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Saroj Khan, one of India's most prominent choreographers, has passed away at the age of 71 in Mumbai, following a cardiac arrest. She had been admitted to Guru Nanak Hospital in Mumbai since June 17. She had severe diabetes, and related illnesses. Saroj Khan had been tested for coronavirus while being treated for other illnesses, but her test results were negative. The choreographer is survived by her husband B Sohanlal, son Hamid Khan and daughters Hina and Sukyna Khan. Her funeral was held in Mumbai.

Siam Ahmed, one of the busiest actors of the industry, started his career with television and gradually made way into films. He has garnered legions of adoring fans with his unparalleled performances in a short time.

Centre for Research & Information’s youth platform, Young Bangla, hosted the session, titled ‘New Normal’, with Mahbubur Rahman, Britto Art Trust Coordinator and artist, Nadia Samdani, Co-Founder and President of the Samdani Art Foundation and Director of the Dhaka Art Summit, Rajeeb Samdani, Co-Founder and Trustee of the Samdani Art Foundation, Ayesha Sultana and Sabyasachi Mistry, artists, Samir Asran Rahman, an animation artist, Syed Rashed Imam Tonmoy, an artist and cartoonist. Meghdol Band vocalist Shibu Kumar Shil conducted the session on Monday.

In 2008, Zanita Ahmed Zhilik won the musical reality show, Channel i Shera Kontho. Since then, she has impressed audiences with her melodious voice. Recently, she shared a video on her Facebook profile, where she broke down one of the toughest notes of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Symphony No 40, into Sargam. Mozart was a prolific and influential composer of the western classical era. The symphony was composed in 1788 on violin, in G minor, K 550. Zhilik’s video received numerous likes and comments. It has garnered 22,000 views as of yet. Renowned singer Runa Laila commented on her video, calling the performance, “Truly commendable.” She also shared the video over Whatsapp with singer and composer Bajinath Mangeshkar, nephew of the living legend Lata Mangeshkar and acclaimed singer Hariharan.

National Award-winning actor Jaya Ahsan is a beloved face in the film industries of Bangladesh and India. The actor celebrates her birthday today. On a candid chat with The Daily Star, Jaya talks about how she celebrates the day, returning to work and more.

Renowned writer, producer and television personality Faridur Reza Sagar, Managing Director of Impress Telefilm Ltd, has joined the American-Indian-Bangladeshi film, No Land’s Man, helmed by internationally acclaimed director Mostofa Sarwar Farooki. The film is predominantly English, with some dialogue in Hindi and Urdu. It stars renowned Indian actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, celebrated Bangladeshi musician and actor Tahsan Khan and promising Australian actor Megan Mitchell, among others. The music of the film is composed by renowned Indian composer and Oscar-BAFTA-Grammy winner, A R Rahman.

Renowned thespian Masum Aziz started his journey as an actor in 1972. Alongside commendable stage performances, he has been honoured with a National Film Award for his performance in Ghani (2006). He is one of the founding members of Dhaka Padatik, one of the most prolific treatre troupes in the country. Among other passions, his strong liking for music has also surfaced over the years. In a candid chat with The Daily Star, Masum Aziz talks about his recent activities, career highlights and more.

Popular rock band Dalchhut, led by Bappa Mazumder, will perform live from their studio in the charity concert, Songs for Hope. Initiated by iSocial and Kallyani, the online fundraising concert intends to help those harshly affected by the pandemic. Kallyani is a social organisation of community-based female changemakers, working for women, children and adolescents.

Towfique Ahmed earned his name in the music industry with the rap duo, Rajotto. The young artiste is known to raise social issues through his music, a trait that rap fans have come to appreciate. Recently, Tui Parish was released as a tribute to frontline workers who are putting their lives at risk during the pandemic. “I wanted to dedicate this to the Covid-19 soldiers, as a gesture of respect,” says Towfique. The song’s lyrics, which motivates everyone to help out in any capacity, has been written by the rapper himself.

Celebrated Indian actor Sheena Chohan recited the poem in the Bengali version of Pravasi (The Migrants), an animated short film about the plight of migrant workers amid the pandemic. The film is helmed by six-time National Film Award winner, Kireet Khurana. The Hindi and English versions of the poem were recorded by Taapsee Pannu, and it has been dubbed in several other Indian languages. The animation director of the film is Vivekananda Roy Ghatak.

Promising artist Dinar Sultana Putul’s artwork series, titled Buckminster Fuller’s Dymaxion, is currently on display at Priyasri Art Gallery, Mumbai, India. The unique medium, with handmade colour from stone and indigo on paper has attracted art enthusiasts. The exhibition concludes on June 30. The artist is planning to hold her solo exhibition in Dhaka and Mumbai, alternately.

Ekushey Padak awardee and eminent singer Ferdousi Rahman celebrates her 78th birthday today. Born in 1941, she is the only daughter and the youngest child out of the four children of legendary folk singer Abbasuddin Ahmed, popularly known as the ‘Emperor of Bengali Folk Songs’. In 1965, she became the youngest recipient of the President’s Pride of Performance Medal. Later, she was honoured with numerous accolades, including the National Film, Lifetime Achievement and Independence Awards. The musical icon is the face of the programme, Esho Gaan Shikhi. In a candid chat with The Daily Star, the artiste looks back on her journey.

Each year, the Government of Bangladesh provides grants to several full-length and short films. For the 2019-2020 budget year, the Ministry of Information announced the grant list on June 25. A total of 25 films were selected this year. The ongoing pandemic has led to huge losses for the film industry. As a result, the government increased the number of films that will be receiving grants.

Television actor Mahadi Hasan Pial’s parents passed away from complications of the novel coronavirus disease, recently.

Installation, a relatively new genre of contemporary art, is practiced by postmodernist artists.

Mahdia Ansara Anuranon from Sir John Wilson School won the third prize, while Mahir Tazwar from Islami Bank international School & College won the second prize and Dwaipayan Kar from Drexel International School, Dhaka, won the first prize in Category A (4-6 years old).

Known for his modern approach in presenting stories, celebrated director Redoan Rony started out on television, before making a mark in the world of cinema with films like Chorabali (2016).

Noted thespian, director and playwright Mamunur Rashid spearheads Aranyak Natyadal, one of the most prominent theatre troupes in Bangladesh.

The event was also attended by HE Rina P Soemarno, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia to Bangladesh and His Excellency Amir Farid Abu Hasan, Acting High Commissioner of Malaysia to Bangladesh. Niharika Momtaz, Founder of Bangladesh Art Week said, “Almost half of the winning bids were from Non-Resident Bangladeshis. While the live auction is over, we still have an ongoing silent auction which will end on June 26 at 11:59 pm BST.”