My Publications

A quest for new sound After Shono! Habib is back with Panjabiwala featuring Shireen. Faizul Khan Tanim speaks to him about the album, his work and music The celebrated artiste- singer and composer Habib is perhaps never short of coming up with exclusive and unique tracks. Following instant success of Shono! Habib is back this Eid with his much anticipated album ‘Panjabiwala’. His collaboration with Shireen has certainly added to the quality of the album. The tune is simply tantalising and towards the beginning Shireen’s dreamy, yet boyish, voice with the verse Roshik telkajala, oi lal kurtawala…dili boro jala re panjabiwala…moves ones’ sensibilities. She has a deep accent which captures the baul essence very well. Habib himself speaks of Shireen very highly. ‘There are two ways in which I can work with good music. One is by producing remixes or composing my own music and the other is when I find a great voice to collaborate with. When I first heard Shireen, I thought she has massive ta...

A quest for new sound After Shono! Habib is back with Panjabiwala featuring Shireen. Faizul Khan Tanim speaks to him about the album, his work and music The celebrated artiste- singer and composer Habib is perhaps never short of coming up with exclusive and unique tracks. Following instant success of Shono! Habib is back this Eid with his much anticipated album ‘Panjabiwala’. His collaboration with Shireen has certainly added to the quality of the album. The tune is simply tantalising and towards the beginning Shireen’s dreamy, yet boyish, voice with the verse Roshik telkajala, oi lal kurtawala…dili boro jala re panjabiwala…moves ones’ sensibilities. She has a deep accent which captures the baul essence very well. Habib himself speaks of Shireen very highly. ‘There are two ways in which I can work with good music. One is by producing remixes or composing my own music and the other is when I find a great voice to collaborate with. When I first heard Shireen, I thought she has massive ...

So what are you listening to this Eid? Faizul Khan Tanim explores the different tunes that the audio market is offering this Eid. From hip to smooth, it looks like this Eid there is a song for everyone Festivals like Eid can’t get any better with new and fresh music. This holiday, the city-dwellers can certainly expect some great and spicy tunes. The audio market during holidays almost always has something exclusive to offer but this time the collection is vast and distinct. Tune in to our audio market of Bangla songs and you will see the different flavours of tunes and songs. This year’s Eid collection is a huge array of different genre of music- the kind that can cater everyone’s taste. From the head banging rock music, amazing fruity remixes of pop, folk, electronic music, blues and psychedelic music along with a number of experimental fusion works of different topnotch artistes- the audio industry is offering music for almost anyone. Till date, Eid-ul-Fitr is still associated wit...

ROUTE 666 – where the devil logon – BEWARE of the streets where MOLOM PARTY prowl I’m sure everybody read reports about the infamous MOLOM PARTY in Dhaka. The victims are not only stripped of all valuables but left unconscious on the street to lose their eye sight and in some instances…die. Eid is around the corner and yet, the sense of security seems to be degrading day by day. Be aware if your CNG driver suddenly stops near the Film Development Corporation (FDC) gate near Karwan Bazar, Banani Road 11, in front of Dhaka Sheraton Hotel or other notorious places marked 666, after dusk complaining of a breakdown. Because in a zippy, three to four young men would close in from both sides and jump inside the vehicle. One of them would sit on your lap, if you were alone. The others would hold a gun or a knife against your head. In a muggers-friendly situation, and for example in Tejgaon - the autorickshaw would then start and proceed towards the Tongi Diversion road and on the way, your po...

The old James is back James’s upcoming album Toofan is most likely to become a twister of sound, lyrics and emotions. In an interview with New Age, he reveals the desire to work in Bangladesh more vigorously, writes Faizul Khan Tanim photo by Al-Emrun Garjon Affectionately called Guru and popularly known as the Nagar Baul – city bard, James on the interview set made it clear that he wants to work in our music industry more enthusiastically. ‘I’ve been working outside the country for quite a bit now and I feel that time has come to offer my efforts just to Bangladesh. I want to do regular gigs, be on the television with music videos and interact more with my fans here’. ‘If there is spare time after all these, then maybe I will work outside our industry’, explained the smiling Guru. Sitting on the set of a music video shoot with songs from his upcoming album for the Eid program Golden Moment to be aired on Ekushey Television (ETV), produced by Alamgir Hossain, James gave an interesting...

