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The nomination of the International Indo-Bangladesh Kala Music Award 2004 was announced through a gala event at the ball Room of Hotel Sheraton on Wednesday.
   The six member jury board led by Alamgir, a prominent hero and Debu Ghosh, Chairman of the Kala Music and Play Incorporated announced the names.
   The announcement began with the Life Time Achievement Award. Subash Dutt received the Zahir Raihan Award for direction while Babita received the Khan Ataur Rahman Award for acting. Syed Abdul Hadi has been named for the Altaf Mahmud Award for his accomplishments in music.
   Besides these awards, Megher Porey Megh and Anya Manush were selected in the Best Film category while Chashi Nazrul Islam and Kazi Hayat were nominated for directing the movie Megher Porey Megh and Anya Manush respectively.
   Best Actor is jointly being nominated for Manna for Manna Bhai and Riaz for Megher Porey Megh while Shabnur and Purnima got the nomination in the female category for Anya Manush and Megher Porey Megh respectively.
   Best popular artists selected by the jury board were Manna, Ferdous, Riaz, Shabnur, Poppy and Purnima.
   In television, Ranger Manush and Lal Nil Beguni were nominated for the Best Serial while Lobh and Bhitorey Bairey in the drama category. Mahfuz Ahmed for 51borti and Zahid Hassan for Lal Nil Beguni got nomination for the Best Actor while Purnima for Lal Nil Beguni and Srabonti for 51borti for the Best Actress in the serial category.
   In the drama category, Zahid Hassan for Mangali and Mahfuz Ahmed for Lobh were selected for Best Actor while Shomi Kaisar for Sonar Namey Naam and Srabonti for Bahurupi were selected in the female category.
   The awards in the film categories will be handed over to the winners on April 23, in Hollywood and on April 24, the rest of the awards will be given in San Francisco.
   Members of the jury comprise of Alamgir, Gazi Mazharul Anwar, Abdul Latif Bachhu, Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, Runa Laila and Ashraf Uddin Ahmed Ujjal.

Hollywood held its breath as the race for the Oscars entered its final stage with the closure of voting for cinema’s top prize, leaving the fate of the golden statuettes in the hands of auditors.
   The 5,808 voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had until 5:00pm Tuesday to select the names of their favourite stars and movies to influence the outcome of Sunday’s awards.
   After tabulating the results, the trio will place the winners names in sealed foil-lined envelopes to be opened by the all-star cast of Oscar presenters on stage at Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre on cinema’s biggest night.
   The winners of the 77th annual Academy Awards in 24 categories will be announced at a glittering show starting at 5:00pm on Sunday night (0100 GMT Monday).
   Legendary director Martin Scorsese’s movie ‘The Aviator,’ the life story of US billionaire Howard Hughes, goes into the awards armed with a leading 11 nominations including best picture, best director and best actor for Leonardo DiCaprio.
   But while the spectacular film started out as the favourite to win the coveted best picture and best director awards, as well as several other statuettes, awards pundits say it has suffered a last-minute set-back.
   It is locked in a ruthless bout with Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood’s ‘Million Dollar Baby,’ about a determined female boxer played by Hilary Swank, which has punched its way to the front of the competition for the best picture, best actress and best director, they say.
   Swank is heavily-tipped as the favourite for best actress, but she faces intense competition from Hollywood queen Annette Bening for her role in ‘Being Julia.’ – AFP

The Bengal Foundation organised a function in memory of the 57th birthday of Nazrul Sangeet singer Nilufar Yasmin in the evening of February 23 at the Bengal Shilpalaya in Dhanmondi.
   Dr Mridul Chakrabarti, Dr Najma Yasmin, Amalesh Dasgupta Runu, Sudhin Das and Dr Anisuzzaman shared their fond memories of the late singer.
   The discussants said that Nilufar, was not just renowned for Nazrul’s songs, but was equally accomplished in songs of Atul Prasad, Rajanikanta, D.L.Ray and Rabindranath Tagore. One of the brightest stars in the sky Bangla music, Nilufar’s contribution is immense.
   In between the tributes, songs were presented by Mafizur Rahman, Sarmin Sathi Islam, Agun, Khairul Anam Shakil, Mita Haque, Sabina Yasmin and Subir Nandi.
   The function was rounded up by the screening of a twenty minute documentary on Nilufar Yasmin. The documentary has been produced by the Bengal Foundation.

Meet Stanley pkiss (Golden Globe® winner Carrey), a mild-mannered bank employee who is a walking doormat for his boss and colleagues to wipe their feet on. However, the nights start getting better after he chances upon a mystical ancient mask that not only grafts itself onto the face of its wearer, it also gives him superhuman powers and a personality overhaul. “The Mask” is Stanley’s alter ego, a living. breathing cartoon character able to fulfill his innermost thoughts and fantasies, exacting revenge on all who have wronged him and getting him to second base with the girl of his dreams (Diaz). Unfortunately. the local mobster gets wind of the mask and its powers, and decides it could give him a much needed facelift, If you need any more reason to watch this blockbuster hit, then try its literally eye-popping special effects.
   The Mask
   HBO
   9:30pm
   Starring
   Jim Carrey, Cameron Diaz
   Genre: Comedy