Sadi Mohammad Shahnewaz

Editor, Arts & Entertainment and Star Showbiz, The Daily Star.

Meghna Alam’s detention: Same script, new cast?

What was baffling was that her arrest was not even acknowledged by the authorities for 24 hours, the silence broken only by mounting pressure on social media

4d ago

Nuhash Humayun at a crossroads

Whether it's by crafting a groundbreaking IP with “Pett Kata Shaw”, making history by working with Hollywood juggernaut Jordan Peele, or by being a revered member of the Writers' Guild of America, Nuhash Humayun's journey in Bangladeshi showbiz is nothing short of remarkable. We sat down with the ambitious director days after the release of “Dui Shaw”, the second iteration of his horror phenomenon.

2m ago

‘Stories of Hope and Hustle’ exhibits stellar creativity of ULAB students

As one walks towards the flag stand, a series of photographs becomes visible. They depict various subjects, ranging from a single mother dressing her child to an unassuming child selling balloons on the street. However, these subjects deviate significantly from typical "poverty porn”, clearly portraying empowered individuals from all walks of life.

3m ago

From Bailey Road to ‘Miss North America’: Zarin’s inspiring journey

When NSU graduate Zarin Mahmood landed in Canada in 2017, she had left behind a life of relative certainty to enter the grind of a life far away. Discarding her desire to pursue business, which was her major in university, she jumped on the opportunity to complete a Master’s in Technology Innovation Management at Ottawa’s Carlton University.

3m ago

Packing Dhaka, Down Under

The band took inspiration from a local act called ‘Bowling in Japan’ while using Samin’s heritage as an inspiration. It is fitting, too, as the incredibly tight group comes together with Samin’s outspoken personality and Dhaka-ite soul. As the evening dawned, people from all over Sydney started gathering to see Packing Dhaka and its opener, Apocalypseboyo.

3m ago

Unpacking ‘840’: Tisha and Marzuk get dangerously candid

Dropping by The Daily Star’s 36 “Days of July: Saluting the Bravehearts” exhibition, Nusrat Imrose Tisha, the co-producer of “840,” and Marzuk Russell, the iconic poet-turned-actor who helmed an important role in the film, talked about their uphill battle to release the film.

3m ago

Electrifying, eclectic, EZ

The musician, renowned for his fluid, mellifluent solos and roaring riffs, was one of the core contributors to Artcell’s seminal albums “Onno Shomoy” and “Oniket Prantor”. After periodically releasing singles like “Fight Back”, “Shobdahoron”, and “Haranor Gaan”, he is now embarking on a new journey with his band EZ, composed of young and energetic musicians.

4m ago

Poorly arranged concerts should not be an ‘Aadat’

It is rather telling of the people when the army has to show up because of how people behave at a concert. “They brought an international band to a mall to perform,” said Sakib, who had attended the concert with high hopes. “It was a total joke. Organisers started taking selfies with the band mid-show, while Jal had to ask 20 times for a light to be turned off.”  

6m ago
December 17, 2023
December 17, 2023

‘Was about to do a song with him, ended up marrying him’

Even though she started her journey in “Close Up 1” in 2006, Abanti Sithi finally gained the recognition that she deserved in 2018 in Kolkata’s “Sa Re Ga Ma Pa” in 2018. Besides her prodigal singing prowess, she is also known as the ‘whistle-queen’ because of her pitch-perfect whistling skills. From a simple cup to a foil-paper, Sithi can make random paraphernalia sing as well. She has entered a new phase of life, and talks to The Daily Star while on the runway to Sylhet.

November 28, 2023
November 28, 2023

A thriller that subverts expectations

It is usually a good sign when a director acknowledges the intelligence of his target audience, respects it when putting the finishing touches on a story. While entering Mohakhali Cineplex to watch the premiere of Shihab Shaheen’s “Baba, Someone’s Following Me”, the pessimist in me instantly assumed that it’d be a straightforward tale of racism faced by South Asian students in Australia. In reality, the Binge original takes a more nuanced task to convey much more than that.

November 24, 2023
November 24, 2023

When the guitar weeps for a nation: Bangladeshi musicians unite to aid Gaza

“I don’t know how else we can help a nation that is repeatedly being wronged other than through our art,” said Ahmed Hasan Sunny, a rising star in the music industry. “We’ve remained an audience, helpless after seeing bombs dropped on civilians, hospitals and innocent children in Gaza. We decided to do something about it.” The young artiste took the challenge to organise a concert in support of Gaza’s hand-in-hand with artist Morshed Mishu, who was already planning to make graffiti to speak up for the oppressed people of Gaza.

November 18, 2023
November 18, 2023

A new cinematic duo on the horizon

Intense, passionate, riveting – the trailer of Badrul Anam Saud’s new movie, “Shyamakabbya”, is likely to invoke these feelings within any reader. While the seasoned director’s vision goes a long way toward making this possible, much credit will also go to the leads, Shohel Mondol and Neelanjona Neela. 

October 28, 2023
October 28, 2023

What makes Karnival stand out?

Karnival started as a passion project between friends Tinu, Sabbir, Tonmoy and Sunny in 2006. Together, they made their debut album, “Indraloy.”

September 25, 2023
September 25, 2023

‘Punormilone’ bucks all trends and showcases riveting family drama

Action-packed, fantastical, nail-biting: Mizanur Rahman Aryan’s Punormilone is none of those things. In spite of that, or perhaps because of that, the family drama succeeds in subverting audience expectations amidst OTT’s “Thriller Fatigue”, with a powerful reminder of the age-old phrase la familia es todo (Family is all).

September 23, 2023
September 23, 2023

A man that keeps evolving

He was one of the undisputed kings of Bangla rock in the 2000’s when he was the frontman for Black. When he left the band to make Indalo, he took on an entirely new genre of music. Having also left his mark on television as an actor, he is now knee-deep into the world of podcasts, where I started a podcast is one of the most enticing shows on Youtube. Star Showbiz has a heart-to-heart with Jon Kabir.

July 29, 2023
July 29, 2023

Dhaka’s burgeoning concert industry: Organisers scramble to find their niche

In a city where most youth are confined to social circle jerks of restaurants and malls; these concerts are much-needed injections of life. Whilst there is a risk of fatigue and overuse, as it is with any industry, it is important that organisers persevere and stick to what makes them unique.

July 25, 2023
July 25, 2023

Fairooz Nazifa in all her husky glory

After Fairooz Nazifa's version of ‘Tumi Hina’ released on Gaan Bangla’s Wind of Change, her life changed as she started becoming more of a public figure.

July 24, 2023
July 24, 2023

Fuad delivers a Bangladeshi musical buffet to the States

The ace music producer Fuad Almuqtadir has been accompanied by Pantha Kanai, Tashfee, Muttaque Hasib, Pavel, Nick Gianni, Adhnan Sulaiman Nayeem, and Tanvir Tomal for an extensive series of shows in the United States.