Shabnoor paired with newcomer Arzu

Leading film actress Shabnoor has been paired with newcomers in Dhallywood -- such as Nadim and Emon -- time and again. This time the actress has been cast with young actor Arzu who created ripples with his debut film "Tumi Achho Hridoye".
Audiences of mainstream films will get to watch the duo in the movie "Jibon Nadir Tirey", directed by Monir Hossain Mithu. Mithu has worked as an assistant for noted filmmakers like Dilip Biswas, Shibly Sadik, Jibon Rahman and Jibon Chowdhury.
Details on the film will be revealed soon. Shooting for the film is expected to begin from February 1 at Shushong Durgapur in Netrakona.
Written by Zaman Akhtar, the cast of the film also includes Dolly Zahur, Sadek Bachchu and Afzal Sharif. Debendranath Chattapaddhyay (of "Moner Majhey Tumi" fame) is the music director of the film.

Jamai Mela, on Banglavision

TV serial “Jamai Mela” will be aired tonight on Banglavision at 8:15pm. Written by Brindaban Das, the serial has been directed by Azharul Karim.
The story of the serial revolves around a village. Most of the males from the village live abroad. As a result, the villager elders often marry off their daughters and keep the in-laws at their house. The story takes a twist, when one day the in-laws want to arrange a 'jamai mela'.
Mosharraf Karim, Chanchal Chowdhury, Shamim Zaman, Azizul Haque, Dr. Enamul Haque, Nova, Alvi, Dihan, Shahnaz Khushi and Putul are the lead characters in the serial.

Actor of many seasons

Chanchal Chowdhury is a busy and popular TV and film actor. After his debut blockbuster film “Monpura,” Chanchal is busy with a new film, “Rupkathar Galpo” and plays a role in Gautam Ghosh's film, “Moner Manush” as well.
Acting goes side by side with modelling. The actor recently talked to The Daily Star (TDS) about his numerous assignments.
TDS: What are you currently busy with?
Chanchal Chowdhury: A number of drama serials and single episode TV plays are on hand. I am acting in three drama serials “Barisal-er Mama Bhagney,” “Cafeteria” and another untitled work. All of them are directed by Golam Sohrab Dodul. Directed by Aranya Anwar, two serials “Kabiraj Golap Shah” and “Gents' Tailors Pvt. Ltd” were scheduled to go on air on Channel 1. The shooting of the serials is currently on hold as the channel is now switched off.
My present serials are, “No Problem Dot Com” , “Kancher Phul” and “Asharey Galpo”, directed by Manik Manobik, F. Zaman Tapash and Kochi Khandakar respectively. Directed by film actor Mahmud Koli, spectators will see me soon in a serial that will go on air on BTV. The title is yet to be decided.
TDS: Don't you find it difficult to take on so many serials?
Chanchal Chowdhury: The serials I mentioned will keep me busy for a few months. Schedules are set accordingly, so the problems don't seem acute. As acting is my profession, I can cope with a number of serials. Anyway, I forgot to mention another of my ongoing works “Nokshi Kanthar Maath” ,written by Palli Kabi Jasimuddin. Rajib Hasan is directing the TV play.
TDS: You personify different characters in each TV play or serial that you take on. Local dialects are also noticeable in the many roles you play. Will your fans get to see you taking on a new dialect?
Chanchal Chowdhury: I am a theatre activist so I may do so. At present, I am taking on a role in Golam Sohrab Dodul's serial “Barisal-er Mama Bhagney” which is in the local dialect of Barisal. In the beginning I do face a few problems in doing new dialects but later it goes well. Besides, the dialect of Barisal is fantastic.
TDS: What about your film assignments?
Chanchal Chowdhury: My latest film is “Moner Manush”, directed by Gautam Ghosh. The film is all set to be released this year in Bangladesh and West Bengal.
TDS: What role do you play in “Moner Manush”?
Chanchal Chowdhury: My character is Kaloa Mirza, who is a friend of Lalon Shah. Kaloa Mirza once gave shelter to Lalon Shah in a jungle. Later, Lalon Shah founded an akhra in that jungle. I am satisfied with my role in the film.

