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When I was very young, I remember being a fan of the Tona Tuni stories; it was a musical tape of nursery rhymes for children that came with an illustrated booklet. I can remember humming along while flipping the same pages over and over again, day dreaming, and listening to the voice of Shampa Reza. It has been a long time since I heard her on those tapes; I recently got a chance to meet the person behind the voice.
   All artists begin somewhere, some start indulging themselves (often subconsciously) at an early age. Shampa recalls her first ever performance at the tender age of four. ‘Singing was plaything for me at the time, it was like breathing’, she says. She remembers singing by herself, without giving much thought about all those things grown ups think about and walking away with some chocolate in her hand. A conscious decision however was necessary and inevitable and that too was made at the age of five. Her mother used to teach her the sargam and there was something about the discipline of Indian classical music that attracted her, and eventually became a part of her.
   By age 9, she was participating in children’s programmes on television and radio. She started learning Indian classical music from the age of 12, from her Ustaadji, Pandit Dhruva Tara Joshi. There was a real bond between the teacher and the pupil. Ustaad Joshi is one person who Shampa holds in extremely high regards. ‘He was a man of dignity, I never saw him in a state of negativity, when he faced the “muddy” situations of life’, she said. Shampa declares herself very lucky to have started her learning with such inspiring teachers. Her first ever appearance on television was in 1975, in the drama ‘Asruto Gaandhor’, which was written by Selim Al Deen.
   When asked if she had faced any major obstacles in her career, she laughed and stated that any obstacle can be conquered with education, sincerity and discipline, all of which she believes she possesses. The environment and surrounding attitudes with which Shampa grew up were very friendly; something she noted is not that prominent these days.
   Shampa Reza has achieved much in her life as an artiste. She is a singer, an actress, a model, a producer, a teacher and above all a mother; she cherishes her two sons. She is proud of the fact that she was one of the initiators on Anadaniketon, a school in Sylhet, which has grown considerably in quality and reputation. When she looks back, she enjoys the memory of her late Ustaadji waking her up at four in the morning with a cup of tea in his hand saying, ‘Shompu, wake up its time for riwaaz’. It’s been a while since then, and a lot has changed.
   It is important to be a visionary especially in turbulent times like now; the world today scares Shampa but she still hold on to the vision of using her platform and ideas to produce a positive effect on the newer generation.
   So, have we seen it all from Shampa Reza? Apparently not. ‘There is much to come’ she exclaims, ‘If God is willing, I want to build an institute for classical music in order to spark up a passion for meditation when it comes to music’. Shampa hopes to inspire others to embrace learning, pursue knowledge and not just fame.

Actress Sandra Bullock married mechanic and reality TV star Jesse James at a ranch near Santa Barbara, according to reports.
   Bullock, 40, and James, 35, exchanged vows Saturday in front of several hundred guests at the Folded Hills Ranch in Santa Ynez Valley’s wine country.
   Guests included actor William Shatner, actresses Jamie Lee Curtis and Regina King, and Metallica lead singer James Hetfield, according to ‘Entertainment Tonight’ and Us Weekly magazine.
   Many in Hollywood have been surprised at the pairing of the tattooed bad boy James and the on-screen good girl Bullock. They met in 2003.
   It’s the first marriage for ‘Miss Congeniality’ star Bullock, who had been engaged to actor Tate Donovan. She recently played the wife of a district attorney in the film ‘Crash.’ James, who previously married twice and has three children, appears on The Discovery Channel’s ‘Monster Garage.’

Jude Law publicly apologized to his actress-fiancee, Sienna Miller, expressing his “sincere regret” over an affair with one of his children’s nanny.
   “Following the reports in today’s papers, I just want to say I am deeply ashamed and upset that I’ve hurt Sienna and the people most close to us,” the 32-year-old actor said in a statement Monday to the British Press Association.
   “I want to publicly apologize to Sienna and our respective families for the pain that I have caused,” said Law, star of “Alfie” and “The Talented Mr. Ripley” films.
   The nanny was identified in the newspaper reports as Daisy Wright, 26.
   Law, who divorced fashion designer-actress Sadie Frost in October 2003 after a six-year marriage and three children, had no further comment.
   The publicity firm that represents Miller told The Associated Press the 23-year-old actress had no comment on Law’s statement.
   When Miller arrived at Wyndham’s Theatre in London’s West End on Monday, where she is performing in “As You Like It,” it appeared she wasn’t wearing her engagement ring, the Press Association reported.
   Miller was Law’s co-star in the remake of “Alfie.” The couple became engaged on Christmas Day 2004.
   Earlier this year, Miller said she and Law were in no hurry to tie the knot. “I’m not going to get married this year,” she was quoted as telling reporters in February. “There’s no rush, we’re just happy to be engaged.”
   Law earned Oscar nominations for his roles in “The Talented Mr. Ripley” and “Cold Mountain.” His screen credits also include “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow,” “Closer” and “The Aviator,” all released in 2004.
   — Internet

