Paris to follow Ronaldo to Madrid

By ANI

Paris Hilton is all set to chase new love Cristiano Ronaldo all the way to Madrid.

After spending two wild nights with the footballer in Los Angeles, the hotel heiress is planning to go on a holiday in Europe.

And she is very excited about the holiday, not only because of her fascination for the Portuguese winger, but also due to her popularity in Europe.

"I am totally going to Madrid to see him. I love spending time in Europe. They get me there,” the Sun quoted Paris as telling after her racy encounter with Ronaldo in Hollywood.

In fact, Paris, who is currently in Dubai filming the latest version of her ''search for a pal'' show, also revealed that she was coming back to England very soon.

"London is totally my favourite city in the whole world. I love it. I would totally move to London one day. There's lots of restaurants with really good food. I love Top Shop and Harrods,” she said.

She added: "My favourite thing about London is the accents. I love a British accent."

Breathing life into Tagore’s characters

Festival by Sanglap Group Theatre at Shilpakala Academy

By Nadia Sarwat

Sanglap Group Theatre, a troupe from Mirpur is celebrating its 31st anniversary with a theatre festival featuring Rabindranath Tagore's plays. Six plays by troupes from the capital and outside -- originally written by Tagore or adaptations of his works -- are being staged at the festival, which began on June 18. The plays are being staged at the Experimental Theatre Hall, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) at 8pm everyday till June 24.

The festival began with a rally that started from BSA. After the rally, noted theatre personality Ramendu Majumder, president of ITI, formally inaugurated the event at the Experimental Theatre Hall. The newly elected President of Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation (BGTF), Liaquat Ali Lucky and general secretary Jhuna Chowdhury were also present as special guests a the inauguration. Freedom fighter Rafiqul Islam, founder member of and adviser to Sanglap Group Theatre delivered the welcome speech at the event presided over by the troupe's president, Habibur Rahman Habib.

Praising the initiative by Sanglap, Jhuna Chowdhury said in his speech, "In-depth study and performance of Tagore's works got a momentum in the post-Liberation War Bangladesh. Tagore is omnipresent in every sphere of our cultural. But from my personal experiences, I have noticed that many young theatre activists are indifferent towards Tagore's litterateur and plays. Festivals like this would help to generate interest in Tagore among youngsters."

"Many are apprehensive about staging Tagore's play, as they find them difficult. But Tagore, who defined the modern Bengali, was very liberal when it came to staging his plays -- allowing directors enough freedom to interpret his plays from their perspectives. Theatre troupes should definitely work more on Tagore's plays without reluctance," said Liaquat Ali Lucky.

Ramendu Majumder said, "It takes a skilled director to bring Tagore's characters to the stage from the pages. As we have a dearth of original/unique plays, we can always turn to Tagore for inspiration. I'm looking forward to see more innovative, experimental productions based on Tagore's plays and litterateur by young directors."

Subachan Natya Sangsad staged "Khudhito Pashan" on the first day of the festival. The play is an adaptation of a surreal short story (with the same title) by Tagore. Samar Chattyopadhyay adapted the play while renowned actor-director Khaled Khan has directed it.

The play begins with a Muslim aristocrat arriving at a deserted rail station in a small town. The protagonist finds his way to a haunted palace. A tax collector in colonial India, he moves into the marble mansion. Supposedly, the edifice was once used as a 'pleasure palace' by King Shah Mahmud II. Wails of courtesans who were subjected to the tyranny of the king in the palace still seem to resonate in the air. The protagonist goes through some unexplainable experiences, and comes to a profound realisation. Ahsan Habib Nasim played the tax collector in the Subachan production.

Tirjak Chattogram staged "Bishorjon" on the second day of the festival. Natyalok Sylhet will stage the play "Shasti" tonight. Other plays to be staged at the festival are "Rakto Karobi" (by Prangoney Mor), "Daakghar" (by Swapnadal) and "Debotar Grash" (by Sanglap Group Theatre).

This year has witnessed three theatre festivals on Tagore's works so far -- two in Dhaka and one in Chittagong.

Source: The Daily Star.

Ali Akbar Khan passes away

By Agencies

Sarod maestro Ustad Ali Akbar Khan died in San Francisco in the US after a prolonged kidney ailment, according to a family friend here.

