Chhayanaut, the country’s esteemed cultural institution, has built a collection of thousands of songs for more than six decades now. The traditional cultural institution has been playing a special role in shaping society by using art and culture. Now a new dimension is being added to the institution's work. To connect with more people, Chhayanaut is now focusing on utilising the power of social media. As part of this plan, the content will be mainly created from audio of Chhayanaut's songs and recent videos. In the meantime, Chhayanaut started broadcasting all its programs live on Facebook a few months ago; and from now on, the live programs will also be broadcast simultaneously through all the planned new mediums. Regular new content will be released every day at 9 am, and the initial event is called 'Jagoroni'. From the first day of December, the month of victory, Chhayanaut will release one content on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube channels simultaneously every morning. Chhayanaut unveiled the detailed plans in a press conference at Ramesh Chandra Datta Memorial Auditorium in Dhanmondi’s Chhayanaut building on Saturday afternoon, which was joined by its Executive President Dr Sarwar Ali, Joint Secretary Partha Tanveer Naved, Joint Secretary Jayanta Roy and faculty and other staff members. The inaugural content on Sunday is scheduled to be the national anthem, voiced by thousands of artists, recorded in Rayerbazar Martyrs Memorial recently. Thousands of people participated in the recording of this performance with the support of Chhayanaut's like-minded organizations and institutions including Nalanda, Rabindra Sangeet Sammilan Parishad, Kanthasheelan and Bratchari. Chhayanaut will publish the content of patriotic songs through social media throughout December. Later, in January and February, the content featuring various programs including recitals with songs will be released. After that, various content based on topics related to culture will be released, including Chhayanaut’s content on music lessons. The press conference began with Chhanayanaut students performing ‘Bijoy Keton Urchhe Oi', followed by 'Himalaya to Sundarban', a song which was adopted from a poem penned by Sukanta Bhattacharya. After the song, Dr Sarwar Ali said, “Chayanaut has upheld the Bengali ethnicity forever through culture, now a new dimension is being added to that. Apart from performing in auditoriums or open spaces, Chhayanaut performances will now be disseminated through social media, thereby reaching more people.” “In the era of globalization, we will use the Internet to protect national culture and bring our content to more audiences. This will pave the way for building a society of harmony by stopping intolerance and division," Dr Sarwar Ali said, also revealing that this year's traditional Victory Day program of Chhayanaut will be held at Rabindra Sarobar in Dhanmondi instead of Dhaka University Sports Ground. In a written statement, Laisa Ahmad Lisa said, “Chhayanaut was established in 1961 with the vision of encouraging Bengalis to develop independently in their culture and national characteristics. This institution is working on different branches of culture and culture-integrated general education, and all the activities of Chhayanaut are being conducted to build a humane society through the proper expansion and development of harmony, patience and practice.” “In this six-decades-long journey, Chhayanaut has built a collection of thousands of songs. The content that will be published across its social platforms will mainly be created from the audio of all those songs and the recent videos,” Lisa informed the media at the press conference.

Josh Allen’s latest kneel-down had nothing to do with football. The Buffalo Bills quarterback and actor Hailee Steinfeld posted a photo to their Instagram followers on Friday — 20.3 million for Steinfeld and a mere 1.3 million for Allen — of Allen on one knee proposing marriage. The picture was taken on a grassy ridge overlooking water, with the couple surrounded by candles and framed by a large arch covered in flowers. The NFL reposted the picture on X to congratulate the pair on their engagement, with a message ending with a ring and heart emoji. The setting was likely somewhere on the California coastline, where Allen lives in the offseason. And the proposal likely occurred sometime last week, when the Bills had a bye. Allen didn’t reveal the engagement during his weekly news conference on Wednesday as the AFC East-leading Bills (9-2) prepare to host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night. But he did smile widely when asked how he enjoyed his bye week. “Fantastic. It was great. Got some sun. Hung out with family. It was fantastic,” he said. Allen and Steinfeld were first linked in the spring of 2023, when they were photographed dining together in New York City. Months later, Allen acknowledged the two were dating, but asked The Associated Press not to mention Steinfeld by name in a bid to maintain a semblance of privacy. Steinfeld has since begun attending Bills home games, and the couple hosted a Halloween party this fall. The 27-year-old Steinfeld is from Los Angeles and began her acting career at age 10. She earned an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress for her role as Mattie Ross in the Coen brothers’ 2010 remake of “True Grit.” She also received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in the 2016 high school dramedy “The Edge of Seventeen.” Her other credits include “Bumblebee,” “Dickinson” and Marvel's “Hawkeye,” along with voice roles in “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” and its sequel. Germany's Merkel recalls Putin's 'power games' and contrasting US presidents in her memoirs Steinfeld branched out into pop music after performing in 2015's “Pitch Perfect 2.” She has released numerous singles and two EPs, including “Half Written Story” in 2020. The 28-year-old Allen has become one of the NFL's best quarterbacks and set many of Buffalo’s single-season and career passing and scoring records since being selected in the first round of the 2018 draft out of Wyoming.  

