The New Nation - Internet Edition

Citibank to honour Sohrab Hossain

Entertainment Desk

The Citibank, NA Bangladesh will accord a reception to honour the lifetime contribution of Nazrul artiste Sohrab Hossain at a function at Radisson Water Garden Hotel in the city on July 11, said a news release. Distinguished artists of the present times are expected to render songs at the programme. The Citibank has in the past honoured artists Nilufar Yasmin, Farida Parveen, Feroza Begum and Sanjida Khatun for their outstanding contribution to Bengali music and culture.

Event: Hayat Mahmud’s brith anniversary observed

Entertainment Report

Nabajug Prakashani, a publication house, organised a discussion at the Poet Sufia Kamal Auditorium of the National Museum in the city recently to celebrate the 70th birthday of the author Prof Hayat Mamud.

Eminent personalities discussed on the life and works of Hayat Mamud and launched a book titled 'Prabandha Sangraha,' at the programme. Author Dwijen Sharma unveiled the book.

Eminent educationist Prof Anisuzzaman presided over the meeting.

Prof Anisuzzaman said, "I was introduced to Hayat Mamud nearly fifty years back. We have discussed contemporary literature and litterateurs on several occasions."

Media personality Humayun Chowdhury said, "Hayat Mamud's original name was Moniruzzaman. When, he started writing poems, he wanted a pen-name and we decided to go with 'Hayat Mamud."

Professor Syed Mohammad Shahed, Director General of Bangla Academy, said, "I became a fan of Hayat Mamud after reading one of his books on Rabindranath Tagore."

Theatre activist Prof Momtazuddin Ahmed, Prof Ali Anwar, author, Jyoti Prakash Dutta, author and litterateur, Prof Shafi Ahmed, author, Asaduzzaman Nur, media personality, Ashok Roy Nandi, publisher of Nabajug Prakashani, among others, spoke at the function.

Poet Hayat Mamud was born in Hooghly of West Bengal in India in 1939. He completed Bachelor and Masters degree in Bengali Literature from Dhaka University. He completed Ph.D on 'Contemporary Literature' from Jadavpur University in India. He was a teacher of Jahangirnagar University for several years. He received a Bangla Academy Award for children's literature.

Surer Kathan on Banglavision

Entertainment Desk

Bengal Foundation has taken new initiative recently. It has made a video documentary titled 'Surer Kathan' for private television channel Banglavision. The video documentary is based on songs, tunes and lyrics. Selection of songs was taken from 100 creative albums, which were released from Bengal Foundation. In the documentary, there are not only songs of Rabindranath and Nazrul but also songs of 'Tin Kobi,' folk songs, 'Purano Diner Gaan' and Gano Sangeet are taking place. Surer Kathan will be aired 11:30pm at Banglavision every Friday.

Hollywood: Kidman and Keith: Urban celebrate daughter’s birth

New York, Agencies

Actress Nicole Kidman gave birth on Monday to a girl, her husband Keith Urban told fans on his Web site.

"Earlier this morning, Nic gave birth to our beautiful baby girl, Sunday Rose Kidman Urban. We want to thank everybody that has kept us in their thoughts and prayers," said Urban, the New Zealand-born Grammy- and ARIA-winning country music singer.

"We feel very blessed and grateful that we can share this joy with you today," he said in the Web posting.

This is the couple's first child together. Oscar-winner Kidman, who was born in Hawaii but raised in Australia, has two adopted children from her marriage to actor Tom Cruise.

Bollywood: Shilpa’s birthday party ruined

Shilpa Shetty

in Dubai

Entertainment Desk

It was planned as her perfect birthday bash in Dubai on Saturday night to bring in her birthday on Sunday. Alas, Woman proposes, God (with some help from the airport authorities) disposes. The ordeal for Shilpa began when she landed at the international airport in Dubai with her sister Shamita, parents and life companion Raj Kundra for company.

Her bag went missing at the airport. "This, let me tell you, is the story of my life, " the ever-optimistic and cheerful Shilpa laughed from Dubai. "No journey of mine is complete without losing a bag. It could be a hopping flight from Mumbai to Pune.But if I don't lose baggage the journey is incomplete." Unfortunately the baggage that Ahilpa lost in Dubai on Saturday contained the outfit she was supposed to wear for her big birthday bash planned in Dubai.

Late in the afternoon she had to go clothes- shopping in Dubai with her sister for the party in the night… A party that she finally couldn't attend. "I've been on antibiotics for the past week. Ever since I got repeatedly wet in artificial rain for a song with Sunny Deol in The Man I've been suffering these bouts of fever and coughing. I was in Delhi earlier last week. The humidity only aggravated my condition. It got worse on Saturday. A doctor had to be called."

Shilp a couldn't attend her own birthday party. But she has no regrets. "Because I spent the evening with my family. To me there can be no better way to bring in my birthday.

Hollywood :Madge tells A-Rod’s wife to 'shut up’ about affair claims

Agencies

Queen of pop Madonna has expressed outraged at the claims by Alex Rodriguez estranged wife that the baseball star was having "an affair of the heart" with the singer.

Cynthia Rodriquez's divorce lawyers had filed the claims against Madge when she filed for divorce. Madonna, however, has refused to take the slur lying down.

"Madonna's outraged," the Sun quoted a source involved in A-Rod's divorce battle, as revealing last night. "She told his wife Cynthia's lawyers not to make any more statements about her - in short, shut up," the source said.

As revealed on July 8, the 32-year-old New York Yankee was hit with a 50million pounds divorce suit, though lawyers have stated that his association with Madge, 49, is not sexual.

However a make believe picture of a love child between the two, was created by a US TV station. Madge was said to have lost her cool after hearing a comment made by 34-year-old Cynthia's lawyer Earle Lilly. "It's an affair of the heart," Lilly had said of the relationship between the singer and the baseball star. Madonna, in New York with hubby Guy Ritchie, 39, has denied that there is an affair going on.