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Maisha Islam Monamee

The author graduated from Institute of Business Administration (IBA), University of Dhaka and is a contributor at The Daily Star. Find her @monameereads on Instagram.

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The spin-off age: How supporting characters now lead the narrative

10 March 2026, 14:44 PM
For most of film and television history, supporting characters existed with a clear narrative function: assist the protagonist, provide comic relief, move the plot forward, and quietly exit when the hero’s journey took centre stage. They were memorable, sometimes even beloved, but rarely powerful enough to reshape the story’s structure. Yet the modern entertainment landscape, particularly in the age of sprawling franchises and long-form streaming series, has begun to shift that balance.
10 March 2026, 14:44 PM
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Women’s Day Special / The power of female rage in cinema

8 March 2026, 14:40 PM
For much of cinematic history, women have been permitted to suffer beautifully. They mourn, endure, forgive, and sacrifice. What they have rarely been allowed to do—at least without consequence—is rage. Female anger has often been framed as instability, hysteria, or moral decline, something to be corrected or contained before it threatens the social order.
8 March 2026, 14:40 PM
Violence against women and children in Bangladesh

Have we grown desensitised to violence against women and children?

4 March 2026, 00:09 AM
When perpetrators act with confidence, it is often because consequences appear uncertain, distant, or negotiable.
4 March 2026, 00:09 AM
Ramadan productivity

Next Step / A guide to navigating the workplace in Ramadan

3 March 2026, 13:58 PM
In Bangladesh, Ramadan reshapes not only personal routines but also institutional rhythms. Office hours adjust, traffic patterns shift, and workplace energy follows a different arc across the day.
3 March 2026, 13:58 PM
The emotional cost of female ambition on screen

The emotional cost of female ambition on screen

24 February 2026, 11:30 AM
When every powerful woman on screen is depicted as overworked and cold, the idea of feminine leadership becomes tied to self sacrifice and emotional distance.
24 February 2026, 11:30 AM
Understanding the annual monetisation of love

Understanding the annual monetisation of love

14 February 2026, 11:00 AM
Netflix pushes a carousel titled “Love is in the Air”. Disney+ resurrects old romances under pastel banners. Amazon Prime quietly rearranges its homepage so that longing appears algorithmically convenient. A month before February 14, the emotional groundwork is already laid. The annual romance rollout has begun.
14 February 2026, 11:00 AM
Voting

Ballots, bills, and the life we are building

11 February 2026, 15:00 PM
With the election days away, young people are not speculating about who will win as much as they are preparing a checklist of what must follow.
11 February 2026, 15:00 PM
File visual: Shaikh Sultana Jahan Badhon

The political coming-of-age of a generation

9 February 2026, 15:45 PM
For most of our lives, democracy existed as a concept we memorised rather than experienced.
9 February 2026, 15:45 PM
Google backup

How to backup everything on your Google account

Our Google accounts hold a significant amount of data, from cherished photos and important documents to critical emails and contacts. Here are some ways in which you can backup valuable information and files from various Google apps.
30 January 2025, 09:03 AM
‘XO, Kitty’ Season 2: A delightful rollercoaster of growth in teen drama

‘XO, Kitty’ Season 2: A delightful rollercoaster of growth in teen drama

''XO, Kitty'', the beloved Netflix spinoff of Jenny Han’s ''To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before'' franchise, returned for its highly anticipated second season with all the sweetness, drama, and spirit that made its first season such a hit. The show picks up where it left off, delving deeper into Kitty Song Covey's (played by Anna Cathcart) whirlwind life at the Korean Independent School of Seoul (KISS), while also bringing a more profound focus on her quest for answers about her late mother, Eve. Season 2 strikes a delicate balance between familiar beats from Season 1 and exciting new developments, presenting a delightful intermingling of romance, familial bonds, and personal growth.
29 January 2025, 11:05 AM
‘Nalini’: Exploring the intersection of art, environment, and humanity

‘Nalini’: Exploring the intersection of art, environment, and humanity

The words, "What you touch, you change. What you change, changes you," perfectly capture the essence of "Nalini", an exhibition by French-Brazilian artist and printmaker Julia Lebrao Sendra. Hosted at Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) in Dhanmondi, this thought-provoking exhibition delved deep into the fragile relationship between humans and their environment, using the Buriganga river as both a subject and metaphor.
28 January 2025, 12:49 PM
Nvidia loss

Nvidia’s worst day since 2020: what happened?

To maintain its leadership, Nvidia will need to adapt
28 January 2025, 07:42 AM
Why do we crave survival game tropes?

Why do we crave survival game tropes?

The eerie whistle of a haunting melody, the countdown of a clock ticking toward doom, and a desperate player caught between having to take a drastic step either for or against morality — survival game shows have become a global obsession. From the blood-soaked battlegrounds of "Battle Royale" to the dystopian depths of "Squid Game", these narratives have gripped audiences, offering a voyeuristic thrill into life-or-death scenarios. But why are we so drawn to them? The answer lies in the intersection of psychology and sociology, where primal instincts and societal reflections meet.
19 January 2025, 12:18 PM
Squid Game game theory

Understanding 'game theory' through Squid Game

Game theory, the study of strategic decision-making, has long been a tool for economists, mathematicians, and political scientists to analyse human behaviour in competitive scenarios. Let's take a look at how each game featured in the hit show Squid Game represents the 'game theory' in action.
19 January 2025, 09:35 AM
AI startups

