‘Tis the season to be jolly..

No snow, no carol on the streets, no travelling thousands of miles to be with near and dear ones, but Christmas comes to Dhaka too, just as it does to every corner of the world. Though modest, Dhaka celebrates the season of joy with utmost sensitivity and heartfelt excitement. Major hotels get a Christmas makeover -- complete with spectacularly decorated Christmas tree, gingerbread cakes, candies and yes, most importantly Santa. Here's wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and happy holidays.

Pitha mela in Jhenidah

A pitha mela (rice cake fair) featuring a cultural programme was held in Jhenidah last Sunday. Organised by 'Hunger Free world,' the mela was held at Kaliganj upazila in Jhenidah.

Kaliganj upazila Nirbahi officer (UNO), Kamrul Huda inaugurated the mela on Sunday afternoon.

Housewives of adjacent villages gathered at the mela with different kinds of rice cakes including 'Pakan pitha,' 'Pati Shapta,' 'Dudh pitha,' 'Dhupi pitha,' 'Labango Latika,' 'Nakshi pitha,' 'Katakuli' and more hand-crafted with utmost care and love. Prices of pitha ranged from Tk 3 to 20.

A cultural programme held on the occasion included music, dance and poetry recitation.

'Hunger Free World' authorities also awarded scholarships among local students.

Flora Khatun, a local housewife, said that as people and families get bogged down with work, the art of pitha-making is likely to meet its demise. Certain kinds of pitha, which take painstaking efforts and time, are already disappearing from homes and festivities. Events like this pitha mela will help revive the culinary art form.

CAT, Bangladesh stages Lady from the Sea

Dark, bleak and brooding -- this best describes the landscape of parts of Norway. And Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen has aptly captured the ambiance of his country in his famous plays. Recently an Ibsen festival was held in Delhi with plays such as "Lady from the Sea," "White Horses," "Little Eyolf" and "Ibsen Women".

The festival got off to a start with "Lady from the Sea," staged by the Centre for Asian Theatre (CAT), Bangladesh and directed by Norwegian Un-Magritt Nordseth. For the Delhi Bengalis the evening was a visual delight as the dialogues and actors were Bengali (while English subtitles were displayed on a screen). The play depicts the troubled marriage of Ellida and the much older Dr. Wangel, who already has two daughters not much younger than Ellida. Ellida is at a crossroads -- torn by her duty to her husband and her longing for a sailor, known only as 'the Stranger' in the play, to whom she was once engaged. She is also stifled in the small town at the fjord and yearns for the wide-open sea with all its untamed mystery. One day the Stranger returns into her life and Ellida is forced to make a choice between him (who she says both “terrifies and attracts” her) and Wangel, who gives her the freedom to make her choice. Eventually rationality triumphs and she opts for life with her husband.

Describing the theme, Margritt says, “Her husband, who has given her the liberty to choose, is ultimately the hero of the play. Normally in Ibsen's plays the endings are very tragic with characters committing suicide or leaving. 'The Lady from the Sea' has a happy ending and critics wonder how Ibsen made a departure from his usual finale.”

Among the prominent theatre personalities at the plays was Kamaluddin Nilu, founder of CAT, which he recently left. Now he is a member of the faculty at the Centre for Ibsen Studies, Oslo University, Norway. In his words “Many of Ibsen's plays are about individual freedom and the freedom of expression, and therefore are still relevant.”

Another attraction was "Ibsen Women," directed and performed solo by Juni Dahr of Norway. Her repertoire of strong and complex women in Ibsen's plays ranged from Nora to Hedda, Mrs. Alving to Ellida, Hilde and Hjordis. Quoting a woman character in one of Ibsen's works, “Put an eagle in a cage and it will bite the bars whether they are of iron and gold,” Juni gave an outstanding performance in the role of the six women in painful quest of freedom.

Ultimately the 19th century women in Ibsen's works have rebelled against the traditional patriarchal order.

The play has attracted audiences all over the world. In Asia it has been performed in Dhaka, New Delhi, Lahore, Beijing, Singapore and Hong Kong.

The credit for the superb festival must go the Royal Norwegian Embassy and The Dramatic Art & Design Academy. Another such festival is on the cards in 2009 -- eagerly awaited by Ibsen aficionados.

BTV reaches 44

How BTV has changed! When it was launched sometime around middle of 1964 (under the name of Pakistan Television Corporation), people would excitedly flock in front of the TV sets, waiting expectantly, and all this time, watching a blank screen with the words PTC on the screen. The title music “Apache” by the Beatles was a household tune.

From December 25, 1964, the national TV started to telecast different programmes for the first time. The TV centre was then situated at the DIT building at Motijheel in Dhaka. With a one-room studio and limited technical hands, the station presented countless programmes, mainly on local culture.

Ten years later, on January 9, 1975, the station was finally shifted to Rampura to modernise the facilities and broadcast technically developed programmes. By 1980, the black and white programmes were replaced by colour.

Surprisingly the big name producers-- the heart and soul of the variety of programmes--were not always career artistes.

