Arts & Entertainment

Arts & Entertainment

Banshi and Labu Mian's vision

 Mahmud
In days gone by, young rakhals (cowherds) playing banshi (bamboo flute) under banyan trees was a common sight in rural Bengal. Today the scene has changed. One exception, however, is city dweller Labu Mian who 30 years ago embarked on his mission to acquaint urbanites with the instrument of the rakhals.

Celebrating the man who gave us “Safed Hathi" and “Kabuliwala”
To celebrate the 60th year of India's Independence, among other things, the Indian government will honour living movie legends -- Tapan Sinha, Dilip Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar and Saroja Devi -- by conferring them with lifetime achievement awards.

Roquaiya Hasina
A dedicated Tagore singer
Cultural Correspondent
Singer Roquaiya Hasina Neely is well known for her purist approach to rendering Rabindra Sangeet. Her third music album, “Baaje Jhornar Gaan” was released in Dhaka in 2006 and was appreciated by Tagore enthusiasts. The songs are now available on several websites (Google: Roquaiya Hasina). Songs from her third album were played on radio stations in USA and Australia. Her fourth album is set to be released next month.

Online art: Coming of age
Kavita Charanji, New Delhi
In this digital age, can art afford to not jump on the bandwagon? There may be a polarity of opinion on this score but, like it or not, art online is here to stay. Take Delhi, for instance. The city has several galleries, which exhibit their works on their websites and even sell their art works without a face to face between buyers and sellers.

Special programmes on ntv's 5th anniversary
TV play “Jogfol Shunyo”
Cultural Correspondent
A special play Jogfol Shunyo will be aired on ntv on July 3 at 9:00 pm. The cast includes filmstar Moushumi, Hassan Masud, Mosharraf Karim, Siddiqur Rahman, Toma and Ferdaus in a special appearance.

Afzal, Subarna in “Aronnyer Shukh Dukhho”
Cultural Correspondent
A special telefilm, Aronnyer Shukh Dukhho, will be aired on ntv on July 3. The cast of the film includes Afzal Hossain, Subarna Mustafa, Tauqir Ahmed, Tarin, Abul Hayat, Amirul Haque Chowdhury, Saleh Ahmed, Shams Sumon, Dilara Zaman, Sharmin Shila and Ahsanul Haque Minu.

Cultural programme marking tree fair in Khagrachhari
Our Correspondent, Khagrachhari
Speakers at a discussion and prize-giving ceremony held recently said that the government has decided to plant over 1.5 crore saplings in the reserve forest. Meanwhile some non-government organisations would distribute over 1 crore saplings in Chittagong Hill Tracts.

An Oscar for Heath Ledger?
“Knight” cast thinks so
Heath Ledger's co-stars from "The Dark Knight," including two-time Batman Christian Bale, took turns at a press event this weekend praising and remembering the late actor's intense style. A few of them are even lobbying for a gold statue on his behalf.