Bangladeshi Film Festival in India

A festival of Bangladeshi films, the first of its kind organised in India, was recently held at the renowned Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), says a press release. Running from February 20-22, the festival featured a selection of films by some leading Bangladeshi filmmakers. The festival was organised by FTII in collaboration with the National Film Archives of India.

The festival opened with the screening of Tareque Masud's “Matir Moina”. Other films shown at the festival included Tanvir Mokammel's “Chitra Nadir Pare” and “Shapno Bhoomi”, Abu Sayeed's “Nirantor”, Shameem Akhtar's 'Ittihash Kanya”, and Tareque and Catherine Masud's “Muktir Gaan”. Filmmakers Tareque Masud, Catherine Masud, Tanvir Mokammel, and Abu Sayeed were present at the festival to introduce their films. Each screening was followed by an in-depth Q and A with the directors and discussion on various aspects of Bangladesh cinema, moderated by eminent Indian filmmaker Sayeed Mirza and FTII faculty member Gayatri Chatterjee. Also present at all the festival programmes as host and organiser was FTII Director Pankaj Rag.

The festival attendees included students and faculty of FTII as well as eminent Indian film personalities such as Indian National Archives founder PK Nair and renowned documentary filmmaker Anand Patwardhan.

Beauty, grace, eloquence personified

She is a popular TV personality who exudes glamour. She has been featured in many ads and plays and has made a name for herself. Model turned actress, and now also a TV show host, Farah Ruma, began her career at a young age.

Farah grew up in Chittagong. “I was quite mischievous as a child. But I was also solidly grounded in the sense that I could always differentiate right from wrong and act accordingly,” says Farah. In 1990 she moved to Dhaka and started taking dance lessons. That turned out to be fortuitous for the young girl as her dance teacher persuaded her to take up modelling.

Farah continues, “I considered myself smart and fashionable. I began walking the ramps and met many renowned personalities, Bibi Russel being one of them.” Farah went on to become one of the top models of the country in late '90s.

In 1997, Farah firmly established her position in the glamour industry by becoming the Lux Anondodhara Photoshundori. Since then there has been no stopping her and Farah started to work in a large number of ads. Farah says, “I did not take my career seriously back then. I was busy concentrating on my studies and had no idea what the future had in store for me. It was Afzal bhai who said that I had the looks and talent and suggested that I make use of my potential.”

Farah entered the TV industry with a bang, impressing both the audience and critics with her promising portrayal of a role opposite actor-director Afzal Hossain in a play called "Shankho" (written by Anisul Haque and directed by Afzal Hossain).

Farah kept a low profile for a year or two and came back with another memorable performance in the play, "Shubho Drishti" in 2004. “I consider this to be one of my finest works. I have continued acting since then,” she says. Farah has done many challenging roles in her career and has proved her talent. She has also worked with a number of prominent stars in the industry and her performances have always been widely appreciated.

Farah Ruma has proven that an effective model can be an effusive actor too!

Versatile Actress Shimu

She is famous for her hypnotizing acting. She feels each of her character and dig in to deep. That’s why she enjoys acting in the versatile role rather then acting in monotonous role. As she loves her acting from the deepest of her heart she is going her Mphil in theater and drama. Several dimension of her is portrayed through this report:

Shumaya Shimu started her Journey in showbiz through an advertisement of Breeze soap and her first ad was shooted outside of the country, in Mumbai city. When we asked her about the main difference of working in Bangladesh and Mumbai she went into her world of memory by closing her eyes. She opened her eyes after a moment and stilted saying- “Lets share about the experience of my first ad. 1 reached to the studio of Mumbai around at 2:00 PM. After going there 1 realized probably they were designing the set since the morning or the day before that day. They are so sensitive to the quality of their work that they don't want to keep any gap in set decoration. Besides they are rich in both the human resource and technology. There are separate skilled human resources in makeup, getup and hair style where as in our country we ourselves need to do make up, gate up or hairstyle. In Mumbai the producer want their artist to solely concentrate on his or her role, there the artist are not even allowed to touch her hair because they want hundred percent concentration and dedication from the artist. They give proper respect to the artist that I can not explain in words. Compare to us they are many times sincere and professional in makeup, gate up and technical side. In our country also situation has started to change and 1 hope in future it would improve much".

Though Sumaiya Shimu had many scope to flourish as a model, she herself preferred to be an actress that's why viewers are busy in remembering the actress Shimu rather than model Shimu. She loves acting and it is with her existence and that's why she is one of the most popular faces of the small screen. Drama is a source of entertainment of the mass people of today's huge number of TV channels and with that flow Sumaiya Shimu has accustomed her very well because acting is profession and addiction to her. Sumaiya Shimu is in love with acting and to show her versatility she is always in hunt of multifarious character and she thinks that new dramatist and play writer and directors are doing justice to that. She thinks that her feelings and love affair with acting is the key to success. She keeps on reading script before the camera starts rolling because she tried to mesmerize herself with the character, Sumaiya Shimu is a dependable name to the director like Ferdous Hassan, SM Olik, Ashraful Alam Ripen, Fazlur Rahma. She believes that team work is the reason behind her success and she does not hesitate to give full credit for her success to her director.