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel recalls Vladimir Putin's “power games” over the years, remembers contrasting meetings with Barack Obama and Donald Trump and says she asked herself whether she could have done more to prevent Brexit, in her memoirs published Tuesday. Merkel, 70, appears to have no significant doubts about the major decisions of her 16 years as German leader, whose major challenges included the global financial crisis, Europe’s debt crisis, the 2015-16 influx of refugees and the COVID-19 pandemic. True to form, her book — titled “Freedom” — offers a matter-of-fact account of her early life in communist East Germany and her later career in politics, laced with moments of dry wit. Merkel served alongside four U.S. presidents, four French presidents and five British prime ministers. But it is perhaps her dealings with Russian President Putin that have drawn the most scrutiny since she left office in late 2021. Putin's power games Merkel recalls being kept waiting by Putin at the Group of Eight summit she hosted in 2007 — “if there's one thing I can't stand, it's unpunctuality.” And she recounts a visit to the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi that year in which Putin's labrador appeared during a photo opportunity, although Putin knew she was afraid of dogs. Putin appeared to enjoy the situation, she writes, and she didn't bring it up — keeping as she often did to the motto “never explain, never complain.” The previous year, she recounts Putin pointing to wooden houses in Siberia and telling her poor people lived there who “could be easily seduced,” and that similar groups had been encouraged by money from the U.S. government to take part in Ukraine's “Orange Revolution” of 2004 against attempted election fraud. Putin, she says, added: “I will never allow something like that in Russia.” Merkel says she was irritated by Putin's “self-righteousness” in a 2007 speech in Munich in which he turned away from earlier attempts to develop closer ties with the U.S. She said that appearance showed Putin as she knew him, “as someone who was always on guard against being treated badly and ready to give out at any time, including power games with a dog and making other people wait for him.” “One could find this all childish and reprehensible, one could shake one's head over it — but that didn't make Russia disappear from the map,” she writes. As she has before, Merkel defends a much-criticized 2015 peace deal for eastern Ukraine that she helped broker and her government's decisions to buy large quantities of natural gas from Russia. And she argues it was right to keep up diplomatic and trade ties with Moscow until she left power, Obama and Trump Merkel concluded after first meeting then-Sen. Obama in 2008 that they could work well together. More than eight years later, during his last visit as president in Nov. 2016, she was one of the people with whom she discussed whether to seek a fourth term. Obama, she says, asked questions but held back with an opinion, and that in itself was helpful. He “said that Europe could still use me very well, but I should ultimately follow my feelings,” she writes. There was no such warmth with Trump, who had criticized Merkel and Germany in his 2016 campaign. Merkel says she had to seek an “adequate relationship ... without reacting to all the provocations.” In March 2017, there was an awkward moment when Merkel first visited the Trump White House. Photographers shouted “handshake!” and Merkel quietly asked Trump: “Do you want to have a handshake?” There was no response from Trump, who looked ahead with his hands clasped. Merkel faults her own reaction. “He wanted to create a topic of discussion with his behavior, while I had acted as if I were dealing with an interlocutor behaving normally,” she writes. She adds that Putin apparently “fascinated” Trump and, in the following years, she had the impression that “politicians with autocratic and dictatorial traits” beguiled him. Could Brexit have been avoided? Merkel says she tried to help then-Prime Minister David Cameron in the European Union as he faced pressure from British Euroskeptics, but there were limits to what she could do. And, pointing to Cameron's efforts over the years to assuage opponents of the EU, she says the road to Brexit is a textbook example of what can arise from a miscalculation. After Britons voted to leave the EU in 2016, an outcome she calls a “humiliation” for its other members, she says the question of whether she should have made more concessions to the U.K. “tortured me.” “I came to the conclusion that, in view of the political developments inside the country at the time, there would have been no acceptable possibility for me to prevent Britain's way out of the European Union from outside,” Merkel says. Giving up power Merkel was the first German chancellor to leave power at a time of her choosing. She announced in 2018 that she wouldn't seek a fifth term, and says she “let go at the right point.” She points to three 2019 incidents in which her body shook during public engagements as proof. Merkel says she had herself checked thoroughly and there were no neurological or other findings. An osteopath told her that her body was letting off the tension it had accumulated over years, she adds. “Freedom” runs to more than 700 pages in its original German edition, published by Kiepenheuer & Witsch. The English edition is being released simultaneously by St. Martin's Press.

