& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

CELEBRATING LIFE 2013 GALA

Of grace, grandeur and melody

Zahangir Alom
It was a day for raindrops pitter-pattering upon a thousand leaves. The melody of nature consented to the celebration of life as the gala event of "Celebrating Life 2013" was held at Shaheed Suhrawardy National Indoor Stadium in Mirpur on October 4.
"Celebrating Life" is a Standard Chartered Bank-The Daily Star tie-up - to award talents in the sphere of photography, lyrics and film. This year's theme was “Empowerment of Women."
The gala programme began with a choral rendition of the song "Nari", written by Rayhana Parvin who won the first prize in the lyrics contest. Labik Kamal Caurob composed the song, which was performed on stage by nine singers, including the composer.
Cultural Affairs Minister Abul Kalam Azad graced the occasion as chief guest. Jim McCabe, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank, and Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, managing editor of The Daily Star, spoke at the event.
This year's lifetime achievement awards went to three eminent personalities - actor Anwar Hossain, photographer Anwar Hossain and musician Cazi Mazharul Anwar - for their outstanding contributions to the respective fields. A visual presentation showcasing the life and work of the three were screened at the event.
Award winners in photography category were Shabbir Ferdous (first), Mahfuzul Hasan Bhuiyan (second) and Ismail Ferdous (third); while in lyrics category, the winners were Rayhana Parvin (first), Hasan Najmul (second) and Tapan Bagchi (third).
Violinist Dr. Sheuli Bhattacharjee led her troupe "Sporsho Classical Orchestra" in presenting a vibrant classical fusion that set off the celebration of cultural segment. With a high-pitched hymn, vocalist Mohammed Shoyeb fashioned a musical high while several violinists superbly synchronized the melody of raga "Yaman". Vocalist Priyanka Cope rendered an evening timed raga "Jog" at the programme. Priyanka, a gifted singer and a Dhaka University teacher, immersed in a melodic bliss performed a speedy sargam taan. Mahmudul Hasan on Harmonium and Iftekhar Alam Pradhan on tabla accompanied the singer.
A Chhayanaut Guru Dr. Rezwan Ali Lablu's pristine performance of an uncommon raga "Shahana Kanada" moved the audience. The artiste's presentation of ragdari all through his performance was refined. The artiste's performance of vilambit and drut bandish was based on jhaptaal and teentaal respectively. Rezwan Ali also captivated the audience with performing another bandish set on raga "Kirwani."
Talented sitarist Nishit Dey engrossed his musical soul in the ecstatic sea of melody. The artiste presented raga "Charukeshi" at the event. His gamaki alap, gaut, jhala and tehai compositions were evocative of sweet memories.
Artistes of Shadhona stood out in performing a series of riveting dance recital at the event. Blending the styles of Indian classical and various western dance forms, the dancers presented a cycle of seven creative and contemporary pieces - Neutrality, Sufism, Passion, Romance, Greed, Destruction and again Neutrality at the gala. The production, titled "Ultraviolet" has been directed by Abu Naim. The dancers' half face-paints carried abstract connotations while their expressive grace, aesthetic corporeal gesture and mudra, especially the stunning footwork, translated the human emotions into the language of dance. The dancers' costumes were well-designed and the musical arrangement with artistic narrations was superb.
Iffat Ara Nawaz and Tropa Majumdar jointly emceed the event. The event, displayed in a vast stage of grandeur, was coordinated by Star Showbiz Editor Rafi Hossain. Channel i was the media partner of the event.