There was of course, the ever-innovative Mustafa Monwar famous for his artistic touch with the puppets and directing plays from Shakespeare to Tagore. Mustafa Kamal Syed, Abdullah Al Mamun, Atiqul Huque Chowdhury, Nawazish Ali Khan and Mustafizur Rahman were the driving force behind the magazine programmes and the TV plays. Sakina Sarwar, Musa Ahmed, Kazi Abu Zafar, Qamrunnessa Hasan and others supervised the musicals.

But there were also famous personalities such as the former Chief Justice Mustafa Kamal and Professor Abdul Matin conducting the quiz programme “Bolun Dekhi”, Professor Badruddoza Chowdhury hosting “Apnaar Daktar”, Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed anchoring “Shoptoborna” and the popular musical “Bornali” and Fazley Lohani in “Jodi Kichu Money Na Koren” to name a few.

From April 2004, BTV branched off into an 24/7 international dimension by launching the satellite channel BTV World.

Now that we are open to the world, perhaps it's a good time to evaluate the standards we are telecasting to our international audience.

It's no secret that the BTV audience has progressively been moving away. And it is not because of the lure of satellite TV. The top private channels enjoy massive popularity, not only for the entertainment shows, but also for documentaries and news programmes. BTV is in the unenviable position of playing catch-up with programme formats, content and style. A closer look would probably reveal that the pioneers behind BTV are probably still at work at the private channels.

So where's the bottleneck? Critics complain that there is a dearth of quality performers and musicians. Many eminent musicians who were the heart and soul of the immortal songs of the yesteryears are no more. Accompanists are mostly untrained and have very little incentive to develop their skills further. Pay cheques don't compare well with private channels or giving private lessons. Technical development has come to a standstill. Many of the musical programmes are supposedly taped in private studios or for those who can afford it, in overseas studios. Some point out that the whole set up for programmes has become like another puppet show, artistes arriving on stage only for lip-synch while the troupe of accompanists listlessly strum their instruments for show. Even the stage decorations are re-used innumerably. So it's down to the make-up crew and the cameraman to make a good show of it all.

Even with the declining audience, BTV has the largest volume of viewers simply because of its network - viewers not less than 10 crores in the country alone, with registered artistes of more than 10,000. Surely advertisement revenues alone could be a major source of funding for the renovations? And with all the infrastructure, the directors of yesteryears could develop a meaningful training institute for the new generation. The directors who are still able to contribute should be brought in contractual service and made to train the newcomers.

Another radical approach could be that BTV cuts its investment in any new developments, and becomes a net purchaser of privately packaged programmes only. With its nationwide and now international audience, that would certainly get the sponsor's attention to fund these programmes. BTV can then be more of a telecaster, and outsource all original content production.

The 44th anniversary of BTV, seems to be a jarring reminder that the role of BTV needs to be re-evaluated. From its inception, BTV has been the birthplace of talent from all fields of entertainment from the charismatic newscasters to actors, dramatists, singers, dancers, sports personality to the charming announcers. Innovation, skill and sincerity were the buzzwords. At the threshold of mid-life crisis, now seems a good time as any to see how that era can be revived.

Music News: Momtaz with Jhakkas

Popular folk singer Momtaz's Eid album 'Jhakkas' got popularity in the audio market. Promising lyricist Anurup Aich has written lyrics of the songs of the album. The album has been released under the banner of music production house Sangeeta. Pankaj composed tunes and music of the album. There are 10 songs in the album. Music tracks are - 'Cycle,' 'Kuhu Kuhu,' 'News,' 'Pranbondhu,' 'Shyana,' 'Hero Noi Zero,' 'Manush,' 'Omona' and others. Anurup Aich hoped that this album will touch hearts of music lovers

TV Show: Sohel, Ria at tonight’s Priyojon on ATN Bangla

With the participation of celebrity artistes popular talk show 'Priyojon' to be aired on ATN Bangla at 6:20pm today. Fakhrul Abedin has directed the fortnightly programme, while Karavi Mizan has moderated the show.

Popular dance artistes Sohel and Ria will be present as guests at the tonight's episode. They will share their experiences in dance arena and also take part in conversation. It will be 42nd episode of the programme.

TV Serial: Samudrajol on Banglavision

Drama serial 'Samudrajol' to be aired on Banglavision at 8:25pm today. Mohan Khan and Sohel Arman have jointly scripted and directed the drama serial. Gazi Rakayet, Lutfar Rahman George, Shahed Sharif Khan, Shahriar Nazim Joy, Sohel Arman, Litu Anam, Arman Parvez Murad, Bonya Mirza, Chandni, Tanima Hamid, Sharmin Shila, Ria, Nisho, Sajal, Rashed Khan, Rahi, Tania, among others, performed in the serial.

Story of Samudrajol:

Rusho and Odhora married silently. They went to Cox's Bazar for honeymoon. After passing some days, their collection of money was end. Then he took permission from his wife and return to Dhaka. As a result, Rusho's wife became lonely. In one hand, while returning Dhaka Rusho faced an accident. Then he lost his memories. On the other hand, Odhora was waiting for Rusho in Cox's Bazar. The story continued with various incidents.