The South Korean entertainment industry continues to dominate global screens, captivating audiences with its emotionally rich and trend-setting productions. This December, a fresh wave of K-dramas is set to enthrall fans, featuring a mix of romance, comedy, thrillers, action, and biographical stories. Packed with groundbreaking narratives and unexpected twists, these premieres promise to deliver unforgettable entertainment. Here’s a look at the 10 most anticipated K-dramas that are set to redefine Korean television in December 2024. 10 Most Hyped K-Dramas Premiering This December . Cinderella Game / Revenge Drama / December 2, 2024 Penned by Oh Sang-hee, this thriller series excels with Lee Hyun-Kyung as its director. The lead cast includes Han Groo, Kwon Do-Hyung, Park Ri-Won, and Choi Sang, supported by Na Young-Hee, Kim Hye-Ok, and Choi Jong-Hwan. Read more: South Indian Movies Releasing in December 2024: Must-watch Lineup This revenge drama series delves into the life of a woman unknowingly raised by her sworn enemy. Used as a pawn and posed as a false daughter, she becomes the embodiment of vengeance. As her journey unfolds, she embarks on a transformative path of growth and healing, discovering the profound and liberating essence of true revenge. Cinderella Game boasts production by Jidam Media and Miracle K Story. The Road In-between / Romantic Drama / December 3, 2024 Written by Seok Yeon-Hwa, this poignant romantic series centers on Seo-Hoo, a dedicated member of the Road View filming crew, as he grapples with the heartache aftrer a devastating breakup. Parallelly, Eun-Ha embarks on a deeply personal quest to find her father, whose fleeting image was captured on Road View. Together, their paths intertwine in a narrative of emotional separation, tentative self-discovery, and an unexpected turn down the alley of love. Read more: Top 10 Bollywood Movies to Watch in December 2024 Helmed by Lee Hae-Woo, this series stars Jung Gun-Joo, Won Seo-Hoo, Choi Hee-Jin, Seong Eun-Ha, Chae Ha-Jin, Hwang Se-On, Kang Myung-Joo, and Bae Myung-Jin. Light Shop / Mystery Thriller / December 4, 2024 Screenplay by Kang Full, this mystery TV series serves as an adaptation of Kang’s webtoon of the same title. Produced by Mr. Romance and Moving Pictures Co., the thriller series flourishes with Kim Hee-Won as the director. Light Shop boasts an ensemble cast that includes Park Bo-Young, Ju Ji-Hoon, Kim Seol-Hyun, Uhm Tae-Goo, Lee Jung-Eun, Kim Ki-Hae, Bae Seong-Woo, Kim Min-Ha, Park Hyuk-Kwon, and Shin Eun-Soo. Read more: December 2024 Amazon Prime Originals Streaming Lineup: Binge-worthy Watchlist The narrative weaves an extraordinary tale between the realms of the living and the dead, bridging these worlds through a mysterious light shop. Sorry Not Sorry / Romantic Comedy / December 5, 2024 Song Yi’s life takes a quirky turn when she masquerades as a married woman to blend into her new neighborhood. Beneath the façade lies a chaotic reality where she struggles daily with mounting mortgage payments and a cascade of life’s challenges. With this storyline, this lighthearted comedy series highlights the directing of Min Ji-Young and Oh Rae-Young and screenwriting of Choi Ryong and Jo Yoo-Jin, along with Ji-Young. The romantic series features Jeon So-Min in the lead role, accompanied by Choi Daniel, Gong Min Jung, Jang Hee Ryung, Kim Mu Jun, and Woo Kang Min. Read more: Top 10 Netflix English Originals to Watch in November 2024 To My Lonely Sister / Drama / December 10, 2024 Starring Oh Ye-ju, Park Ho-San, Kim Kang-Min, and Yang Eui-Jin in key roles, the series flourishes with Lee Jin-Ah as the director. Scripted by Lim Bo-Mi, the storyline centers on the inner turmoil of a middle school girl striving to break free from the shadow of her reclusive, withdrawn sister.