88-year-old Khan died at his music centre at 10 am IST, Rabin Pal, the secretary of sitarist Pandit Ravi Shankar, said.

He is survived by wife Mary, three sons and a daughter.

Pal, a family friend of the sarod maestro, said that he was informed about the death of Khan by the Ustad's family in San Francisco.

Khan's secretary in Kolkata Ashish Roy said the maestro, who was on dialysis, had been ailing for over four years and his condition had deteriorated in the last four months.

A recipient of Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan, Khan was a colossus in the world of Indian classical music for the last five decades.

Source: Screen India.

“Bijoyini”: Special play on Sufia Kamal’s birth anniversary

By Cultural Correspondent

On the 98th birth anniversary on poet-litterateur-activist Sufia Kamal, Rtv will air a single-episode play “Bijoyini” tonight at 9 pm. Adapted by Delwar Hossain from a story by Sufia Kamal, the play has been directed by Rawshan Ara Nipa.

The play follows Kashem, who comes from an affluent family, and his infatuation with his childhood friend Masuma. But Kashem's father does not approve of his interest in Masuma, whose family is not well off. Kashem marries a girl of his father's choice and Masuma also gets married, to a schoolteacher. Years later, Kashem meets Masuma again, and after her husband dies of typhoid, expresses his interest in Masuma despite having a wife. Masuma does not agree, as she believes in true love and not lust. An infuriated Kashem does not take this refusal well. He becomes vindictive and spreads vicious lies about Masuma, who is forced to leave the town. Searching for her for years, Kashem eventually finds Masuma again.

The cast includes Farzana Chhobi, Mahmud Hassan, Aforza Sultana, Tanzina Lily and others.

Source: The Daily Star.

Stories of triumphant women

Yukta stages Katha Manobi

By Jamil Mahmud

Oppression of women is as old as the human civilisation. History only narrates and highlights the bravado of kings and warriors, carefully sidelining the contributions of women and the inspiration they provided.

Featuring the triumphs of eight historic and contemporary women, Yukta, an organisation of recitors, arranged a programme at the British Council Auditorium (on Fuller Road) on June 18. The programme, "Katha Manobi," was inspired by Indian author Mallicka Sengupta's collection of poems (with the same title).

From the epic 'Mahabharat' to contemporary times, Sengupta chose eight characters -- Draupadi, Ganga, Sultana Razia, Madhabi, Khona, Shah Banu, Medha Patekar and Malati Mudi -- and narrated their struggles, passion and valour.

Draupadi is known as the wife of 'Pancha Pandav.' She is a symbol of grace, nobility and fidelity. Her dignity came under threat at the Kaurav court, but Draupadi took charge and faced off her oppressor, emerging triumphant.

Sultana Razia is another historic character. She was the first and only female emperor of Delhi (from 1236-1240 AD). During her reign, Razia had to face the conspiracies by her fellow royals and was eventually killed. Her indomitable courage, however, made her immortal.

In contemporary India, the valour of Medha Patekar, Shah Banu and Malati Mudi has made them symbols of freedom. Medha Patekar, a research worker and social activist in Gujrat, became an iconic figure for her bold protest against a government decision to build a dam on the river Narmada.

Shah Banu is a Muslim housewife. In 1985, her husband divorced her and refused to pay her alimony. An illiterate Shah Banu filed a case at the high court. After years of excruciating wait, Shah Banu's case went to the Parliament of India. Though it failed to triumph, Shah Banu became a public figure. In 1990, Malati Mudi became a hero in Purulia, after she stabbed her landlord who had violated her.

Members of Yukta -- Shirin Khan Moni, Krishti Hefaz, Shamim Ara Koli, Mushfiqua Naznin Lucky, Shubhra Das and Riya Mahmud -- took part in recitation at the programme. Nishat Jahan Rana was the director of the show. Ferdousi Priyobhashini did the stage design, while Ishrat Nishat was the light designer.

This was the premiere show of the programme.

Source: The Daily Star.

Hopeful 'Slumdog' will improve kid stars' lives: Boyle

By Agencies

British director Danny Boyle says he feels conflicted that his Oscar-winning film "Slumdog Millionaire" has distorted the childhoods of its young stars from Mumbai's shantytowns, but hopes the movie's huge success will improve their lives.

