The music industry and concert scene in Bangladesh are highly indebted to some of the legendary rock icons who performed their hearts out to enamour music lovers with their musical offerings. Among them, one special name is the National Award-winning rock icon Faruq Mahfuz Anam James, popularly known as "Nagar Baul James" and "Guru", who turned 59 on Monday. To date, music lovers get amped and geared up for any new concert spectacles in the country or anywhere in the world if the concert has James headlining with his electrifying performances. His name not only sells tickets but always ensures that the concertgoers are guaranteed to have marquee memories. After 'I Love You,' James' new song coming soon On the legendary rockstar’s 59th birthday, his friends in the industry and fans-admirers across the world showered him with tremendous respect and affection across the world and also on virtual platforms, sharing photographs and emotional posts on social media platforms regarding their celebrations and memories of attending his concerts. "Nagar Baul," drummer and friend Ahasan Elahi Fanty, shared a couple of photos with James celebrating his birthday, wishing him prosperity with prayers. Many other prominent music artists and bands, including Shunno and others, have also wished the rockstar on his birthday. Born in 1964 in Naogaon of Rajshahi, James was brought up in Chattogram due to his father Mojammel Haque's work who later became the Chairman of the Dhaka Education Board. His family did not approve of his wish to become a music artist; thus, he left home in 1976 and started living at Aziz Boarding in Pahartali. Without the approval of his family, James started his profound journey in music in his youth during the late 1970's. He formed his band "Feelings" in 1977 as the vocal and lead guitarist and released the band's first album, "Station Road," in 1987. The band was later renamed "Nagar Baul", a moniker that James has also adopted as the music artist. James, Miles withdraw cases against Banglalink Besides the other two companions, LRB and ARK, in the "Big Three of Bangladeshi Rock" in the 90's era in the Bangladeshi music industry, James garnered immense popularity among fans all over the world with his versatile style in psychedelic rock. He has also established his legacy as a solo artist and a successful playback singer in both Dhallywood and Bollywood. In 2006, he debuted in Bollywood as a playback singer in Anurag Basu's film "Gangstar", and his journey in Bollywood was continued with three other films: 'Woh Lamhe' (2006), '"Life... in a Metro" (2007), and "Warning" (2013). In his motherland, James received the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer twice for the films "Desha: The Leader" (2014) and "Swatta" (2017). As a solo artist, he has released a total of eight albums and many mixed albums with renowned artists from Bangladesh. "Taray Taray Rotiye Debo" (penned by legendary poet Shamsur Rahman), "Maa", "Bangladesh", "Pagla Hawaa", "Dushtu Chheler Dol", "Guru Ghor Banaila Ki Diya", and "Mirabai" are some of James's iconic Bengali rock numbers that cemented his legacy as 'Guru' to his fans all over the world. 12 years in the making: Rockstar James to launch new song on Eid-ul-Fitr eve Besides being the most iconic living legend in the country’s rock scene, James has also proved his versatility in other mediums as a photographer and media entrepreneur. He is the founder and chairman of the board of the renowned Bangladeshi production house, Red Dot Entertainment.

‘Mujib: The Making of a Nation’, the much-anticipated biopic of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, is all set to have the nationwide theatrical release on October 13, Friday. Master filmmaker Shyam Benegal's directorial film, a joint production of Bangladesh-India with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Bangladesh & Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India being the producers and Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) & National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) Limited, India being the executive producers, the film is also scheduled to be released across India on October 27. The official theatrical trailer of the highly-anticipated film was released on Sunday at the film’s Bangladesh distributor Jaaz Multimedia and India’s NFDC YouTube channels. "Mujib: The Making of a Nation" premieres at Toronto International Film Festival The 1:47-minute trailer uploaded on Jaaz Multimedia is dubbed in Bengali, while the 1:48-minute trailer on NFDC is in the Hindi language. The film received an uncensored certificate on July 31 this year from both of the censor boards. Dhallywood’s popular actor Arifin Shuvoo leads the ensemble cast as the title character of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in this film, while Nusrat Imrose Tisha plays Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, the lifelong better half of the Father of the Nation. 'Mujib: The Making of a Nation' will remain as a document of history: Hasan Mahmud Actress Nusraat Faria, who already found success in both the Bangladesh and West Bengal film industries, will portray Bangabandhu’s elder daughter and incumbent Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.  The trailer also features popular actor Chanchal Chowdhury, Prarthana Dighi, Tauquir Ahmed and others in different characters, and the entire trailer showcases some of the powerful and majestic moments from Bangabandhu’s epic journey to the road of the country’s independence. Music of the film is produced by acclaimed Indian music director Shantanu Moitra, and theBengali dialogues are penned by Sadhana Ahmed, Gias Uddin Selim, Shihab Shaheen and Anam Biswas from Bangladesh. PM launches Mujibpedia on Bangabandhu Back in May 2022, an exclusive trailer of the film was premiered on the third day of the 75th edition of the world-famous Cannes Film Festival's Marche du Film section in Paris, France. Shooting of the film started in Mumbai, India in January 2021 and concluded in December of the same year.    

