United News of Bangladesh

She doesn't even go here, but Lindsay Lohan still joined the cast of the new "Mean Girls" at the musical film's premiere Monday night in New York. Lohan, the star of the original 2004 film, reunited with Tina Fey — who wrote both the classic film, the Broadway show it inspired and this new adaptation — and posed with the new Cady Heron, Angourie Rice, on the pink carpet. "It was an amazing movie to work on when I did it, and I can't wait to see this new iterative version of it. I think it's gonna be wonderful," Lohan told The Associated Press. February 2024 Lineup of Netflix Originals in English Lohan said it "felt great" to hear of the movie's impact on teens over the years and was excited that the new film, which releases Friday, will deal with new topics. "I loved Lindsay's performance in the 2004 film so much, it's one of my favorites," Rice said. "So in everything I did, I just hoped that my performance would be adding to the legacy that she started." Just like the 2004 version, the musical movie follows Cady's move to the suburbs, where she experiences the treacherous hierarchies of high school. There, she finds herself accepted by an elite yet shallow group of girls known as the Plastics, led by Regina George — here played by Reneé Rapp. It's billed as "a new twist from Tina Fey," incorporating songs and new technology, but Fey said the "core story" still resonates two decades later. 'Oppenheimer' dominates Golden Globes, 'Poor Things' upsets 'Barbie' in comedy "In a way, things haven't changed that much, right? People have new ways to mess with each other, right? They can do it over the internet, but it's still just human beings pulling someone else down to make themselves momentarily feel better, right?" she told the AP. Lohan concurred, saying the movie is a good "wake-up call." "I think the characters in this movie definitely were relatable, too, and I think that's so important," she said, "and it's good to have a new refresher of it 20 years later for people to see and know that it's still goes on and cliques still happen." In addition to Lohan, Fey, Rice and Rapp, the starry premiere featured actors from the new movie like Jon Hamm,Auli'i Cravalho and Busy Philipps, as well as directors Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr. and producer Lorne Michaels.Megan Thee Stallion, who recently released the song "Not My Fault" with Rapp, and Fey's "30 Rock" co-star Jane Krakowski also turned out. 10 Must-watch Inspirational Movies Like ‘12th Fail’ As for Lohan, she told the AP she starts filming a Netflix movie next week and is in "Irish Rose," out on the streaming service in March. She said she's also filming "something else coming up this summer." When asked what it's like having a baby and seeing what kids go through as teenagers, as portrayed in "Mean Girls," Lohan replied, "Oh my god, he's not a teenager yet." "Don't rush me. I want to savor every moment," she continued. "But it's a blessing. It's the biggest blessing in the world."

Tom Wilkinson, the Oscar-nominated British actor known for his roles in “The Full Monty," “Michael Clayton” and “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” has died, his family said. He was 75. A statement shared by his agent on behalf of the family said Wilkinson died suddenly at home on Saturday. It didn't provide further details. Wilkinson was nominated for a best actor Academy Award for his work in 2001's family drama “In The Bedroom” and in the best supporting actor category for his role in “Michael Clayton,” a 2007 legal thriller that starred George Clooney. Read: Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin’s 109th birth anniversary being observed  He is remembered by many in Britain and beyond for playing former steel mill foreman Gerald Cooper in the 1997 comedy “The Full Monty," about a group of unemployed steel workers who formed an unlikely male stripping act. Wilkinson was born in Yorkshire in northern England in 1948 and spent part of his childhood in Canada. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in the 1970s. He starred in dozens of other TV dramas and movies, from “Rush Hour” and “Batman Begins" to “Shakespeare in Love,” “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and “Valkyrie." He most recently reunited with his “Full Monty” co-stars, Robert Carlyle and Mark Addy in a Disney+ series of the same name. “He’ll be sorely missed by everyone who had the pleasure of working with him,” Carlyle said in a statement. “Such a huge performer, a real titan of an actor, one of the greats of not only his, but of any generation.” Read: 'Parasite' actor Lee Sun-kyun dies  Wilkinson was recognized for his services to drama in 2005 when he was appointed a member of the Order of the British Empire. He also won a 2009 Golden Globe and 2008 Emmy for his role as Benjamin Franklin in the HBO series “John Adams.” Wilkinson married actress Diana Hardcastle in 1988. The couple had two daughters. 

