The concert, perhaps the biggest ever show in Rajshahi, was held on the first day of Baishakh at the Rajshahi stadium.

In a packed stadium of almost 35 thousand people, popular bands Ayub Bachchu's LRB, Vikings, Pormetheus and Tantrik took part and fascinated the audience.

The concert started at 4 pm in the evening and continued without any break till 9 pm. High powerful sound system and laser light was an added attraction to the music of the concert.

The ticket-price was also very reasonable where people get a ticket for only Tk. 30 and two cards from Pepsi Collector Series. In addition, they got two bottles of Pepsi and cards of the Band Stars.

Images of beauteous Bengal
Bangladesh Photo Journalists Association held Pepsi Rupashi Bangla photograph show

BANGLADESH Photo Journalist Association arranged a photography show titled 'Rupashi Bangla' or beauteous Bangla at its auditorium on April 12 on the eve of Bangla new year.

Images of unique beauty of rural Bangladesh taken by forty-seven press photographers of the country's leading national dailies featured at Rupashi Bangla drew the city's gallery-goers attention to the idyllic and charming scenes of rural Bengal.

Arranged on the occasion of Pahela Baisakh, the photography show aimed to present and familiarise Bengali way of life and culture in order to promote a sense of our own traditional culture.

The exhibition was woven with images portraying rural life sustained on farming and fishing and rural culture nourished on nature's lap, and above all the transcendental beauty of rural Bangladesh.

Views like ploughman ploughing his crop field; fishermen fishing with his net in the lake and the joy and pleasure derived at the sight of a pure yellow mustard field and the happy faces of children occupied most of the pictures.

One particular piece captured a natural friendly bondage between a rakhal or cowboy and his cow when crossing a waist-deep brook on its back.

Surpassing beauty of a lake surrounded by distant hills and full of dingi boats engaged in fishing easily draw viewers' attention. Boatmen and working people in and around the lake produced a sense of human harmony with nature which offers them with abode in its lap.

"Let there be rain" depicts villagers performing a ritual. The ritual consists of dancing and singing songs of rain and sprinkling water on a bamboo made house hold article used for cleaning rice or paddy.

'Dusk' was a depiction of exquisite beauty of transitional hour of day and night. It's a moment when day disappears and night begins to fall arousing a sense of tranquility in the mind of nature loves.

'Country Road, Take me Home' captured an image of a newly wedded village couple who are seen on their way back home after a visit by their in-laws. Another picture showed a bridal party returning home in a palki along a vast green field after the wedding reception.

One snap brilliantly captures the glow of the setting sun reflected on the surface of the sea.

Rivers and city focuses on the disruption of river flow as a consequence of urban expansion.

Bangladesh photo journalist Association emerged, comprising of old and new press photographers in 1985 and since then it has been holding photography exhibition highlighting country's natural beauty, culture and heritage every year on the occasion of Pahela Baisakh.

Later, at one stage the academy faced a closure due to lack of regular organisational activities. Subsequently it was revived under a new banner in 1985.

In praise of the paralysed
Bihongo premiered at Balaka

Bihongo written by Elspeth Waldie and directed by award winning film director Abdullah Al-Mamun includes stars like Ferdousi Mojumdar, Ishita, Shomy Kaisar, Zahid Hassan, Shaiduzzaman Selim, Shahidul Islam Sachchu, Tropa Majumdar, Ks Firoz, Diba Nargis and Fazlur Rahman Babu. For a long time the well-loved TV actresses had been pressurized to come into films but it was only "Bihongo" that could finally do this.

The film deals with the problem of the attitude of the people around them that is faced by the disabled people. Ignorance and fear unnecessarily overwhelm and demoralize those combating to overcome physical disabilities causes by paralyses and other types of disabilities. Lack of training, absence of unemployment facilities and shortage of access are caused by adverse social attitudes. The helpless are blamed for their own disabilities.

The plot consists of the story of Moni (played by Ishaita), a simple village girl, who becomes severely paralyzed as a result of an accident although it is not quite clear what this mishap is. Moni's brothers and sisters are kept by her evil uncle who hounds her for money and even steals her paintings which were put up at an exhibition. After an exciting car chase, the uncle almost capsizes in a boat on a river. Moni struggles back into society so that she is not only financially secure but can also look after her family. As to what happens to her parents remains a mystery. As we follow Moni from her happy childhood days to her mature life when she has to support her family, w see the damage done by ignorance, superstition and prejudice and the sheer absurdity of some of these attitudes. One sees how each of us can help in the rehabilitation of the handicapped and also respect these "differently abled" people. Moni is at first shy to come out and hold her exhibition in the city but ends up being the treat of the visiting foreigners.

Alongside is a romance with Neela (acted by Shomi Kaisar) and her admirer Zahid. This sub plot seems somewhat airy fairy and wishful thinking but should be good for the morale of those handicapped. There is a lot of smiling and gesturing in the courtship. Zahid comes to visit his sick brother, and at the CRP premises meets the pretty and lively handicapped worker Neela who is a boon for those around her. He begins his courting with a bunch of roses and ends up in proposing marriage which Neela accepts amidst tears and smiles.

