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When a retired artist comes out of retirement to paint and pass on the message of peace, one has to understand that peace must have some meaning, not only in the spiritual level but also in the material one.
   Samarjit Roy Chowdhury is not a new name in the world of art and being a veteran his artistic views of life are refreshingly free of dilemmas, conflicts and doses of depression.
   Unlike many young artists who seem to translate their non-understanding of the world and its ways on canvas, Samarjit knows just what he wants to pass on; in his uncomplicated works the theme is that of
   peace and as one goes from one work to another it’s the necessity of a peaceful existence that seems to become the major force.
   As poet Shahed Rahman says, ‘the quest for peace is the eternal theme of Smarjit’s paintings and his works take us from a world torn by war and hatred.
   And in his search for peace the artist does not rely on abstract compositions, instead he looks at men and women in mundane situations.
   Here in these conditions people are content, they are free from the excess burden of contradictory thoughts.
   Perhaps they are too simple, but they are happy and
   that is what matters most to Samarjit.
   ‘We see the peacock being featured in quite a few works and they in fact symbolise peace and the necessity of it in the present work torn by division and prejudice’ comments Syed Azizul Huq.
   ‘Usually people expect something extremely cumbersome from veterans but in this case the opposite has happened. Samarjit’s subjects are men, women, flowers, birds and in the simplicity of the subjects the core message is never lost,’ said Insaan, a photographer and an art enthusiast.
   As the artist never allows the colours to become too vivid, a dream like aura surrounds the works and therefore the whole exhibition itself is like a ride into fantasy.
   The works of Samarjit Roy were exhibited at the National Gallery at Uttara recently.

Ajker Sakal, an open window for free thinking is aired daily in the morning by NTV, steps into its 500th episode today. The programme is designed to give information on events taking place during the day.
   Viewers get an overall idea of necessary information of life in the city.
   The programme is made up of different segments. Itihaser Eai Diney informs the viewers the historical events commemorated on that day.
   Personal achievements are brought to light in Prothom Prothoma. Success stories of people in different areas of the arts from all over the world are presented in Churakahan.
   News of important cultural functions across the country is broadcast in Aaj Saradin.
   Parvez Chowdhury, director of the show said, ‘We have got tremendous response from the viewers.
   They like it because it deals with a positive approach. I developed the concept that if a viewer starts his journey hearing positive words from us it may help him think positively’, he added.
   ‘Besides these, we have a good professional team. We choose the subjects of our programme which are positive, beautiful and inspiring.’
   Produced by Alfred Khokan, the programme is anchored by Tina Salem Manjur, Farah Sharmin, Masuma Sharmi, Shilpi Mahalnabish, Farhana Rahman Mishu, Zannatul Ferdous Moon, Shegupta Farhat Senjuti and Qamrun Kona.

