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In terms of script and direction, ‘Kanjus’, an adaptation of Moliere’s ‘The Miser’ is a perfect comedy. Directed by Liaquat Ali Lucky and adapted by Tariq Anam Khan, this play has created a profound impact on the minds of the audience. As a result, the play has touched the 500th show mark at the Jatiya Natyashala of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on December 29.
   Tariq Anam Khan has, with perfection, presented the dialect and unique culture of puran (old) Dhaka.
   The only negative part of the performance, also mentioned in previous reviews, was the disorganised entrance and departure of the performers. Sadly, this flaw has not been rectified.
   The play revolves around one Haidar Ali Khan, a miser and a widower for six years. He deprives his only son Kazim Ali Khan and only daughter Laili and exploits his servants. He always hoards money, controls his expenditure strictly and believes that everybody is out to grab his wealth.
   Haidar Ali’s typical behaviour with the people of his surrounding is enlivened by the excellent performance of Swadesh Ranjan Dasgupta. His gestures and postures were very impressive and this delighted the audience.
   The performances of Lal Mia (Rubel Shangkar) and Kala Mia (Azizur Rahman Sujon) also deserve praise as their delivery of the Dhakayia dialect charmed the audience. But, in this 500th show, the performers seemed rather anxious as they were touching a historical mark in Bangladeshi theatre.
   The director, very successfully brought relevance to the present society using the names of Iajuddin, who is both the president and chief of the caretaker government. Kalamia, in the play, performs the role of both a chef and a rickshaw-puller and considers himself ‘Iajuddin’.
   The performers also mentioned Hawa Bhaban and successfully ridiculed the ‘election commission’.
   Both the set design and the lighting were simple and effective. The costumes also played an important and positive role in depicting the mentality, as well as the characters of the play.
   About the present production of Kanjus, Khan commented that the director has his own rights to bring changes in the play. ‘But I think that the part of humour has been increased,’ he added.
   Commenting on the secret of the persistent success of the play, the director Liaquat Ali Lucky said that the plays of Moliere always managed to attract audiences across the world.
   ‘We have also brought necessary changes in the play to find relevance to current socio-political issues, which, makes it contemporary,’ he added.

Leonardo DiCaprio’s roles as a mercenary and a policeman have bagged him two nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
   DiCaprio, 32, has been nominated as a lead actor in the thriller Blood Diamond and in the supporting actor category for thriller The Departed.
   Musical Dreamgirls, drama Babel and comedy Little Miss Sunshine were among those securing three nominations.
   The ceremony is one of the main events in the run-up to next month’s Oscars.
   Dame Helen Mirren received a nomination for her lead role in The Queen.
   Another Dame - Judi Dench - was also nominated for Notes on a Scandal, a film which also brought Cate Blanchett recognition in the supporting role category.
   Other best actor nominees are Forest Whittaker for his role as Idi Amin in Last King of Scotland, Will Smith for In Pursuit of Happyness and veteran Peter O’Toole for Venus.
   A second nomination for Blood Diamond is for Djimon Hounsou in the supporting actor category.
   Other films in the running for the ensemble acting award alongside Dreamgirls, Babel and Little Miss Sunshine are The Departed and Bobby.
   The awards - which this year are being held on 28 January - can be seen as a good indicator ahead of the Academy Awards, with three of last year’s winners subsequently getting Oscars.

The censor certificate of Nishiddha Prem, a full-length Bangla feature film, has temporarily been suspended due to addition of vulgar and obscene uncensored scenes to it.
   The government banned the screening of the film until further order, said a official handout here today.

Flamboyant pop singer-songwriter Mika has been named the best new talent in the BBC’s Sound of 2007 music poll.
   The Beirut-born, London-based 23-year-old has been compared to the Scissor Sisters and Freddie Mercury.
   More than 130 UK-based music critics and broadcasters took part in the poll by naming their favourite new acts.
   Birmingham rock band The Twang were second, with ‘new rave’ group the Klaxons third. Corinne Bailey Rae came top of last year’s Sound of 2006 list.
   The BBC News website’s new music survey is now in its fifth year. Rapper 50 Cent, Keane and The Bravery have been among previous winners.
   Razorlight, the Scissor Sisters, The Feeling, the Kaiser Chiefs and KT Tunstall are among the others that have appeared on past Sound of... lists before making it big.
   Mika’s debut single Grace Kelly has already received heavy radio airplay and is currently the most frequently played song on BBC Radio 2.