The New Nation - Internet Edition

Special: 80th birth anniversary of artist Kibria celebrated

Entertainment Report

Artist Mohammad Kibria's 80th birth anniversary was on January 1. To celebrate the birthday of the country's one of the prominent artists Kibria, Bengal Foundation organised a programme at Bengal Shilpalaya in Dhanmondi in the city yesterday.

Noted personalities including educationists, litterateurs and artists were present at the function and celebrated the day with reminiscences of the artworks of the noted artist.

Mohammad Kibria was born on January 1, 1929 in Birbhum of the West Bengal in India. He graduated from Kolkata Government Art Institute in 1950 and later pursued higher studies in fine arts in Japan.

He is a recipient of 'Ekushey Padak,' 'Swadhinata Padak,' and many other awards from home and abroad. Dhaka University selected him as a professor emeritus last year.

TV Watch: Mamunur Rashid’s new serial Noksha

Entertainment Report

Noted playwright and actor Mamunur Rashid's new drama serial 'Noksha' is being on ATN Bangla. The second episode of the drama serial will be aired at 9:20pm tonight. Mamunur Rashid has scripted and directed the drama serial.

ATM Shamsuzzaman, Naznin Hasan Chumki, AkhM Hasan, Joyraj, Golam Farida Chhanda, Shoshi, Sujata, Lutfar Rahman George, Azad Abul Kalam, Anis, Tushar Khan, Shirin Alam, Abu Hashim Masud, Ahsanul Haque Minu, Masud Rana Mithu, Modhu, among others, have performed in the drama serial.

Story of Noksha:

Lalchan Sardar is an old resident of old Dhaka. He have married three times and father of 18 children. His sons and daughters are less educated. But his granddaughter Nuri has been studying in Dhaka University.

Another grandson Chan has been working in an architectural firm after getting architectural degree. He has many complains about the modern architecture.

Because his grandfather was involved when Ahsan Manjil was built. He feels proud of it.

He could not get anything with this modern architecture. It creates water-logging in the city and makes urban life intolerable. This is the main concept of the drama serial.

Style Icon on ATN Bangla

Entertainment Report

Grooming session of the beauty contest 'Style Icon' was held recently. Viewers will get opportunity to watch the beauty contest on air. The first show of the contest was aired on ATN Bangla on January 2. The show will be aired on ATN Bangla twice a week - on Fridays at 8:00pm and on Mondays at 8:45 pm.

Primary selection round of the beauty contest started from November 25, 2008 where 16 judges selected 200 contestants from more than 20,000 applicants. Of the 200, 26 were selected for the grooming session, which was conducted at the Fantasy Kingdom theme park. Film director Chashi Nazrul Islam, beauty expert Kaniz Almas, fashion designer Shahrukh Shahid and artiste Fahmida Nabi among others were the judges of this session. Twenty contestants were selected from this round who are now going through another grooming round in Chittagong. This session includes physical exercise, choreography, ramp, beautification, basic walk, regular lecture, discussion, lifestyle training and more. Five competitors will be eliminated from here and the top ten will be selected from the rest. These 10 contestants will then participate in the 'Gala Round.'

Style Icon is jointly organised by ATN Bangla, Ittefaq group and Concord group. Koushik Hossain Tapash is the creative director and Mukaddem Babu is the producer of the show.

TV Serial: Aziz Market, Shahbagh on ETV tonight

Entertainment Report

Mega drama serial "Aziz Market, Shahbagh, Dhaka 1000" will be aired on Ekushey Television (ETV) tonight at 9:30 pm. Abdus Salam has planned the mega serial, while Sakhawat Al Mamun has written the story of the serial. He has also directed the drama serial.

Stories of poets, actors and singers as well as people from different sectors of the society who hang out at the Aziz Market in Shahbagh in the city are highlighted in the drama serial.

Mosharraf Karim, Azad Abul Kalam, Pran Roy, Arup Rahi, Farah Ruma, Nafisa, Mannan Heera, Shams Sumon, among others, perform in different roles in the serial.

Talk Show: Banglavision airs Amar Ami tonight

Entertainment Report

Celebrity talk show 'Amar Ami' will be aired on Banglavision at 9:05pm tonight. Lux superstar Munmun will moderate the show and Ushnish Chakraborty is producer of the programme.

Cooking expert Prof Siddika Kabir and TV presenter Sharmin Lucky will be present as tonight's guests at the show. In the show, they will share their experiences and also take part in conversation with the moderator. Viewers will know many things about them in the show.

Hollywood: Happy 2009! Katy Perry, Fergie, usher and more!

E! Online, Los Angeles

Katy Perry was the belle of ball at the Gridlock New Year's Eve party in Hollywood. This year's pop princess newcomer performed for about 5,000 people on the Paramount lot.

After leading the countdown to '09, she shouted, 'Happy f - king New Year, everyone!' and continued into a performance of her latest hit, 'Hot N Cold.' She then dedicated her tune, 'Waking Up in Vegas,' to-who else? -Partiers in Sin City. Of course she sang, "I Kissed a Girl." "Has everyone kissed someone yet?" she asked, before launching into her debut hit single. Perry wasn't the only happening in Hollywoodt

Across town, at the Wiltern, DJ AM and Travis Barker performed together for the first time since their tragic plane crash in September. The two headlined the New Year's Nation celebration, which was broadcast live to several cities around the country and stre-amed live on the Internet. Over in Vegas, Usher hosted the bash at Bank nightclub at the Bellagio. It was the first night out for him and his wife, Tameka, since the arrival of their second child.

Shortly after midnight, Usher performed 'Love in This Club,' 'Bad Girls' and 'Yeah.' Before hitting the club, Usher helped Tameka celebrate her birthday with a dinner for 25 at Fix restaurant & bar. As for the cake? Decorated as two Louis Vuitton trunks.

Also in Vegas, Fergie gave a concert at the Venetian Ballroom before heading to Lavo at the Palazzo Hotel to host the night's festivities. She and hottie fiancé Josh Duhamel, who will wed on January 10, locked lips as the new year began. In Miami, Gerard Butler and Maria Menounos led the countdown at the Shore Club's Skybar. New York nightlife gurus Eugene Remm and Mark Birnbaum hosted the party, which attracted Twilight's Kellan Lutz, Annalynne McCord, Jared Leto and Kristin Cavallari.

Preity’s dostana

Many Bollywood babes have been friends for a long time, just the way Kareena Kapoor-Amrita Arora, Koena Mitra-Tanushree Dutta and Kim Sharma-Preity Jhangiani are. There have been others who ended their friendships on a sour note. One famous example was when Aishwarya and Rani fell out after Ash got replaced by Rani in Chalte Chalte.

The Priyanka-Kareena and Kareena-Esha Deol friendship also didn't stand the test of time. There have been more catfights than girl bonding between two female celebs in Bollywood.

Of late there is a buzz that Katrina Kaif and Preity Zinta have struck up a friendship. Katrina who's considered wooden and cold by many and who few females like in B-Town says she absolutely adores Preity Zinta. Apparently the duo takes time out of their busy schedules to chat, shop and hang out with each other. According to Katrina the bubbly Priety is "such a warm and lovely person." Now that's what we call a compliment. - Agency