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The Muktijuddha Jadughar in Segunbagicha is holding a special exhibition of the paper clippings of the Liberation War of Bangladesh, collected by late Sheikh Ahmad Jalal. According to the organisers, this is the largest single collection on our glorious war in the country.
   The exhibition remains open from 10:00am to 5:00pm till December 16.
   There are 3416 news clippings, both from the local and foreign newspapers, documenting the coverage on the war which also created supports and awareness on the destruction and massacre in the eastern part of the then Pakistan.
   Jalal’s collections also display the cyclone of 1970, the general election and the Pakistani viewpoint on the war.
   Japan’s contribution in supporting the Liberation War has also been shown in the exhibition. The reports of the Japan Times, Asahi Evening News, Mainichi Daily News and The Daily Yomiuri are displayed in the exhibition.
   There are photographs of the Japanese people who were raising fund for the war-victims during the war in Bangladesh. SA Jalal was also with them in creating public support against the massacre.
   In the section of the Liberation War and Foreign Press, on display are reports of The New York Times, Far Eastern Economic Review, The Korea Times, Anandabazar, Times of India, The Economist, News Week, Time and others.
   Two historic documents, the Proclamation of Independence; and Resolution of Consultative Committee Meeting are also on display.
   Jalal studied in Tokyo University of Education and the Tokyo University in Japan in 1960s under the Monbusho Scholarship by the Japanese government. He worked to introduce Bangla programmes in Radio Japan and became the first announcer of the Bangla Service of that radio. He worked for Radio Japan for 12 years.
   Jalal was also a special correspondent of Ittefaq and The Pakistan Observer from 1962-1970 writing regularly the columns, Tokyor Chithi and Tokyo Newsletter respectively.
   From the very beginning of our Liberation War, Jalal was an active participant
   in fighting for the freedom of the country. Later under the guidance of the Mujibnagar Government, he organised various activities including the public opinion mobilising campaign in Japan.
   Jalal had an eventful diplomatic career spanning over 28 years as he served the Bangladesh Missions in Tokyo, Algiers, London, Hong Kong, Ottawa and Kolkata. He retired from the service as the Head of the Bangladesh Mission in Kolkata.
   Jalal got a prestigious Fellowship from the Japan Foundation in 2001-2002 to write a book to commemorate the 30 years of diplomatic relation between Japan and Bangladesh. His book titled Japan’s Contribution in the Independence of Bangladesh, is a valuable historic document on Japan’s political and economic support and assistance to Bangladesh during the liberation war in 1971. Jalal died on September 21 in 2003.

Henrik Ibsen’s Brand is a play based on theological debate. The debate is between Christianity and anti Christianity. The main character Brand represents Christianity. The people as a whole are sometimes confused. Ibsen wrote his play as a verse drama, also known as a dramatic poem, a play that is composed entirely of lines of poetry. This more romantic, less realistic style of play is less common in modern drama.
   From the first conversation in the play, the exchange between Brand and the peasant man, it is evident that the play is a verse drama. The first sign is that the dialogue is arranged into lines, as opposed to paragraph style.
   This play features the three layer-images and conflicts of a society. That is the main ground of a play to be a work based on philosophy. Brand controls or takes all the spheres all around him over his control. The play revolves round the three layers: Aesthetics, Ethics and Religion. Here Iener is the symbol of aesthetics, Agnes is of Ethics and Brand is of religion. Over the play we see most of the time Brand dominates the society.
   Brand touches upon the facts of politics, social authorities and thus always would like to keep in touch with power. The source of his power is faith in God and touch with politicians. He has no faith in liberty in science. He ignores the medical science. Rather he believes God himself will save his son Alph. Alph dies. That means religion fails to favour hope.
   Agnes, the symbol of Ethics, is most of the time confused. But she is determined to accept the better. Earlier in her life he rejects Iener for his cowardice and spineless behaviour. On the other hand, Brand’s courage, determination and strong will power wins Agnes. Agnes falls in love with Brand and they tie their knot. Agnes always sees the light in the dark.
   Iener is the symbol of Aesthetics. He is impressed with the beauties of nature. He loves the beauty of nature as well as of the beauty of humanity. He loses his fiancé Agnes to Brand.
   In the four act we see Agnes commit suicide. Does she seem confused? But why? She needs freedom? She finds difficulties in between the world and times around her. She finds no other alternates. That is why, she finds freedom thus? She could not compromise. Sacrifice may be a factor in her. But no compromise.
   In the fifth act, we see Brand dies due to his falling from a mountain. What do we find out from it? Brand represents religion. He is determined in faith in God. His trust never distracts him. Does nature capture him in fact?
   Depending on how one looks at the ambiguous ending of the play, Brand's iron strength of will is either a curse or a blessing. If one interprets the ending statement, ‘‘God is Love!’’ to mean that Brand should have focused less on proud will and more on love, then it is a curse. If, however, one takes the voice to mean that God is acknowledging Brand's hard work and welcoming him to heaven at the hour of Brand's death, then his will is a blessing. In any case, Brand's will is his personal driving force, and it becomes the driving force of the play. One may have one’s answer of one’s own?
   But we remember we see conflicts in between or among the three layers like aesthetics, ethics and religion/politics.
   Munzur-I-Mowla has translated Henrik Ibsen’s play Brand and Kamaluddin Nilu has directed the ‘Centre for Asian Theatre’s production. Royal Norwegian Embassy in Dhaka is sponsoring the production.
   The premiere of the play will take place at Shilpakala Academy Theatre Hall on 19 December.