French cultural institution Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) organised an exclusive musical event titled “An Evening with Geet and Ghazal” on Saturday night at its “La Galerie”. Ghazal artists Manzurul Islam Khan and Somdutta Banerjee performed at the event. Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzak attended the event as the chief guest, while additional Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police AKM Hafiz Akhtar, and Chairman of Asian TV Limited and Director of FBCCI Alhaj Harun Ur Rashid were present as special guests. Manzurul Islam Khan, a vocalist of the country’s mainstream music and semi-classical music, after completing his music education from Chhayanaut, obtained a higher degree in music from Mumbai University, India. He took training at different levels from the music gurus of both countries. At present, Khan is working as a Coordinator at the classical music workshop of Alliance Française de Dhaka. Somdutta Banerjee is a unique and popular artist of West Bengal and Indian Raagasrayi music. She obtained her higher degree from Calcutta University with training under eminent teachers of India. The event was open to all.

After the chaotic altercations happened at the Celebrity Cricket League on Friday night, organisers have postponed the league until further notice. They also informed the media that cases have been filed against the assaulters on Friday night’s game at the Mirpur Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium in the capital. The brawl took place during a friendly group match between two teams headed by filmmakers Mostafa Kamal Raz and Dipankar Dipon, resulting in several players being injured, and six of them were taken to the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation in the capital. Also read: Star-studded Celebrity Cricket League turns nightmarish amid chaotic fights On Saturday night, the organisers arranged a press conference at the venue where the league was supposed to be concluded on the same day, instead, they had to clarify the foreseeable future surrounding the teams and the league itself. The two team captains were present at the press conference, along with producer Arshad Adnan, who said neither Raz nor Dipon were behind the incident, but the organisers have evaluated the available video footage from multiple sources and filed cases against them. Also read: I was blamed even though I did nothing wrong: Shakib Khan However, the name of the police station and the alleged assaulters were not revealed at the press conference. “The regrettable situation that occurred yesterday (September 29) is quite distressing. Everyone saw that we did not initiate the fight; it began when four or five individuals suddenly assaulted us. They were dressed in supporter t-shirts, and the assaulters even threatened one of our players, actor Manoj Pramanik,” said Dipankar Dipon. “My assistant was brutally attacked by being thrown to the ground. We were stunned, wondering: who are they and where did they come from? After the incident, we demanded from the authorities that we would not leave the field if the situation failed to get resolved. They asked us for one day, and credit goes to them for taking action in the meantime,” he added. Also read: 12 Bangla Dramas to Watch During Eid-ul-Fitr 2023 Meanwhile, producer Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Raj has apologised for his team’s behaviour. "I'm sorry," he said. “I am ashamed of this unexpected incident. Legal action has also been taken against those involved in my party. Since we belong to the same family, we are the ones who solved the matter.” Mostafa Kamal Raj's team won the toss and elected to bat on Friday. They scored 119 runs in the stipulated six overs. Dipankar Dipan's team was scoring runs at a proportional rate when they came out to bat for a big score. But in the end, they lost by 7 runs. The team scored 112 runs in the stipulated 6 overs. The fight broke out after the match. On the other hand, Mostafa Kamal Raz apologised for the behaviour of his team. At the press conference, he said, "I wholeheartedly apologise and am ashamed of this unexpected incident. Legal action has also been taken against the assaulters who were on my team. As we are members of the same family, our showbiz industry, we resolved the matter internally among ourselves.” The organisers, however, did not clarify whether the league will resume shortly or will restart entirely. They did not provide a tentative timeline as well, but informed that it would be announced soon.

