The New Nation - Internet Edition

Theatre: Premier show of Bayanno Bazar Teppanno Goli held

Entertainment Report

The premier show of play 'Bayanno Bazar Teppanno Goli,' second full-fledged production of theatre troupe Palakar, was held at the Experimental Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Sjilpakala Academy on Thursday.

The Hong Kong Shanghai Bank Corporation (HSBC) sponsored the play. It has taken other initiatives to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Dhaka city, including photo exhibition, seminars and commissioning a map of the city, which showcases the places of historical importance and highlights architectural attractions. The play was a part of the celebration. Aminur Rahman Mukul directed the play. Shahriar Khan, Sharmin Sharmi, Ferdousi Sharmi, Selim Haider, Ashiqur Rahman, Shumi Rosario and others played the central roles. Kamaluddin Kabir designed the set and Nasirul Haque Khokon was the light designer.

The play opens with the sound of 'Azaan' coming from all directions, as if to justify the title 'City of Mosques.' The play soon found a comic retreat to present the history and traditions of the city, using the 'Old Dhaka' scenario as its set.

The story centred on 'Shaesta', a history-maniac college teacher who treats everyone as his student. Especially, when it came to the history of Dhaka, it was impossible to stop him from lecturing. His daughters, Shabnam and Rizia, were beautiful girls with no lack of suitors. Suja and Murshid were in love with the sisters, but didn't dare to approach their father to ask for their hands in marriage.

Meanwhile, Shaista arranged a 'Swayambar Sabha' where a girl chooses her husband from a number of suitors, for his elder daughter. The condition was, the suitors will have to prove their knowledge on the history of Dhaka.

Suja, whose education was only up to school level, undertook this task as a challenge - the play moved on. The play managed to surprise the audience with its amusing presentation of some typical 'Dhakaiite' elements like the rickshaw, street vendors, talking parrots and more. However, some elderly viewers seemed a bit annoyed with the excessive use of parody in the play.

TV Watch: Moza Mare Foza Bhai on Channel 1 tonight

Entertainment Desk

Foza Mia is a rich man in Bhabanipur village. He has three wives - Hurunnesa, Samiran and Joba. He has no children. Story begins when Foza Mia left from a fund raising office with his assistant Gedu Munshi. Gedu wanted to know why Foza Mia wanted to grab more lands, despite he has no children. But Foza Mia said it is a problem if he had any children. Children will be a burden for him. He only comes to this world to enjoy. Such types of entertain continues. In the meantime, wives of Foza Mia were unhappy with their husband. They understand that they were poor so that they got married with Foza Mia. In our society how the females of poor families are surviving in the country were presented in the serial.

They did not quarrel with each other rather than they tried to disturb Foza Mia. Once three wives decided to go to watch Jatra in Binoy Babu's house. On the other hand Foza Mia is so cruel with his wives. He caught plan of his wives. Then he declared them he would again get married to punish them.

The story will going on.

Starring: ATM Shamsuzzaman, Tushar, Fakhrul Hasan Bairagi, Sujata, Shirin Bakul, Flora Sarkar and others.

Time: Every Saturday and Sunday at 8:15pm.

Event: 16 personalities receive Poet Abu Jafar Obaidullah Awards

Entertainment Desk

Sixteen personalities received Poet Abu Jafar Obaidullah Awards 2008 at a function recently, said a news release.

Poet Abu Jafar Obaidullah Foundation organised a discussion meeting and award giving ceremony at Poet Sufia Kamal Auditorium of the National Museum on July 14.

While addressing as chief guest at the function National Professor Kabir Chowdhury said, "Poet Abu Jafar Obaidullah is a memorable person in the country. His love to this country's people and soil always inspire everybody. He was not only renowned in poetry, but also in social welfare, agriculture and human resource development and building up skilled manpower."

Prof Muzaffer Ahmed said, "Poet Obaidullah had a great power to make a person close."

Arif Nazrul, Chairman of the Foundation, chaired the function, while Zakir Ibne Solaiman, poet, Ad Spijkers, Bangladesh Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Golam Kader, Chairman of Atish Dipankar Research Council, Faruk Hossain, child litterateur, Mustafa Habib, poet, among others, took part in the discussion.

The persons who got the awards this year are the following: Prof Muzaffer Ahmed in Economics, Md Kamaluddin Ahmed in Administration, Rahat Khan in Literature, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury in Journalism, Prof Dr Abul Hasan Muhammad Sadeque in Education, Syed Abu Naser Bakhtiar Ahmed in Banking, Nasir Ahmed in Poetry, Rahim Shah in Child Literature, Mainuddin Biswas and Safiqur Rahman in Commerce and Industry, KM Hossain in Education Development, GM Afsar Uddin in Michael Research, Mohammad Jahangir Mollah in Lyrical Poetry, Rakhi Bhowmik in Music, Selim Master in Social Welfare and Sheikh Tofael Hossain Liton in Social Welfare.

All the awardees got a crest and certificate each.

TV Show: Beauty related programme on Channel i

Entertainment Desk

A beauty related programme titled 'Women's World We Beautify' is being aired on Channel i at 6:00pm every Friday.

While addressing about the programme Kona Alam, Managing Director of Women's World and beauty expert, said, "The 25-minute programme will cover beauty science, beauty diet, panoramic view, beautiful mind, fashion today and beauty horoscope segment."

Kona Alam will give answers to the viewers according to their quarries on beauty science and makeover in every episode of Cue and A Session. Anybody can write down their letters to the director of the programme mentioning about their problems.

Actress Konkon is moderating the programme. Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed, Shafiq Rehman, Shuvagata Chowdhury, Hashem Khan, Fahmida Nabi, Emdad Haque, astrologer Kawsar Ahmed Chowdhury and others have already taken part in different episodes of the programme.

Director of the programme Rehana Samdani and producer is Jamaluddin.

Viewers can send their letters to the following address:

Producer, Women's World We Beautify, Impress Telefilm, Channel i, 62/A Siddheswari, Dhaka.

Theatre: PLT in Moscow Int’l festival

Entertainment Desk

Peoples Little Theatre, a sister concern of Peoples Theatre Association (PTA), will represent the country in the Moscow International Children's Theatre Festival. The festival started on July 17 and will end on July 25.

Besides Bangladesh, about 25 countries including Croatia, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Singapore, Slovakia, Belarus, Lithonia, England, Azerbaijan, Latvia, Israel, Estonia, Venezuela, Peru, Iceland, Cuba, Germany, Indonesia, Columbia and India are taking part in the festival.

During representing the country it will present its production 'Alo.'

Liaquat Ali Lucky, Secretary General of PTA, will lead the 12-member troupe.

Alo, written by Leela Majumder, features a fearless little boy who gathers the courage to bring medicine for his dying grandfather, which saves the life of the elderly man. Yasmin Ali is the director of the play.

Earlier, PTA participated in several children's theatre festivals in Japan, England, Cuba, India and other countries.