Popular actress Tamannaah Bhatia, celebrated across both South Indian cinema and Bollywood, has given her fans a delightful surprise. The beloved star, known for her mesmerising performances and iconic item numbers, is set to walk down the aisle. The burning question on everyone’s mind is: who is the lucky groom? It’s none other than her long-time partner, Vijay Varma. The much-adored couple has already earned the moniker of "Bollywood's Power Couple," and they plan to solidify their relationship with a grand wedding in early 2025. Shah Rukh's son Aryan chooses father's faith, Gauri opens up According to Indian media, preparations for the wedding are well underway. The duo is also reportedly scouting for a luxurious new home in Mumbai, where they plan to begin their married life together. Although both Tamannaah and Vijay have chosen to stay tight-lipped about their wedding plans, their relationship has always been in the public eye. From romantic dinners to glamorous film industry parties, the couple has been spotted together on multiple occasions, never shying away from the cameras. Their chemistry, both on and off-screen, has left fans and the media smitten. Their love story first made headlines in 2022, when the pair was seen in an intimate setting at a party. Initially, the duo avoided confirming the relationship, referring to each other as "just good friends." In June 2023, Tamannaah openly declared her happiness with Vijay, stating that they support each other in both personal and professional endeavours. Their sizzling on-screen chemistry in Lust Stories 2 further fuelled fans’ admiration for the pair. Grand Wedding As the New Year approaches, excitement builds around their much-anticipated wedding. Sources reveal that Tamannaah and Vijay are planning an elaborate celebration to match their star-studded status. Top 10 Bollywood Movies to Watch in December 2024 The couple is also eyeing a lavish residence in Mumbai to call home after their wedding. While the couple remains silent about the specifics, their fans are eagerly awaiting further announcements. With their undeniable charm and love for each other, Tamannaah and Vijay are sure to host a wedding that will be the talk of the town. For now, the couple continues to enjoy their time together, sharing glimpses of their life through public appearances that leave fans enchanted. Their love story is one for the ages, and their upcoming union is set to be a highlight of 2025.