Aiming to encourage the Bangladesh National Cricket Team in the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup, the star-studded 'Celebrity Cricket League' featuring the country's showbiz stars, turned into horrific chaos on Friday night at the Mirpur Shaheed Suhrawardy  Indoor Stadium when an unpleasant incident took place. The aforementioned incident took place during a friendly group match between filmmakers Mostafa Kamal Raz and Dipankar Dipon. In the match, Raj's team won the toss, decided to bat first and scored 119 runs in the allotted six overs. Dipankar Dipon's team then collected 112 runs in the allotted 6 overs and lost the match by 7 runs. Top 12 Most Anticipated South Indian Films Releasing in October 2023 However, tensions on the turf intensified during the match and despite efforts to restore normalcy, the situation deteriorated further after the game ended late Friday night, with some players from both sides involved in furious altercations with each other, notably Dhallywood actor Sariful Razz. Video footage has been surfacing online showing the altercations, and the brawl resulted in several players being injured and taken to the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation in the capital. 'Jawan' director Atlee says got calls from Hollywood because of this scene Actor Shimul from Dipankar Dipon’s team said that many outsiders played in the match and attacked with ‘an attempt to murder’ while actress Raj Ripa said that Mostafa Kamal Raz and actor Sariful Razz physically assaulted her during the post-match, blaming the organizers for the management failure. Bongo BD to release South Indian comedy movie 'F2: Fun and Frustration' with Bengali version this week Dipankar Dipon said that an official statement will be announced soon after the management evaluates the entire situation. The three-day Celebrity Cricket League was launched on September 28 with 8 teams, each containing 16 members from the country’s showbiz industry. It was set to be concluded today.  

An exciting period awaits South Indian – Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam – film enthusiasts. Spanning various themes and narratives, featuring renowned actors, visionary directors, and intriguing storylines, these films are poised to leave an indelible mark on audiences. Let’s explore these 12 most hyped South Indian films scheduled for release in October 2023. 12 Most Anticipated South Indian Movies for October 2023 Mama Mascheendra | Telugu | 6 October 2023 Helmed by the multi-talented actor-filmmaker Harsha Vardhan, this film features Sudheer Babu, portraying three distinct characters. Harsha Vardhan also wrote the screenplay for the movie, promising a roller-coaster ride of emotions, action, and intrigue. Joining Sudheer Babu are talented co-stars Mirnalini Ravi and Eesha Rebba, who play pivotal roles in this exciting project. Narayan Das K Narang and Puskur Ram Mohan Rao, under Sree Venkateswara Cinemas LLP as Production No. 5, are the producers of this movie. Chaitan Bharadwaj composes the film's music, while PG Vinda and Rajeev are in charge of the Cinematography and art direction respectively. The film is a bilingual production, catering to both Telugu and Hindi-speaking audiences. Read more: 'Jawan' director Atlee says got calls from Hollywood because of this scene Bhagavanth Kesari | Telugu | 19 October 2023 This is an action comedy film that promises to deliver humor and action in equal measure. The film revolves around Nelakonda Bhagavanth Kesari, portrayed by Nandamuri Balakrishna. He engages in a battle of wits and strength against an influential business magnate named Rahul Sanghvi. Kajal Aggarwal and Sreeleela add to the star power of this entertaining venture, with Arjun Rampal making his Telugu cinema debut. Sahu Garapati and Harish Peddi bankrolled this laughter-filled extravaganza under the banner of Shine Screens. C. Ramprasad's cinematographer captures the humor and action in style, while Thaman S. orchestrates the film's music and background score. Anil Ravipudi is the director of this film.  Read more: Bongo BD to release South Indian comedy movie 'F2: Fun and Frustration' with Bengali version this week Tiger Nageswara Rao | Telugu | 20 October 2023 Directed by Vamsee, this is an action thriller that promises an exhilarating journey into the criminal underworld of Stuartpuram during the 1970s. Vamsee also penned the screenplay for this gripping tale. The film features Ravi Teja in the titular role, leading a talented ensemble cast. It includes Anupam Kher, Renu Desai, Nupur Sanon, Jisshu Sengupta, Gayatri Bhardwaj, and Murali Sharma. Produced by Abhishek Agarwal, this cinematic venture showcases the prowess of cinematographer R. Madhi and the musical genius of G. V. Prakash Kumar. Editing duties are overseen by Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao. The cinema is set to captivate audiences across languages with its release in Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam as well. Read more: English Language Netflix Originals Coming in October 2023 Irugaptru | Tamil | 6 October 2023 Potential Studios unveils this film written and helmed by Yuvaraj Dhayalan. The film stars Vikram Prabhu, Vidharth, Shri, Saniya Iyyapan, Shraddha Rama Srinath, and Abarnathi.  Irugaptru follows the lives of three couples as they navigate inevitable challenges and seek self-discovery to salvage their relationships. The film's music is composed by Justin Prabhakaran, and Gokul Benoy takes charge of the cinematography. Editing is handled by Lal Krishna. Read more: First-ever Bangla-dubbed Thai movie ‘Bad Genius’ to be released on Bongo tomorrow Enaku Endey Kidaiyaathu | Tamil | 6 October, 2023 This is a unique film helmed by Vikram Ramesh, who also plays the lead role. The story, screenplay, dialogues, and direction are all the creative work of Vikram Ramesh. The film's plot revolves around a cab driver who picks up a businesswoman, expecting a routine fare. However, little does he know that this night will take unexpected twists and turns, extending far beyond his expectations. The star-studded cast includes Vikram Ramesh, Karthik Venkatraman, Swayam Chitha, Sivakumar Raju, Pichaikkaran fame Murali Seenivasan, and Sakthivel. Thalapathy Rathnam is responsible for the movie's cinematography, while Kalacharan composes the music. Prakash choreographs the action sequences, and Muganvel oversees the editing works. Art direction is skillfully handled by Surya. Read more: Top 12 South Indian Films Being Released in September 2023 Leo | Tamil | 19 October 2023 This is an action thriller directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, who co-wrote it with Rathna Kumar and Deeraj Vaidy. The movie is the third installment in the Lokesh Cinematic Universe and is bankrolled by S. S. Lalit Kumar of Seven Screen Studio. Jagadish Palanisamy served as a co-producer. The film boasts an impressive cast including Vijay, Trisha, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Sarja, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Mansoor Ali Khan, and Mysskin. The film's music is composed by Anirudh Ravichander, while Manoj Paramahamsa handles the cinematography. Editing duties are entrusted to Philomin Raj. Leo is scheduled to be released in IMAX formats, promising a visual spectacle that matches its gripping storyline. Read more: 'Nun 2' narrowly edges 'A Haunting in Venice' over quiet weekend in movie theaters

