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Showcasing 252 films from 74 nations, 22nd Dhaka International Film Festival begins
The 22nd edition of the coveted Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF), one of the longest-running film events in the world, was inaugurated on Saturday with 252 films from 74 countries - chorusing the slogan “Better Films, Better Audience, Better Society.”
Finance Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali inaugurated the festival as the chief guest of the opening ceremony, while the subcontinent's renowned Indian-Bengali actress Sharmila Tagore was present as the special guest at the inaugural ceremony.
Yue Liwen, Cultural Counselor of the Embassy of China in Bangladesh and Md Mokammel Hossain, Secretary of the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry also spoke at the event.
Presided over by the DIFF chief patron and former State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, the welcome remarks were delivered by festival director Ahmed Muztaba Zamal, founding organiser of this coveted film festival.
Inaugurating the 22nd DIFF, Finance Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali said, “Cinema has no border, and the audiences in Bangladesh are now watching almost every film beyond the boundaries. Through festivals like the DIFF, our audiences have been able to enjoy quality films from the entire world, and foreign audiences are also learning about our films and culture through this festival.”
Expressing gratitude to the organizers and lauding DIFF’s slogan “Better Films, Better Audience, Better Society,” eminent actress and this year’s distinguished guest and jury member Sharmila Tagore said, “Through good films, we understand the world, and a lot of things. I think there is nothing better than films that can communicate to everyone, because images stay with you - and it does not matter whether you speak Bengali, English, Chinese or any other language, because images eventually get through to you. I am really honoured to be here and looking forward to watching the films, and meeting my other co-jurors from tomorrow.”
This year's festival began with the Iran-Bangladesh joint production film ‘Fereshteh’ starring acclaimed actress Jaya Ahsan and directed by Morteza Atashzamzam, under the Wide Angle Film Poster Exhibition section. The inaugural session on Saturday evening also showcased the Shyam Benegal-directed ‘Mujib: Ekti Jatir Rupokar’ (Mujib: The Making of a Nation).
Moviegoers can watch the films at different venues including the Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Auditorium (main auditorium) and Poet Sufia Kamal Auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum, National Art Gallery Auditorium and National Music and Dance Auditorium of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Academy Auditorium and Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD), Dhanmondi in the capital.
Read: 22nd Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) begins Saturday
The films will be screened under the Asian Competition Section, Retrospective Section, Tribute, Bangladesh Panorama, Wide Angle, Cinema of the World, Children's Film, Spiritual Films, Short and Independent Film and Women's Film Session.
The '10th International Women Filmmakers Conference' on the role of women in films will be held on the 3rd floor of the Samson Lounge, Dhaka Club, from January 21-22 as part of the festival. Department of Film & Television, Jagannath University will cooperate in this and UNDP will be a strategic partner.
Eminent Indian actress and the esteemed guest of this year’s festival Sharmila Tagore will formally inaugurate the '10th International Women Film Makers Conference,' which will be chaired by DIFF Chairperson Kishwar Kamal on January 21 at 9:30 am. State Minister for Women and Child Affairs Simin Hossain Rimi will be present as the Chief Guest at the conference.
Minister of Social Welfare Dr Dipu Moni will inaugurate the Wide Angle section of the 22nd DIFF on January 22 at the Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum, which will be joined by the Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen and Deputy Chair of Shanghai Film Association and distinguished film scholar Dr Shi Chuan as the special guests.
Read: 3rd Bangladesh Film Festival illuminates Colombo
Apart from this, there will be a unique masterclass-day for the second time in the festival's history which will be held throughout the day on January 27 at Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum. The first session of the day will be addressed by eminent film scholar Dr Shi Chuan, Deputy Chair of the Shanghai Film Association of China, while the second session will feature the globally renowned Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi and the third session will feature Indian filmmaker, actor and singer Anjan Dutt.
The sessions will be moderated by Bangladeshi film critic Bidhan Rebeiro. Registration will be required to join the masterclasses and the registration link will be available on the Facebook page of the festival. However, the registration must be completed before January 27.