AI startups to watch out for in 2025

As we navigate through 2025, the startup ecosystem is experiencing a transformative era, with emerging technologies reshaping industries and daily life. Here are some of the most promising AI startups, from around the world, to watch out for in 2025.
15 January 2025, 04:40 AM
‘Squid Game’ Season 2 review

‘Squid Game’ Season 2: A familiar game with new pieces

In 2021, "Squid Game" captured global attention with its brutal social commentary, high-stakes survival games, and unforgettable characters. Its visceral critique of capitalism and human nature made it a cultural phenomenon. Three years later, "Squid Game” Season 2 stepped onto Netflix’s stage, aiming to expand the series’ universe while grappling with the inevitable pressure of living up to its groundbreaking predecessor. While the second season showcases moments of brilliance, it often stumbles under the weight of its ambitions, leaning heavily on familiar tropes and predictable narratives.
5 January 2025, 11:32 AM
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The hidden cost of New Year’s celebrations

We rarely pause to consider the impact on the most vulnerable among us.
2 January 2025, 05:00 AM
15 years of ‘3 Idiots’: Of life, friendship, and breaking free from expectations

15 years of ‘3 Idiots’: Of life, friendship, and breaking free from expectations

Two and a half decades ago, I saw Rancho as a hero, Farhan and Raju as the friends I wished I had, and Virus as the villain I loved to hate. Today, as a university student navigating the same labyrinth of dreams and expectations, I view the film differently.
25 December 2024, 12:37 PM

Dhaka’s desperate need for fresh air

Dhaka’s toxic air crisis requires urgent action to save lives and secure a healthier future.
22 December 2024, 09:00 AM
‘Mismatched’: Of missed connections and out-of-sync stories

‘Mismatched’: Of missed connections and out-of-sync stories

In trying to modernise, however, the creators seem to have lost some of the emotional depth that made the show resonate in the beginning. Rishi and Dimple’s struggles with balancing ambition and love feel predictable and lack the emotional weight needed to truly resonate.
18 December 2024, 12:50 PM
Unwrapping the lately-hyped ‘Stopify Wrapped’

Unwrapping the lately-hyped ‘Stopify Wrapped’

Spotify brilliantly turned our listening habits into social media gold. By wrapping our music data in bold colours, quirky headlines, and an irresistible share button, they transformed a personal experience into a public spectacle. Suddenly, our taste in music was not just our taste—it became content.
13 December 2024, 13:52 PM
Elimination of VAW

The nation still failing its women

Violence against women in Bangladesh feels like an existential tragedy.
25 November 2024, 06:00 AM
20 years on, 'Veer-Zaara' still resonates across borders

20 years on, 'Veer-Zaara' still resonates across borders

Two decades ago, when Bollywood was still discovering cinema's transformative power, a film that forever redefined love for a generation came along. The legendary Yash Chopra’s "Veer-Zaara", released in 2004, is not just a love story set against the backdrop of political and cultural divides; it is a timeless saga and a poetic rendering of yearning, sacrifice, and boundless commitment. Back in the day, this classic story of a love between an Indian man and a Pakistani woman defied the limitations of mere romance and became an emotion in itself. After all these years, "Veer-Zaara" remains iconic, a film cherished for its artistry, music, and the undying love that it portrays.
12 November 2024, 13:15 PM
From screen to street: The timeless influence of film costumes on fashion trends

From screen to street: The timeless influence of film costumes on fashion trends

One of the most enduring examples is Audrey Hepburn's black dress in "Breakfast at Tiffany's". Designed by Hubert de Givenchy, the dress exemplified elegance, simplicity, and a touch of mystery. This little black dress became an essential wardrobe item, redefined as a fashion staple worldwide
10 November 2024, 12:42 PM
Freedom is more than the absence of oppression

Freedom is more than the absence of oppression

Dissent in Bangladesh has been met with hostility, with individuals being labelled as traitors or enemies of the state for expressing opposing views.
9 November 2024, 07:00 AM
‘Do Patti’: Of sibling rivalry, domestic strife, and missed opportunities

‘Do Patti’: Of sibling rivalry, domestic strife, and missed opportunities

Set in the fictional hill station of Devipur, the Shashanka Chaturvedi directorial “Do Patti” tells the story of twin sisters Saumya and Shailee (featuring Kriti Sanon), whose strained relationship is compounded by a shared connection to Dhruv Sood (played by Shaheer Sheikh), a wealthy businessman with a violent streak. Saumya, the more docile sister, becomes Dhruv’s wife and soon faces the horrors of domestic violence, while Shailee, the flamboyant and rebellious twin, harbours a deep jealousy toward her sister.
3 November 2024, 12:45 PM
How Shah Rukh Khan’s flawed characters make for authentic roles

How Shah Rukh Khan’s flawed characters make for authentic roles

In Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan is primarily synonymous with the romance genre. For decades, the star has brought unforgettable love stories to the silver screen. But while he is most celebrated for his iconic, idealistic roles, SRK’s most compelling performances actually come from his portrayals of flawed lovers—characters who reflect the messier, more nuanced realities of love. These are not heroes with all the answers; they are sometimes selfish, reckless, insecure, and even destructive. It is this raw imperfection that makes SRK’s on-screen romances feel so achingly real.
2 November 2024, 13:30 PM
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Exploring South Asian folklore in horror films

The concept of curses that pass down through generations is also a recurring theme in South Asian folklore and has been adapted into film narratives that focus on familial guilt and karmic retribution. In traditional tales, families are often haunted by the misdeeds of their ancestors, and no amount of modern intervention can free them from their fates. 
30 October 2024, 12:49 PM

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