United News of Bangladesh

Matt Cameron, the longtime drummer for rock band Pearl Jam, announced Monday he is leaving the group after nearly three decades. In a heartfelt social media post, the 62-year-old musician wrote, “After 27 fantastic years, I have taken my final steps down the drum riser for the mighty Pearl Jam. Much love and respect to Jeff, Ed, Mike and Stone for inviting me into the band in 1998 and for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime, filled with friendships, artistry, challenges and laughter.” Cameron did not provide a reason for his departure. Pearl Jam released a statement calling Cameron a “singular and true powerhouse” who had propelled the band’s live shows and studio recordings for nearly three decades. “It was a deeply important chapter for our group and we wish him well always,” the band said. No replacement was named. Cameron joined Pearl Jam in 1998, initially as a touring drummer after Jack Irons left the band. He brought much-needed stability behind the drum kit after several lineup changes. His first studio album with the band was Binaural in 2000. BTS’ ‘Dynamite’ ranks 34th on Apple Music’s decade list Before joining Pearl Jam, Cameron rose to fame with Soundgarden, playing through the height of Seattle’s grunge explosion. He briefly juggled duties with both Soundgarden and Pearl Jam from 2010 to 2017. Cameron recently completed a yearlong tour with Pearl Jam in support of their 12th studio album, Dark Matter. Born in San Diego and later moving to Seattle, Cameron has been a prominent figure in rock for more than three decades. Source: Agency 

Eminent Bangladeshi lalon and folk singer Farida Parveen is currently undergoing treatment with the full support of her family and is not facing any financial constraints in this regard, her son Imam Zafar Numanee clarified recently. In a Facebook post on Monday, journalist-lyricist and cultural figure Tanvir Tareq mentioned that Imam Zafar Numanee, son of renowned singer Farida Parveen, has dismissed recent speculations about his mother facing difficulties in affording her medical treatment, calling the claims misleading. “Alhamdulillah, all of us siblings are well-established and we are fully capable of bearing our mother's treatment expenses. Even if we didn't contribute, my mother has sufficient savings to cover her treatment,” he mentioned. He further added that the entire family including himself his siblings, their spouses, and others, have been personally attending to the ailing singer round-the-clock. “She has been unwell for quite some time, particularly since 2019, when she began suffering from kidney complications. She has been receiving treatment for years, but her condition worsened recently after starting dialysis,” he noted. According to Imam Zafar, several individuals, including cultural ministry officials and other well-wishers, reached out to the family inquiring whether any financial assistance was needed for Farida Parveen's treatment. However, the artist firmly declined such help. “My mother made it clear that she does not want to receive any such financial assistance,” he stated. Rare folk treasures at risk in Kurigram’s Bhawaiya Museum In light of this, Imam Zafar Numanee urged everyone to refrain from spreading misinformation and instead keep Farida Parveen in their prayers. “Please pray for her speedy recovery so that she can return to her musical pursuits,” he said. Farida Parveen is widely acclaimed for her contributions to Bengali folk music, especially her renditions of Lalon's songs. In 1968, her musical career started with performing Nazrul Sangeet for Rajshahi Radio.  She eventually studied Lalon music under the tutelage of her spiritual guru Moksed Ali Shah after becoming well-known in the early 1970s for her patriotic songs.  In acknowledgment of her contributions to music, Farida Parveen received the Ekushey Padak in 1987.