Sachchu, as the villain of the piece is wonderful indeed. He looms around the scenes from beginning to end making the sets come alive. While others are all goody-goodies, almost like angels residing or visiting CRP, he is scheming and intriguing, to make the story come alive. He locks up the visiting social work who comes on behalf of Moni, goes and threatens and intimidates Moni so as to draw money out of her and finally escapes to the river, having stolen Moni's paintings.

The film presents the triumph of human spirit as Moni overcomes her financial handicaps and Neela wins herself not only an admirer but a husband. The two overcome the adversities of human circumstances.

Technically too the film promises to be one of the best to have been produced in Bangladesh. Saiful Islam Badal, the cameraman, has been assisted by a world class crew from Bombay who have used the latest equipment

More interesting than anything else, "Bihongo" has been written, directed, performed and produced in a spirit of total conviction. Many of those involved have rendered their services either voluntarily or at a very reduced rate. They have been deeply inspired by the immensely gifted and spirited people of CRP (Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed).Also, not to be overlooked, is the fact that Valerie Taylor, who founded the CRP, has been the guiding spirit behind this film.

Pepsi rocks Dhaka again
City's music lovers savour Pepsi concert at Army Stadium

World famous soft drink brand Pepsi do care about people's thirst for music. In Bangladesh Pepsi has provided the much needed platform to reach band music to its consumers, the youngsters of the country, burning and bubbling with energy. Few days back, Pepsi signed up with four major musical groups of the country and since then country's band music has worn new colours. Last Friday's Pepsi music extravaganza at Army Stadium was heart warming and quenched the thirst of the city's music lovers.

Every concert that Pepsi sponsors has a noble cause attached to it: Last time the proceeds from the concert went to Oncology club for cancer treatment and this time the motto was 'blood for life'. Organised by Orca (Old Rajshahi Cadets Association) Friday concert was aimed at creating awareness about blood donation and launching a campaign for blood collection.

Five major bands of the country featured in the Friday concert and they were successful in creating a joyous ambience. LRB, Nagar Baul, Ark, Vikings and Prometheus took the audiences through an exhilarating journey of their favourite music.

The concert was scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. but long before that the Army Stadium, the venue, was thronged with music lovers from almost all corners of the city. It took quite a long time for them to get in and settle down. The show began just a few minutes before four.

Hridoyhina was the song with which Prometheus kicked off Pepsi's 'Abar Mato Dhaka' concert. People were still outside the premises and were filling the ground and the galleries in great numbers. Next song was Ekti Mala. In comparison with the earlier one it was set in slower beats but the audience enjoyed it. The audience cheered as they started playing Din Chole Jay, Raat Chole Jay.

The weather is very hot and humid around this time of the year, but on Friday it was quite pleasant and the audience did not have to suffer much. Prometheus continued to enchant with their hit numbers Shanti Dili Na, He Allah and Tumi Boro Sharthopor.

The whole atmosphere of the Army Stadium was electrifying.

Bhober Melay was a foot-tapping number and the audience cherished it. They danced to the tune of Chad Sajano Alo Rupali, the concluding number by Prometheus.

Favourite rock band Ark took the stage next. It took a while to start off, but the audience waited patiently. They gave the lead singer of the band Hasan a raucous greeting as he came on stage. He sang Tajmahal to strike a chord with the mood of the evening. Next song was Paharer Churay.

Everyone appreciated brilliantly tuned sound system of Ark as they started playing their non-stop hits one after another; Shadhinota, Bhule Gechi and Ekaki. The audience sang and danced with the tunes and provided the adrenaline pumping for the band to give an inspirational performance. The audience relished Guru and subsequent hit numbers such as Ar Koto Mrityu, Akashe Neel, Prem Tumi and Kono Ek. Ark's smashing performance came to an end with Bangladesh.

Nagar Baul was next to perform and the audience was ecstatic with the band's mega-hit number Leis Fita Leis. As the sunlight was fading, two video projection screens came alive.

James played a new number Bhalobasha Grihabandi. Dream-like environment created with the light acted as a fantastic aid to enhance the mood of the evening. Two famous songsAkashi and Ma provided the audience what they would remember for a while. The numbers next to come were Chaddabeshi Ami Bohurupi, Mira Bai, Sultana Bibiana and Banglar Lathial. Jatra was the song that concluded this magnificent performance by Nagar Baul.

The youngest musical group of the evening that has gained quite a popularity in the past couple of years was Vikings. They were the youngest band to ever receive a sponsor from such a large company as Pepsi. They came to perform after Nagar Baul left the stage. It took them quite a while to settle down. Vikings started off with their famous song Jiban Pichu Dake Amay. The audience was a bit tired and they seemed to slow down a bit. Next they performed their famous numbers such as Mrittu Ashash, Tumi Kotha Dao and Bozhoni Tumi. This seemed to move the audience a bit. The first English song of the concert presented by the band was Bon Jovi's It's My Life. The audience once again started to sing and dance. They enjoyed Briyan Adam's ever green song Please Forgive Me next. Vikings performance came to an end with the song which has earned them the place they are now, Jiboner Kolahol.

It was not over yet. Celebrated band LRB was yet to come. The audience cheered at Ayub Bacchu's appearance on stage. LRB went off with the hot favourite song of their latest album Mon Chaile Mon Pabe. LRB gave non-stop entertainment with hit numbers such as Shukhe Thako Bhalo Thako and Shadhinota.