Taking Bangladeshi artistic sensibilities overseas

Renowned dancer Shibli Mohammad will be one of the main judges on an upcoming reality show to be aired on ETV Bangla, Kolkata. The Bangladeshi artiste will join famed Kolkata actress Deboshree Roy as the regular judges. Artistes -- both from Bollywood and Tollywood -- including Malaika Arora, Mahima Chowdhury, Priyanka Trivedi and Sulekha Mitra will appear as guest judges on different episodes.
Titled “Mamoni-Shonamoni,” the reality show will be a competition among teams consisting of mothers and their offspring. Shibli informed that the programme will have 66 episodes and is expected to go on air in August. He is the only Bangladeshi artiste to be featured on the show.
Indian actress Rituparna Sengupta is the brand ambassador of the programme. Shibli has previously worked with Rituparna, who is also a skilled dancer. They played the protagonists in two Tagore dance-dramas produced in Kolkata -- “Shyama” and “Shapmochan.” Couple of years ago, Shibli and Rituparna were judges on another Kolkata-based reality show “Jhum Ta Ra Ra.” Bangladeshi actor Ferdous was one of the guest judges on the show.
“Apart from regular competitors, celebrity mothers and their offspring, such as Dona and Sana Ganguly (wife and daughter of Sourav Ganguly), Mimoh and Yogeeta Chakraborty (son and wife of Mithun Chakraborty), Hema Malini and Esha Deol will also appear on the show as competitors, ” said Shibli.
“'Jhum Ta Ra Ra' was a celebrity dance competition but 'Mamoni Shonamoni' will highlight mothers and their sons and daughter from all walks of life,” he added.
While Shibli is preparing for the reality show, another big assignment is in the pipeline. Shibli will perform at the British Museum, London on July 10 as part of the cast of a Bangladeshi folk dance-drama “Shonai Madhob.” He will don the protagonist of the drama. Based on “Mymensingh Geetika,” the drama is directed by London-based Bangladeshi expatriate China Chowdhuy. Shibli informed that Chowdhury's organisation Taal Taranga is producing the drama. Shibli is scheduled for London on July 5.

Crowds flock to Eid celebrations

Palli Mangal Juba Unnayan Shangha of Kachakata thana, under Nagesdwari upazila, recently held a cultural function to observe an Eid re-union celebration.

In the evening a discussion was held at the Mominganj Gabtala Government Primary School grounds. The dialogue focused on the activities and achievements of the association. Nageswari upazila Chairman Aslam Hossen Shawdagar was chief guest, while the Principal of Kachakata Degree College Mohammad Jahurul Haque was special guest. The speakers comprised social activist Atiqur Rahman Raja, Mohibul Hossein Khokon, Producer of ntv channel Saklain Russel and Chairman of cultural organisation 'Methojan' Yousuf Alamgir, while Headmaster of the primary school Mohammad Ali was in the chair.

A cultural function was held at the conclusion of the discussion. The performers were 'Methojan' artistes. Shokeli Rukshana, Lovely Sarkar, Jahid Hasan Milu, Raton Sarkar, Akhtarul Islam, Bashir Ahmed, Narayan Chandra and Bipin Chandra presented various songs, while Sreedebhi Anuradha performed a dance. About 30,000 people across a spectrum of professions and ages were enthusiastic observers at the cultural function.

Life in Bangla filmdom

Shahjahan Chowdhury is a noted film director, scriptwriter and dialogue writer. His highly selective writings delineate our social, economic and political conditions, as well as the Liberation War.
Shahjahan is a journalist by profession. During the pre-Liberation period, he worked with the newspaper Khobor. After Independence, he began working with Bichitra. Later, he went on to publish a monthly, Nipun. Its subjects are cinema, literature, poetry, essays and drama. Now he is the editor and publisher of the Weekly Nipun.
At the start of Shahjahan's career, he got a chance to work as a co-director with the legendary Pakistani filmmaker Saroor Barabankvi who was then working on “Akhri Station”. As he says, “I learned many things from this veteran filmmaker. In Bangladesh, I was always encouraged by Khan Ataur Rahman and Soovas Dutt. 'Ata bhai' (Khan Ataur Rahman) was my idol in Bangladesh. As a budding filmmaker, I felt confident, thanks to his loving and considerate approach. I learned scriptwriting, editing and various aspects of production from him.”

TV serial Bari Bari Shari Shari on ntv

TV serial "Bari Bari Shari Shari" will be aired on ntv at 8:15pm. Written and directed by Shafayet Mansur Rana, the serial goes on air every Saturday and Sunday.

The serial centres on a residential colony in the city. Mahmud, a government official, lives in the colony. A conservative man, Mahmud has two daughters -- one a university student and the other about to finish school. There is a conflict between the father and the daughters, as the girls find it difficult to cope with his rigid values. Ferdous, Mahmud's nephew, moves in with the family, ushering in new troubles. Another family living in the same colony is a working couple -- Nahrin and Asif. Though they are progressive, their conjugal life often seems rocky.

The cast includes Hasan Masud, Tanveen Sweety, Homayra Himu, Monalisa, Richi Solaiman, Challenger, Iresh Zaker, Shohel Khan, Sharmili Ahmed and Wahida Mallik Jolly.