Bollywood blockbuster “Jawan” director Atlee has disclosed that he was approached by Hollywood filmmakers following the film's premiere. “People who worked on our film [Jawan] were from Hollywood. Action director Spiro Razatos worked with us. So, Spiro and other great directors and technicians from Hollywood were at the same screening of Jawan. And, Spiro said, ‘I have done action in this film,’” NDTV quoted Atlee. Also read: Shah Rukh Khan starrer ‘Jawan’ makes historic debut in Bangladesh Atlee also discussed a certain action scene admired by the "great directors and technicians." It was Shah Rukh Khan's introductory scene in “Jawan,” when his character, Vikram Rathore, eventually awakens and saves a village. Atlee added, “So, they [directors and technicians] asked Spiro who has done that scene where SRK is engulfed in flames. He [Spiro] said, ‘It was the director's [Atlee] vision and he [Atlee] executed it.'” “So they immediately connected with me and told me, ‘If you want to work in Hollywood, let us know,'” he continued. Also read: ‘Hero or villain?’ Shah Rukh Khan teases with new ‘Jawan’ poster Atlee commented on the film’s international success, saying, “So it [action sequences] isn't a taste which is very desi. It is something superheroic and it has a very basic rhythm. I thought this idea only works for us but it is working globally.” Also read: Shah Rukh Khan starrer ‘Jawan’ releases tonight in Bangladesh, making history “Jawan,” starring Shah Rukh Khan, has received widespread acclaim. The Atlee film is making all the right noises, whether it is because of the tunes or because of SRK's brilliant lines. “Jawan” is also the Hindi film to reach the Rs 500-crore mark the fastest. It is now aiming to cross the Rs 1,000 crore milestone at the global box office, said the report. Apart from Shah Rukh Khan, “Jawan” also stars Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi, Sanjay Dutt, and Deepika Padukone (in a special appearance). The movie was released worldwide on September 7.

