e_Paper 7-11-2016

Showtime
31
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2016
DT
Runa
Laila
honoured by
Citibank NA
• Showtime Desk
The living legend of Bangla
music, Runa Laila’s birthday
is yet to come, which is on
November 17. However, it seems,
the internationally famed singer
received her birthday present a
week before the celebration. At
least Runa Laila expressed her
feelings this way, after receiving
the “Gaaney Gaaney Gunijon
Sambordhana,” an honourary
musical award conferred by
Citibank NA.
On November 5, Dr Salehuddin
Ahmed, ex-Governor of the
Bangladesh Bank, conferred a
crest and a portrait of Runa Laila,
illustrated by Golam Kader Babu,
to the artist through an event,
held at the Radisson Blue Water
Garden. Rashed Maksud, country
officer and MD of Citibank NA,
handed over a cheque worth Tk
100,000.
Recently, Runa Laila marked
the 50 years anniversary of her
musical journey. The authorities
at Citibank NA informed that
the award is a tribute the artist’s
exemplary success in music.
Including Runa Laila, the bank
has honoured 13 talented artists
of the country so far.
Ferdousi Rahman and Emon
Saha, shared their experiences
with Runa Laila, while Alamgir,
Subir Nandi, and Rizia Parvin
among others were present at the
event.
Somnur Monir Konal
performed several famous
songs of Runa Laila at the
programme. •
Sumon Yusuf’s solo photo exhibition
commenced at AFD
• Showtime Desk
The second solo photography
exhibition titled Novembre à
Paris, by photographer Sumon
Yusuf has begun. The inaugural
ceremony of this exhibition was
held on Friday, November 4, at
La Galerie, Alliance Française de
Dhaka (AFD).
Sophie Aubert, Ambassador
of France to Bangladesh, Matiur
Rahman, editor of Prothom
Alo, and Abir Abdullah,
photojournalist, European
Pressphoto Agency, were among
the distinguished guests present
during the opening ceremony.
Every artistic heart around the
world yearns for Paris to imbibe
the inspiration it exudes, to taste
the taste that has been moulded
by the doyens for thousands
of years. In an artist residency
programme, photographer
Sumon Yusuf was in Paris
in November 2015. He was
mesmerised by the city of love
and started photographing the
poetic humaneness of Paris.
But on Friday, November 13, a
series of heinous terrorist attacks
left 130 innocents dead and over
368 injured. For Yusuf, a city
brimming with love and warmth
all of a sudden transformed
into a place of blood, tears, and
sadness.
In the face of such inhuman
and extreme cruelty, Yusuf’s
photographs became the context
he could hold onto, so he decided
to capture life.
Sumon Yusuf graduated in
English literature, and studied
Visual Literacy at Asian Centre for
Journalism at Ateneo de Manila
University from Philippines. He
also attended a one year diploma
program on photojournalism
at South Asian Media Institute,
Pathshala. His works have been
exhibited in USA, Australia,
Japan, Bangladesh, and 9th
Angkor Photo Festival in Siem
Reap, Cambodia, and France.
He received the first prize
in an International Photo
Contest titled Climate: State of
Emergency, organised by Alliance
Françiase Foundation in Paris,
under the patronage of Yann-
Arthus Bertrand, a renowned
climate change photographer.
He is the recipient of numerous
awards for his work including
Top Prize of IREX Photo Contest
in Washington DC, USA, winner
of the 1st Prize in the ‘Creation’
category of the 1st JP’s Prize
for Contemporary Photography
Competition in Bangladesh,
3rd place winner of Anti
Corruption Youth Photo Contest
of Transparency International,
Berlin, Germany, winner of the
73rd International Photographic
Salon of Japan, Asahi Simbun,
winner of CGAP Microfinance
Photo Contest in USA, and
winner of People & Planet Photo
Contest in Australia.
The exhibition will be open to
all until Tuesday, November 15,
2016. •
Jaya Bachchan
endorsed Aditi Rao for
new Bhansali film
• Showtime Desk
Finally, the sizzling Aditi Rao
Hydari has landed a role in
Bollywood’s big one. After
having worked in Wazir, and
Mani Ratnam’s Tamil venture,
Katru Veliyidai, the 30-yearsold
actress is now set to work
in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s
upcoming film, Padmavati.
In the film, she will portray
the role of Ranveer Singh’s
wife.
It’s interesting to note
that Aditi landed the role of
Allaudin Khilji’s wife, courtesy
of Jaya Bachchan.
A source close to the
production revealed that for a
long time, Jaya Bachchan felt
that Aditi had huge potential.
“Her eyes are very deep,
sad, and expressive. There’s a
sparkle in her face,” Jaya even
told a friend, she then went
further on to recommended
her to Sanjay Bhansali, for
Padmavati.
Sanjay, who has tremendous
regards for the veteran actress’
opinion, called Aditi for the
role of Ranveer’s wife on her
recommendation. •