No chains could bind Shafin Ahmed
Amidst the authoritarian regime’s crackdown on protesters, the former Miles frontman was one of the first from the music industry to speak out without any filter whatsoever. He did that a good two weeks before musicians would be mobilized into “Get up, Stand up,” which culminated in a historical musical protest on August 3. Little did we know that we would lose him only 3 days after that Facebook post. He had lost his life to a heart attack while on a tour with his lineup in North America.
24 July 2025, 12:08 PM
The Man of Steel returns: Is it worth a trip to the Cineplex?
There’s a certain weight that comes with reviewing a “Superman” movie. For decades, the “Man of Steel” has stood as a pop culture monolith—a symbol of hope, morality, and larger-than-life heroics. I went in to enjoy James Gunn’s ambitious reboot, weighing whether this iteration of the Kryptonian saviour could soar above the fatigue of a superhero-saturated landscape. I came out with the realisation that Superman may not be flawless, but it flies high enough to remind us why this hero matters.
14 July 2025, 05:16 AM
Beating brainrot in Dhaka
Brainrot essentially describes the withering of mental faculties from overexposure to low-value digital content.
11 July 2025, 13:02 PM
My em dashes are showing – Am I AI?
My em dashes are showing – Am I AI?
5 July 2025, 09:17 AM
#hireajournalist – A LinkedIn movement uplifting the heroes of the newsroom
Let's face it – you're more likely to consume news from social media than a reputed news outlet, simply because of how firmly social media is embedded in most people's daily lives. While the unreliability of news adrift on social media is dangerous for the consumer, the steady decline of traditional news media is also career-threatening for journalists.
2 July 2025, 11:11 AM
Women are not spoils of war, stop letting your inner animals out: Jaya Ahsan
What was supposed to be a conversation on Jaya’s spectacular success in both “Taandob” and “Utshob” soon turned into a pseudo-political discussion on the future of women in the country. How could it not? The entire country has meanwhile been shaken to its core after the brutal rape of a woman in Cumilla.
29 June 2025, 11:23 AM
‘Esha Murder’ is the perfect detox from your Eid blockbusters
This is where Badhan steps in as the lead, playing officer Leena. From the get-go, she is a no-nonsense character. She is a strong police officer, but a heavily traumatised woman. It is the trauma that leads her to train, persist, and become a law enforcement officer in the first place, a plot device that pays off to its fullest near the end.
18 June 2025, 09:35 AM
Sabila debuts, ‘Taandob’ ensues
Once a sweetheart of television, Sabila Nur has hit the bullseye with her silver-screen debut with a leading role opposite Shakib Khan in “Taandob”. The film will go down in Bangladesh’s cinematic history for being rife with action, twists, and cameos.
13 June 2025, 18:00 PM
Jaya and Sharmin take over
As Jaya Ahsan and Mohsina Akhter, the two leads of the film, take sips of black coffee and rong cha respectively at The Daily Star’s studio, the excitement levels vary among the illustrious mega-star and respected theatre practitioner.
17 May 2025, 03:00 AM
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
11 April 2025, 13:27 PM
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.
17 January 2025, 18:00 PM
‘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.
11 January 2025, 12:21 PM
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.
10 January 2025, 18:00 PM
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.
5 January 2025, 04:00 AM
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.
20 December 2024, 18:05 PM
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.
6 December 2024, 18:06 PM
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.”
29 September 2024, 12:01 PM
Fatima: Where noble intention trumps flawed execution
Dhrubo Hasan’s “Fatima” is an ambitious undertaking, with the director’s passion clearly visible in the script – the aspects of our Liberation War and how we are all fighting our own inner wars, the torment that women still go through for being a woman, the extent to which a close one’s betrayal could be delusionally overlooked.
23 May 2024, 18:00 PM
Canada chants ‘Artcell, Artcell!’ as beloved band celebrates 25 years
On May 5, Toronto’s Hamilton saw what was the largest audience for a band in decades. To everyone’s surprise, it was not a North American band, but a Bangladeshi one, celebrating 25 years of their glorious music on tour.
18 May 2024, 13:31 PM
Rock n’ Rhythm 4: Mired in chaos, overcome with emotion
On a day when the rain gods smiled favorably upon the hopes of about ten thousand people, barricades were broken, a stampede nearly ensued, and some logistical issues nearly ruined the experience for those holding general tickets at "Rock N’ Rhythm 4.0" in the capital’s International Convention City Bashundhara. However, for five men who have dedicated their entire lives to music, none of this could dampen the emotional reunion of Black's original lineup.
11 May 2024, 06:43 AM