The home district of Sumaiya Shimu is Norail. In her seven years of acting career she has acted in the remarkable drama like Akannobarti, Jogbiyog, Shaota, Babla, Kather Golui, Ctiondrongrontho, Chokher Aloi, Sesh Bikeler Meye, Kobi. Sopnochura, Mohanogor, Dohon, Idiot. Sumaiya Shimu did not limit her acting with in the small screen she has also acted in large screen. She has acted in a noticeable role of movie directed by Mostofa Sarwar Faruki though me role was small. When we wanted to know the reason behind not acting in other movie she said that "My role in me movie Bachelor was very small, but I did not even think that I would get such popularity after working in a small role like that After that 1 got offer of acting in many movies but finally I could not manage working in those movies, I don't know why, but I have a feeling mat-I wont be able to match with the commercial movie of our country, Other than that I don't get the inner feelings for acting in the movie that I get to act in small screen. But I might act in one or two movie if the story of the movie is very good and neat and clean".

I drama per week where as recently there are 8/10 drama per week and as there were limited number of drama at that time artists used to get more time per drama. As the director and artists both used to give more time and concentration the quality of those dramas were much better. Where as the number of drama have increased a lot due to the increasing number of channels that's why the quality of many dramas has decreased. As there was only one TV channel viewers used to get opportunity to watch all the drama but with the increasing number of channels viewers can not see all the drama now a day. But there are quality drama as well n recent times as before but changes have occurred in direction and making". Sumaiya Shimu continued discussion about many of her character such as Oporna of the drama serial Sopnochura. She said that "This comedy character was challenging for her and she was in tension about her acceptability among the viewers" but lastly she has become successful for her acting skill and viewers and her surroundings have praised her for her acting in this character. She also says that "I am satisfied by my own acting".

While comparing the quality of the drama of past and present Sumaiya Shimu has says that in the past days there used to be

I drama per week where as recently there are 8/10 drama per week and as there were limited number of drama at that time artists used to get more time per drama. As the director and artists both used to give more time and concentration the quality of those dramas were much better. Where as the number of drama have increased a lot due to the increasing number of channels that's why the quality of many dramas has decreased. As there was only one TV channel viewers used to get opportunity to watch all the drama but with the increasing number of channels viewers can not see all the drama now a day. But there are quality drama as well n recent times as before but changes have occurred in direction and making". Sumaiya Shimu continued discussion about many of her character such as Oporna of the drama serial Sopnochura. She said that "This comedy character was challenging for her and she was in tension about her acceptability among the viewers" but lastly she has bcome successful for her acting skill and viewers and her surroundings have praised her for her acting in this character. She also says that "I am satisfied by my own acting".

The journey of a super ramp model

It is not long that Mou has entered the showbiz media. It was just a blind throw or might even a good luck that she participated in the beauty contest. She just took a chance out of curiosity and thought that 'lets see what happens'! So she enrolled her name in the ‘Goalini Binodon Biehitra Beauty Contest 2006’.

The contest began and she was able to come across few phases very easily. Gradually her dormant talents started to flourish and she reached the best fifteen. At last she was declared as the runners up in the final round which w as like a dream to her. Her dream came true. Thus the wheel of her luck had a U-turn after that day.

After this, Mou introduced herself on the ramp modeling with the help of an exceptional choreographer 'Luna'. She discovered this hidden glamour during the contest period. Her fist performance was at one of the random fashion shows in Chittagong at the Peninsula Hotel. In this regard, she informed 'Stardom1. "I was pretty so nervous on that day that I even forgot some of the queues But Tumpa apu helped me so much and also encouraged me a lot.

Finally I w as able to complete all the queues very successfully," Thus Mou concentrated more on the ramp oriented works. Besides she also worked in some of the TV shows for some changes her debut work on the television screen was "Honeymoon" a telefilm by Debashish Biswas. Gradually she also performed in ‘Mealier Deshey Jonaki’ a telefilm by Debashish Biswas, and 'Ha Ja Ba Ra La’' a TV by Debashish Biswas, "Shesh Qbodi a TV play by Hassan, ‘Kom Boyosher Hirik’ a TV plav by Habib and soon.

Moreover she has also proved herself successful in terms of tv ads for different brands; such as Warid Telecom, Dhaka Bank, HSBC Bank, Rexona, Mojo, Lizan Mehedi and etc. Not only these, she has introduced herself as a professional tv program anchor by her tremendous performance in a 7-episode program “Rhythm & Dance”.

“Which one do you prefer most among the rump, modeling and TV acting?” She responded to this question by Stardom, “I feel quite comfortable to the rumps. Rump is more preferred to me because I find it much more appealing than acting. It does not mean that I am not interested in others but when it is the time to choose either TV acting or Photo shooting. I will go for the Photo shoot. But in future, I will also build up myself us an Actress because one of my dreams is to become a celebrity actress.”