Will "White Noise" be the first Indian film to get a commercial release in Pakistan?
   Debutante filmmaker Vinta Nanda, who has just returned from its screening at a Karachi film festival, certainly hopes so.
   While leading lady Koel Puri was busy promoting her other movie "American Daylight" at the International Film Festival of India in Goa, Nanda was watching some 450 people fixed to their seats enjoying "White Noise."
   Nanda saw little differences in taste and attitudes between India and Pakistan. "Karachi is like Mumbai, (with) lovely responsive people," she said.
   "They had no problem identifying with Koel Puri's character. Musicians, writers, TV and film professionals as well as youngsters were present at the show. They all loved it."
   Another important film at the Karachi festival was Pooja Bhatt's "Rog", featuring Irrfan Khan, Himanshu Malik and Bhatt's husband Munish Makhija.
   Rajit Kapur's "Raghu Romeo" and Nagesh Kukunoor's "Hyderabad Blues 2" were also screened.
   Hopefully, the response at this festival will lead to more Indian participation in Pakistan's theatres.

Oitijjhya, a publishing house, will hold a four-day book fair at the Central Public Library today (Monday). On the occasion of its fifth founding anniversary, the publishing house will offer 40 to 60 percent discount on about 400 books.
   The collected works of Rabindranath Tagore, Rabindra Rachanabali, will be available at Tk 2500. Collected works of noted poets—Al Mahmud and Shamsur Rahman—will be available too. Books by Muhammad Habibur Rahman, Akhtaruzzman Elias, Kabir Chowdhury, Badruddin Umar, Serajul Islam Chowdhury, Abu Bakar Siddiq will be also on display.
   Apart from the books by local writers, there will be translated works of various popular and famous writers. Publications of Kaktarua, a sister concern of Oitijjhya for juvenile books, will also be sold at special discount.
   The exhibition will remain open from 10:00am to 8:00pm everyday till December 16.

Media Vision released the drama Ke Tumi Porabasi on VCD format recently. The drama is scripted and directed by Kazi Kollol.
   The drama deals with a romantic affair where Jahid Hassan as Dihan has a friendly relationship with Sweety as Shashi. Being refused by her, the protagonist meets with an accident. His sister in law comes forward to look after him; Eva, a girl who silently loves him joins his sister-in-law. After a while Dihan recognises her love. The play takes a turn when Pollob as Minhaz, an expatriate wants to marry Shashi.
   The different roles are played by Jahid Hassan, Shomi Kaisar, Tanveen Sweety, Pollob, Sharmili Ahmed, Taru Mostafa, Khalequzzaman and et al.

Channel i’s Campus Road Show, titled Polo Mon Khule Bolo aims at entertaining students as well as providing entertainment through them. Held at various university campuses, the programme asks students amusing questions such as, “What is the origin of the word tanki (tease)?” or “What is the colour of love?” The ultimate objective of Mon Khule Bolo is to document the time of life which most people remember as the most happy and carefree.
   Polo Mon Khule Bolo began on November 23, and is aired on Tuesdays at 8.25pm.

With the help of his right-hand sorcerer, Memnon slaughters countless desert people and enslaves the rest. Those who oppose him are immediately leveled. But from the dust rises a warrior who has the power to change his destiny and those he saves.
   The scattered tribes of the desert people are counting on Akkadian assassin Mathayus (The Rock, The Mummy Returns) to capture the sorcerer who's been giving Memnon dreams and the desert people nightmares. As it turns out, the seer is a beautiful woman Cassandra (Kelly Hu, X-Men 2, Television's Martial Law) who is not as bad as she looks. Rewriting desert history with courage and combat savvy, Mathayus is ready to start his own sandstorm.
   Get ready for battles of elemental proportions, the brains of sorcerers, brawn the likes of Michael Clarke Duncan (Oscar nominee, The Green Mile, Daredevil) and blockbuster action. The Scorpion King brings it on!
   The Scorpion King
   HBO
   9:30pm
   Starring
   Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Kelly Hu, Michael Clarke Duncan