Like the rest of the world, Bangladesh's cultural and entertainment scene saw a lot of exciting events throughout the year, and enthusiasts across the country were kept occupied by everything that the nation's superstars, artists, and cultural mediums had to offer. The landscape of films in Bangladesh, as a result, observed and celebrated 2023 as one of the most eventful years in memory. Not only did the year witness the jovial return and continuity of audiences in theatres, it also welcomed a handful of local and foreign films - most notably, the Bollywood blockbusters. This year marked the importation of Hindi movies once again in the country under the SAFTA agreement, which has been a long-standing demand of cinema hall owners. The demand was fulfilled with the arrival of Shah Rukh Khan starrer Bollywood blockbuster film ‘Pathaan’ in May this year, followed by his other history-making film ‘Jawan’ which marked the same-day release for a Bollywood film in the country’s multiplexes and single screens. Among other films, Salman Khan starrer 'Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan' failed to entertain local audiences while Ranbir Kapoor’s career-best commercial film ‘Animal’ and Shah Rukh Khan’s latest film, Rajkumar Hirani-made ‘Dunki’ performed moderately in terms of captivating the moviegoers. The industry was surrounded by talks, opinions, controversies and incidents throughout the year, marking it a special year for the industry - but leaving stakeholders with unfulfilled hopes but significant objectives. From ‘Mujib’ - the much-anticipated biopic of the Father of the Nation, to the industry’s long-crowned king Shakib Khan’s mega-blockbuster ‘Priyotoma’ and television’s seasoned actor Afran Nisho’s silver screen debut ‘Surongo’ - the film industry in Bangladesh welcomed a total of 51 films, with some achieving economic success and others failing in terms of attracting the moviegoers. However, a long-standing frustration remained once again the recurring theme in Dhallywood this year, which is the dependency on Eid-based film releases. Festive seasons are understandably the most awaited moments for the filmmakers and hall owners, but other films which were scheduled throughout the year failed to grab a large chunk of the audiences in theatres. This year, a total of eight films got released across a hundred movie theatres including single-screens and multiplexes on Eid ul Fitr, including the Shakib Khan starrer ‘Leader Amie Bangladesh’, Ananta Jalil’s ‘Kill Him’, Jaaz Multimedia’s ‘Jinn’ and ‘Paap’, alongside four other films - ‘Shotru’, ‘Local’, ‘Adam’ and ‘Prem Pritir Bandhan.’ On the other hand, audience demand for quality films in Eid ul Azha were fulfilled with five movies - 'Priyotoma', 'Surongo', 'Prohelika', 'Lal Shari' and 'Casino'. That being said, the Eid releases this year include Shakib Khan starrer ‘Leader Amie Bangladesh’ and ‘Priyotoma’ - the latter of which spellbound the viewers with a never-seen-before look of the superstar, and the much-anticipated Raihan Rafi-Afran Nisho-Chorki film ‘Surongo’ captivated the audiences during the Eid festivities. Aside from Eid, there have been some other films which were able to keep the interest and conversations going and also entertained the moviegoers. The major player in this category was undoubtedly the Shyam Benegal-directed Bangabandhu biopic ‘Mujib-The Making of a Nation’ with Arifin Shuvoo’s valiant portrayal as the Father of the Nation. Proving the doubters wrong, Shuvoo stunned the audiences and critics with his stellar performances alongside seasoned co-artists Nusrat Imrose Tisha, Tauquir Ahmed, Chanchal Chowdhury, Fazlur Rahman Babu and others. The storyline portrayed Bangabandhu as not only the unsung hero and leader of the nation but also a caring family man who was brilliantly portrayed by Shuvoo, ultimately stunning the moviegoers. Speaking of the actor, his other much-anticipated film ‘Black War’, the sequel to the popular action film ‘Mission Extreme’, also received appraisals from the audiences.  