Bongo BD, an OTT platform of Bangladesh, is going to release the Bengali version of South Indian comedy film 'F2: Fun and Frustration' on its platform this week. Cast by renowned actors including South superstar Daggubati Venkatesh, Tamannaah Bhatia, and Varun Tej, 'F2: Fun and Frustration' this movie promises a riot of laughter and a rollercoaster of emotions. 'Nun 2' narrowly edges 'A Haunting in Venice' over quiet weekend in movie theaters The film's narrative takes a hilarious twist as it unfolds the story of two Indian young men who find themselves in a sticky situation, caught by foreign police under allegations of molesting two women on the street. However, there's a comical twist—these men claim that one of the women is the wife of one, and the other is destined to be the wife of the other! Yes, they were indulging in what's colloquially known as "Eve teasing" with their own wives. To uncover the secrets behind this uproarious scenario, viewers are encouraged to tune in and enjoy the rollicking ride of 'F2: Fun and Frustration.' Masud Karim to bring Assam’s historic Bengali language movement into documentary This South Indian comedy gem offers a delightful blend of action, romance, and emotions, all wrapped up in the side-splitting quarrels and escapades between husbands and wives. Ariful Islam, Assistant Manager of Digital Marketing at Bongo BD, expressed his excitement about bringing this unique comedy genre film on the platform. English Language Netflix Originals Coming in October 2023 He stated, "Bongo always strives to offer diverse and engaging content to our audience. 'F2' is a prime example of such eclectic content. We're delighted to bring this comedy masterpiece to our viewers, with the hope of putting smiles on their faces. The movie is already generating buzz on various social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, which is a source of great joy and pride for us."

After many dramatic ups and downs, popular film actor couple Pori Moni and Shariful Razz are apparently divorced, according to their family sources. Pori Moni posted a status on her verified Facebook page that raised rumours of divorce on social media. Salahuddin Zaki, director of ‘Ghuddi’, passes away “Tomorrow (September 17) is a very important day in my life! A... (signature emoji)... Trust in Allah,” the actress wrote. However, there have been no direct comment from either Pori Moni or Razz on the subject so far. 'Nun 2' narrowly edges 'A Haunting in Venice' over quiet weekend in movie theaters Razz and Pori got married on October 17, 2021. The star couple then completed the formalities in January 2022. ‘We’re not just co-stars’: Deepika on working with Shah Rukh

Syed Salahuddin Zaki, renowned Bangladeshi filmmaker-screenwriter-author and a pioneer in the country’s movie industry, passed away on Monday night at the age of 77. The Ekushey Padak and National Award winning filmmaker, widely revered for his critically acclaimed 1980 film “Ghuddi”, breathed his last while undergoing treatment at United Hospital in Dhaka, according to several sources. Read: 'Nun 2' narrowly edges 'A Haunting in Venice' over quiet weekend in movie theaters Nasir Uddin Yousuff, founder of Dhaka Theatre of which Zaki was a founding member, said that the eminent filmmaker was declared dead by the doctors at the hospital at 11:53 pm. Decision regarding his burial is yet to be made after his son and daughter return to Bangladesh from Canada, according to the sources. Celebrities and members of the country’s film fraternity, along with Zaki’s close acquaintances, have been sharing their grief and love for the renowned filmmaker on social media platforms as news of his death broke. Read: Curtain rises on European Film Festival 2023 Born on August 26, 1946, in Tangail, Syed Salahuddin Zaki’s maiden film “Ghuddi” – starring actors Raisul Islam Asad and Suborna Mustafa – was released in 1980. The critically acclaimed film is still remembered for several of its songs composed by the late Lucky Akhand, including “Abar Elo Je Shondhya,” “Ke Bashi Bajay Re,” and “Ghum Ghum”.  Zaki went on to direct and produce several films including “Laal Benarasi” and “Aaina Bibir Pala”. He also served at BFDC as the operative director and Bangladesh Television as its director general for five years. Read: Comedian Russell Brand denies allegations of sexual assault published by three UK news organizations Zaki received the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Dialogue for “Ghuddi” and was awarded the Ekushey Padak in 2021, the second highest civilian award in Bangladesh, for his contributions to the country’s film industry.