A tool to educate children Faizul Khan Tanim interviews Sarwar-ul-Islam, winner of this year’s M Nurul Quader Children’s Literature Award, and finds out why more novels should be written for young people The award-winning book ‘Kalopori’A child’s delicate heart and mind has its first spark of vivid imagination through bedtime stories and lullabies. Children’s novels introduce the child to people, places and ideas; as well helps build dreams and ambition from their little discoveries and adventures. Story books, most importantly, cultivate affection and create a bond between the child and writing. The words and illustrations from stories not only enhance their vocabulary and strengthen their ability to use language, but it also helps them understand the complexities of everyday life, the country’s history, popular folklores- much-needed for the proper upbringing of every child. Sarwar-ul-Islam, winner of the M Nurul Quader Children’s Literature Award 2007 for his book titled Kalo Pori ...

A real life Din Badal Faizul Khan Tanim interviews Abul Kalam Azad, chairman and managing director of Azad Products pvt ltd, and relives the actual moments of the scenes depicted in the latest Banglalink ad to hit the television Gone are the days of advertisements with product-specific features only. The viewers are now welcoming creative television commercials sporting social messages, the company’s goodwill gestures and even depicting real life stories. And this one, very imaginatively visualises a one minute forty second true story. The latest rendition of Banglalink’s Din Badaler Cheshta, produced by Banglalink and Cogito Marketing Solutions and directed by Amitabh Reza essentially narrates the story of Abul Kalam Azad, chairman and managing director of Azad Products Pvt Ltd, who dreamt his dreams, struggled hard, and achieved them. Although, like other advertisements, it aims at cashing in on melodrama, there is no denying that owing to the nature of the story and the actu...

A real life Din Badal Faizul Khan Tanim interviews Abul Kalam Azad, chairman and managing director of Azad Products pvt ltd, and relives the actual moments of the scenes depicted in the latest Banglalink ad to hit the television Gone are the days of advertisements with product-specific features only. The viewers are now welcoming creative television commercials sporting social messages, the company’s goodwill gestures and even depicting real life stories. And this one, very imaginatively visualises a one minute forty second true story. The latest rendition of Banglalink’s Din Badaler Cheshta, produced by Banglalink and Cogito Marketing Solutions and directed by Amitabh Reza essentially narrates the story of Abul Kalam Azad, chairman and managing director of Azad Products Pvt Ltd, who dreamt his dreams, struggled hard, and achieved them. Although, like other advertisements, it aims at cashing in on melodrama, there is no denying that owing to the nature of the story and the actual even...

COASTLINE CONSERVANCY - The clean picture Faizul Khan Tanim visits Cox’s Bazar seashore on account of the International Coastal Cleanup Day on September 14 and takes a look at the bigger picture of such a venture photo by David Barikdar Imagine, the world’s largest stretch of unbroken beach is littered with cigarette butts, discarded wrappers and foils, and trash. The distinct stench reaches your nostrils as you walk the beautiful coastline. Fortunately, it is no longer the case. Thanks to people practicing ‘bay area conservancy’ in Bangladesh, the Cox’s Bazar sea shore is being successfully kept clean. Inspired by a campaign in the United States, it was started by an international organisation called Ocean Conservancy in 1986. This organisation promotes and encourages healthy and diverse ocean ecosystems and opposes practices that threaten ocean and human life. According to the international media, the ‘International Coastal Cleanup Day’ is one of the largest and most successful volu...

‘We do not make profit’ In an interview with Manas Saikia, the managing director and head of SAARC countries for Cambridge University Press, Faizul Khan Tanim learns that Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) is here not only to popularise its curriculum with affordable fee structure but also fight piracy concerning English medium text books photo by Andrew Biraj That the English medium education still remains out of reach for many has come to the attention of the Cambridge University Press officials during their venture in to the country with their curriculum for mainstream English medium schools. During his recent visit, Manas Saikia also declared Cambridge’s association with the bookstore Words ’n Pages to ensure availability of text books of Cambridge’s syllabus in the country. CIE right now has 1.5 million students registered in 150 countries and almost 4.5 to 5 lakh students are enrolled from the SAARC countries. Schools like Scholastica, Oxford International and many have ...

The fantastic five Krishnokoli, Sahana, Punam, Elita and Anila are five upcoming divas of the Bangladeshi music industry. Faizul Khan Tanim caught up with them at Words ’n Pages and finds out what keeps these talented artists up and going photos by Momena Jalil These ladies spent almost a bulk of 2007 on recording studios, musical shows on TV, concerts and on the pages of glossy magazines. Their CDs are played over and over again on stereos across the country. And when it came to interviewing them, this writer could not agree more on the fact that these upcoming divas have immense amount of brains and beauty along with their vivacious voices. New Age: What problems do you usually face as women artistes working in our entertainment and media industry? Anila: The biggest problem I faced till date was the teasing comments from the male listeners at concerts. It becomes so embarrassing at times when I bring my parents along with me. Punam: I agree but I also noted that no one spares a sin...