The 109th birth anniversary of the master painter and pioneering art educator Zainul Abedin, widely revered as the 'Shilpacharya' (great master of fine arts) and the most respected artist in the country. Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin was born on December 29, 1914, in Kishoreganj in then-British India, and was a key figure in the establishment of the Dhaka University Faculty of Fine Art (FFA) and the Folk Art Museum in Sonargaon, Narayanganj. The artist community is celebrating the 109th birth anniversary of the Shilpacharya with a variety of celebrations, most notably the traditional ‘Zainul Utshab’ by Dhaka University's Faculty of Fine Art and Bangladesh Folk Art & Crafts Foundation. This year, the Faculty of Fine Art is also celebrating its 75th founding anniversary alongside the three-day ‘Zainul Utshab’. The festivity is decorated with rickshaw art, paying homage to its latest UNESCO-recognition. Read: Bangla Academy felicitates rickshaw painters for achieving UNESCO recognition  DU Vice-Chancellor Professor ASM Maksud Kamal inaugurated the festival as its chief guest on Friday at the Bakultala of the FFA premise. The inauguration ceremony was chaired by DU FFA Dean Nisar Hossain and was also joined by DU FFA Emeritus Professors and eminent artists Hashem Khan and Rafiqun Nabi who handed over the prestigious ‘Zainul Award 2023’ to the respective art luminaries. Dhaka University Pro VC Professor Dr Muhammad Samad, Treasurer Professor Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed, Bkash CMO Mir Nawbut Ali, Bangladesh Folk Art and Crafts Foundation director Kazi Nurul Islam, and Shilpacharya’s youngest son Engineer Mainul Abedin also joined the inauguration ceremony as the special guests. Renowned artist Kazi Giasuddin and honorary professor Md Abdus Sattar of the oriental art department received the Zainul Sammanana 2023, while Supriya Kumar Ghosh from the Department of Sculpture was awarded the Zainul Abedin Gold Medal 2023. Earlier, the Faculty of Fine Art and other art organisations placed floral wreaths on the grave of the Shilpacharya in the morning. Zainul Abedin earned global respect for his 1943 illustrations of the Bengal famine. He visited Palestinian camps in Syria and Jordan in 1970 and made 60–70 paintings of the refugees there, adding another example of his calibre as a modern, international artist. Read: ‘Gallery on Wheels’: Cosmos Foundation felicitates Rickshaw Painters as the medium enlisted as UNESCO heritage  During childhood, he discovered his love of art while a young child frolicking by the Brahmaputra river. His motherland, Bangladesh (then East Pakistan), welcomed him back after he graduated from the Government Art School in Kolkata in 1932. However, shortly after the Indian subcontinent was divided in 1947, he permanently departed Kolkata and returned to his motherland in Bangladesh. The Dhaka Art Institute was subsequently founded with active help from Zainul Abedin, who was appointed as the institute's principal in 1949. The institute later developed into Dhaka University's Faculty of Fine Art. The institute became the hub of fine arts practices in then East Pakistan and actively participated in historical foundation events of independent Bangladesh such as the 1952 Language Movement and the 1971 Liberation War under the artistic leadership of Zainul. He retired from the Dhaka Art Institute in 1967 and was conferred the honorary title of Shilpacharya (great master of fine arts) by the institute. Before taking the mantle of Shilpacharya, Zainul Abedin received two years of training from the Slade School of Fine Art in London and developed a new style of art called the 'Bengali style' featuring folk art forms with their geometric shapes including the usage of semi-abstract representation and primary colours. However, he lacked the sense of perspective, realised the limitations of folk art, and went back to nature, rural life and the daily struggles of people to make art that would be realistic but modern in appearance, thus being the pioneer of modern artistic style in the subcontinent. Known for the simple yet majestic projection of natural and social hazards, Zainul painted the 1970 Bhola cyclone that devastated then East Pakistan, portraying the effect of the cyclone through his painting ‘Monpura’.

Beyoncé’s childhood home caught fire early on Christmas morning, though the family living there escaped safely. The fire was reported at about 2 a.m. Monday and the Houston Fire Department arrived on the scene of the two-story brick house within three to five minutes, the Houston Chronicle reported. Read: Charlie Puth set to perform live in Dhaka in February  “We had it contained in about 10 minutes,” Houston Fire Department District Chief Justin Barnes told the newspaper. Beyoncé Knowles' family bought the home on the 2400 block of Rosedale in 1982 and Beyoncé lived there until she was 5 years old. She was seen taking photos of the property when she was in her hometown for her Renaissance World Tour. The home in the historic Riverside Terrace neighborhood was built in 1946. Read: Today in History: Actor Paul Walker dies in Porsche crash at age 40  A messages sent to Beyoncé's publicist was not immediately returned late Monday. The cause of the blaze was under investigation. 

