Movie: Tanvir Mokammel’s Rabeya

Pranab presents Aishwarya Rai’s movies to Gilani

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee carried a special gift for Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani during his recent visit to Pakistan a box full of movies of Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai.

Gilani, 55, who lists Aishwarya and Shahrukh Khan as his favourite film stars, said it was a “pleasant surprise” when he unwrapped the box presented to him by Mukherjee and found it was full of DVDs of movies starring the Indian actress.

The Prime Minister said Mukherjee`s aides might have found out about his favourite heroine from his book “Chah-e-Yousuf Say Sada”, in which he wrote about watching Aishwarya`s movies on his laptop while he was imprisoned during 2001-06 by the Pervez Musharraf regime. Mukherjee visited Islamabad during May 20-21 to resume the composite dialogue process with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

The Indian Minister also met Gilani and President Pervez Musharraf. During an appearance on a morning show on the ARY Oneworld TV news channel, Gilani also said he was not opposed to the screening of Indian films in Pakistani cinema halls.

Gilani discussed his taste in clothes and movies and said good music always helped lift his mood He said he liked to listen to the songs of Mohammed Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar and Nayyara Noor, a Pakistani ghazal singer who was born in Assam.

Gilani said he could comfortably wear all types of clothes, including sherwanis, salwar kameezes and safari suits, though he was more at ease in the national dress. He added that he liked to wear black.

Source: ZeeNews

Return of the Queen

BHAIDAS Hall in Vile Parle is an unlikely place for Rani Mukherji to announce her comeback to Bollywood.

But that is where the gorgeous actress is, surrounded by kids who clutch her long flowing skirt while she sings and dances with them on the songs of Thoda Pyar Thoda Magic, in which she is playing an angel.

Exhausted, nursing a torn ligament (”it’s no big deal, injury is part of my profession”), she manages a 1,000-watt smile nevertheless. One of those Rani specials that light up the screen.

“Kunal Kohli’s Thoda Pyar Thoda Magic with Saif Ali Khan will be my first release of the year. I play a character straight out of fantasy. It’s tough playing an angel as I have to keep flying. I’m always in midair, pulled up by a harness, I feel like Hrithik in Krrish,” she laughs.

Rani has been selective, of late. “I would love to do four-five films a year, but I’m not happy with the scripts offered to me,” admits the actress who is also working on Yashraj’s next film with Shahid Kapoor. But, whether she does films or not, Rani says that her fans continue to love her.

“They loved me then, when I did films like Ghulam and Bichoo, and they love me now when I’m playing an angel.” Is she deliberately being reclusive? “No, I’m not,” she protests. “It’s just that the dos that I attend are not attended by the media. I’m more of a family person. After a day’s work, I prefer to go back to home to my niece Myeisha.” What’s her equation with Saif in this film? Rumours are that the two don’t get along well.

“Earlier we didn’t get along that famously. We are not the best of friends.

But, yes, after we did Hum Tum, we got to know each other and now when this film was offered to us, we were more than happy to act opposite each other.

We have grown together as actors. We inspire each other,” she reveals.

Rani’s done films with most of the big actors from the Big B to Kamal Hassan and all the reigning Khans of Bollywood.

But she’s not worked Akshay Kumar.

“Akshay and I want to do a film together but it’s strange that we don’t like the ones offered to us.

Source: Khaleej Times

Nazrul Mela at Channel i

May 25 marked the 109th birth anniversary of our National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. His works - poetry, songs, features, essays and more - played a great role during the movements against the British Raj. During the Liberation War his songs and poetry inspired the nation.

To celebrate Nazrul Jayanti, Channel-i organised a daylong ‘Nazrul Mela’ at its Tejgaon office on May 25. This was the second Nazrul Mela by Channel- i.

The event was inaugurated at 11:00am. As a symbolic gesture, ‘Munia’ birds were set free by renowned artistes and media personalities. Among others, artist Hashem Khan, Managing Director of Impress Telefilm Ltd, Faridur Reza Sagor, veteran Nazrul singer Sohrab Hossain, poet Asad Chowdhury and writer Imdadul Haq Milon attended the inauguration. A performance by the artistes of Nazrul Sangeet Shilpi Parishad followed.

Performances were held at an open stage, named ‘Nazrul Mancha’ at the office premises, as well as an indoor stage.

Solo performances were held on the indoor stage while the group performances by artistes of Nazrul Sangeet Shilpi Parishad, Nazrul Institute, Udichi, Wrishiz, Sursaptak, Surbihar and other cultural organisations were held at the open stage.

Khalid Hossain, Ferdaus Ara, Sujit Mustafa, Shelu Baua, Yakub Ali Khan, Barkat Hossain, Dinu Ahmed, Bijon Chandra Mistri, Nawshin Laila, Sharmin Shathi Islam, Jannat-e-Ferdousi, Rahat Ara Geeti, Laila Afroz, Kazi Arif and others sang and recited poems at the Mela.

At the programme, artists - Hashem Khan, Jamal Ahmed, Biren Shome, Alokesh Ghosh, Abdul Mannan and others painted on the theme ‘Nazrul.’

