In 1950, Satyajit Ray, a young graphic designer at the time, set out to make a full-length film with his savings, without any experience in filmmaking. After years of financial and other struggles, he finally finished his first film in a trilogy, Pather Panchali (1955), one of the most iconic tales in Bengali cinema. Ray won a special jury prize at the Cannes Film Festival the following year.

Tahsan Khan, one of the most beloved musicians in the industry, has garnered legions of fans with his acting skills over the years as well. The singer turned actor participated in Auction 4 Auction, a virtual charity programme for COVID 19 relief. In a recent conversation with The Daily Star, he spoke about the auction and what he has been up to.

Ekushey Padak awardee and Shadhin Bangla Betar Kendra singer Fakir Alamgir is one of the leading exponents of Gono Sangeet -- the songs of the masses, in Bangladesh. Infusing modernism with traditional songs, he is a strong voice for the working-class commoners in the country. As the day labourers are hit the hardest by the coronavirus pandemic, the singer spoke about the ones in distress in a chat with The Daily Star, marking May Day.

With the world at a standstill because of the coronavirus pandemic, Bangladesh’s entertainment industry is witnessing abandoned sets, closed cinema theatres and actors with empty diaries. From managing busy weeks and tight schedules, stars are now confined to their homes.

One of the most commercially successful Bangladeshi photographers, Prito Reza had to scratch and claw his way to the top, through hard work and dedication.

He was suffering from a rare colon cancer, called Colitis. He is survived by his wife, Sutapa Sikdar, and two sons, Babil and Ayan.

Eminent Indian film star Rishi Kapoor breathed his last at 67, after a two-year battle with leukemia. He was admitted to the Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai a few days ago after complaining about breathing difficulties, and ultimately passed away on April 30. His last rites took place at Chandanwadi Crematorium in Kalbadevi, Mumbai.

Rob Gibbs, a story artist, writer and director who contributed in many Pixar films, including Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc. Finding Nemo, Up, Wall-E, Inside Out and Onward, passed away recently, at 55. His cause of death is unknown as of now.

World Dance Alliance (Asia Pacific)—Bangladesh Chapter, Nrityajog, took up several initiatives to mark International Dance Day 2020. The dancers are staying indoors due to COVID 19 crisis. As a result, they are carrying out various dance-related activities from their homes.

Award-winning painter, printmaker and sculptor Wakilur Rahman has been addressing social issues through his artworks since the early eighties. He is one of the founding members of the art group, ‘Shomoy’, which initiated a discourse on contemporary art in Bangladesh. He also runs the non-profit art gallery, Kala Kendra. Rahman spent a significant amount of time in East Germany, where he experienced the initial years of German unification. Although he is self-isolating at the moment, he has taken to social media to showcase his different projects, created with home objects. In a recent chat with The Daily Star, the artist shares what he has been up to.

Born and brought up in Russia, Farzana Ridy Sheikh is a Bangladeshi dancer, choreographer, model and actor. She gained immense popularity over the years, both at home and abroad.

The cultural centre Shadhona is arranging an online production, titled Moksha, to celebrate International Dance Day 2020. A video, featuring performances by renowned dance gurus, will be premiered on social media today at 8 pm from the official page of Shadhona on Facebook and YouTube.

International Dance Day is celebrated every year on April 29. On this day, dancers rejoice through concerts, dance recitals, and other forms of stage performances all around the world. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, all celebrations have been cancelled this year. In such circumstances, dancers are celebrating this day in a different way.

Celebrated model and actor Monalisa ruled over the showbiz industry with her elegance, winning multiple awards over the years for her performances as an actor, including the Channel i Performance Award and Meril Prothom Alo 2002. She currently resides in the USA. The Daily Star caught up with her to know more about her recent activities.

International Dance Day (April 29) is a worldwide event that celebrates all genres of dance. It is commemorated through active promotion by the International Dance Council (CID). The day was introduced in 1982 by the International Dance Committee of the UNESCO International Theatre Institute. The date was chosen to commemorate the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre, a French dancer and ballet master.

From working in theatrical productions to playing memorable roles on television and the silver screen, National Film Award-winning actor Fazlur Rahman Babu has built a remarkable career over the years. In a candid chat with The Daily Star, he shares how he is coping with the coronavirus crisis.

Celebrated actor Sabnam Faria has carved a space for herself in the industry over the years. She started her career with modelling and commercials, before working on television ventures and making her film debut in Debi. In a recent conversation with The Daily Star, Sabnam looks back on a special memory with a fan.

Netflix still has some surprises in store for subscribers as we're all still isolating. The latest is a Michelle Obama documentary that holds the same name as her best-selling memoir, Becoming. Directed by documentarian Nadia Hallgren, Becoming will follow the former First Lady on her 34-city tour following the release of her book in 2018. Hallgren seeks to offer an intimate look at Obama as she and her husband, former President Barack Obama, transitioned out of the White House. Netflix released the first clip along with the announcement about the film, and Obama shared a note to viewers.

To help people who are left unemployed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Bangladesh Cholochitro Shilpi Samiti distributed food to over 200 artistes and 600 underprivileged families residing in Mohammadpur, Banasree and Konapara. "The vice president of BCSS, actor Dipjol, donated the food while Misha Sawdagor and I personally supervised the distribution process," General Secretary of BCSS, Zayed Khan, told The Daily Star. "Instead of calling it relief, we prefer to call it Ramadan gifts."

The coronavirus pandemic has brought the world essentially to a standstill. As a way of spreading hope amid the crisis, six expatriate Bangladeshi dancers are set to present the online production, ‘COVID Ke Korbo Joy Eksathey Mora Neiko Bhoy’, from their homes, on April 29, marking International Dance Day.