United News of Bangladesh

Ella Langley was the biggest winner at this year’s Academy of Country Music Awards, taking home four major awards, while Cody Johnson won the night’s top prize, entertainer of the year. Langley started the evening by winning song of the year for her hit “Choosin’ Texas.” She later picked up single of the year for the same song, music event of the year with Riley Green for their duet “Don’t Mind If I Do,” and female artist of the year. Accepting her awards, Langley thanked her fans and said she was overwhelmed by the support she has received, especially from women in the industry. Johnson, meanwhile, won both male artist of the year and entertainer of the year. In his acceptance speech, he said music allows him to express emotion and dedicated his top award to Luke Combs. The 61st annual ACM Awards took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, after being held in Texas for the previous three years. Shania Twain hosted the show for the first time. She opened with her iconic hit “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” and praised the growing influence of women in country music. The ceremony featured performances by some of country music’s biggest stars, including Lainey Wilson, Miranda Lambert, Thomas Rhett, Kacey Musgraves, Blake Shelton and Kane Brown. The Red Clay Strays won group of the year, while Brooks & Dunn were named duo of the year. Parker McCollum won album of the year for his self-titled 2025 release, beating strong competition from Morgan Wallen and others. Before the main ceremony, Langley was also named artist-songwriter of the year. Jessie Jo Dillon won songwriter of the year for the third consecutive year.

The third namaz-e-janaza of content creator and actress Kaarina Kaisar was held at the Central Shaheed Minar on Sunday night, with a large number of colleagues, supporters and admirers gathering to pay their last respects. The namaz-e-janaza took place around 10:30pm and was attended by leaders and activists of various political parties and organisations, including National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam, Dhaka city Jamaat Secretary General Dr Shafiqul Islam Masud, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir.    

The first namaz-e-janaza of popular content creator Kaarina Kaisar was held after Maghrib prayers at around 7:00 pm on Sunday at Banani DOHS Jame Mosque. Earlier, her body arrived in Dhaka from Chennai, India, at around 5:00 pm. The second namaz-e-janaza will be held at 8:30 pm at Banani Darbar Sharif Mosque, followed by the third at 10:00 pm at the Central Shaheed Minar, said Kaarina’s father and former national football team captain Kaisar Hamid after the first janaza. After attending the first janaza, NCP Convener Nahid Islam urged people across the country and July movement activists to attend Kaarina’s namaz-e-janaza at the Shaheed Minar. He said Kaarina had been a fellow activist during the July uprising. “We deeply mourn her death and pray for her departed soul,” he said. The fourth funeral prayer will be held on Monday after Fajr prayers at 7:00 am in Gazaria Upazila of Munshiganj. She will then be buried at the family graveyard. Kaarina passed away on Saturday while undergoing treatment in Chennai due to liver-related complications. She was 32.

The body of popular content creator Kaarina Kaisar who died in Chennai, India, due to liver-related complications will arrive in Dhaka on Sunday afternoon. Later, she will be laid to rest in Munshiganj on Monday. “Karina’s body will return to the country around 5:00 pm on Sunday. Many thanks to US-Bangla Airlines for waiving the cargo fee. I would also like to thank Deputy Secretary Hafizur Rahman Sajal, a well-wisher of our family, for his wholehearted support,” Kaarina’s father and former national football team captain Kaisar Hamid wrote on Facebook early Sunday. Her first namaz-e-janaza will be held after Maghrib prayers at 7:00 pm at Banani DOHS Jame Mosque. The second prayer will take place at 8:30 pm at Banani Darbar Sharif Mosque, followed by the third at 10:00 pm at the Central Shaheed Minar, he added. The fourth funeral prayer will be held on Monday after Fajr prayers at 7:00 am in Munshiganj's Abdullapur. She will then be buried at the family graveyard. Earlier, Kaarina passed away on Saturday while undergoing treatment in Chennai due to liver-related complications. She was 31.    

Bulgarian singer Dara won the 70th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday with her upbeat anthem “Bangaranga,” securing the country’s first-ever victory. Israeli entrant Noam Bettan finished second in a Vienna contest overshadowed by protests and a boycott over Israel’s participation. Dara triumphed over 24 rivals in the grand final, with her energetic performance winning support from both juries and global viewers. ‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’ is an original story, asserts Tips “This is unbelievable,” she said, thanking fans who “felt the bangaranga.” The 27-year-old, not among pre-contest favorites, said the song reflects an inner force to overcome perfectionism, inspired by Bulgaria’s kukeri ritual traditions. Romania’s Alexandra Căpitănescu placed third, followed by Delta Goodrem of Australia and Italy’s Sal Da Vinci. Finnish performers Pete Parkkonen and Linda Lampenius came sixth despite being favorites. The event featured 25 acts at Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle, showcasing diverse styles. However, political tensions persisted, with several countries boycotting over Israel. Protesters rallied nearby, while critics condemned Israel’s inclusion. Britain’s Look Mum No Computer finished last with one point. Bulgaria topped the voting with 516 points, ahead of Israel’s 343. Despite controversy, organizers plan expansion, including Eurovision Asia in Bangkok in November.

