The New Nation - Internet Edition

Event: Call to set up institute for quality filmmaking

Entertainment Report

Filmmakers and academics at a function in Dhaka on Saturday called for setting up an institute to promote production of quality films.

They said it was urgent to groom up talented film professionals through proper education, training and orientation on film studies. They also stressed the need for refurbishing movie houses with technical development and bring an end to vulgarism in films.

They made the observations at the function organised to distribute certificates among the participants of two film appreciation courses, initiated by the Bangladesh Film Archives, at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation.

Information secretary Jamil Osman handed over the certificates among the participants. Film Archives director Mohammad Jahangir Hossain chaired the function.

Among others, film appreciation course director and filmmaker Manzare Hassin Murad, BFDC managing director ANM Badrul Amin and participant Anisur Rahman Sarkar also spoke on the occasion.

Jamil said, 'It is a must to have talented film professionals for making quality films as it is a life-based art. There is a crisis of meritorious professional in the country's film sector.'

Murad said, 'Film and Publication Department and BFDC must come forward to make quality films.'

Badrul said, 'It is essential to modernise country's movie houses to attract the middle income group movie viewers. For this, it is necessary to make quality films as well.'

He also stressed the need for setting up a film institute to make talented film professionals, including technical hands for quality filmmaking.

Twenty-seven individuals participated in the 2nd advanced film study course and 15 individuals took part in the 9th film appreciation course.

Country's reputed filmmakers, critics and professionals conducted the courses. They included Subhas Dutta, Tanvir Mokammel, Morshedul Islam and Tareq Masud.

Movie: Premiere of Hriday Theke Pawa held

Moushumi and Tanmoy in Hriday Theke Pawa

Entertainment Report

The premiere of a full-length feature film Hriday Theke Pawa by Mohammad Hossain Jemi was held at the Bashundhara City in Dhaka on Thursday.

The film, starring late Manna, Moushumi, Champa, Bappa Raj, Kazi Hayat, Misha Sawdagar, Shahnoor, Samu Chowdhury, Jhuna Chowdhury and Tanmoy, will hit the theatre in July, said the director at the premiere.

Bangladesh Film Development Corporation managing director ANM Badrul Amin, Impress Telefilm Limited managing director Faridur Reza Sagar and some artistes of the film attended the premiere.

The film, produced by Impress Telefilm Ltd, got an uncut release from the Bangladesh Censor Board.

"Some proceeds from the film will be donated to the Bangladesh Children Heart Foundation," said Sagar.

Dance: Nrityanchal opens new school

Entertainment Report

Second branch of Nrityanchal Performing Arts Academy was inaugurated at Siddeswari Degree College in Moghbazar in the city on June 5.

Director General of Shilpakala Academy Bhuiyan Shafiqul Islam inaugurated the new branch.

Acting Principal of the College Mohammad Yasin Alam, Coordinator of Nrityanchal Muhammad Jahangir, Directors and trainers of Nrityanchal Shamim Ara Nipa and Shibli Mohammad, among others, were present on the occasion.

The inaugural ceremony was wrapped up by dance performance of the young dance performers.

Nrityanchal started its journey at Rajdhani High School at Sher-e-Banglanagar in the capital in 2002.

Event: Writers stress need for cultural exchanges

Entertainment Report

Writers and academics at a function on Saturday in the capital stressed the need of presenting bilateral aspects and cultural exchanges between Japan and Bangladesh.

They made the observation at the launching of a book entitled as 'Jaanaa Ajaana Japan' - The Known-Unknown Japan written by Probir Bikash Sarkar at the Poet Sufia Kamal Auditorium of the Bangladesh National Museum at Shahbagh.

Former chief justice and chief adviser to the caretaker government Muhammad Habibur Rahman unveiled the cover of the book.

Among others ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh, Masayuki Inoue, professor Anisuzzaman, poet Nirmalendu Goon, eminent folklorist Shamsuzzaman Khan, writer Mainul Ahsan Saber, FBCCI vice president Dewan Sultan Ahmed and Shihab Shahriar and writer Rafiqul Alam spoke on the occasion.

Habibur Rahman said that the book had featured many bilateral cultural aspects which were necessary to present the readers.

'This book will help to know both the countries', he said.

Probir said, 'The book will familiarise Bangladesh to Japanese as well as to Japanese to Bengalis.' 'It will also strengthen the bilateral ties between two nations', he said.

The book, priced at Tk 270, has been published by Manchitra Publishing house.

Hollywood: MTV fined over offensive language

BBC Online

MTV has been fined £255,000 by media watchdog Ofcom for broadcasting bad language before the watershed.

The broadcaster was censured for 'persistent' breaches on some of its European channels on programmes that were likely to appeal to children.

Reality shows repeated during the day contained swearing and music videos not suitable for children were shown before 9pm, Ofcom said.

MTV blamed the mistakes on human error and technical problems. A spokesman for the broadcaster said, "We take this sanction and fine very seriously."

He added that the network had taken 'a series of steps to minimise as much as possible any breaches in the future.'

Homophobic comments

Ofcom concluded that the material breached regulations because it was 'not justified by the context of the broadcasts.'

They added that the network had agreed to implement a six-point plan to address their failings. Totally Jodie Marsh - a reality programme shown on the TMF channel in the UK - prompted a number of complaints because of the model's use of bad language.

Ofcom said in a statement: "Pop video and entertainment channels like those controlled by MTV Networks attract large numbers of viewers under 15. They have a responsibility to these children and their parents to ensure their compliance arrangements are robust and effective." TMF was also criticised for playing the video to Windowlicker, a track by dance producer Aphex Twin, which contained repeated swearing and also attracted complaints.

And the network's viewer-based text message show Mr Know It All came under fire for screening sexually explicit content. Ofcom concluded that the material contained in the text messages was 'grotesque, unpleasant and offensive.'

Aamir is all set to clash with Shah Rukh again?

Agencies

There may be murmurs around the release date of Ghajini being changed from October 2 to a later day but our trade sources insist that there is no other option for the film but be postponed.

Says the source on condition of anonymity, "There is no way how Ghajini could make it to 2nd October.

Ok, so it is a great time for release but then the film hasn't managed to make a kind of progress, which would enable it to be ready for release on 2nd October.

Aamir Khan has gone through quite a few accidents, minor as they may be, but all of that has adversely affected the film's progress."