Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 4 Num 213 Wed. December 31, 2003  
   
Culture


Star talk
The year that was!


An eventful year: Jaya Ahsan

2003 was a very busy year for me. Although I have worked in many plays, including drama serials and mega serials, I was very much satisfied with two of my endeavors Shangshoy and Polayon Porbo. For the first time in my life I took part in a movie named Bachelor as a guest artiste. It was a pretty exciting experience for me. I also did some modeling as in Goru Marka Dheu Tin, Taaza, Tibet and Bashundhara.

I have worked in an ad with my husband Faysal in the year 2003 which was also quite interesting. I took some break away from the monotony of work and went abroad for a couple of times. I get good support from my family, which is very encouraging. I am satisfied with what I have achieved so far and aim to reach the hearts of the audience.

Year 2003 was an overall success:Kanak Chanpa

During my career as a singer I have always tried my best to please my listeners and fans. The year 2003 was no exception. This year I was awarded the Meril Prothom Alo Award for the fourth time and the National Award for the second time. I had the privilege to release an album based on songs of Lalon, the mystic poet. Previously I had brought out a mixed album where I sang a few Lalon songs, but this is my first album based purely on his compositions. The few playback tracks that I have recorded this year namely Nayan Bhora Jaal, Shundoree Bodhu, Shahoshi Manush Chai were quite remarkable. I performed at a number of cultural tours abroad, which turned out to be successful. I hope and pray that my well wishers would continue to appreciate my endeavors.

The joy of achievement and agony of loss: Zahid Hassan

Our only daughter Pushpita got admitted to the school this year, which is a very pleasant experience. Besides, I worked in many plays the whole year round. A big success for me was my involvement as a director of the 100-episode serial Lal Neel Beguni and its acceptance by the audience. I also made a tele film for Eid. I got the National award as the best actor for the movie Srabon Megher Din and also got an award from the Cultural Reporters' Association. Another worthwhile event for me in the year 2003 was that after quite a long time, I worked in a movie Shangkhanad, directed by Abu Sayeed, for which I really worked very hard. The saddest incident for me this year was the death of my father-in-law Saiful Islam, a reputed singer. Sometimes all the joys of achievements seem to disappear amidst the pain and agony of loss.

Achievements in the year 2003: Shubhro Dev

The year 2003 has been a successful one for me. One of my VCDs came out last year, which was well accepted by the audience. Besides, I performed in eight concerts in the USA including FOBANA. I was selected as a judge in a beauty contest in the USA. But the biggest achievement for me was something else. In 1999 Juana Crick Patrick, a teacher of the Indiana University of the USA came to Bangladesh. I didn't meet him then but he listened to one of my songs. Later on I wrote to him. He was doing his thesis on our folk art, rickshaw painting and much more. The title of his thesis was taken from one of my songs Boro Shundar Duti Chokh Tomar. It was quite an achievement for me. I hope to do better work in the coming year.

Picture
Jaya Ahsan