Music label Tips has issued a clarification asserting that its upcoming film Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, starring Varun Dhawan, is an original work with no similarity to any other film. In a “public notice” shared on Saturday via Tips’ Instagram account, the company said there had been ongoing discussions in the trade and among the public regarding the film’s originality. Tips, along with producer Ramesh Taurani, director David Dhawan, and the cast and crew, clarified that the film is based on an original story and screenplay. “We have poured our hearts into making this film and sincerely look forward to welcoming audiences to cinemas on 5th June for a fun-filled family experience,” the statement added. The notice came two days after Tips Music Limited responded to what it described as “malicious and misconceived” allegations made by Puja Entertainment, owned by filmmaker Vashu Bhagnani, in an ongoing legal dispute over music and intellectual property rights. Puja Entertainment had approached a court in Bihar, alleging that its films, songs and other copyrighted materials were being used without permission by Tips. In its response, Tips said it had become aware of the legal case filed before the Civil Judge (Senior Division) in Katihar. While noting that it was yet to receive formal copies of the court order, Tips maintained that it is the lawful owner of the disputed music rights, backed by valid agreements. The company further said it has been using these rights lawfully for nearly three decades. Tips also rejected the allegations, calling them “malicious, misconceived and intended to tarnish” its reputation and goodwill, and said it would take all necessary legal steps to defend its ownership rights.#From NDTV

Netflix has announced that its upcoming crime-comedy Maa Behen, starring Madhuri Dixit and Triptii Dimri, will premiere on June 4. The release date was unveiled on Friday to mark Madhuri Dixit’s 59th birthday. The film also features Dharna Durgaa and Ravi Kishan in key roles, alongside Geetanjali Kulkarni, Arunoday Singh and Shardul Bhardwaj. At the centre of the story is Rekha, a mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when a dead body appears in her kitchen. She is forced to team up with her two daughters, Jaya and Sushma, to hide the secret while dealing with curious neighbours and a series of chaotic events. The film is produced by Abundantia Entertainment in association with Opening Image Films and directed by Suresh Triveni, known for acclaimed films such as Tumhari Sulu and Jalsa. Producer Vikram Malhotra, founder and CEO of Abundantia Entertainment, said the film combines humour and emotional depth. “Maa Behen is a bold and entertaining story, but at its core, it is about family, society and the difficult choices people make to survive in a judgmental world,” he said. Ruchikaa Kapoor Sheikh, Director of Original Films at Netflix India, described the film as a surprising comedy that begins with laughter and unfolds in unexpected ways. She said director Suresh Triveni has brought together Madhuri Dixit, Triptii Dimri, Dharna Durgaa and Ravi Kishan in roles unlike anything audiences have seen before.  #From NDTV

Malayalam actor Meera Vasudevan, now 44, says she regrets spending 17 years of her life in three failed marriages, which she believes limited her professional growth. Meera, who first gained attention in the 2003 Hindi film Rules: Pyaar Ka Superhit Formula opposite Milind Soman, later built a career in Malayalam cinema. Reflecting on her past, the Thanmathra actor said she had invested valuable time in relationships where she was not taken seriously. Certification of film ‘Contract Marriage’ suspended “I often tell my son that I wasted 17 years of my life on three marriages. I could have achieved much more by focusing on cinema, fitness or building a meaningful social circle,” she said in a conversation with Dhanya Varma. She added that she could have spent more time with her family instead of relationships lacking respect. Earlier, she told Movie World Media that she had accepted her mistakes and is now focused on her career and in a happy phase. Meera married Vishal Agarwal in 2005 (separated 2010), John Kokken in 2012 (separated 2016), and Vipin Puthiyankam in 2024 (ended 2025). With inputs from  NDTV

The certification of the Bengali film 'Contract Marriage' has been suspended over allegations of contractual breach and irregularities. Model and actress Zeba Jannat alleged that she was verbally contracted to act in a single play and had participated in shooting of a few scenes. She later found that posters of the film 'Contract Marriage', featuring her still images, were circulating on social media. The actress further alleged that footage shot for the play was later used in the film without her consent. Renowned celerity couple Omar Sani and Moushumi also criticised the producer and director over the film in various media and online platforms, leading to negative public reaction. In view of the allegations and related disputes, the Bangladesh Film Certification Board said in a press release on Wednesday that it suspended the certification of the film under Section 8 of the Bangladesh Film Certification Act, 2023. The order takes immediate effect, and the film cannot be screened in any cinema hall or other platform in Bangladesh until further notice.  

Vijay has granted special permission for 9 am screenings of the upcoming Tamil film Karuppu, extending support to the makers just two days after taking oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. The action drama, directed by RJ Balaji, stars Suriya and Trisha Krishnan in the lead roles and is set for worldwide release on May 14. The filmmakers announced the decision on their official social media account on Tuesday evening and thanked Vijay for approving the special morning shows. “Special thanks to our honorable Chief Minister Thiru. Joseph Vijay for granting the special permission for the 9AM shows of Karuppu. FDFS begins at 9AM from May 14,” the post said. While early morning screenings are common in several Indian states, theatres in Tamil Nadu have largely avoided them in recent years due to law and order concerns linked to intense fan celebrations around major releases. Written and directed by RJ Balaji, Karuppu features an ensemble cast including Indrans, Natty, Swasika, Sshivada, Anagha Maya Ravi and Supreeth Reddy in key roles. Music for the film has been composed by Sai Abhyankkar. Vijay and Trisha are regarded as one of Tamil cinema’s most successful on-screen pairs. They have acted together in several popular films, including Ghilli, Thirupaachi, Aathi, Kuruvi and Leo. Vijay and Trisha have also frequently been the subject of online speculation about their personal relationship, especially after Trisha attended Vijay’s swearing-in ceremony as chief minister. Despite ongoing rumours, neither of them has publicly addressed the claims. Their close friendship has long been discussed on social media, with some users alleging a relationship between the two. More recently, after details from Vijay’s divorce filings became public, sections of social media again linked him with Trisha. Some political figures have also referred to the alleged relationship while criticising Vijay. #From NDTV