Initiated by Rainbow Film Society, DIFF is supported by the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Cultural Affairs, The Embassy of China in Dhaka and Summit Group, alongside the festival’s longstanding partners - Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Dhaka Club Limited, Bangladesh National Museum, Alliance Française de Dhaka, Norwegian International Film Festival Handsund, Religion Today Film Festival, Shanghai International Film Festival, Channel I, Ekattor TV, Sense for Wave, and CloudLive.
Read more: European Film Festival presents a true cultural collaboration between Bangladesh, EU: Dutch Ambassador
Open to all, the 22nd Dhaka International Film Festival will conclude on January 28 this year. Details regarding the festival including the screening schedule are available at https://www.dhakafilmfestival.org/.
Kajal Arefin’s ‘Osomoy’ premieres on OTT platform
The prolific drama director Kajal Arefin Ome’s much-anticipated web film, 'Osomoy,' premiered on Bongo, an OTT platform in Bangladesh.
The film, featuring an ensemble cast led by popular actress Tasnia Farin, delves into a contemporary real-life story, captivating audiences with its intricate plot and stellar performances.
The star-studded cast includes talents such as Runa Khan, Tariq Anam Khan, Iresh Zaker, Saraf Ahmed Zibon, Intekhab Dinar, Monira Mithu, Shashwta Datta, Schumonn Patwary, Shimul Sharma, Lamima Lam, Ishrat Zaheen Ahmed, and a special appearance by popular actor Ziaul Haque Polash.
It's official: Orsha and Imran are a married couple
'Osomoy' unfolds the narrative around Urbee, a university student unwittingly entangled in a murder case.
The film weaves multiple small stories into a cohesive ensemble, building suspense and engaging audiences throughout.
Ome shared his thoughts on 'Osomoy,' stating, "It is not a story of a specific person but a reflection of our time. We aimed to capture the essence of the era, and I am delighted with the positive response. I hope those yet to see it will find the film intriguing."
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Tasnia Farin, the lead actress of the film, conveyed her heartfelt appreciation for director Kajal Arefin Ome. Recognising Ome as the catalyst for her inaugural venture into the industry, Farin expressed profound joy in collaborating with him.
"Ome bhai gave me my first opportunity in the industry, and working with him has been an absolute delight. The entire team devoted themselves to the production of 'Osomoy,' and I sincerely hope that audiences will derive immense pleasure from the film," Farin remarked.
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Mushfiqur Rahman Manzu, the producer of 'Osomoy' and Chief Content Officer of Bongo, expressed admiration for Ome's directorial prowess, saying, "The film is truly beautiful, and despite being Ome's first, he has expertly used all the elements to captivate the audience. We anticipate that viewers will enjoy 'Osomoy' as much as our previous hit web series, 'Hotel Relax.'"
It's official: Orsha and Imran are a married couple
Popular television actors Nazia Haque Orsha and Mostafizur Noor Imran have revealed they tied the knot recently.
This happened to be a pleasant surprise to the netizens after the actress shared a couple of images as newlyweds on her Facebook profile on Sunday.
Photographed by Badhon Mahmud, the couple was seen in this candid photoshoot beside a bamboo garden in a rural setting and traditional Bengali attire.
"With nature and family, 'I' is now 'Us' -- officially married,” Orsha wrote in the post's caption. Although Orsha shared the photos on Sunday, the couple got married in recent months, according to various sources.
Fans and admirers of the newlywed, along with celebrities from different arenas congratulated the couple, offering blessings and good wishes.
Nazia Haque Orsha came to the television industry after securing the fourth position in the popular beauty contest Lux Channel i Superstar 2009. Since then, the actress has delivered promising performances and become a reliable name to the fiction makers for intriguing and challenging characters.
