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Dhaka Cultural Reporters’ Association, a cultural organisation, has introduced Star Award, for the first time, with a gala programme at the Osmani Memorial Hall on Friday.
   The organisation gave awards in different categories, including television, film, music, theatre, modelling, dance and journalism.
   The group honoured artists in various fields in recognition of their performances during the year 2004.
   Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, MP, State Minister for Agriculture, attended the ceremony as the chief guest while Nawazish Ali Khan, Vice President (programme) of ATN Bangla was present as a special guest. The chief guest in his speech thanked the organisers for such an event which honoured the accomplished artists for their dedicated effort in promoting the culture of Bangladesh.
   The ceremony began with the Life Time Achievement Award which went to actor Razzak, probably the most successful heroes of the country. Special honorary awards went to Daily Ittefaq, Daily Inquilab, Daily Janakantha, Daily Prothom Alo, Daily Jugantar and Daily Manab Zamin.
   In the journalism category, Kamrul Hassan Dorpon from the daily, Inquilab, Kamruzzaman Babu from the daily, Prothom Alo and Manirul Islam Moni from the fortnightly, Priyajon were awarded for cultural reporting. Farid Uddin Nirod Memorial Award went to Imrul Shahed, executive editor of the Binodon Bhuban.
   In the film category, Phuler moto bou and Jata prem toto jala, swept away most of the top awards.
   In the television category, Aganthuk got the award for the best drama, Sporsher baire for the
   best serial and Aponjon for the best TV film. Asif Akbar and Akhi Alamgir won the awards for best vocal artists.
   Best Band award was given to LRB. Best Dance awards went to Sohel Rahman and Ria.

Projonmo Ekattor, a quarterly newspaper, published from Sweden, recently honoured Partho Prathim Majumder, an internationally recognised mime artist in Dhaka.
   The event was organised when Delwar Hossain, the editor of the paper and the artist were both present in Dhaka. (Rtd) Air Vice Martial AK Khandakar, Mamtazuddin Ahmed, Pijush Banerji, Jewel Aich, Jayanta Chatterji, well-known theatre personalities along with Dr Atiur Rahman, an economist, Nasir Ali Mamun, renowned photographer and other eminent personalities attended the function.
   The speakers praised the dedicated and sincere effort of Projonmo Ekattor in portraying the cultural heritage of Bangladesh with excellent coverage by its publications and reporting.
   Partha stated, ‘I am a son of the country and want to do something to popularise the art of miming in the country.’ Mamtazuddin said that we should learn the body language as it helps you to express our inner thoughts. Delwar, editor of the paper said that though Projonmo Ekattor is a new magazine, it has come into being with the spirit of the Liberation War, the country’s independence and the identity of the Bangali people.

Tonatuni, a production house, released some of its new publications on Friday at Hotel Purbani. Mahbubur Rahman Jainal, head of the production house along with a number of eminent cultural personalities were present on the occasion.
   The productions were Egaro, an album of flute by Maniruzzaman was released in CD format, Madhur Aamar Mayer Hasi, a CD by Kaderi Kibria, Tunatunir Chhora Shuni, a book written by poet Hassan Hafiz and Tonatunir Jhuri, a cartoon movie, animated by Jainul Abedin was released in VCD format.
    Gaziul Haque, a veteran activist of the Language Movement, Aayesha Kibria, Rabeya Khatun, well-known litterateur and Shakila Zafar, popular singer were present and opened the covers of the productions respectively.
   The inaugural ceremony was followed by two group dances by young performers under the direction of Kabirul Islam Ratan and Dipa Khandaker.
   The books and CDs are available at the Ekushey book fair at the Tonatuni stall.

In art, as in life, fakes can be a real disappointment so brace yourself for a heck of a downer.
   According to several plastic surgeons, nearly 100 per cent of our most accomplished red carpet celebrities are working with more (and in some cases less) than what God gave them.
   ‘As soon as the Oscar nominations come out, I’m like an accountant at tax time,’ said Dr. Richard Fleming, 60, who performs cosmetic surgery on a large and undisclosed celebrity roster at the Beverly Hills Institute of Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery. Fleming and his business partner, Dr Toby Mayer, have been practicing in Beverly Hills for 28 years.
   They recently released the results of their annual Hollywood’s Hottest Looks survey, collected over a year from 1,500 new patients.
   Among the most sought after features came from an attractive list of 2005 Academy Award nominees.

Alohawa, a little magazine circle in collaboration with the University of Asia Pacific is organsing a little magazine conference and poetry festival at Bishwasahitya Kendra in Dhaka on 22 February.
   The programme will begin at 10am and will include discussions and poetry reading. Young poet Shahed Quayes is coordinating the total programme. More than fifty little magazine editors and poets from all over the country are expected to participate in the festival.
   A musical soiree by Kofil Ahmed will round up the programme.