Drake alleged in a court filing Monday that Universal Music Group falsely pumped up the popularity on Spotify and other streaming services of Kendrick Lamar's “Not Like Us," a song that viciously attacked Drake amid a bitter feud between the two hip-hop superstars. The petition in a New York court by the rapper's company Frozen Moments LLC demands the preservation and divulgence of information that might be evidence in a potential lawsuit against UMG, which is the distributor for the record labels of both Drake and Lamar. In allegations that UMG calls “offensive and untrue,” the filing says the record company “launched a campaign to manipulate and saturate the streaming services and airwaves with a song, ‘Not Like Us,’ in order to make that song go viral, including by using ‘bots’ and pay-to-play agreements.” It said the company and Spotify “have a long-standing, symbiotic business relationship” and alleges that UMG offered special licensing rates to Spotify for the song. The petition also says UMG has fired employees seen as loyal to Drake "in an apparent effort to conceal its schemes." Universal Music Group said in a statement in response that the "suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue. We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns. No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this pre-action submission can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.” “Not Like Us,” the wildly popular Lamar single released in May as part of a flurry of dueling tracks by the two artists, includes the lyrics, “Say, Drake, I hear you like ’em young, You better not ever go to cell block one.” It has gotten more than 900 million plays, according to figures listed on Spotify. Spotify representatives declined immediate comment, but in a statement on a previous case, the company said it “invests heavily in automated and manual reviews to prevent, detect, and mitigate the impact of artificial streaming on our platform,” and in broader public statements has said it has gone to great lengths to mitigate the effects of bad actors on streaming numbers and royalties. The feud between Drake, a 38-year-old Canadian rapper and singer and five-time Grammy winner, and Lamar, a 37-year-old Pulitzer Prize winner who is set to headline the next Super Bowl halftime, is among the biggest in hip-hop in recent years, with two of the genre's biggest stars at its center. The two were occasional collaborators more than a decade ago, but Lamar began taking public jabs at Drake starting in 2013. The fight escalated steeply earlier this year. The move to court, while not yet a lawsuit, still represents a major escalation of the feud and involves some of the biggest business partners of both men.   End/UNB/AP/MB

With a combined $270 million in worldwide ticket sales, “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” breathed fresh life into a box office that has struggled lately, leading to one of the busiest moviegoing weekends of the year. Jon M. Chu’s lavish big-budget musical “Wicked,” starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, debuted with $114 million domestically and $164.2 million globally for Universal Pictures, according to studio estimates Sunday. That made it the third-biggest opening weekend of the year, behind only “Deadpool & Wolverine” and “Inside Out 2.” It’s also a record for a Broadway musical adaptation. Two Hollywood films, “Wicked” and “Red One”, set to premiere in Bangladesh Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II,” a sequel to his 2000 best picture-winning original, launched with $55.5 million in ticket sales. With a price tag of around $250 million to produce it, “Gladiator II” was a big bet by Paramount Pictures to return to the Colosseum with a largely new cast, led by Denzel Washington and Paul Mescal. While it opened with a touch less than the $60 million predicted in domestic ticket sales, “Gladiator II” has performed well overseas. It added $50.5 million internationally. The collision of the two movies led to some echoes of the “Barbenheimer” effect of last year, when “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” launched simultaneously. The nickname this time, “Glicked,” wasn’t quite as catchy and the cultural imprint also was notably less. Few people sought out a double feature this time. The domestic grosses in 2023 — $162 million for “Barbie” and $82 million for “Oppenheimer” — also were higher. “Glicked” falls short of “Barbenheimer”For Universal, which distributed “Oppenheimer" last year, the weekend was more a triumph of “Wicked" than it was of “Glicked.” “We saw an opportunity to dominate a weekend and get a very large running start into the Thanksgiving holiday," said Jim Orr, distribution chief for Universal. "We're very confident that it will play ridiculously well through the Christmas corridor and into the new year.” But the counter-programming effect was still potent for “Wicked” and “Gladiator II,” which likewise split broadly along gender lines. And it was again the female-leaning release — “Wicked,” like “Barbie” before it — that easily won the weekend. About 72% of ticket buyers for “Wicked” were female, while 61% of those seeing “Gladiator II” were male. “Standing on their own, each of these movies may have done pretty much what they did, but it’s hard to know,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore. “Raising awareness can indeed lead to an increase in box office. Let’s put it this way: They didn’t hurt each other at all.” Massive marketing campaigns paved the way for opening weekendWhile “Barbenheimer” benefitted enormously from meme-spread word-of-mouth, both “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” leaned on all-out marketing blitzes. The “Gladiator II” campaign featured everything from a much-debated Airbnb cross-promotion with the actual Colosseum in Rome to simultaneously running a one-minute trailer on more than 4,000 TV networks, radio station and digital platforms. The “Wicked” onslaught went even further, with pink and green themed “Wickedly Delicious” Starbucks