ABC is airing the 72nd Emmy Awards on Sunday. But this year the Emmy will come up with something new as each Emmy Award passed out on the evening will include an additional $100,000 donation to combat child hunger, reports AP.

Each network and streaming service competing on the telecast has pledged the donation for every Emmy they win. The Television Academy announced the agreement on Friday.

With 23 Emmys being handed out and the academy committing $500,000, that will mean a donation of $2.8 million to No Kid Hungry, a group working to relieve child hunger brought on by the coronavirus crisis.

Jimmy Kimmel is hosting from Staples Center in Los Angeles and winners will settle for their awards from far-off places. Guests set to appear include Anthony Anderson, Mindy Kaling, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Patrick Stuart, RuPaul and Oprah Winfrey. The HBO limited series “Watchmen” is the night’s top nominee.

Read Also: ContentAsia Awards: HBO series starring Sudip wins Best Drama

Indian on-demand video streaming OTT (Over The Top)  media platform Hoichoi announced a handful of its upcoming contents on Friday, which includes a popular Bangladeshi thriller's web series adaptation by popular Indian-Bengali director Srijit Mukherji.

However, it will be not casting any actors from Bangladesh, according to the director.

The web series is based on popular Bangladeshi writer Mohammad Nazim Uddin's widely acclaimed 2015 thriller 'Rabindranath Ekhane Kokhono Khete Ashen Ni', a book that has been coined by the readers as one of the best Bengali thriller books in recent times.       

Upon Hoichoi's official announcement regarding this adaptation on Friday night, Bangladeshi audiences expressed and shared their excitement and joy in social media platforms - as the on-screen adaptation of this book has been a long-awaited one.

However, Srijit shared the news regarding not being able to cast any Bangladeshi actors in this Bangladeshi thriller-adaptation on his social media accounts on Friday night after Hoichoi's official announcement of the original series.

"My first with @hoichoitv. Really wanted to shoot it in Bangladesh with the cast from there as well. Unfortunately due to COVID, that will not be possible. However will try my best to adapt Mohd. Nazim Uddin's mindboggling brilliance in a new setting keeping the flavour intact", Srijit posted on his official Facebook and Twitter.

Mohammad Nazim Uddin is a Bangladeshi thriller writer as well as a Translator of more than 26 novels. He started his career as a publisher & translator in 2006 after completing B.A. & M.A. in Mass Communication & Journalism from University of Dhaka.

Also known as the founder of "Batighar Prokashoni" which is one of the most renowned publishers of Bangladesh. Nazim made his debut as a thriller writer in 2010. His 1st original work is “Nemesis” through which he has introduced a new series in Bengali literature called the 'Jefri & Bastard series' including five original books - 'Nemesis', 'Contract', 'Nexus', 'Confession' and 'Karachi'.

His other original works are 'Jaal', '1952: Not Just Numbers', 'Keu Keu Kotha Rakhe', 'Rabindranath Ekhane Kokhono Khete Asen Ni' and its sequel 'Rabindranath Ekhane Kokhono Ashen Ni'. 

As a translator, Nazim translated a handful of widely popular and acclaimed English books including Dan Brown's classics ('The Vinci Code', 'Deception Point', 'Origin', 'The Lost Symbol', 'Angels and Demons'); Mario Pujo's 'The Godfather', Robert Ludlum's popular detective trilogy on the Bourne series ('Bourne Identity', 'Bourne Supremacy', 'Bourne Ultimatum' and 'Bourne Legacy'), 2009 OSCAR winner for Best Picture 'Slumdog Millionaire's original book written by Indian author Vikas Swarup, Stephen King's widely acclaimed 'Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption', Frederick Forsyth's acclaimed novel 'Dogs of War' and more - for the Bengali readers.

Winston Groom, the writer of “Forrest Gump”, has died in south Alabama town. He was 77.

Mayor Karin Wilson of Fairhope, Alabama, said in a message on social media that Groom had died in that south Alabama town, reports AP.

A local funeral home also confirmed the death and said arrangements were pending.

“While he will be remembered for creating Forrest Gump, Winston Groom was a talented journalist and noted author of American history. Our hearts and prayers are extended to his family,” Alabama Governor Kay Ivey said in a statement.

“Forrest Gump” was the improbable tale of a slow-witted but mathematically gifted man who was a participant or witness to key points of 20th century history — from Alabama segregationist Gov George Wallace's “stand at the schoolhouse door”, to meetings with presidents.

The novel was made into a six-Oscar winning 1994 movie that became a soaring pop cultural phenomenon.

It was the best known book by Groom, who grew up in Mobile, Alabama, and graduated from the University of Alabama in 1965, according to a biography posted by the university.

Groom served in the Army’s Fourth Infantry Division from 1965 to 1969, the university said. His service included a tour in Vietnam — one of the settings for “Forrest Gump”.

He wrote 16 books, fiction and nonfiction. One, “Conversations with the Enemy,” about a American prisoner of war in Vietnam accused of collaboration, was a Pulitzer Prize finalist, according to the university.