Songs of peace and devotion Newcomer Nobonita Chowdhury is wowing the audiences with her vivacious renditions of the mystical songs of Lalon. Faizul Khan Tanim finds that her music, despite using modern instruments, is filled with meaning and, creates an atmosphere of peace If you inject DNAs’ of devotion, a good voice and passion for music into one’s bloodstream, a Nobonita might be the result. At the moment, there are many artistes singing Lalon’s music, but only a few from them will stand out. In this compilation titled, Ami Jontro Tumi Jontree, Nobonita’s pronunciation is clear, there is great affection in her singing and she seems absorbed in the pulse of Lalon and the mystic Man. It’s like, while listening to the album, you are experiencing live music. The voice creates an ambience; moreover, the modern instrumentation by Ayub Bachhu makes the numbers attractive. This compilation is more like a tale - a story of the creator’s basic words and instructions through the vision of La...

Deshantori – unite for a better Bangladesh Faizul Khan Tanim watches Deshantori, realises the frustrations that plague the youth and comes out believing that we must unite and stay in Bangladesh for a better country Deshantori, meaning migration is a heart-wrenching documentary film depicting frustrations of today’s youth. The whole documentary is based on the viewpoints of the present day young generation, followed by commentaries and interviews of popular youth idols like Professor Mohammed Zafar Iqbal, eminent writer Anisul Haq and others. The film, written and directed by Sujan Mahmud and Mridul Chowdhury, was shown on August 5 at the University of Liberal Arts (ULAB) Film Club at the initiative of a citizen’s platform, Phiriye Ano Bangladesh (PAB), an organisation launched by expatriate Bangladeshis and the concerned youth of the country. The movie quite clearly passes the message about few of the most talked about issues in today’s socio-political Bangladesh – youth frustration ...

Poonam: The upcoming star in your musicdom Rising from mixed albums Re/Evolution, Varitation No. 25 and Bonno, Poonam is the voice symbolising pure magnetism. Her yodelling vocal with creative flavour makes her forthcoming solo album one of the most anticipated, writes Faizul Khan Tanim photo by Andrew Biraj New Age (NA): How and when did you become inclined towards music? Poonam: My mother did a higher secondary course on music and, was my teacher since when I was two and a half years old. I was born in Doha, Qatar and moved to the USA at the age of eight; however, I never stopped taking music lessons. Music was always like an innate part of me. NA: When did you record your first single? Poonam: In the end of 2004, my aunt, Papiya, introduced me to music producer, Fuad Al Muqtadir, whom I affectionately call dadu. He heard my voice and instantly proposed to record a song called Basto Shohore, which later made to the album Re/Evolution in 2005. I am extremely grateful to my aunt for in...

Nima Rahman It was at the age of two-and-a-half that Nima Rahman first appeared on television. Faizul Khan Tanim finds out how this powerful stage and television actor is still going strong Be it the stage or television, she’s done it all. From a rigid, angry woman to a romantic, her presence is equally powerful. Over 42 television dramas and 16 theatre productions are a testimony to actor Nima Rahman’s skills. It’s no wonder that Nima was the first woman director and producer for a lifestyle show on Bangladesh Television in 1998 called Amader Kotha, which was later aired on Ekushey Television (ETV) as well. Recently, I caught up with this boisterous personality at her Gulshan bookstore Words n’ Pages. Between sipping on a glass of honey lemon iced tea and playing computer games, she described her struggle finding proper roles in both TV and theatre. She blames the politics in the media world for the fact that she does few selected roles nowadays. ‘I was and still am very straight for...

A gift of great value Faizul Khan Tanim finds out what the hair relic handed over on July 18 to a high-powered Sri Lankan delegation means to the Buddhist community photo Focusbangla On July 18, the handing over of the hair relics of Gautum Buddha from the Chittagong Buddhist Monastery at Nandan Kanan, Chittagong, to a group of Sri Lankan representatives, may have been treated as a fairly low-key event in Bangladesh, but in Sri Lanka, and in many parts of the world where Buddhists reside, it will be an event of great religious, political, economic and social value. A delegation of 30 members including five government ministers, led by Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and four high priests were members of the Sri Lanka team who spent three days in Bangladesh. The delegation also included Mass Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Cultural Affairs Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Religious Affairs and Moral Upliftment Minister Pandu Bandaranaike, and Minister fo...