Plenty of shows and movies capture the exact same feelings that hooked us on TSITP—so consider this a fan-to-fan guide to what to watch next. Each of these picks delivers a flavor of TSITP, whether it’s the romance, the setting, or the emotional gut punches we secretly live for.

The awards’ focus on technical categories is an act of cultural intervention, asking audiences and peers alike to reconsider who counts in the making of art.

What I didn’t know as a child was that this gentle figure was, in many ways, a rebel. Mustafa Monwar’s art was never just about puppets or paintings. It was about freedom, about expression, and about believing that children deserve more than entertainment; they deserve hope, creativity, and courage.

That night in December 1921, while his comrade Muzaffar Ahmed slept, Nazrul scribbled furiously. By the morning, the air was charged with something new. “Bolo Bir, Chiro Unnoto Momo Sheer…” (“I am the Rebel Eternal, / I raise my head beyond this world, / High, ever erect and alone!”) he declared. It was not merely the birth of a poem but of a cultural rupture. Critics would later see in “Bidrohi” a break from the ‘Rabindric’ serenity that had long defined Bengal’s literary landscape—a new current of words forged in fire, laced with the clang of rebellion.

After a long hiatus, Coke Studio Bangla has finally returned, and it couldn’t have chosen a more fitting comeback than “Baaji”. The release not only marks the revival of the popular platform but also reunites fans with the magical duo of Hashim Mahmud and Emon Chowdhury.

Thanks to the release of the nationally beloved film “Utshob” on OTT, it has found its way into social media discussions. Lauded for its family-friendly, emotional, and evocative script, the film arguably peaks in the scene between Sunerah Binte Kamal and Zahid Hasan. A lighter facet of the emotional reunion of the father-daughter duo is Sunerah screeching, “How come this coffee is 350 taka? Outrageous!”, a humorous dialogue which has unexpectedly set off debates on social media.

In 1930, Tagore gifted five of his artworks—vibrant paintings of birds, humans, and a girl in a red robe—to a leading Berlin museum. The collection was part of a larger European exhibition showcasing over 300 of his works, which also travelled to Paris and London. Tagore’s art, like his writings, was gaining admiration; he had visited Germany three times, his books were widely translated, and the German press hailed him as a “wise man from the East.”

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.

Panthakunja, located on Sonargaon Road, was once a rare oasis in the capital

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.

For Shely, a devoted Baul singer from the village of Lakshmipur, music is not performance—it is prayer. Her father, Abdul Jolil Sordar, a Sadhu, always hoped that one of his daughters would become a Sadhu.

Ahassan's path to acting began unexpectedly with modeling. "In 2023, I participated in the Mr. Franco Desi contest, featuring participants from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. I won the title, and soon after, I started receiving offers for ramp shows," he revealed. Initially disinterested, he joined primarily for the talent segment, eager to showcase his passion for dance. "Dancing is something I’m passionate about, and when I saw that I’d have a platform to showcase it, I thought, why not?"

Parsha Mahjabeen Purnee holds two very distinct identities among her audiences, one more intriguing than the other—she is a musician and now an actor with her (groundbreaking) debut in Jahid Preetom’s “Ghumpori”. A third-year university student who inspired millions through her song, “Cholo Bhule Jai” during the July Movement gets candid with The Daily Star about her journey, new-found fame and future aspirations.

Today, on the 110th birth anniversary of Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin, we celebrate not only the artist but also the visionary whose profound contributions shaped modern Bangladeshi art that gave a voice to the voiceless.

2024 has been marked by numerous ups and downs, with the political climate notably impacting the showbiz industry. Yet, despite the challenges, the industry has demonstrated remarkable resilience and transformation, offering a glimpse of promising changes ahead.

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.

In a career that spanned over six decades, Zakir Hussain worked with not just India’s musical stalwarts like Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan but also legends like George Harrison and Van Morrison.

The frameworks of portrayals of gender-based violence in our local productions have been birthed from the need to give voice to the oppressed Biranganas (war heroines)—as portrayed through several films or dramas throughout the years.

The grounds of Lalmatia Housing Society School and College came alive with the beats of drums and the colourful celebration of Wangala, the foremost festival of the Garo community. Known as the “Hundred Drums Festival,” Wangala is a time for the community to thank Misi Saljong, the Sun Deity, for a successful harvest. This festive celebration marks the end of the farming season and celebrates the blessings of nature.

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.