In a scintillating celebration of love just in time for Valentine's Day, Bongo, the OTT platform, has announced the production of four captivating short films under the banner "Love Stories- Bhalobashar Dine Bhalobashar Golpo." Setting the stage for an enchanting cinematic experience, these films are inspired by the heartfelt narratives of renowned writer Bishwajit Choudhury's book, "Sholpo Doirgho Premer Golpo." One of the four compelling tales is the much-anticipated 'Mimir Khala,' brought to life through the lens of visionary director Mizanur Rahman Aryan. The film, aptly named 'Booking,' is an adaptation of Bishwajit Choudhury's 'Mimir Khala.' Aryan expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "This story is a gem from Bishwajit Chowdhury, and such narratives have been absent from our screens for far too long. I am confident that audiences will be captivated by the magic woven into this tale." The signing ceremony for 'Booking' recently took place at the Bongo office, marking an exciting collaboration between celebrated stars Pori Moni and ABM Sumon, said a media release on Friday. This marks Pori Moni's second venture with Bongo after the success of 'Puff Daddy,' promising audiences a fresh and enthralling cinematic experience. Bongo's Chief Content Officer, Mushfiqur Rahman, shared his excitement, stating, "At Bongo, we are committed to delivering exceptional content that resonates with our audience. 'Love Stories- Bhalobashar Dine Bhalobashar Golpo' is our special Valentine's Day gift, featuring four talented filmmakers presenting narratives that prioritize our audience's preferences in every aspect, from story selection to casting. We are confident that our work will be cherished by audiences." Director Mizanur Rahman Aryan, renowned for his expertise in romantic dramas, is set to elevate the art of storytelling with 'Booking.' As the anticipation builds for Valentine's Day, Bongo promises an unforgettable experience with this curated selection of love stories, inviting viewers into a world where emotions unfold with every frame.

Children's popular educational and entertainment television series Sisimpur is returning to RTV. Sisimpur will be reaired on RTV every Saturday, Sunday, and Monday at 5:00 pm starting January 6. It will be rebroadcast at the same time on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. ‘Amader Ei Potaka’: Chhayanaut, Dhaka University celebrate V- Day 2023 Children will be able to watch Sisimpur on the TV screen six days a week. RTV has recently signed an agreement with Watermark MCL, the distribution partner of Sesame Workshop Bangladesh, the producer of Sisimpur. ‘Domm’: Chorki, Alpha-i, SVF announce Redoan Rony’s directorial comeback  RTV CEO Syed Ashik Rahman and Watermark MCL MD Palash Mia signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations. Mohammad Shah Alam, MD of Sesame Workshop Bangladesh, along with other top officials of the three organisations, were present on the occasion. Is Shah Rukh Khan’s Dunki look inspired by son AbRam? USAID Bangladesh has been supporting the development and implementation of all Sisimpur activities in Bangladesh from the very beginning.

Marking the 52d Victory Day, the country’s leading cultural institution Chhayanaut and Dhaka University jointly celebrated a cultural event titled ‘Amader Ei Potaka’ at the central field of Dhaka University on Saturday. This year, the institutions celebrated the seventh edition of this festivity. Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof ASM Maksud Kamal and Executive President of Chhayanaut Dr Sarwar Ali inaugurated the event. Private television station Deepto TV live telecasted the fifty-minute cultural program. Songs including “O Amar Desher Mati,” “Purbo Digonte Surjo Utheche,” and “Karar Oi Louho Kopat” were presented at the event, among a total of eight group songs. Compositions of Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Gobinda Halder, Abdul Latif, Mohammad Moshad Ali, Gazi Mazharul Anwar and Gurusaday Dutta were presented at the event. Artist Abul Kalam Azad performed Shah Abdul Karim's song “Jibon Amar Dhonnyo Je Hai” in a solo voice. Tropa Mazumdar presented selected parts of Syed Shamsul Haque's poetic drama "Payer Awaj Paoa Jay". The event concluded with a collective rendition of the national anthem at 4:31 pm, commemorating the moment of surrender of the Pakistan Army on the historic December 16 in 1971. Around 1000 artists-teachers-students of Chhayanaut joined this event along with Thirteen Hussars Open Scouts Group, Bratachari, Azimpur Girls High School, Ati Bhawal Higher Secondary School, Udayan Higher Secondary School and College, Dhaka Imperial College, Nalanda Vidyalaya and Sunnydale. In 1967, Chhayanaut started Bengali New Year celebrations to instill the belief inof living in self-identity amid the exploitation, deprivation and oppression of Pakistani rulers on the then-East Pakistan's Bengali netizens. Chhayanaut has been organizing the Victory Day cultural event with the vow to restore the country's equality, to keep netizens united and to spread the renaissance in the culture for thousands of years. The unique rendezvous first took place in a joint initiative with Dhaka University on Victory Day  in 2015.