“What are the things you care while working on the ramp?” She replied to this question. “From my point of view, the main objective of the fashion shows is to showcase the dresses properly the audience. So I always try to highlight the dresses properly to the audience which I wear on the rump. But I also pay need to the decency and politeness. My idol in the ramp modeling is “Tumpa Apu”. I completely follow her. Tumpa apu always helps me out when I am in some problems regarding the rump modeling.” Nowadays Mou is building her academic career in fashion designing at NIFD. Besides she will continue her acting career.

Nova is on focus

I was too excited at the time of receiving the CJFB award from Azizul Hakim and Mrs Hakim and that excitement was indescribable. This award was unexpected to me. After getting this award, I have concentrated more on acting. After getting any award, people’s thinking about work change, I am realizing that now, said by the new actress Nova. Really Nova has become choose and careful about drama and also her character selection than the past.

Presently various TV channels are telecasting Nova’s acted drama; Doll’s House, Adda, and Houseful. Nova is getting expected response from the audience. In the Doll’s House, she is acting as the daughter of Fazlur rahman Babu and Wahida Mallik Joly.In this drama I am acting as a soft minded cadet college student. ATN Bangla is now telecasting drama serial Nupur by Aruna Biswas.Nova is also acting in this drama. In this drama, Nova’s character has attracted the audience. I had to learn dance for the character of Nupur Nova, said. In the past, I didn’t know how to dance that’s why I faced difficulties at the time of learning dance but the dancing choreographer and the drama director Aruna Biswas helped me to overcome this. It was challenging for me to act in this drama. At one point, I died, that’s why I am not working in this drama now. But I received positive response from the audience till my acted last episode. Nova’s acting career started through “Prem and Ghamer Golpo” by Aunimesh Ice.

Currently, NTV is telecasting Nova acted drama serial ‘Houseful’. She said that, she had lots of fun acting this drama. I have completed “Ghorar Dom” directed by Aronno Anwar,said Nova about her present work. In this drama, my character is as a dreamer and love sick girl. Every now and then I change my lover. It is a funny character. The audience will enjoy the character very much. Either than these, I worked a one hour’s Valentine Day drama directed by a new director Rony. I have worked there as a University student. It is a romantic drama. She had never dreamt about becoming an actress, but now she has to cat whole the day, this continuous acting felt her love with acting. In every drama, her great performance is advancing her step by step. She not only watches her acting on the TV but also watch other’s work to measure herself. I like many actresses of my time, but I specially like Lux star Momo’s acting. Momo performed exceptionally well in the drama serial ‘Nir’. Momo also performed very well in the film ‘Daruchini Dip’.Bindu is also a great performer. She is very helpful towards her co-artist. Nova’s favorite producer’s list is very long. She feel ease working with all producers with whom she worked till now. But about some favorite producers of her, she said that, ‘I started my acting career with Animesh Ice. Naturally I feel pleasure working with him. I learnt lots from the work of ‘Boishakh theke Srabon by Choyonika Chowduri.

I also get pleasure working with Aronno Anwar. Without working with him, it is impossible to measure that how funny he is. He is very careful towards the artist. Arun chowdury and Alvi Ahmed is also very good at directing.

Power house of Glamour

Popy is considered as the power house of glamour in our film fertility. This pretty and sexy diva from her hometown Khulna has already conquered hearts of all her viewers through her bold and beauty look.-that's why today she is here shinning with her own light beauty and talent.

Starting her career with so many romantic movies with Hero Shakil Khan, this diva in between was lost in for some time and got involved with those so called action movie of the dark ages of our film fertility but later she realized that with her talent and her skill she can do even much better and finally stopped working in those movies. She waited for the perfect call and started off again with Samia Zaman's, ‘Rani Kuthir Baki Itihansh, and this particular movie her media career in different way and perhaps in a right way. She than started working in some art movies like those, ‘Bidrohi Padma’ by Badol Khandokar, ‘Doulat Parer Doulati’ by Late Abdullah Al Mamun, Nargis Akhter's, ‘Megher Kole Rod’ and many others.

In the last National Award Giving Program Popy received her best reward the contribution in the film industry and that is the award for the best actress for the year 2003-04 for working in the movie called “Karagar”. Popy said, ‘I was speechless and at the same time was so happy that I got this award which has been given to me for my contribution as an actress in this film industry and I'm really honored.’

Now a days she is very busy working in too many new projects with her co-stars like Shakib Khan, Riaz and Ferdous and also at the same time Popy also refused to work with Shabnoor in a project of director Chandan Chowdhury and she said to us that characterization was the main problem whatsoever. But later she accepted a film tiltled. ‘Jibon Jontrona’ in which she is working with Moushumi.

We wish all the best for this glamorous diva and hope to see her all through the year 2009 on silver screen.