'Kites' at Cannes film festival

Bollywood Hungama / May 08, 2009

BIG Pictures is gearing up to market ‘Kites’ to the international buyers, distributors and media during the upcoming Cannes Film Festival. 

To begin with, BIG Pictures will host a press conference and an elite cocktail event at Cannes. BIG Pictures has also purchased time slots to screen the 'Kites' teaser on two digital screens adjacent to the red carpet entrance of the Palais, for the entire duration of the festival. This is a regular feature for big-budget Hollywood films, but for the first time ever, an Indian studio will showcase their film publicity on that screen. 

‘Kites’ stars Hrithik Roshan, Barbara Mori, Kangna Ranaut, Nick Brown and Kabir Bedi in pivotal roles. The film is produced by Rakesh Roshan's Filmkraft and directed by Anurag Basu. ‘Kites’ is being readied for release in the last quarter of 2009. 

Apart from ‘Kites’, BIG Pictures will market and publicize its art house film slate. The International Distribution team has also lined up meetings with officials from Hollywood studios such as Fox, Sony, Paramount, Disney, Warner, Universal, Lionsgate amongst many others in order to explore business propositions.

Source: http://www.screenindia.com

Tagore Drama Festival

‘Performing Tagore is our priority’

By Rahad Abir / May 08, 2009

Nuna Afroz, the founding member of the theatre group Pranganemor, playwright and director talks to Rahad Abir about the ongoing weeklong Tagore drama festival, which will conclude today.

New Age: Pranganemor is organising the Tagore drama festival inviting theatre groups both at home and abroad. Would you tell us about the objectives of the festival?

Nuna Afroz: Six years ago Prangonemor started its journey with a vow to stage Rabindranath’s plays regularly giving it the highest priority. We believe Rabindranath is our main base to practice pure theatre. For two years we were thinking of arranging this festival. This is the first time Tagore plays performed by theatre groups from both Bangladesh and West Bengal have been arranged at the festival.As the festival prioritises on hosting Tagore’s plays, we think this kind of event encourages the practice.

NA: Staging ‘Char Adhaya’ a novel on Swadeshi movement is not an easy job. You did a brilliant work. But some critics say that the audience often get bored.

Nuna: Except Shamvu Mitra’s ‘Bahurupi’ based on ‘Char Adhaya’ there is no successful staging of this novel. We have tried our level best. Interestingly I have found a few viewers who were overwhelmed seeing the play. As the story of ‘Swadeshi’ is based on a serious issue we wanted to attract the audience with our performances.

NA: How long have you been in Theatre?

Nuna: I have been involved in theatre since school and it has been almost 22 years. My first theatre group was ‘Barisal Natak’ in Barisal.

NA: What is the future plan for Pranganemor?

Nuna: To work more and to keep the troupe well organised. We are planning to bring out a new production next year.

Source: http://www.newagebd.com

Tagore Drama Festival

Ritwik stages Antar Andar

By Rahad Abir / May 4, 2009

On the occasion of the weeklong ‘Tagore Drama Festival’, organised by the theatre group Prangane Mor, festivity remains around the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the city.

The festival enthrals the audience because five theatre groups from Bangladesh and India are staging their plays, written by Rabindranath Tagore or based on the story of the litterateur.Ritwik, an Indian participant group staged the play ‘Antar Andar’ on the second day of the festival, on Saturday. The play ‘Antar Andar’ is based on the famous story of Rabindranath titled ‘Strir Patra’. The story ‘Strir Patra’ based on a letter written by Mrinal, the protagonist and the narrator of the story.

 Whatever higher education we receive, acquire modern views, many of us cannot free ourselves from feudal outlook. Still today we consider women as our property. In the marriage life a woman has no world except her husband. A wife who accepts it becomes a good wife in the society.But in ‘Strir Patra’, Mrinal is an exception. She has a strong personality, and thinks in a different way. She composes poetry in secret, and finds her own freedom. Including Mrinal, the play ‘Antar Andar’ focuses on the lives of three women.