To Mark the 19th founding anniversary of the Zahir Raihan Film Society, the Society and the Goethe-Institut will jointly organise a five day film festival from May 16 at the auditorium of the German Cultural Centre in Dhanmondi.
   The organisers will show 15 films under the category, New German Cinema.
   On May 16, Die Nacht der Regisseure (The Night of the Filmmakers, 1995, 90 minutes) will be screened at 3:00pm. The film, directed by Edgar Reitz, is a documentary on one hundred years of German cinema.
   The formal inauguration of the festival will be held at 5:00pm at the same venue. Sabbir Chowdhury of the Zahir Raihan Film Society will read out a paper on The New German Cinema: Contribution and Achievement in the inaugural ceremony.
   Screening will resume at 5:30pm when Die Zeit der ersten Lieder (The time of the first songs, 1992, 112 minutes), directed by Edgar Reitz, will be shown.
   Jenseits der Wolken (Beyond the clouds, 1995, 112 minutes), jointly directed by Michelangelo Antoniani and Wim Wenders, will be screened at 7:30pm.
   Screening of three films directed by Werner Herzog will start on May 17, Nosferatu — Phantom der Nacht (Nosferatu — the Vampire, 1979, 103) at 3:30pm Cobra Verde (1987, 106 minutes) 5:30pm and Aguire, der Zorn Gottees (Aguirre, the Wrath of God, 1972, 90 minutes) at 7:30pm.
   Screen three films directed by Rainer Werner will start on May 18, Fasshinder. Pioniere in Ingolstadt (Pioneers in Ingolstadt, 1971 84 minutes) at 4:00pm, Der Händier der vier Jahreszeiten (The Merchant of Four Seasons, 1972, 88 minutes) at 5:30pm and Warnung vor einer heiligen Nutte (Beware of a Holy Whore, 1971, 88 minutes) at 7:00pm.
   On May 19, Aus weiter Ferne, so nah! (Faraway, So Close, 1993, 140 minutes) will be screened at 3:00pm. Auf der Suche nach Wahrhent (Land of Plenty: Angst and Alienation in America, 2004, 123 minutes) and Buena Vista Social Club (1999, 105 minutes) will be screened at 5:30pm and 8:00pm respectively. All the films are directed by Wim Wenders.
   On last day, May 20, Volker Schlöndorff’s three films, Der Unhold (The Ogre, 1996, 118 minutes), Eine Liebe von Swann (Swann in Love, 1984, 110 minutes) and Die Blechtrommel (The Tin Drum, 1970, 145 minutes) will be screened at 3:30pm, 5:30pm and 7:30pm respectively.

A Bollywood romance film played for a record 500th week in a row on Friday at a Bombay cinema, as movie buffs flock to the film about an Indian expatriate who wins his love by charming her conservative parents.
   ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’ — starring Indian heart-throb Shahrukh Khan and Kajol — has played non-stop at Maratha Mandir in central Bombay since its release in October 1995, industry officials said.
   Shot in London and in India’s lush mustard fields, the movie has collected more than 2 billion rupees ($46 million) at box offices, said producer Yash Chopra, who spent about 70 million rupees to make the film.
   After a full-house on Friday, the cinema aims to celebrate the movie’s 10th anniversary later this year, an official said. ‘I feel the movie is so successful only because people could identify with it. The wholesomeness, simplicity and traditional values it upholds and its music helped,’ he said.
   Khan, a popular Hindi actor, plays a second-generation London-settled Indian who wins his love’s hand in marriage by courting her parents.
   The previous Bollywood record was held by ‘Sholay’ an action-thriller which ran for six years from 1975.
   Bollywood, which makes about 1,000 movies a year, is known for melodramatic plots, young lovers battling cruel fate, wicked villains and sentimental, but chaste, song-and-dance routines.
   Hindi movies are gaining popularity in the Middle East, Europe and the United States, especially among expatriate Indians, but most fail to make money because of thin plots and weak scripts.

7:00pm-8:00pm, Animal Planet
   Mad Mike and Mark hosts, Mark Tennant and Mike Penman, join forces to present a fresh series that uncovers life as a wildlife photographer. In each episode, they set out somewhere in Africa on a photographic safari.
   Viewers watch as these experts manoeuver their way out of tricky and dangerous spots to get a great shot. In nowhere to hide, the boys' goal is to photograph a rare site - a lion on the beach. Mike and Mark undertake a journey to Namibia hut this desert land is different they'll have nowhere to hide while trying to photograph the animal. Will the skills they have learned over time be of any use in this region? But most importantly, will they get their shot?

Thinking of alternative day care for your child? HBO may just have the answer for you! Advertising executives Charlie (Murphy, I-Spy) and Phil (Garlin) lose their jobs at a large food company Two incomes short. they are forced to pull out their sons from the elite Chapman Academy. With no jobs looming in the horizon, the stay-at-home dads take matters into their own hands and decide to start their own day-care facility! Seems these two have unconventional, chaotic yet hilarious ways of taking care of children. Soon. they find themselves in competition with their sons former school and its' headmistress Mrs Harridan (Academy Award® and Golden . Globe® winner Huston, The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou. Iron-Jawed Angels).
   Daddy Day Care
   HBO
   9:30pm
   Starring
   Eddie Murphy, Jeff Garlin, Anjelica Huston
   Genre: Comedy