Mostafizur Noor Imran, a well-known stage performer and theatre actor-instructor, made his film debut in ‘Guerilla’ (2011). He appeared prominently in ‘Alpha’, ‘Shimanter Choruibhati’, and ‘Extra’ (Iti, Tomari Dhaka), among many more films and television projects.
After playing significant roles in online series such as ‘Money Honey’ and ‘Ekattor’, Imran received massive applause with his portrayal in two of OTT platform HoiChoi’s popular original series - first as Sub-Inspector Moloy Kumar in the Ashfaque Nipun directed ‘Mohanagar’ (season one) and then as Amlan in the Tanim Noor directed ‘Kaiser’.
The newlywed couple was seen together in the Chorki-flick ‘Jahan’ (2023) and the Chorki original film ‘Sahosh’ (2022).
This marks the third celebrity marriage in the country’s entertainment arena in the new year, as popular actress and model Moushumi Hamid tied the knot on Friday (January 12) with her fiance Abu Sayeed Rana and popular actor Farhan Ahmed Jovan married his fiance Sajin Ahmed Nirjona on the same day.
‘The Beekeeper’ Review: Jason Statham has more than a bee in his bonnet
Secret agents and murderous assassins seem to lurk in increasingly mundane places.
Remember “The Accountant" with Ben Affleck? Or “The Tax Collector” with Shia LaBeouf? Or more recently, how about “The Bricklayer” with Adam Eckhardt? You probably don't — none of these films were exactly Oscar winners. But there's probably a notary public somewhere wondering when he's going to get his Liam Neeson treatment.
“The Beekeeper,” the new Jason Statham revenge thriller, may have them all beaten — or at least bee-ten. The film, directed by David Ayer (who also did “The Tax Collector”) has found probably the widest disparity yet between innocuous occupation and savage killer. As bodies accrue, so do the double takes from those confused by the source of all the mayhem. Again and again they utter in disbelief: “A beekeeper?”
Believe it, honey. “The Beekeeper” carries that ludicrous premise as far as it can, and then well beyond. If you've been searching for a movie where Jason Statham gravely vows to “protect the hive” an implausible number of times, you have found it.
The bee metaphors — there is even, rather impressively, a “To bee or not to bee” reference — come fast and furious in “The Beekeeper,” a movie that flirts with a so-bad-it's-good vibe but is too serious to quite pull it off. It can be divertingly bonkers, but ends up a rather grim and slipshod “John Wick” ripoff.
The film, scripted by Kurt Wimmer, begins the action with one of the more absurd inciting incidents in recent memory. Statham is a humble beekeeper for Eloise Parker (Phylicia Rashad) on a New England farm. She soon falls victim to a phishing scam that robs her of all her money, including the $2 million charity fund she manages. Eloise calls a number that pops up on her screen and is talked into sharing her passwords by a smarmy scammer (David Witts) who's simultaneously using the call as a lesson to a room full of hackers who cheer him on like the predatory stock brokers of “The Wolf of Wall Street.”
Eloise doesn't press CTRL-ALT-DELETE or even call the fraud department of her bank. She kills herself. And guess who's mad? The beekeeper.
Eloise's daughter, Verona (a good Emmy Raver-Lampman), is an FBI agent who throws herself into the case. But meanwhile Statham's beekeeper, after a well-placed call, gets the location of the call center. He turns up with a few tanks of gasoline and some terse words about, you know, the hive, and burns down the place, killing a few people along the way.
That brings the attention of higher-ups. Only the guy in charge is a 28-year-old twerp named Derek Danforth (Josh Hutcherson, enjoying himself) who brashly underestimates his new enemy at every step of the way. His entitlement is owed to his rather good connections. He's protected by the former head of the CIA, Wallace Westwyld (Jeremy Irons) and happens to be the son of the U.S. president (Jemma Redgrave).
Fingers get cut off and bodies accumulate as our man — his name turns out to be Adam Clay — tears through the criminal apparatus with ruthless blunt force. Statham, who has both the look and personality of a bullet, dispatches anyone in his path with the kind efficiency I dream of bringing to opening a pickle jar. A few twists of the wrist and he's done.