Hollywood’s hottest looks of 2005, according to the Beverly Hills Institute of Aesthetic and
   
   Reconstructive Surgery
   Desired female features
   Nose: Charlize Theron, Diane Lane and Nicole Kidman
   Hair: Sarah Jessica Parker, Jennifer Aniston and Debra Messing
   Eyes: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore
   Lips: Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Simpson and Gwen Stefani
   Jawline/Chin: Uma Thurman, Hilary Swank and Kate Winslet
   Cheeks: Cate Blanchett, Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz
   Body: Jennifer Garner, Beyonce Knowles and Halle Berry
   Skin: Kate Hudson, Paris Hilton and Kirsten Dunst
   
   Desired male features
   Nose: Brad Pitt, Colin Farrell and George Clooney
   Eyes: Keanu Reeves, Leonardo DiCaprio and Josh Lucas
   Chin: Ben Affleck, Johnny Depp and Russell Crowe
   Lips: Brad Pitt, Ashton Kutcher and Matt Damon
   Hair: Hugh Grant, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Farrell
   Cheeks: Jude Law, Antonio Banderas and Denzel Washington
   Body: Jamie Foxx, Tom Cruise and Hugh Jackman
   Jawline: Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom and Matt LeBlanc
   Skin: Jude Law, Matthew Perry and Matthew McConaughey
   Doctor’s pick — Overall
   classic beauty: Carolyn Murphy (Estee Lauder Spokesmodel)
   
   Most undesireable looks
   Helen Gurley Brown
   Joan Rivers
   Burt Reynolds
   Mickey Rourke
   Michael Jackson
   Marie Osmond
   Janice Dickinson
   Bruce Jenner
   Source: Beverly Hills Institute of Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery

11:00pm -12:00am
   Alcohol: Last orders is the story of failed controls and complacency in dealing with the problems of alcohol related violence, disorder and alcohol misuse. In the 1980s, as concern mounted over alcohol-related violence, the alcoholic beverage industry came under real attack and feared that the British Government might try to dramatically control consumption and impose large price increases. It was the first time since the introduction of drunk-driving legislation that major controls cm drinking were being considered. In the end, the pressures died away - but not the problems. This programme looks back as far as Prohibition and assesses the harm that increased drinking has brought, particularly for women and children. It also examines the evidence behind the idea that alcohol, particularly wine might actually be good for health.

11:00pm -12:00am
   The Green anaconda is the heaviest snake in t:he world that grows six times longer than the average man, weigh eight times as much, and stay underwater for upto ten minutes at a time. Even so, South African photographer and adventurer Austin Stevens is travelling to the Amazon to catch a wild anaconda in the water, and attempts to bring it to land. If the snake manages to throw a coil around his arms or neck, then its sheer weight will drag Austin below the surface to a certain death. In search of the giant Anaconda is his most perilous photographic assignment so far.

Art experts and conservative clerics are holding an unusual ‘trial’ in Leonardo da Vinci’s hometown aimed at sorting out fact from fiction in the ‘The Da Vinci Code’ after many readers took the smash hit novel as gospel truth.
   The event in Vinci, just outside of Florence, began Friday with an opening statement by Alessandro Vezzosi, director of a Leonardo museum.
   He said he will produce photographs and documents as evidence of the mistakes and historical inaccuracies contained in Dan Brown’s best seller.
   ‘Leonardo is misrepresented and belittled,’ Vezzosi said in a telephone interview hours before the event began.
   ‘His importance is misunderstood. He was a man full of fantasy, inventions and genius.’
   The novel’s contentious allegations — namely, that Jesus married Mary Magdalene
   and sired a bloodline — have provoked unprecedented protest among Roman Catholic
   and Protestant conservatives, who claimed that Brown’s characters inaccurately malign Christianity.
   –– Ap

Andrew Beckett (Academy Award® and Golden Globe® winner Hanks), an up-and-coming young attorney who is unjustly fired at the most prestigious law firm in Philadelphia. He fights for justice, for his reputation, and for the right to live his private life with dignity. At a time when the virus instantly branded its sufferer an outcast from society, only one man, Joe Miller — (Academy Award® and Golden Globe® winner Washington) a brilliant but homophobic lawyer — is willing to help Beckett in his fight for justice. Hanks is superb in the role that won him his first Oscar® for Best Actor.
   Philadelphia
   HBO
   8:30pm
   Starring
   Tom Hanks, Denzet , Washington
   Genre: Drama