Bangladeshi Models

Rumana Malik Munmun

Apprehensive under the glare of the spotlight, she took a deep breath to ease the tension and anxiety that had taken hold of her. And why not? It was only natural for a five-year-old girl to be nervous as she spoke to millions of viewers with the camera hovering above her.

That very same girl, Rumana Malik Munmun now has a confident, smiling persona. Anchoring, acting, organising, whichever arena you consider, Munmun has made it big.

Although she had appeared in advertisements, acted in the film “Chhana O Muktijodho”, by Anwara Syed Haq, and directed by Badol Rahman when she had just entered her teens, or been in countless dramas, she first caught the public eye in 2006 through Lux-Channel i Superstar. “After that year, for three consecutive years I was involved with this show, not as a participator but as an organiser,” she recalled.

After that milestone, there was no stopping Munmun. Suddenly she was a conspicuous face on almost every channel, either acting or anchoring. In an interview, she said, ” There is no shortcut to accomplishment. One has to work hard consistently and continue to learn during that process.” And she proved it with TV plays like “Dainik Tolpar”, her first TV play (after participating in Lux Channel-i Superstar), “Batasher Khancha” written by Dr. Muhammad Zafar Iqbal and others.

Rumana Malik Munmun

Munmun anchored the recent SA Games. She was also anchor along with Ravi Shastri at the launch of the ICC World Cup.

"Call me Salma" directed by Canadian couple Sébastien Rist and Aude Leroux-Lévesque

“Call me Salma” directed by Canadian couple Sébastien Rist and Aude Leroux-Lévesque, the film is a story about “love and loss. In the crowded back alleys of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Salma enters the mysterious and rich world of Tran-sexuality. Salma, a 16-year-old Hijra, abruptly left her village and family to enter the effervescent city life in search of a clear identity, a new family and above all, a sense of acceptance. Emotionally torn between her youth and her desire of being a woman. Salma decides to return to her village and face events that force her to question the preconceived notions of gender, family and love.” The film runs for 53 minutes 47 seconds.

The Media Studies and Journalism Department of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) and Bandhu Social Welfare Society (BSWS) jointly organised the premier show of the documentary film at the ULAB Auditorium in Dhanmondi recently.

Sébastien and Aude have been in Dhaka for the past few months following the lives of the Hijra in order to complete this documentary film, which will be shown on French Television later this year. It was Aude’s exposure in Dhaka that made them decide to film a documentary on the Hijra. Everyone is invited to attend this event.

Raised in Pointe-Claire Quebec, Canada, Sébastien graduated with distinction from Concordia University. Producing and mixing music in his teenage years, his passion for media arts quickly transcended into film and video; creating numerous independent fictional and documentary shorts. His last short film ‘This Little Piggy’ won ‘best student short’ at the World Film Festival in Montreal as well as winning the People’s Choice Award at both the 2008 Enroute Film Festival and Young Cuts Film Festival. Aude Leroux-Lévesque, on the other hand, has always been fascinated by arts, cultures and languages.

Having done non-government organization (NGO) work in Cuba, Bangladesh and Lebanon, Aude has developed a keen sensitivity that she has been able to filter through her independent documentaries. Having directed an award winning short fiction ‘Camille and the musical cherries’ (Best film, Young Cuts film Festival 2007), Aude has since been channelling her creative energy in social conscious media.

Mahfuz and Badhon ties up for Valentine Day

Actor Mahfuz Ahmed will play the lead role opposite model Badhon in the drama ‘Dujone’ scheduled to be telecast on Banglavision on the occasion of Valentine’s Day at 9:00pm on February 14.

The drama, scripted by Dewan Shamsur Rakib and directed by Kamol Chakma, has Mahfuz in the role of a school’s sports teacher, Badhon as a sports journalist and Javed Omar Belim as a cricketer.

The drama revolves around a triangular love story. Mahfuz fell in love with a girl in his childhood but could marry her because he did not have enough money to run a family. From then on he thinks it is impossible for him to marry.

At one stage of the story, Mahfuz changes his mind and takes the help of a marriage consultancy firm where he meets Badhon, who goes there for gathering news.

A good relation develops between Mahfuz and Badhon but the later also has a deep friendly relationship with Javed Omar Belim. Some people mistakenly take Badhon and Belim’s relationship for love and the story rolls on.

Regarding the drama, Kamol Chakma said, ‘Everyone falls in love. The young will feel the spirit of love on the Valentine’s Day and enjoy the drama.’