Goutam Roy Chowdhury both scripts and directs the play. He has done some experiments here. That is why to the general audience the play seems to be a little bit unusual but obviously it delights the audience. As in the story, in the play too no sequence is maintained as regards time and space.As the entire play presents Mrinal’s thoughts, it develops according to the incidents described in the letter.The play ends with rounds of applause and the audience was touched by the director’s speech. The theatre group also staged ‘Chaturanga’ on the inaugural day of the festival.

The organisers are also arranging an open air cultural programme each day which includes music, dance and recitation at the entrance of the National Theatre Hall. The programme continues till the beginning of the play.

Source: http://www.newagebd.com

Tagore Drama Festival

Chaturanga delights audience.

By Mohiuddin Alamgir / May 03, 2009

A weeklong theatre festival titled ‘Dui Banglar Rabindra Natya Mela’ organised by the Dhaka-based theatre group Prangane Mor, began at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Segun Bagicha on Friday.

Eminent litterateur Syed Shamsul Huq inaugurated the festival as chief guest while noted theatre personality Mamunur Rashid was present as special guest.Syed Shamsul Huq said in his inaugural speech, ‘We can find modernism and humanism in the works of Rabindranath Tagore. In the history of Bengalis we had two poets one is Rabindranath another is Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was the poet of politics.’A good number of holiday crowds including renowned theatre activists were present in the programme. Members of Prangane Mor sang, danced and recited poems from the works of Rabindranath Tagore in the opening ceremony.

The inaugural session was followed by the presentation of a play. The Indian theatre group called Hrithik staged a play ‘Chaturanga’, scripted and directed by Gautam Roy Chowdhury. The play delighted the largef audiences.Bangladeshi theatre group ‘Prangane Mor’ will stage ‘Swadeshi’ based on the novel ‘Char Adhyaya’ directed by Nuna Afroz today.The play ‘Shyama Prem’ based on dance drama ‘Shyama’ directed by Ananta Hira on May 4. Prangane Mor will stage the play.Another Bangladeshi theatre group Subachan Natya Sangsad will stage the play ‘Kshudhita Pashan’, directed by Khaled Khan, on May 6. The play is based on a short story of the same title,The Indian theatre group Anya Theatre will stage the play ‘Shodh-bodh’ directed by Bibash Chakrabarthy on May 7.

On the concluding day of the festival, May 8, Prangane Mor will stage the play ‘Rakta Karabi’, directed by Nuna Afroz at Experimental Theatre Hall of the Academy.Everyday the show will begin at 7:00pm.The organisers will also arrange a seminar on ‘Bangalir Natya Charcha O Rabindranather Natak’ at 11:00am at the Seminar Room of the National Theatre Hall on May 8. Shantanu Kaiser will read out the keynote paper.

The organisers expect that the festival will help to make a cultural bridge between the Bengalis both in Bangladesh and India.

Source: http://www.newagebd.com

Singer Inter District Theatre Festival ‘09 in full swing

By Staff Correspondent / Bogra, April 7, 2009

'Singer Inter District Theatre Festival 2009' began last Saturday evening at the Muktijoddha Aminul Karim Dulal Auditorium in the city. Bogra Theatre, in association with Singer Bangladesh Ltd. and other cultural organisations, has arranged the festival.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Bogra, Humayun Kabir, inaugurated the weeklong festival amidst enthusiasm.Mahbub Jamil, chairman, Singer Bangladesh Ltd; theatre personality Nasirudin Yousuff (chairman of Gram Theatre); Humayun Kabir Himu, general secretary of the organisation; Dr. Afsar Ahmed; singer Nahar Jamil, among others attended the inaugural function. A.H.M Azam Khan, president, Bogra Theatre, presided over the inaugural programme.

Bogra Theatre arranged the 22 inter district theatre festival during the last 27 years of its establishment said Taufiq Hasan Moyna, General Secretary, Bogra Theatre.

“We need individuals who will enlighten the society,” said Mahbub Jamil, adding, "there are ample scopes in the country but we often fail to utilise them for the collective benefit." He ensured that his organisation is ready to cooperate in the promotion of cultural activities. On the first day of the festival Bogra Theatre staged “Kaiborter Bidroho.”

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net