The rags-to-riches story of an orphan from Mumbai's slums who becomes champion of the Indian version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" started out as a relatively small production but went on to make more than USD 350 million worldwide and win eight Oscars, including best picture and best director for Boyle.

The success made instant stars of the film's ensemble of child stars, but in particular changed the lives of Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail and Rubina Ali, 10-year-olds who grew up in the shantytowns where the film is set. The two children went from the slums to a jet-setting lifestyle of glamorous awards ceremonies and publicity appearances.

Boyle, who is serving as jury president at the 12th Shanghai International Film Festival, said that he's mindful of the complications "Slumdog" created for Azhar and Rubina, but said he hopes the film did more good than harm.

"I'm conflicted constantly about it. I think ultimately it's right they were in the film," he said.

The filmmakers have drawn up an education plan and established a trust fund for the two children and hired a social worker to monitor their families. They also donated USD 747,500 to a charity devoted to improving the lives of Mumbai street children.

When the two children's shanties were razed as part of a slum-clearing campaign, the filmmakers and Indian government officials offered them new homes. But efforts to improve their living conditions have been complicated by the changing demands of their families and jealousy from their neighbours.

"Any way you can educate kids from those kind of circumstances, I think a lot of people agree is the cleverest, strongest, most sustainable way of trying to break their cycle of poverty that people are in in those kinds of communities.

You've got to say it's a good thing," Boyle said, but adding that "real solutions will come in the end from Indians themselves."

"It won't come from some movie. It'll come from political change and development in the attitude of the government to its responsibility to its citizens and the provision of water, sanitation, basic human rights that are provided to people," he said.

Azhar and Rubina recently performed on TV in Hong Kong.

Boyle said he and his fellow filmmakers would prefer that the families accept fewer invitations for such appearances because they distract the children from school. However, they are reluctant to criticize the parents because "it's money. How can they resist it?"

He said the two children's exposure to the Western film industry may not have been a bad thing because it made them more sophisticated and forced them to learn English.

Boyle is developing another film set in Mumbai, a thriller that draws background from Suketu Mehta's book "Maximum City."

Source: Screen India.

Leighton Meester Swamped by Sex Tape Rumors

‘Gossip Girl’ star has not confirmed authenticity of video

By Matthew B. Zeidman

NEW YORK – Leighton Meester, the brunette co-star of “Gossip Girl” and arguably the heart of the popular CW franchise, has been blindsided by the online dissemination of a sex tape allegedly featuring the transplanted New Yorker and her ex-boyfriend.

The video in question was released Friday by Celeb-hotline.com, a Web site specializing in the sale of nude and other controversial clips featuring high-profile celebrities, such as Paris Hilton, Angelina Jolie and Lindsay Lohan.

While the site merely suggests that a sex tape featuring a woman resembling singer Britney Spears may be real, telling subscribers to “decide for yourself,” it insists the material purportedly featuring the 23-year-old “Gossip Girl” actress is “100% the REAL Leighton Meester.”

Los Angeles broadcaster KTLA has estimated the video, if authentic, was filmed 5 years ago. Neither Meester nor her reps have spoken publicly regarding the film, though the site’s owners’ would be leaving themselves open to a costly libel lawsuit if it were proven Meester was not the subject of the tape, making it less likely to be a phony.

It was not immediately clear who owned the site, which was registered through an online proxy service, or who solicited the video. Celebrity tabloid Web site TMZ quoted company spokesman Kevin Blatt early Friday as saying Celeb-hotline.com was eager to complete the then-pending sale.

Blatt, who has billed himself online as a publicist and “celebrity sex tape broker,” has previously brokered the sale of sex tapes featuring Hilton and “Austin Powers” co-star Verne Troyer. He and TMZ were among those sued by Troyer last year, who alleged his tape was stolen (TMZ posted clips of the video online). After Troyer’s ex-girlfriend admitted she had been the one who leaked the sex tape online, both sides reached a settlement limiting further promotion without Troyer’s permission.

Meester is best known for her “Gossip Girl” portrayal of cunning queen bee Blair Waldorf, a high school senior at a posh prep school on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Earlier in the decade, she also appeared on a number of other television dramas, including “24,” “House” and “Veronica Mars.”

Source: Hollywood Today.