Clay, brace yourselves, isn't just an actual beekeeper. He's a retired Beekeeper, an elite, clandestine secret service that operates well off the government books and that adopts a surprising amount of its mission statements from the natural way of bees. They have a whole secret order and stuff, bringing “The Beekeeper” into plainly “Wick”-ian — and less fun — territory.
Yes, this silly beekeeper thriller goes all the way to the top. As the movie's renegade protagonist makes his way closer and closer to the White House, with blood and chaos in his wake, “The Beekeeper” begins to feel like an uncomfortable B-movie crosspollination of today's conspiracy theory-marred political landscape, with a violent, self-appointed guardian of America slashing his way toward the president. Most of the dead bodies are secret service.
Disquieting thoughts, maybe, for a beekeeper movie. Ayer's movie is mostly just having some cynical world-building fun, even if its hero feels like a part more suited to Mr. Bean. And, besides, while John Wick was first propelled into action by the death of his dog, Clay doesn't bat an eye when his honeycombs get blown to smithereens. This guy doesn't even really care about bees.
“The Beekeeper” an MGM release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for strong violence throughout, pervasive language, some sexual references and drug use. Running time: 105 minutes. Two stars out of four.
“Kingba Tomar Keu Na”: Joy Shahriar releases latest single
Renowned singer-musician-composer Joy Shahriar’s latest single “Kingba Tomar Keu Na” has been released recently across major streaming platforms and social networking sites.
Aajob Records, the official label of the singer, produced the song while the music video was shot under the label of Aajob Karkhana.
This marks the first single solo track of the singer in the new year, and sharing his excitement with UNB, Joy Shahriar said that he is eyeing to release of several new songs this year.
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“Thrilled to begin the new year with my new solo track “Kingba Tomar Keu Na” - a song very close to my heart. This is the first track of my list of upcoming solo songs in 2024,” Joy Shariar told UNB.
Amin Zamael Tilok did the 3:46-minute-long track’s guitars and programming. Maruf-Ul Haque played the bass guitar, and music artist Nabid Salehin Niloy designed the sound for the track.
Penned by British-Bangladeshi author and lyricist Dr Eshrar Latif, the song is composed by Joy Shahriar himself.
“It was a pleasure to add my voice to the song's lyrics, written by one of my favourite writers, Eshrar Latif," Joy Shahriar said.
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Over recent years, Joy Shahriar established himself as one of the prominent music artists in the country. His first studio album as a singer-songwriter was ‘Shotti Bolchhi’ (2009), which was a massive hit.
Listeners can enjoy the song across Joy Shahriar’s Facebook page and YouTube channel, as well as iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other renowned music platforms.
Actress Moushumi Hamid to tie the knot on Friday
Popular actress Moushumi Hamid is going to tie the knot on Friday (January 12) with her fiance Abu Sayeed Rana.
The ceremony of ‘gaye holud’ was held on Wednesday evening with her longtime friend.
The pictures of her ‘gaye holud’, adorned in a stunning yellow saree and flowery accessories, have already spread through social media.
Moushumi said that she met with Abu Sayeed Rana two years ago while doing a work directed by director Golam Sohrab Dodul. Then their relationship deepened and turned into love while working on the series "Guti". "Apart from writing, Rana is also associated with production," she shared.
“I am thrilled to announce that our marriage is set to take place tomorrow, with the blessing and consent of both our families," the actress added.
Moushumi started her career in 2010 through the Lux Channel i Superstar competition. Since then, the actress has dedicatedly contributed to both TV dramas and movies.
Lindsay Lohan, Reneé Rapp and the stars of the new 'Mean Girls' turn out for premiere
She doesn't even go here, but Lindsay Lohan still joined the cast of the new "Mean Girls" at the musical film's premiere Monday night in New York.