Popular Bangladeshi OTT platform Chorki CEO Redoan Rony, also known for his fan-favourite television directorial ventures such as ‘FnF’, ‘Housefull’ and films like ‘Chorabali’ and ‘Ice Cream’, is all set to return as a silver screen director with his new film ‘Domm’. A first-ever collaboration between Chorki, another Bangladeshi production house Alpha-i Studios and Indian film production and distribution company Shree Venkatesh Films (SVF), the film will star the National Award-winning popular actor Chanchal Chowdhury as its lead cast. Set to be released across Bangladesh and India in 2025, the film is based on a true story, according to the filmmaker. Also read: Coke Studio Bangla to launch Season 3 next year The film's announcement was made at a press conference on Saturday at the Pan Pacific Hotel Sonargaon, joined by the producers, the director and other associates of the film. "As a storyteller, I have always been inspired by true events, and this narrative motivated me to pursue my long-held desire to return as a director. Whenever a person falls into any dangerous situation, we empathically feel that he is unfortunate; but the reality is events like that make an ordinary man stronger and his enormous mental agility can rescue him from any catastrophic situation. This is the tale I'm attempting to express in the film Domm,” Redoan Rony said at the press conference. Read: Model-choreographer Shahadat Hossain Sumon honoured in New York Chanchal Chowdhury, known and lauded for his stellar performances as a silver screen actor in films such as ‘Monpura’, ‘Aynabaji’, ‘Debi’, and ‘Hawa’, to name a few, shared his excitement to work with Rony in the film. “Rony and I have been sharing a great relationship for almost two decades, and I was overwhelmed when I first heard the story of this film. This is a big collaboration with three major productions on board including SVF which is known for many legendary films in West Bengal and I am equally excited and nervous for this film, but mostly excited.” The director also introduced the three-member scriptwriting team for the film, led by young director Syed Ahmed Shawki, known for his much-acclaimed web series ‘Karagar’ starring Chanchal Chowdhury. Chorki President and Strategic Head Zaraif Hossain said, “From the very beginning, Chorki's goal was to deliver quality content to 300 million Bangla-speaking audiences around the world. Now with Alpha-i and SVF, Chorki has united to advance that mission. This is going to be a great opportunity and a significant milestone to bring our entertainment industry work to the worldwide audience on a larger scale.” SVF Co-founder and Director Mahendra Soni said, “With this film, SVF is taking another important step to deepen our relationship with the Bangladeshi entertainment industry. We are not just making films but nurturing a community and culture, and we aim to make Bengali language movies to reach every corner of the world.” Alpha-i Studios Managing Director Shahriar Shakil said, “We realized that our audiences are keen to watch entertaining content made with international standards. We always tried to deliver quality content despite several limitations; now we are eyeing to break the barriers and go even bigger with this film alongside Chorki and SVF.” The event was joined by several popular personalities in the country’s entertainment industry including Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, Nusrat Imrose Tisha, Raihan Rafi, Adnan Al Rajeev, Masuma Rahman Nabila and others. Also read: ‘Forced to Flee’: Mobile filmmaking workshop ends with MoU signing at ULAB

Shah Rukh Khan is on cloud nine after releasing the “Dunki” teaser on Tuesday morning and walking the red carpet with daughter Suhana at her debut feature “The Archies” screening. Shah Rukh opened his “Ask SRK” session yesterday by discussing these two events.  Read: Sabbir Romeo's short film ‘Nibhe Jawa Pradeep’ to release on International Day of Persons with Disabilities A fan created a collage using pictures of Shah Rukh Khan from “Dunki” and AbRam, reports NDTV. He wanted to know if Shah Rukh Khan's “Dunki” appearance was inspired by AbRam's look. The fan also praised Shah Rukh Khan's two "handsome" sons.  Shah Rukh responded to this with his trademark humour, "My entire family is good looking. It was a dialogue in ‘Yes Boss’ and I love it."  During a recent “Ask SRK” event, the “Jawan” actor was asked to explain the source of his youthful energy. He went on to say, "I have a little baby at home. So I try and keep his innocence and energy in songs."  Read: Girls Squad is Back! “Dunki”, directed by Rajkumar Hirani and produced by Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment, is set to hit theaters on December 21. It is SRK's first collaboration with Rajkumar Hirani. The film also stars Boman Irani and Vicky Kaushal in addition to Taapsee Pannu.