lalmatia has turned renewed attention toward the medium through its month-long printmaking festival, drawing visitors into a world of layered textures, memory, and experimentation.

The Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC), High Commission of India, inaugurated the art exhibition “Sampriti” at its Gulshan premises yesterday (May 7), bringing together artists, scholars, diplomats, and cultural personalities for an evening of art, music, and cultural exchange.

The first evening of Chhayanaut’s two-day “Rabindra Utsab 1433” unfolded yesterday at the Chhayanaut Milonayoton, as artistes and audiences gathered to celebrate the 1433rd birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore through music, recitation and performance.

The title of the event was drawn from a line in Nazrul’s own lyrics, reflecting the enduring emotional depth and appeal of his music.

Each canvas carried its own story — from fluid abstractions of enchanting rural scenes to intimate human moments and deep explorations of colour and form.

Held from April 17 to 20, 2026, the exhibition featured works by alumni artists of the discipline and presented a vivid cross-section of themes, forms, and visual languages.

“Rupantor: The ReSonance Show,” the culminating presentation of the Department of Media Studies and Journalism’s Spring 2026 curriculum integration, made a comeback last Saturday with the theme “The Pitfalls of National Consciousness”.

A new group exhibition at Bhumi Gallery is bringing together a range of emerging artists through a simple but effective idea: working within small canvases. Titled “Small, Infinite — Chapter I: Beginnings”, the fourth exhibition by Easels features 120 artworks by 10 young artists, each contributing 12 individual pieces.

Artist Suporna Alice Gomes inaugurated her first solo art exhibition, “Burnt Expressions: The Realms of Fantasy,” today at Safiuddin Shilpalay in Dhanmondi, marking a significant milestone in her artistic journey.

As Tashfee makes her debut in Bollywood with “Sajan Re”, The Daily Star catches up with her about the new adventure, and what lies ahead.

In the Bangla cultural calendar, spring often arrives not only in colour, but in melody. This season, that arrival takes shape in “Boshonto”, a lyrical play dedicated to poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, while drawing from the timeless world of Rabindranath Tagore.