Lohan, the star of the original 2004 film, reunited with Tina Fey — who wrote both the classic film, the Broadway show it inspired and this new adaptation — and posed with the new Cady Heron, Angourie Rice, on the pink carpet.
"It was an amazing movie to work on when I did it, and I can't wait to see this new iterative version of it. I think it's gonna be wonderful," Lohan told The Associated Press.
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Lohan said it "felt great" to hear of the movie's impact on teens over the years and was excited that the new film, which releases Friday, will deal with new topics.
"I loved Lindsay's performance in the 2004 film so much, it's one of my favorites," Rice said. "So in everything I did, I just hoped that my performance would be adding to the legacy that she started."
Just like the 2004 version, the musical movie follows Cady's move to the suburbs, where she experiences the treacherous hierarchies of high school. There, she finds herself accepted by an elite yet shallow group of girls known as the Plastics, led by Regina George — here played by Reneé Rapp. It's billed as "a new twist from Tina Fey," incorporating songs and new technology, but Fey said the "core story" still resonates two decades later.
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"In a way, things haven't changed that much, right? People have new ways to mess with each other, right? They can do it over the internet, but it's still just human beings pulling someone else down to make themselves momentarily feel better, right?" she told the AP.
Lohan concurred, saying the movie is a good "wake-up call."
"I think the characters in this movie definitely were relatable, too, and I think that's so important," she said, "and it's good to have a new refresher of it 20 years later for people to see and know that it's still goes on and cliques still happen."
In addition to Lohan, Fey, Rice and Rapp, the starry premiere featured actors from the new movie like Jon Hamm,Auli'i Cravalho and Busy Philipps, as well as directors Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr. and producer Lorne Michaels.Megan Thee Stallion, who recently released the song "Not My Fault" with Rapp, and Fey's "30 Rock" co-star Jane Krakowski also turned out.
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As for Lohan, she told the AP she starts filming a Netflix movie next week and is in "Irish Rose," out on the streaming service in March. She said she's also filming "something else coming up this summer."
When asked what it's like having a baby and seeing what kids go through as teenagers, as portrayed in "Mean Girls," Lohan replied, "Oh my god, he's not a teenager yet."
"Don't rush me. I want to savor every moment," she continued. "But it's a blessing. It's the biggest blessing in the world."
British actor Tom Wilkinson, known for 'The Full Monty' and 'Michael Clayton,' dies at 75
Tom Wilkinson, the Oscar-nominated British actor known for his roles in “The Full Monty," “Michael Clayton” and “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” has died, his family said. He was 75.
A statement shared by his agent on behalf of the family said Wilkinson died suddenly at home on Saturday. It didn't provide further details.
Wilkinson was nominated for a best actor Academy Award for his work in 2001's family drama “In The Bedroom” and in the best supporting actor category for his role in “Michael Clayton,” a 2007 legal thriller that starred George Clooney.
Read: Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin’s 109th birth anniversary being observed
He is remembered by many in Britain and beyond for playing former steel mill foreman Gerald Cooper in the 1997 comedy “The Full Monty," about a group of unemployed steel workers who formed an unlikely male stripping act.
Wilkinson was born in Yorkshire in northern England in 1948 and spent part of his childhood in Canada. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in the 1970s.
He starred in dozens of other TV dramas and movies, from “Rush Hour” and “Batman Begins" to “Shakespeare in Love,” “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and “Valkyrie."
He most recently reunited with his “Full Monty” co-stars, Robert Carlyle and Mark Addy in a Disney+ series of the same name.
“He’ll be sorely missed by everyone who had the pleasure of working with him,” Carlyle said in a statement. “Such a huge performer, a real titan of an actor, one of the greats of not only his, but of any generation.”
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Wilkinson was recognized for his services to drama in 2005 when he was appointed a member of the Order of the British Empire.
He also won a 2009 Golden Globe and 2008 Emmy for his role as Benjamin Franklin in the HBO series “John Adams.”