Nazir Khan’s first solo print exhibition was inaugurated at the Zainul Gallery, Institute of Fine Art on July 15, 2005. The ambassador of Denmark, Niels Severin Munk was present as the chief guest and artist, Farida Zaman, Director, Institute of Fine Arts presided over the function. Artist, Professor Abul Barq Alvi and Professor Akhtaruzzaman, General Secretary of Dhaka University Teachers’ Association were present as special guests of the function.
   The freelance artist titled the exhibition, ‘Endangered Bangladesh’ because according to him it seems that the citizens of Bangladesh have forgotten the appropriate use of their consciousness and their humanity. Md Nazir Khan expressed that his art is his way of protesting against every immoral and inhuman deed taking place in Bangladesh. The artwork consists of woodcuts, lithographs and etching aquatints.
   The exhibition is open from 10:30am to 8:00 pm, daily till July 22, 2005.

Director Shoojit Sircar denies any thing that says that his forthcoming project, Amarjeet, is similar to Julia Roberts’ Erin Brokovich. Amarjeet is a story of a woman, played by Lara Dutta, and her battle for injustice and fight against tobacco industry starting from Punjab and spreading to the whole country. On a personal level, the film is the director’s message to smokers, asking them to quit smoking. Incidentally, Sircar was once a smoker himself. “Cinema is a great medium to reach as many people as possible. I want everybody to know that smoking is a terrible thing and its not at all cool. Lara Dutta was chosen as the protagonist as she herself believes in the message of the movie and does not smoke.” However, the actress and the director are ways apart when it comes to the ban on smoking scenes in films. Sarcar believes that creativity should be given complete freedom and cinema portrays what happens in our daily lives. “You cannot take away a filmmaker’s rights. I cannot make film on Ray without showing his pipe. Like this, there are many things and banning is not the solution”, says Sarcar. On the other hand, Lara completely supports the ban posed by the Censor Board.
   
— Internet

George Clooney has reportedly rekindled his romance with stunning porn star, Krista Allen, soon after his split from ex-girlfriend Lisa Snowdon.
   The Hollywood hunk was spotted kissing the X -rated star, better known for her steamy ‘Emmanuelle’ films, at his Lake Como home in Italy.
   ‘They looked very close, just like a married couple’, a source was quoted by People magazine, as saying.
   The split between hearthrob Clooney and TV presenter Lisa in May, was reportedly due to their long distance relationship, that made it difficult to sustain their love for each other.
   George Clooney has reportedly rekindled his romance with stunning porn star, Krista Allen, soon after his split from ex-girlfriend Lisa Snowdon.
   The Hollywood hunk was spotted kissing the X -rated star, better known for her steamy ‘Emmanuelle’ films, at his Lake Como home in Italy.
   ‘They looked very close, just like a married couple’, a source was quoted by People magazine, as saying.
   The split between hearthrob Clooney and TV presenter Lisa in May, was reportedly due to their long distance relationship, that made it difficult to sustain their love for each other.
   — Asian News International

Kyle Walsh (Chaney Kley) must return home to confront his troubled past and save his childhood sweetheart Caitlin (Emma Caulfield) and her younger brother Michael (Lee Cormie) from an unrelenting evil that has plagued the town of Darkness Falls for over one hundred and fifty years.
   Darkness Falls
   HBO
   9:30pm
   Starring
   Chaney Kley, Emma Caulfield, Andrew Bayly, Emily Browning, Joshua Anderson
   Genre
   Suspense/Horror and Thriller