Bappida now in commercials, acting and even film direction

By Agencies

After composing music for many evergreen numbers and lending his voice to numerous soulful songs, Bappi Lahiri is all geared up to change tracks and present himself as an actor and a film director.

This year Lahiri would be seen acting in at least two Hindi films, one of them a big-budget. He also has plans to direct a film next year.

"I have always been experimenting in Bollywood. I started off the disco culture in the country. Many people are now bringing international artistes like Kylie Minogue to India, but I brought Samantha Fox years ago.

So why is the man popularly known as 'Bappida' exploring new grounds after tasting success as a musician? "Previously, I had also produced a Bengali film, 'Lal Dorja', which won a Golden Lotus Award. Since I have stayed in the industry since the seventies, I want to experiment further," he says.

In the upcoming romantic comedy 'Main aur Mrs Khanna', he plays an NRI tycoon, who happens to be a music lover.

"You have already seen a glimpse of my acting in a cold drink advertisement, which is a huge hit. Now you will soon see me in a full-fledged role in 'Main aur Mrs Khanna', where I am cast alongside Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor," Lahiri said in an interview.

On the other hand, in 'Its Rocking Dard-e-Disco', which stars Bengali actress Rituparna Sengupta, Sneha Ullal and Aryaman, he is playing a 'Disco King'.

"I will make you laugh like anything in that film. My role is completely comic. I have done it in the style of Kishore 'mama'," he says.

On his plans to don the director’s hat, Bappida reveals, "Yes, I want to be a film director. I am planning to start shooting for the film in 2010. But I am not going to make a commercial film, it will be an art film. We are, however, still working on the storyline."

The man with the 'Golden Bling' says his love affair with gold ornaments has helped him to carve out a niche of his own when it comes to style.

"You see, gold is in my image. I am known as the golden man. If I don't wear these golden chains and other ornaments, people will ask me 'Bappida, where is your gold'. And if others wear gold, they say 'Oh! He is following Bappida".

The man who is known to have introduced the use of disco music in Indian cinema with an Indian flavour is best known for his songs like 'Koi Yahan Nache Nache', 'Jimmy Jimmy', 'Zubi Zubi', 'Jee Le Le', 'Bambai Se Aaya mera Dost', 'Raat Baaki', 'Tamma Tamma Loge' and 'Chalte Chalte'.

He recently lent his voice in Akshay Kumar-starrer 'Chandni Chowk to China' and had also worked in Mani Ratnam’s blockbuster 'Guru'.

However, when it comes to non-musical assignments, he says he is very choosy. "I am very selective. If I get some good projects, only then will I do it."

The 56-year-old veteran music composer-singer recently came out with an international album, 'My Love', a Rhythm 'n' Blues album by an Indian, featuring American rapper Jiddah.

He has finished working on another international project 'Slumstars' - which will feature six children from the slums of Mumbai’s Dharavi. The album is expected to release after August.

"Those slum children have sung very well in the album.

I am happy that I have brought out their talent. I want the whole world to know about them, their lives and also their pain," the Kolkata-born musician says.

His tour with the world-famous musical group 'Jackson 5' is also on track. "They will come to India next year. They will perform here and will also sing a song for me," he said

Source: Screen India.

What's your favorite movie to watch with Dad?

By Annie Barrett

Mine is Father of the Bride, which thankfully made our list of 24 Movies To See With Dad. Awwwwwww. It's not that I would particularly like to deal with anything remotely involving a wedding. Oh hell no. It's the uber-relatable scenes of Annie Banks and George (Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Steve Martin, pictured) playing basketball in the driveway that suck me in. That was soooo me and my dad, the only glaring difference being that Annie Barrett could actually shoot the frickin' ball one-handed and had pretty amazing form all-around, whereas Annie Banks is the sorriest excuse for a student-athlete to hit theaters in the early '90s. (I smell another photo gallery!)

My runner-up dad movie is 2001: A Space Odyssey -- I remember the first time we watched it together, the normally sedated Bill Barrett nearly leapt out of his big red chair to punctuate the final fetus-meets-home plant moment with a resounding "F---in A, Ann! Did you see that? ARE YOU WATCHING THIS?" I most certainly was. Hi, dad! Happy early Father's Day.

Source: Entertainment Weekly.