drinks, Stanley mugs and Mattel dolls (some of which led to an awkward recall ). Its stars made appearances at the Met Gala and the Olympics. “We had roughly 400 global brand partners on ‘Wicked,’ so the campaign was inescapable, said Orr. “And our cast, led by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, worked so hard on this. They were everywhere. They did everything we asked them to do.” Going into the weekend, box office was down about 11% from last year and some 25% from pre-pandemic times. That meant this week's two headline films led a much-needed resurgence for theaters. With “Moana 2” releasing Wednesday, Hollywood might be looking at historic sales over the Thanksgiving holiday. The two films boosted sluggish box office performance“This weekend’s two strong openers are invigorating a box office that fell apart after a good summer,” said David A. Gross, a film consultant who publishes a newsletter for Franchise Entertainment. Though “Wicked” will face some direct competition from “Moana 2,” it would seem better set up for a long and lucrative run in theaters than “Gladiator II.” Though some have dinged “Wicked” for running long, at 2 hours and 40 minutes, the film has had mostly stellar reviews. Audiences gave it an “A” on CinemaScore. The reception for “Wicked” has been strong enough that Oscar prognosticators expect it to be a contender for best picture at the Academy Awards, among other categories. Producers, perhaps sensing a hit, also took the step of splitting “Wicked” in two. Part two, already filmed, is due out next November. Each “Wicked” installation cost around $150 million to make. “Gladiator II” has also enjoyed good reviews, particularly for Washington's charismatic performance. Audience scores, though, were weaker, with ticket buyers giving it a “B” on CinemaScore. The film will make up for some of that, however, with robust international sales. It launched in many overseas markets a week ago, and has already accrued $165.5 million internationally. Coming in a distant third place for the weekend was “Red One,” the Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans holiday movie turned action film. In its second week of release, the Amazon MGM Studios release grossed $13.3 million to bring its two-week global haul to $117 million. At a cost of $250 million to make, “Red One” is the season's biggest flop, though it could recoup some value for Amazon if it's more popular once it begins streaming. Final domestic figures will be released Monday. Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore: 1. "Wicked," $114 million. 2. “Gladiator II,” $55.5 million. 3. “Red One,” $13.3 million. 4. “Bonhoeffer: Pastor Spy Assassin," $5.1 million. 5. “Venom: The Last Dance,” $4 million. 6. “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” $3.5 million. 7. “Heretic,” $2.2 million. 8. “The Wild Robot,” $2 million. 9. “Smile 2,” $1.1 million. 10. “A Real Pain,” $1.1 million.

Plan International Bangladesh and JAAGO Foundation Trust officially launched the “Shomotay Tarunno: Youth for Equality” project at a Dhaka hotel on Monday. The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) is funding this four-year initiative, which will operate in all eight divisions of Bangladesh until November 2027. The project was launched with the aim of preventing gender-based violence, dismantling harmful gender stereotypes, and empowering youth and youth-led organisations at both national and local levels. Press Institute Bangladesh's (PIB) Director General, Faruk Wasif, attended the event as the Chief Guest, while Kabita Bose, Country Director of Plan International Bangladesh, presided over the ceremony. During the launch, PIB and Plan International Bangladesh signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to produce materials and train journalists to promote gender-sensitive journalism in the country. South Indian Movies Releasing in December 2024: Must-watch Lineup The Netherlands ambassador to Bangladesh, Andre Carstens; Associate Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University, Dr Md Khorshed Alam; and Bangladeshi writer and journalist Palash Mahbub participated as special guests. Nishath Sultana, director of Influencing, Campaign, and Communications at Plan Bangladesh, delivered the welcome speech. Neelima Yasmeen, Deputy Director of Programme at Plan International Bangladesh, conducted a youth session, and JAAGO Foundation Trust’s Chairman, Korvi Rakshand, was also present. PIB DG aruk Wasif highlighted the critical role of district and upazila-level journalists in ensuring credible news. He emphasised the importance of empowering journalists to provide factual reporting and praised the government’s commitment to supporting free and independent journalism. Presiding over the event, Kabita Bose said, “Discrimination against girls starts in the womb and persists throughout their lives. Our work focuses on fostering equality among all genders and diversities in society.” Andre Carstens noted the significant contributions of youth in driving positive change, stating, “By engaging in community service, innovation, leadership, and decision-making, Bangladeshi youth are already making an impact. Shomotay Tarunno will involve youths, Youth-Led Organisations (YLOs), the National Youth Council (NYC), media professionals, local content creators, social media influencers, academicians, and policymakers over the next four years.” Dhaka Retro 2024: A melodious night with good old vibes fascinate music lovers Speakers, including Dr Md Khorshed Alam, Palash Mahbub, and Korvi Rakshand, shared their insights, expressing optimism for the project’s long-term success. Representatives from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, National Youth Council, youth-led organisations, media professionals, and students from various universities attended the event. The project plans to engage 13,515 direct participants, including youth, National Youth Council members, local content creators, social media influencers, media professionals, educators, and government officials.