Four Korean songs, including hits by BTS and BLACKPINK's Rose, have been included in Apple Music’s list of the 500 most-streamed songs of the past decade. Apple Music released the “10 Years of Apple Music: Top Songs” playlist on Sunday (U.S. time) to mark the 10th anniversary of the streaming service. BTS’ global hit single “Dynamite,” released in 2020, ranked 34th on the list — the highest placement for any K-pop track. “Dynamite” was also the only K-pop song to appear in the top 100 of the list. The next highest-ranked K-pop entry was BTS’ 2021 single “Butter,” which placed 252nd. Both songs achieved worldwide popularity, reaching the top five on Apple Music’s “Today’s Top 100: Global” chart upon release. Netflix’s fictional K-pop group Saja Boys break BTS record Another Korean track, “Baby Shark” by Pinkfong, ranked 351st. The viral children’s song gained global fame with its catchy, repetitive lyrics, “Baby Shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo.”BLACKPINK’s Rose also made the list at 459th, thanks to her collaboration single “APT.” with pop star Bruno Mars. The track dominated Apple Music’s “Today’s Top 100: Global” chart for over 60 consecutive days.   Ed Sheeran’s “Shape Of You” secured the overall top spot on the list, followed by The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” at No. 2 and Drake’s “God’s Plan” at No. 3. Drake had the most entries on the list with 27 songs, followed by Taylor Swift with 14 and Ed Sheeran with 11. Source: Yonhap

Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina, widely popular in Tamil Nadu for his successful stint with the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, is all set to make his acting debut in a Tamil film. Raina, often fondly called "Chinna Thala" by CSK fans, will be seen on the big screen receiving full mass-hero treatment, complete with dramatic low-angle shots and cheerleaders welcoming him into the frame. The upcoming film is being produced under the Dream Knight Stories (DKS) banner. Ranbir Kapoor-Yash Starrer Ramayana: India's most expensive film franchise Suresh Raina's massy film entry Dream Knight Stories (DKS) announced Suresh Raina’s acting debut through a video shared on their official Instagram handle. In the video, Raina — fondly known as 'Chinna Thala' among Chennai Super Kings fans — is seen walking into a cricket stadium as a massive crowd cheers for him. The film, which is yet to be titled, is expected to revolve around the sport of cricket. It will be directed by Logan and produced by D Saravana Kumar under the DKS banner. While releasing the video, the makers captioned it, “Welcoming Chinna Thala @sureshraina3 on board for #DKSProductionNo1!” #With inputs from Hindustan Times

In a significant legal setback for Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan and his family, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has overturned a two-decade-old trial court verdict, ordering a retrial in the high-profile Bhopal royal property dispute worth an estimated Rs 15,000 crore. The case revolves around the inheritance claims to the vast estate of the late Nawab of Bhopal, Mohammad Hamidullah Khan, whose descendants — including Saif Ali Khan, his sister, and veteran actress Sharmila Tagore — have been seeking partition and possession of the ancestral properties since 1999. A single bench of Justice Sanjay Dwivedi ruled that the 2000 judgment by the Bhopal District Court, which dismissed the family’s civil suits, was based on an outdated legal precedent set by the Allahabad High Court — a ruling that the Supreme Court overturned in 2020, reports NDTV. Netflix’s fictional K-pop group Saja Boys break BTS record The disputed properties, spread across various categories, have been at the centre of one of India’s longest-running royal inheritance battles. The plaintiffs argue that under Muslim Personal Law, the Nawab’s private assets should have been distributed among his heirs following his death in 1960, rather than passing entirely to his daughter Begum Sajida Sultan. However, the Indian government had recognised Sajida Sultan as the sole successor, citing the 1949 Bhopal Merger Agreement and constitutional provisions. The defence maintained that under the terms of the merger and the tradition of primogeniture, the Nawab’s private properties automatically passed to the appointed heir to the Gaddi (throne), negating division among other family members. Finding flaws in the trial court's heavy reliance on the now-invalidated Allahabad ruling, the High Court invoked its authority under Order 14 Rule 23A of the Civil Procedure Code to remand the matter for a fresh hearing. Noting the case’s prolonged pendency, the High Court directed the lower court to fast-track the retrial and strive to conclude it within a year. The verdict marks the beginning of renewed legal proceedings in one of India’s most iconic princely family disputes, where questions of tradition, succession, and property rights remain fiercely contested.