The Mela had 20 well-decorated stalls by various organisations, including Nazrul Academy, Nazrul Institute, Srabon Prokashoni and Impress Audio Vision. The stalls featured books on Narzul’s works. There were also stalls featuring some rare photographs of the poet.

Though the Mela was inaugurated which much enthusiasm, intermittent rain throughout the day disrupted the event. Veteran artiste Ferdausi Rahman attended the mela. She said, “Last year I was overseas and couldn’t attend the ‘Nazrul Mela.’ However, I did watch the event live on TV with my grandchildren.”

Faridur Reza Sagor said, “The main reason behind organising the event is to celebrate the birth anniversary of our National Poet in a festive manner. Through initiatives like this, we want to take Nazrul to the world.”

“Programmes like this can generate interest among generations who are living abroad and have little or no idea of our culture,” he said.

Sharing his views, writer Imdadul Haq Milon said, “Both Nazrul and Rabindranath are iconic in our culture. Celebrating their birth anniversaries is a positive move by Channel-i.”

The Mela had something to offer to everyone. Children drew and painted on the theme ‘Nazrul’ at an art competition held at the Mela.

This year Channel-i presented the ‘Nazrul Mela 2008 Aajibon Shommanona’ to Nazrul artiste and exponent Sohrab Hossain. The veteran artiste received a cash prize of Tk 10,000. As part of the award, the artiste will receive Tk 10,000 from channel-i every month from now on.

Nazrul Mela was aired live on Channel-I on May 25.

Source: The New Nation

Priyanka’s red-hair days

Priyanka Chopra is making waves not only for her involvement with the new kid on the block, Harman Baweja but also for hopping into the future in a completely new avataar in her upcoming sci-fi release Love Story 2050.

“I am very excited about the film. It’s a double role, they are entirely two different characters. It was challenging,” said Priyanka.

But what’s with the red hair? Priyanka says her character demands it. But didn’t the idea of dyeing her hair it freak her? “Oh my god. Can you believe asking someone to colour their entire hair red. I was like no way, but then Mickey wanted it and so did Harry sir,” she said.

Love Story 2050 will also mark the launch of another star-kid Harman Baweja or should we say Hrithik Baneja.

Priyanka is quick to clarify, “Everyone compares a new comer, but I think they are totally different. The only thing commom is that they are extremely hard working.”

Source: NDTV India

Mehreen - Interview on her new come back

“It was for the love of the audience that I came back”: Mehreen Nadia Sarwat

Mehreen became a female idol in the neo-pop genre in Bangladesh after her debut album Anaari (2000) was released. Her voice and singing style came like a breath of fresh air to the pop music lovers who were craving for this revival.

Simultaneously a host, news presenter and occasionally a ramp model, Mehreen was absent from the scenario for some time as she was going through the most special experience of her life, motherhood. However, she made a brilliant comeback with the video album Tomar Jonyo, released in the Eid-ul-Fitr. One of the songs, titled Gonotontro at once caught the viewer’s attraction. Recently this versatile talented artiste shares her feelings with The Daily Star.

“Gonotontro, came totally from instinct. I think it’s a kind of response to show that, we, the common people are not dumb; each of us has the social eye indeed,” says Mehreen.

The concept of Music video is now an established one and Mehreen’s new video album is a conscious effort to apply this concept in a thoroughly professional approach.

“I think people can connect with a song more if it is also presented visually. In the western countries, music video became an integrated part of a song since the early 8os. But, in our country, rarely any big budget music videos are made. Tomar Jonyo is a big budget album released by Impress Audio vision in which we tried to be perfect starting from the concept to the recording, location, shooting and all. I think every video of the album will be worthwhile.”

Commenting on the contemporary music industry of Bangladesh, she said, ” Now there is a trend to do lots of experimental works and many of them are brilliant indeed. There is newness in the entire industry, just like the Boishakhi Jhor. But a mutually respectable atmosphere, a symbiotic blend between the old and the new can help our music industry far more effectively.”

About the recent tendency to do fusion folks, Mehreen explained, ” Personally, I never dared to do what is termed as hardcore folk. For I consider myself as a city girl. I should not wear the clothes of a woman from the country. I really think it’s important to be someone from that setting to feel the spirit and produce it in the song.”

She learned Tagore songs, Nazrul songs, and folk songs, mystic and modern music. She had learnt from Ustaad Pulin Dey and Ferdousi Rahman. ” To train your voice is something from which you can discover that you can do a lot of things with your voice. That’s what I am always trying to do.”

Mehreen conveys her gratitude and thanks to the audience who have been so supportive so far.” It’s their love that I came back in the world of singing again. Now I feel more responsibility to give something better to my audience,” she concludes.

Nation celebrates Nazrul’s 109th birth anniv amid festivity

The 109^th birth anniversary of the National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam is being celebrated across the country May 25 with extensive programmes taken up by the government and various socio-cultural organisations.
Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed inaugurated the programme at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium at 10:00am recalling his contributions to Bangla literature and paying tribute to his secular spirit.