South Indian cinema—encompassing the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada industries—continues to captivate audiences with innovative storytelling and cultural depth. This December, these film industries promise an exhilarating lineup featuring high-octane action thrillers, soul-stirring dramas, laugh-out-loud comedies, and awe-inspiring fantasy adventures. With A-list stars and compelling narratives, these films are set to deliver a cinematic experience that transcends regional boundaries. Here's your guide to the must-watch South Indian movies being released in December 2024. 12 Must-see South Indian Movies Coming in This December . Pushpa 2: The Rule / Telugu Epic Action / December 5, 2024 Produced by Mythri Movie Makers and Sukumar Writings, this action drama boasts Sukumar as the director and writer. Dialogues crafted by Srikanth Vissa, this thriller marks the second chapter of the Pushpa franchise, serving as the sequel to the blockbuster Pushpa: The Rise (2021). The stakes escalate as Pushpa and Bhanwar Singh's fierce rivalry takes center stage in this epic finale, delivering a dramatic conclusion to the two-part saga of crime and action. Allu Arjun returns to his previous role as the titular character. Rashmika Mandanna, Fahadh Faasil, Dhananjaya, Sunil, Ajay Ghosh, Rao Ramesh, Anasuya Bharadwaj, and the remaining cast from the first installment have returned to reprise their original roles. New cast members include Jagapathi Babu and Prakash Raj.  Read more: Top 10 Bollywood Movies to Watch in December 2024 Bachchala Malli / Telugu Action / December 20, 2024 This action drama, starring Allari Naresh as the title character, flourishes with Subbu Mangadevi as its writer and director. Vipparthi Madhu and Viswanetra craft the screenplay from the story penned by Subbu Mangadevi. Set against the rustic charm of the 1990s, the narrative delves into the life of a rural hero, weaving together intense drama and romance. The action-packed journey explores his struggles, triumphs, and personal evolution in a deeply evocative setting. The drama film features Amritha Aiyer as the lead female artist, supported by Rao Ramesh, Rohini, Sai Kumar, Dhanraj, Hari Teja, Rajsekhar Aningi, and Viva Harsha. Credit for producing the movie goes to Balaji Gutta and Razesh Danda under the banner of Hasya Movies. Read: December 2024 Amazon Prime Originals Streaming Lineup: Binge-worthy Watchlist Magic / Telugu Teenage-Drama / December 21, 2024 Written and directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri, this musical film stars Sara Arjun, Siddharth Tanuku, Anmol Kajani, and Aakash Srinivas. This teenage movie centers on four students collaborating to create an original song for their college fest. As the coming-of-age tale unfolds, the journey of the young protagonists is filled with nostalgic moments, capturing the innocence and camaraderie of youth. The musical drama thrives with Suryadevara Naga Vamsi and Sai Soujanya for Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas as its producers. 2K Love Story / Tamil Romantic-Comedy / December 13, 2024 Bankrolled by Vignesh Subramanian under City Light Pictures, the director and writer Suseenthiran brings this comedy-drama to fruition. The newcomer artist Jagaveer takes on the lead role with co-artist Meenakshi Govindarajan. The supporting roles include Antony Bhagyraj, Bala Saravanan, Vinodhini Vaidyanathan, Jayaprakash, and G.P. Muthu. Read more: Top 10 Netflix English Originals to Binge-Watch in December 2024 The romantic film intricately weaves love, friendship, and life’s complexities through the experiences of a lively group of youngsters. At its heart is Karthik, a seasoned cricketer who spent 12 years playing for an Australian county club and now represents Pondicherry. Monica, on the other hand, is a talented pre-wedding photographer. Viduthalai Part 2 / Tamil Crime Thriller / December 20, 2024 As a direct sequel to the 2023 film Viduthalai Part 1, this period movie highlights the direction, co-writing, and co-production of Vetrimaaran. This is the second film of a two-part adaptation of Thunaivan, a short story by B. Jeyamohan, who also co-wrote the screenplay. The production brings together Vetrimaaran and Elred Kumar, who helm the project under Grass Root Film Company and RS Infotainment The intense crime thriller follows the confrontation