Netflix’s animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters is not only slaying demons on screen but also breaking music records, with its fictional K-Pop group Saja Boys surpassing a milestone previously held by global superstars BTS. The group’s track Your Idol has climbed to No. 2 on the US Spotify chart, making it the highest-charting song by a K-Pop boy band in US Spotify history. The achievement surpasses BTS’ hit Dynamite, which peaked at No. 3 in 2020 — an extraordinary feat considering Saja Boys exist only within the animated world of the film. The buzz around Saja Boys began after the K-Pop Demon Hunters soundtrack debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard charts and has continued to climb. Fans have praised the group’s catchy music and eye-catching visuals. Even BTS leader RM was spotted singing the group’s upbeat track Soda Pop during a livestream, seen by many as a sign of approval from the K-Pop icons themselves. BTS comes back but K-pop has changed In the film’s storyline, the Saja Boys are secretly demons whose meteoric rise in fame drains the magical powers protecting Earth — a twist that reflects their rapid popularity in the real world. Meanwhile, fictional rivals HUNTR/X, who play the protectors in the movie, are also gaining attention. Their song Golden has achieved strong streaming numbers. The voices behind Saja Boys include actors Ahn Hyo-seop, Joel Kim Booster, Alan Lee, and SungWon Cho, while their songs are performed by a lineup of real-life vocalists: Andrew Choi, Samuil Lee, Kevin Woo, Neckwav, and Danny Chung. K-Pop Demon Hunters has become one of Netflix’s biggest animated hits of the year. With growing Grammy and Oscar buzz surrounding the film’s music and animation, speculation is rising among fans about possible sequels, spinoffs, or even a live-action adaptation. While nothing has been confirmed, the success of this K-Pop-meets-demon-hunting concept suggests Netflix may continue expanding the franchise. Source: News18

Setting a remarkable example of environmental transformation, a group of dedicated volunteers from home and beyond have turned a neglected and polluted lakeside area in the capital’s upscale Banani-Gulshan locality into a green, vibrant public park, offering a refreshing model of community-led urban renewal. Despite being perceived as a posh and relatively pollution-free part of Dhaka, the lakes and its adjacent areas in Gulshan and Banani were long plagued by waste, abandonment, and criminal activity. That changed when a visionary community initiative titled ‘55Kodomtola: Greening Gulshan and Banani Lakeside’ began to reclaim and beautify the space. On Friday morning, the recently inaugurated 'Banani Society 55k Adda Park' was buzzing with activity. From 7am, volunteers of all ages and professions were seen painting benches, fences, and walls to beautify the park. Among them was Mahmud Rahman, a renowned photographer and storyteller, and the initiator of the 55Kodomtola project. “As a resident in this Gulshan-Banani lakeside 55 number road, I started cleaning this lakeside area and planting trees in January 2022. Over time, the work has expanded to cover nearly 4 kilometers, with our volunteer count now standing at 160,” Mahmud told UNB. “Then I asked myself—why shouldn’t this lakeside become a park? Why should it remain a dump site?” Mahmud, who specializes in visual anthropology, said their recent effort to build the park was followed by a beautification drive led by volunteers like Julien Deur, Head of the Economic Department at the French Embassy in Bangladesh.  

Ranveer Singh has officially signed on with Maddock Films, NDTV can reveal, to star in an installment of the studio’s popular horror-comedy franchise. While the director for the new project is still being decided, it is being developed under the creative guidance of Amar Kaushik, the architect behind many of Maddock’s supernatural entries. Kaushik—who first made his mark with the genre-defying hit Stree, starring Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor—has been instrumental in shaping Maddock’s signature blend of humor and the uncanny. Building on Stree’s success, he expanded the shared universe with Bhediya, featuring Varun Dhawan. At present, Kaushik is directing the supernatural action thriller Mahavatar with Vicky Kaushal, while also overseeing the wider horror-comedy slate curated by producer Dinesh Vijan. He’s additionally involved in Thama, a horror-romance starring Ayushmann Khurrana and directed by Munja filmmaker Aditya Sarpotdar, set for Diwali 2025. Sitaare Zameen Par Day 12 Box Office: Aamir Khan's film maintains momentum With franchise regulars such as Pankaj Tripathi, Akshay Kumar, Rashmika Mandanna, and Khurrana already part of Maddock’s quirky spooky world, Ranveer’s entry marks a significant escalation for the series. Earlier rumors tied him to a secret shoot at Mumbai’s Mehboob Studios—though that turned out to be unrelated—this announcement cements his place in Maddock’s expanding pantheon. More details on the collaboration are expected to follow soon. Source: NDTV 

