United News of Bangladesh

“Hamnet," Chloé Zhao’s drama about William Shakespeare's marriage and the death of their 11-year-old son, won the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday, putting it on an enviable track to Academy Awards contention. Winners of the top honor at TIFF have historically almost always gone on to land a best-picture Oscar nomination. That was the case every year since 2012, until the streak was likely snapped last year when “The Life of Chuck” won the award. Mike Flanagan’s Stephen King adaptation wasn't released until the following June, and isn't expected to figure into the Oscar race. “Hamnet,” starring Paul Mescal as William Shakespeare and Jessie Buckley as Agnes Shakespeare, has drawn an especially emotional reaction in its screenings at the Telluride Film Festival and at TIFF. The film, adapted from Maggie O'Farrell's 2020 novel, is about how grief, following the death of their son, Hamnet, may have inspired Shakespeare's greatest tragedy, “Hamlet.” The film, which Focus Features will release in theaters Nov. 27, is likely to return Zhao and her two stars to the Academy Awards. Zhao's 2020 drama “Nomadland” won best picture and best director for Zhao. It, too, won the People's Choice Award in Toronto. Festival attendees vote for People's Choice Award. The runners-up were a pair of Netflix releases: Guillermo del Toro's “Frankenstein" and Rian Johnson's ”Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery." The audience award for international film went to Park Chan-wook's “No Other Choice.” In the festival’s Midnight Madness section, the audience prize went to Matt Johnson “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie.” The prize in the documentary category was awarded to Barry Avrich's “The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue.”  

The Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), which represents about 160,000 entertainment and media professionals, has elected actor Sean Astin as its new president. Astin, known for his roles in The Lord of the Rings, Stranger Things, and Rudy, will succeed Fran Drescher, the union announced Friday. He is the son of the late Academy Award-winning actress Patty Duke and John Astin, star of the 1960s TV series The Addams Family. Astin won the election with 79% of the vote, defeating rival candidate Chuck Slavin, who secured 21%. Michelle Hurd was elected secretary-treasurer. Notably, Astin’s mother, Patty Duke, previously served as president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1985 to 1988. SAG-AFTRA, formed through the merger of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, represents actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, program hosts, recording artists, and others. During Drescher’s tenure, the union led two major strikes — one involving film and television actors and another concerning video game and interactive media performers.

Actor and casting director Abhishek Banerjee has reflected on past casting practices in Bollywood, noting how requesting sexual favours was once common but has significantly reduced following the #MeToo movement. Speaking to Mid-Day, Banerjee said his casting agency has always prioritised talent and maintained strict professional guidelines. “I had a very strict rule in my casting company that nobody could meet an actor outside the office for casting. Any violation would result in dismissal,” he stated. He recalled how, earlier, actors often doubted professional intentions. “I remember when I used to cast, it was difficult for people to accept that we were working purely professionally,” Banerjee said. He added that today, female colleagues are more aware and cautious, reflecting a positive shift in the industry’s approach.   Source: NDTV

Just days before their 29th wedding anniversary, singer Akon’s wife, Tomeka Thiam, has filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. According to court filings obtained by People, Thiam listed the couple’s date of separation as “to be determined.” The pair share a 17-year-old daughter, Journey. She has requested joint legal custody of Journey, while seeking primary physical custody for herself and visitation rights for Akon. Thiam has also asked for spousal support and urged the court not to grant any support to the 52-year-old singer. Akon, who made his Bollywood debut with songs like Chammak Challo and Criminal in Shah Rukh Khan’s 2011 sci-fi film Ra.One, has been vocal about his belief in polygamy. In a 2022 interview, he said he has nine children and described having multiple wives as “part of our culture.” “(Polygamy is) part of our culture. Absolutely,” Akon said at the time, adding, “For me, it looks normal, because it's culture for us. We didn't go outside of our African culture when we got to the Western world.” The “Smack That” hitmaker has said he remains actively involved in his children’s lives, stressing that his role is to ensure they grow up “responsible and understanding,” while providing for their mothers. “My job ain't to be doing all that extra stuff and these holidays and recitals. While I’m taking care of my responsibility to make sure the family has a roof over their head and food, if I have the time to do that and show love, yes, I will do that,” he said, noting that technology helps him stay connected. He has also said that both marriage and dating qualify as “real relationships.” Source: NDTV

Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) inaugurated the solo art exhibition 'Harmony' by artist Rubaiya Saom Dina at its Galerie Zoom on Friday evening. The opening ceremony was held at 6 pm, drawing art enthusiasts and cultural figures to witness Dina’s unique interpretation of riverine life in Bangladesh. The exhibition reflects rivers as an inseparable part of nature, culture, and human existence. Through her works, Dina reimagines the flow of rivers, the lives of people along their banks, and their struggles, joys, and hopes. At times portraying rivers as a source of life and at times as a symbol of death, the artist brings forth this duality with her lines and colors. Born in Faridpur on the banks of the Padma, Dina has drawn inspiration from the rhythm of rivers since childhood. Naturally, rivers and riverine life have become recurring themes in her artistic journey. Harmony features a wide range of works across mediums, including performance art, video art, oil and acrylic paintings, watercolors, ink, and line drawings. Each piece reflects the intimate connection between rivers and people, as well as the continuous dialogue of life in motion. Alongside her creative practice, Rubaiya Saom Dina is also an educator, teaching at Nalonda High School (Chhayanaut), Bangladesh Shishu Academy, and Shilparannya. The exhibition will remain open to all until September 23, from 3 pm to 9 pm, Monday to Saturday, with Sundays closed.  