between a determined police constable and the formidable leader of a separatist group, promising a tale of high-stakes tension. Soori, Manju Warrier, Vijay Sethupathi, Anurag Kashyap, Bhavani Sre, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Rajiv Menon, Balaji Sakthivel, Ilavarasu, Saravana Subbiah, Munnar Ramesh, and Chetan reprise their roles from the first film. Read more: Exploring the Best of Mostofa Sarwar Farooki: Iconic Films and Drama Series Bottle Radha / Tamil Drama / December 20, 2024 Radha’s life spirals into turmoil when his wife sends him to rehab for alcohol addiction without his consent, igniting his resolve to escape. As he succumbs to isolation from his family, he finds himself drawn back to destructive habits, making him deeply poignant and unsettling. With this story in the backlog, Dhinakaran Sivalingam’s directing and writing shape Bottle Radha. Starring Guru Somasundaram, John Vijay, Sanchana Natarajan, Anbarasi, J.P. Kumar, Pari Elavazhagan, and Arumugavel, the drama film boasts production by T.N. Arun Balaji and Pa. Ranjith. Read more: Korean Dramas on Netflix for November 2024

Several stray dogs and a cat were killed Friday night in Mohammadpur’s Japan Garden City,  in the capital which ignited fire amongst netizens on social platforms, including celebrities from the country’s cultural arena. Several local netizens on Friday evening posted on Facebook that some stray dogs and cats were being killed by poisoning in Japan Garden City, requesting everyone's cooperation to save the cats and dogs there. Some videos and pictures related to this went viral in no time and as soon as the news spread, many people rushed to Japan Garden City at night. Soon after it went viral, several celebrities including actress Jaya Ahsan, content creator Salman Muqtadir, actor Khairul Basar, actress Jyotika Jyoti, actor Niloy Alamgir, director Raka Noshin Nower, and others posted on their social profiles, condemning the cruelty and demanding justice. Salman Muqtadir wrote on his verified Facebook page: “What has happened to us. We don’t have any soul. There is no point in calling the animals barbaric because people have become barbaric animals these days.” Expressing his rage towards the killers, he added: “May Almighty’s punishment be bestowed upon you before your death. May every second of your last breath remind you of this. I just hope you remember this when you suffer.” Jaya Ahsan wrote on her official Facebook page: “They (the Japan Garden City Building Committee) have wanted it for almost five years but could not do it because of the protest of local animal lovers and various animal welfare organizations. They made it happen today.” Addressing the murderers, actor Khairul Basar wrote: “Even if dogs ever thought of killing you, I would admit that they are dogs, not people! But as human beings, how did you poison innocent dogs?” Meanwhile, a group of animal lovers including actor Niloy Alamgir along with his wife and activist Tasnuva Tabassum Hridi, rushed to Japan Garden City, voicing their outrage against animal cruelty. The People for Animal Welfare (PAW) Foundation, a non-profit organization working for the welfare of animals, has called the incident murder and from the foundation, actress-activist and Bangladesh Film Certification Board member Quazi Nawshaba Ahmed filed a complaint at Adabor police station on Saturday to bring those involved in the incident to justice. In that complaint, Nawshaba, on behalf of the Foundation, mentioned that the cat and ten dogs died of pain due to being poisoned. When residents and animal rights activists contacted the police station, a Sub-Inspector (SI) came to the spot and the bodies of three dogs and a cat were found in his presence; Nawshaba alleged that the remaining bodies of the animals were hidden. According to the netizens and media reports, a group of Japan Garden City residents had been campaigning for the killing of stray dogs using the banner 'JGC Life Safety' for some time, and had been circulating banners and festoons inside the Japan Garden City with messages such as “All stray dogs should be sent to the homes of animal lovers” etc. Meanwhile, the PAW Foundation posted on its Facebook page that the matter has been informed to the Director General of the Directorate of Livestock on behalf of the foundation, and the DG assured to take all legal steps.