Dhaka, Jul 3 (UNB) – Mustafa Zaman has stepped down from his role as the director of the Fine Arts Department at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), marking another major leadership change at the country’s premier state-run cultural institution. Confirming the matter, Academy Secretary Mohammad Wares Hossain told several media on Thursday that he received Mustafa Zaman’s resignation letter yesterday (Tuesday). "The letter has not yet been forwarded to the ministry, but it is likely to be sent soon. He cited personal reasons for his resignation,” according to the BSA secretary. Zaman’s departure comes just four months after the Academy’s last Director General, noted theatre personality and academic Professor Syed Jamil Ahmed, abruptly resigned during a public event on February 28. In a later statement, Ahmed had accused the institution of excessive bureaucratic complexity and interference from the cultural advisor. Unmukt Chand’s reinvention explored in new documentary ‘Unbroken’ Following the political reshuffle in August last year, BSA's longtime DG Liaquat Ali Lucky resigned, and Prof Syed Jamil Ahmed was appointed on a two-year term starting September 9. Subsequently, on September 30, the Academy appointed new directors to six of its departments. Mustafa Zaman was given charge of the Fine Arts Department, alongside Faiz Zahir (Theatre and Film), Mehjabeen Rahman (Music, Dance and Recitation), Tanzim Wahab (Research and Publication), Abdul Halim Chanchal (Production), and FM Nurur Rahman (Training). With the DG position currently vacant again, many observers believe that a state of stagnation has gripped the Academy’s operations. Beyond his administrative role, Mustafa Zaman is widely respected as a prominent visual artist, art critic, analyst, and writer. His writings have appeared in The Daily Observer, The Daily Star, Dhaka Courier, and other national and international publications.

Director Raghav Khanna has wrapped production on Unbroken: The Unmukt Chand Story, a new documentary feature tracing the former Indian Under-19 cricket captain’s dramatic shift from national stardom to rebuilding his career in American cricket. The film follows Unmukt Chand’s rise to fame after leading India to victory in the 2012 ICC Under-19 World Cup, only to step away from his childhood dream of playing for the senior national team. Now based in the United States, Chand plays for the Los Angeles Knight Riders in Major League Cricket, symbolising a bold career reinvention that spans continents, according to Variety. Produced by Riverland Entertainment and Tudip Entertainment, the documentary is slated for release soon, with the distribution platform yet to be announced. The project brings together seasoned producers Dipti Agrawal and Tushar Apshankar, with Khanna also serving as producer alongside co-producer Priyanka Chaudhari. “Looking back, life has been a rollercoaster, from winning the Under-19 World Cup to retiring from India at just 28 years of age,” Chand said. “From being a poster boy to being trolled and then forgotten – I have lived in the extremities of public opinion.” F1 Movie Review: Brad Pitt’s Epic Racing Drama Drives Box Office Momentum Chand, who scored a match-winning century against Australia in the 2012 World Cup final and later represented Mumbai Indians and Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in the Indian Premier League, described the documentary process as cathartic. “When Raghav told me about the documentary, at first I was hesitant but the experience of filming the documentary with him was cathartic and it made me look at my own story from a new perspective,” he said. “I feel it’s a story that will resonate with many people who do not get what they want but are still determined enough to keep pursuing their path.” Khanna, known for his previous work at Netflix APAC where he co-commissioned the Oscar-winning The Elephant Whisperers, directed the Netflix special Modern Masters: S.S. Rajamouli and created the series Raja Rasoi aur Anya Kahaniyaan. “What drew me to Unmukt’s story was the sharp contrast between his potential and the outcome – the inversion from being hailed as Indian cricket’s next big superstar to being shunned into obscurity,” Khanna explained. Unbroken marks a significant project for Riverland Entertainment, Khanna’s Mumbai-based studio specialising in unscripted and documentary content, alongside Tudip Entertainment, the media arm of Tudip Digital.