Wilkinson married actress Diana Hardcastle in 1988. The couple had two daughters.
The year in films: A ‘cinematic’ 2023 for the industry
Like the rest of the world, Bangladesh's cultural and entertainment scene saw a lot of exciting events throughout the year, and enthusiasts across the country were kept occupied by everything that the nation's superstars, artists, and cultural mediums had to offer. The landscape of films in Bangladesh, as a result, observed and celebrated 2023 as one of the most eventful years in memory.
Not only did the year witness the jovial return and continuity of audiences in theatres, it also welcomed a handful of local and foreign films - most notably, the Bollywood blockbusters.
This year marked the importation of Hindi movies once again in the country under the SAFTA agreement, which has been a long-standing demand of cinema hall owners. The demand was fulfilled with the arrival of Shah Rukh Khan starrer Bollywood blockbuster film ‘Pathaan’ in May this year, followed by his other history-making film ‘Jawan’ which marked the same-day release for a Bollywood film in the country’s multiplexes and single screens.
Among other films, Salman Khan starrer 'Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan' failed to entertain local audiences while Ranbir Kapoor’s career-best commercial film ‘Animal’ and Shah Rukh Khan’s latest film, Rajkumar Hirani-made ‘Dunki’ performed moderately in terms of captivating the moviegoers.
The industry was surrounded by talks, opinions, controversies and incidents throughout the year, marking it a special year for the industry - but leaving stakeholders with unfulfilled hopes but significant objectives.
From ‘Mujib’ - the much-anticipated biopic of the Father of the Nation, to the industry’s long-crowned king Shakib Khan’s mega-blockbuster ‘Priyotoma’ and television’s seasoned actor Afran Nisho’s silver screen debut ‘Surongo’ - the film industry in Bangladesh welcomed a total of 51 films, with some achieving economic success and others failing in terms of attracting the moviegoers.
However, a long-standing frustration remained once again the recurring theme in Dhallywood this year, which is the dependency on Eid-based film releases. Festive seasons are understandably the most awaited moments for the filmmakers and hall owners, but other films which were scheduled throughout the year failed to grab a large chunk of the audiences in theatres.
This year, a total of eight films got released across a hundred movie theatres including single-screens and multiplexes on Eid ul Fitr, including the Shakib Khan starrer ‘Leader Amie Bangladesh’, Ananta Jalil’s ‘Kill Him’, Jaaz Multimedia’s ‘Jinn’ and ‘Paap’, alongside four other films - ‘Shotru’, ‘Local’, ‘Adam’ and ‘Prem Pritir Bandhan.’
On the other hand, audience demand for quality films in Eid ul Azha were fulfilled with five movies - 'Priyotoma', 'Surongo', 'Prohelika', 'Lal Shari' and 'Casino'.
That being said, the Eid releases this year include Shakib Khan starrer ‘Leader Amie Bangladesh’ and ‘Priyotoma’ - the latter of which spellbound the viewers with a never-seen-before look of the superstar, and the much-anticipated Raihan Rafi-Afran Nisho-Chorki film ‘Surongo’ captivated the audiences during the Eid festivities.
Aside from Eid, there have been some other films which were able to keep the interest and conversations going and also entertained the moviegoers. The major player in this category was undoubtedly the Shyam Benegal-directed Bangabandhu biopic ‘Mujib-The Making of a Nation’ with Arifin Shuvoo’s valiant portrayal as the Father of the Nation.
Proving the doubters wrong, Shuvoo stunned the audiences and critics with his stellar performances alongside seasoned co-artists Nusrat Imrose Tisha, Tauquir Ahmed, Chanchal Chowdhury, Fazlur Rahman Babu and others. The storyline portrayed Bangabandhu as not only the unsung hero and leader of the nation but also a caring family man who was brilliantly portrayed by Shuvoo, ultimately stunning the moviegoers. Speaking of the actor, his other much-anticipated film ‘Black War’, the sequel to the popular action film ‘Mission Extreme’, also received appraisals from the audiences.
Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin’s 109th birth anniversary being observed
The 109th birth anniversary of the master painter and pioneering art educator Zainul Abedin, widely revered as the 'Shilpacharya' (great master of fine arts) and the most respected artist in the country.
Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin was born on December 29, 1914, in Kishoreganj in then-British India, and was a key figure in the establishment of the Dhaka University Faculty of Fine Art (FFA) and the Folk Art Museum in Sonargaon, Narayanganj.
The artist community is celebrating the 109th birth anniversary of the Shilpacharya with a variety of celebrations, most notably the traditional ‘Zainul Utshab’ by Dhaka University's Faculty of Fine Art and Bangladesh Folk Art & Crafts Foundation.
This year, the Faculty of Fine Art is also celebrating its 75th founding anniversary alongside the three-day ‘Zainul Utshab’. The festivity is decorated with rickshaw art, paying homage to its latest UNESCO-recognition.
Read: Bangla Academy felicitates rickshaw painters for achieving UNESCO recognition
DU Vice-Chancellor Professor ASM Maksud Kamal inaugurated the festival as its chief guest on Friday at the Bakultala of the FFA premise. The inauguration ceremony was chaired by DU FFA Dean Nisar Hossain and was also joined by DU FFA Emeritus Professors and eminent artists Hashem Khan and Rafiqun Nabi who handed over the prestigious ‘Zainul Award 2023’ to the respective art luminaries.
Dhaka University Pro VC Professor Dr Muhammad Samad, Treasurer Professor Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed, Bkash CMO Mir Nawbut Ali, Bangladesh Folk Art and Crafts Foundation director Kazi Nurul Islam, and Shilpacharya’s youngest son Engineer Mainul Abedin also joined the inauguration ceremony as the special guests.
Renowned artist Kazi Giasuddin and honorary professor Md Abdus Sattar of the oriental art department received the Zainul Sammanana 2023, while Supriya Kumar Ghosh from the Department of Sculpture was awarded the Zainul Abedin Gold Medal 2023.
Earlier, the Faculty of Fine Art and other art organisations placed floral wreaths on the grave of the Shilpacharya in the morning.
Zainul Abedin earned global respect for his 1943 illustrations of the Bengal famine. He visited Palestinian camps in Syria and Jordan in 1970 and made 60–70 paintings of the refugees there, adding another example of his calibre as a modern, international artist.
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During childhood, he discovered his love of art while a young child frolicking by the Brahmaputra river.
His motherland, Bangladesh (then East Pakistan), welcomed him back after he graduated from the Government Art School in Kolkata in 1932. However, shortly after the Indian subcontinent was divided in 1947, he permanently departed Kolkata and returned to his motherland in Bangladesh.
The Dhaka Art Institute was subsequently founded with active help from Zainul Abedin, who was appointed as the institute's principal in 1949. The institute later developed into Dhaka University's Faculty of Fine Art.
The institute became the hub of fine arts practices in then East Pakistan and actively participated in historical foundation events of independent Bangladesh such as the 1952 Language Movement and the 1971 Liberation War under the artistic leadership of Zainul.
He retired from the Dhaka Art Institute in 1967 and was conferred the honorary title of Shilpacharya (great master of fine arts) by the institute.
Before taking the mantle of Shilpacharya, Zainul Abedin received two years of training from the Slade School of Fine Art in London and developed a new style of art called the 'Bengali style' featuring folk art forms with their geometric shapes including the usage of semi-abstract representation and primary colours.
However, he lacked the sense of perspective, realised the limitations of folk art, and went back to nature, rural life and the daily struggles of people to make art that would be realistic but modern in appearance, thus being the pioneer of modern artistic style in the subcontinent.
Known for the simple yet majestic projection of natural and social hazards, Zainul painted the 1970 Bhola cyclone that devastated then East Pakistan, portraying the effect of the cyclone through his painting ‘Monpura’.