Jenny Han's The Summer I Turned Pretty has become a hit with Indian audiences, thanks to its engaging plot, strong performances, and compelling writing. Recently, Karan Johar humorously compared the show to his film Student of the Year, recalling the rivalry between Varun Dhawan and Sidharth Malhotra after the film’s release. He shared a playful post on Instagram, writing, “Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah? It’s Team Rohan or Team Abhimanyu! #WeWereHereFirst #SummerShanayaTurnedPretty." While The Summer I Turned Pretty centers on two brothers competing for the same girl, Student of the Year also explores a love triangle between friends. The latest episode of The Summer I Turned Pretty (Season 3, Episode 10) was released this Wednesday, continuing the year-long journey of healing and longing. It shows Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah navigating their lives after a year, with Belly in Paris, Jeremiah rebuilding, and Conrad trying to reconnect with his loved ones. With the finale set to air on September 17, fans are eagerly speculating whether Belly will choose Conrad, Jeremiah, or focus on herself.   Source: NDTV

Actress Tamannaah Bhatia, promoting her new Amazon Prime Video show Do You Wanna Partner with co-star Diana Penty, opened up about her personal life and friendships. Tamannaah said she is currently focusing on becoming “a great life partner” and wants to be someone her future partner feels lucky to have. She added that despite trying, she could not convince her best friend Billy, a makeup artist, to go into business with her. The series follows two best friends starting a business together and navigating its ups and downs. Diana Penty said the show changed her view on working with friends, calling it “fun” since partners don’t need to explain everything to each other. Both actors highlighted the importance of friendships. Tamannaah shared how friends Pragya and Billy make time for her despite her busy schedule, while Diana described her ideal friendships as “low maintenance, chill, and non-dramatic.”   Source: NDTV

Coke Studio Bangla has released its fifth track of Season 3 titled 'Long Distance Love', premiered on Wednesday night across YouTube and all of its social platforms. The song has been performed by rising stars Ankan Kumar and Sheikh Mumtahina Mehzabin Afrin. Music for the track was composed by Shuvendu Das Shuvo, and the lyrics were jointly penned by Ankan and Canada-based Bangladeshi singer-songwriter Pragata Naoha. On its official YouTube channel, Coke Studio Bangla described the song as: “In a world where voices cross oceans in seconds and connection is only a click away, #LongDistanceLove still finds a way to test the heart. Silence lingers, words remain unsaid, and miles exist without measure." "This song captures that quiet void, the echo of waiting, the ache of being near yet apart. From the soulful composition of Shuvendu Das Shuvo and the heartfelt words of Ankan, it drifts through the spaces technology cannot fill, like unsent letters carried by the wind. It’s a reminder of the #RealMagic that survives beyond closeness and absence, the kind of love that lingers in whispers, memories, and stars too far to hold, yet too close to forget,” it stated. The music video, directed by Adnan Al Rajeev and produced by Runout Productions, was shot inside an abandoned gallery where contemporary dancers depict the struggles and resilience of love across distance. Season 3 of Coke Studio Bangla began on April 13, 2024, featuring 180 musicians and artistes. After releasing its third track 'Obak Bhalobasha' on May 25, the platform went on a yearlong break before returning on August 23 with 'Baaji', composed, directed and performed by noted musician Emon Chowdhury alongside singer-songwriter Hashim Mahmud, the original creator of the song. Launched in 2022, Coke Studio Bangla has already gifted audiences a number of widely appreciated songs before the start of its third season.

Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) has inaugurated the exhibition 'A Drawing Room' by emerging artist Hridita Anisha on Tuesday at its La Galerie, Dhanmondi in the capital. The exhibition offers visitors a whimsical and emotive journey into drawings and illustrations infused with nostalgia and imagination. Through this showcase, Anisha evokes the landscapes of her childhood — where cats, fishes, and fantastical creatures roamed freely — transforming the gallery into a living, breathing space of creativity. What sets 'A Drawing Room' apart is its participatory nature. Throughout the exhibition, Anisha will be present daily, drawing directly onto the gallery walls while inviting both children and adults to contribute their own lines and symbols.  Visitors are encouraged to join in by sketching simple elements such as the sun, birds, huts, cats or fishes, making the exhibition an evolving and collaborative display.

A special musical evening featuring a guitar orchestra (Orchestra Kithara) along with instrumental and vocal performances was held on Monday at the auditorium of the Goethe-Institut Bangladesh in the capital’s Dhanmondi. Organised in collaboration with the Spanish Guitar (Afternoon) Center of the Bulbul Academy of Fine Arts (BAFA), Waizghat, Dhaka, the event was supported by the Goethe-Institut Bangladesh. The 70-minute programme was conducted by Ashraf Mahmud Uzzal, who led a repertoire blending Western and South Asian traditions. A total of 28 guitarists performed celebrated local and international pieces, captivating the audience with their artistry. Founded in 1955, BAFA is one of the country’s leading fine arts institutions, offering instruction and research in music, dance, painting and other art forms. Over the decades, the academy has nurtured generations of singers, musicians and dancers, while also representing Bangladesh abroad through cultural delegations. The institution continues to play a vital role in major national and cultural events, including Martyrs' Day, Independence Day, Pahela Baishakh and the birth anniversaries of eminent figures, inspiring future generations to embrace both South Asian and Western artistic traditions.