1 Minute Please!

Sudip Chakroborthy is a theatre practitioner and a teacher at the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies at Dhaka University. Inspired by this form of art from a very young age, Sudip believes that theatre helps to open up worlds for people sitting inside four walled rooms. The art form helps people express themselves and thus become kinder in behaviour, subtler in language, understanding and patient during crises. "Theatre is life," as he says. 

Why does theatre excite you?
Theatre is full of surprises. It is 'fresh' and a completely new way to experiencing life and beyond.

Who is your inspiration when it comes to theatre?
My friends, my first theatre teacher Jahangir Alom Rana, college teachers Tofazzal Islam Chowdhury and Sheikh Araz Ali during theatre practice in Nabiganj and Habiganj.  However, during theatre study in Dhaka University, my mother and teachers inspired me greatly.

Your three favourite stage plays.
My direction: 'Chaka' by Selim Al Deen, 'Mohajoner Nao' by Shakoor Majid and 'Lal Jomin' by Mannan Heera. Others: 'Behular Bhashan' by Syed Jamil Ahmed, 'War Horse' by Nick Stafford (West End) and 'Black Watch' by Gregory Burke (National Theatre of Scotland).

What is the first thought that comes to your mind when you make an entry on stage in front of hundreds of people?
It was 1996, when I stepped on the stage in front of thousands of people at the Nabiganj School open stage – and I was terrified!

What is your motto in life?
To create something beautiful, and of course staying positive always.

If banished to an isolated island for 14 years, what are the three things that you would carry with yourself?

I will carry books, films and seeds of flowers!

Your advice to the young people who would like to enter the world of theatre?
Stay calm, focused and observe the world around you.  Don't think about money. Money will come to you if you are true to your creativity.

The Woman Next Door

Every year on Women's Day, we like to compare and draw lines between the roles women played in the past few decades and the present.

On this very day, we prefer to put the woman under the microscope, observe her evolution in life, celebrate her successes and at times remind her of her failures as well. To the agony of many, some end up taking these analysis reports seriously.

The Star Weekend takes a look at the different roles of the woman next-door, and 'surprisingly' enough, finds them to be special, no matter who they are and what they look like.

To read our spotlight this week, Click Here

Momo to star in Shopnobari

Although she had big roles in “Daruchini Dip” and “Prem Korbo Tomar Shathey”, Momo's success on the big screens came through “Chuye Dile Mon.” Afterwards, she restricted herself to TV mostly as she had not come across the right role yet. 

However, her wait has come to an end as she has signed on for the movie “Shopnobari”, to star opposite Anisur Rahman Milon. The two have been seen together multiple times on TV, and in “Prem Korbo Tomar Shathe.”

Director Tanim Rahman Angshu is excited for the project and says, “I think everyone will agree that both of them are talented performers.” He also said that the story has multiple mysterious characters. Filming for the film is scheduled to begin later in August.