‘Forrest Gump’ touched a nerve

It was “Forrest Gump” — and the success of the 1994 movie starring Tom Hanks in the iconic role of Gump, as well as Sally Field and Gary Sinise — that earned him widespread fame and some financial success.

The novel is considerably different from the film. Don Noble, University of Alabama professor emeritus of English, and a 40-year friend of Groom’s told The Tuscaloosa News that the novel was “darker” and “richer” than the movie.

“You can make a lot of money as a comic writer, but you can’t get no respect,” Noble said. “But ‘Forrest Gump’ is really actually quite a fine novel. It’s more subtle and more complicated ... richer than the movie.”

The movie, which also starred Robin Wright and Mykelti Williamson, became deeply embedded in the American psyche and has remained an enduring television staple and huge cultural phenomenon since.

“It touched a nerve,” Groom told the Tuscaloosa News in 2014.

The film dominated the 1995 Academy Awards, winning six Oscars including best picture, best director for Robert Zemeckis and best actor for Hanks.

It was 1994’s No. 2 grossing film at the box office, second only to “The Lion King.”

The basic outlines of Gump’s life are the same as they are in the book: Gump plays football under Paul “Bear” Bryant at the University of Alabama, serves in Vietnam and starts a major shrimp business.

But the film made major departures. Gump was not a math savant as he was in the book, and was a more saintly soul. The film took away Gump’s size – Groom said he envisioned John Goodman playing him – along with his profanity, and most of his sex life.

They “took some of the rough edges off,” Groom told the New York Times in 1994.

‘Happy as a pig in sunshine’

Groom also wrote nonfiction on diverse subjects including the Civil War, World War I and Alabama's Crimson Tide football.

In 2005, Groom released “1942: The Year That Tried Men’s Souls,” which chronicled the first year of US involvement in World War II.

In 2009 he released “Vicksburg 1863,” an account of the Union siege that brought a novelist’s touch to historical figures like Ulysses S Grant, William T Sherman and Jefferson Davis, president of the confederacy.

His most recent novel, El Paso, was published in 2016.

Groom got $350,000 for the rights to “Forrest Gump” plus 3 percent of the net profit of the movie. But he got into a serious dispute with Paramount Pictures when they told him a film that had earned over $600 million was in the red after expenses.

But years later he wasn’t bitter.

“They did an excellent job,” he told the Tuscaloosa News. “I would have probably preferred my version of it, but that thing never would have opened.”

The book became a major bestseller in the wake of the film, and Groom got a much better deal for the follow-up novel, 1995’s “Gump and Co.”

“I’m happy as a pig in sunshine,” he told the Mobile Register.

Nonetheless, sequel-addicted Hollywood somehow never made the new movie.

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Monowar Hossain Dipjol, one of Dhallywood's most prominent actors, underwent surgery at a city hospital on Tuesday morning.

The actor has a tumor in his belly. He underwent surgery as per his doctor’s advice, Dhallywood actor and Bangladesh Cholochitro Shilpi Samiti General Secretary Zayed Khan said.

Dipjol was admitted to Bangladesh Specialised Hospital on Monday. In 2017, he underwent a heart surgery in Singapore after suffering a heart attack.

He has since remained active in the film industry. He was elected as a vice-president of Bangladesh Cholochitro Shilpi Samity and is currently serving as the interim president of it, as incumbent President Misha Sawdagor is staying abroad, according to Zayed.

Dipjol started his career with 'Takar Pahar' in 1993. Although he is known for his iconic negative roles, he has recently been acting as protagonist in films.

Apart from being an actor, Dipjol is also a businessman, producer and politician.

Read Also: Veteran actor Sadek Bachchu dies of COVID-19

Popular Bangladeshi band Aurthohin’s frontman Saidus Salehin Khaled, popularly known as 'Bassbaba' Sumon, and his son Ahnaf Salehin Khaled have tested positive for COVID-19.

Sumon shared this information himself on Facebook on Monday. "Ahnaf and I tested positive for COVID-19. Everyone please keep us in your prayers," he wrote.

The singer-songwriter-musician has been battling cancer for almost a decade now and has been undergoing treatment abroad.

His last public appearance was at the Joy Bangla concert on March 7 at Army Stadium in the capital where he made a surprise performance alongside his longtime musical companion, music director Fuad Al Muqtadir.

“This might be my last concert, my very last stage performance,” Sumon said at the concert.

One of the most popular artists in the Bangladeshi band sphere, Sumon founded Aurthohin in 1998. He also played for other iconic bands such as Warfaze and Feelings (led by rock icon James).

Often considered as the most influential and best bass guitarist in the country, Sumon earned the title "Bassbaba" for his unique and flamboyant style of bass playing.

Sumon is currently serving as the Assistant General Secretary for Bangladesh Musical Band's Association (BAMBA) and director of Khaled Group of Companies.

Also read: Eminent singer Rezwana Choudhury Bannya caught COVID-19