Although Chanchal Chowdhury has not worked extensively in Tollywood, his popularity in West Bengal is as high as it is in Bangladesh. This has often brought him invitations to events across the border, where he has received awards and honours. On Sunday (August 31) night, the fifth Bengal International Excellence Award and the second Kolkata Ratna Samman ceremony were held at a hotel in Kolkata, where Chanchal was present as a guest of honour. He was presented with the Bengal International Excellence Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to acting.

Renowned Rabindra Sangeet artiste Sahana Bajpaie has expressed concern over what she describes as the gradual erosion of Bengali identity, particularly in the cultural sphere. In a recent Facebook post, she criticised the growing trend of prioritising Hindi songs over Bangla music, even at quintessentially Bengali celebrations such as Pohela Boishakh and Durga Puja in Kolkata.

Renowned Bengali actor and filmmaker Parambrata Chattopadhyay is now a father. His wife, Piya Chakraborty, welcomed a baby boy at a private hospital in Kolkata today.

Acclaimed Indian filmmaker Srijit Mukherji has been admitted to a private hospital in Kolkata after experiencing breathing difficulties and mild chest pain yesterday night.

With the film “Chalchitra”, Dhaka-based actor Ziaul Faruq Apurba has marked his debut in Kolkata’s film industry as well as on the global cinematic stage.

West Bengal-based news outlet Anandabazar has recently published a report claiming that Ziaul Faruq Apurba, despite holding a valid Indian visa, missed the premiere of “Chalchitra” due to alleged death threats.  

Actress Jaya Ahsan, who has already made a significant mark on India’s OTT platforms, is now set to venture into Bangladeshi web series with her debut project, “Jimmi.” 

The celebrated creator of the iconic song “Lal Pahari Deshe Ja”, Arun Chakraborty, has passed away. He breathed his last at 12:10am today at his residence on Farm Side Road in Chinsurah, Hooghly district, West Bengal. The eminent artiste was 80 years old. The news of his passing was confirmed to Prothom Alo by family friend Saptarshi Ray Bardhan.

Uma Dasgupta, the actress who portrayed Durga in Satyajit Ray’s “Pather Panchali” has passed away at the age of 84 after a prolonged illness.

Musician Farzana Wahid Shayan who has consistently stood at the forefront of movements against injustice is back with new music bound to leave a lasting impact. Each of Shayan's songs speaks volumes with profound reflections and a strong voice of dissent. While some label her music as "protest songs”, others see them as "life-centric anthems."

Miles, a renowned Bangladeshi band, struck a chord with the youth of Kolkata, especially during the 1990s. Shafin Ahmed, a former leading light in the band, became an icon for aspiring musicians in the band music scene. The recent passing of Shafin Ahmed has left a void in the hearts of many in Bengal, especially in Kolkata, as they mourn the loss of the star.

Following their collaboration in “Dawshom Awbotaar”, Prosenjit Chatterjee and Anirban Bhattacharya are now set to reunite on the big screen. A Shubh Muhurat ceremony took place at the SVF production office on Wednesday, attended by the entire cast of the upcoming film.

Bangladesh-based director Rashed Raha announced his web-film "Kolkata Diaries" last year, featuring West Bengal stars Sreelekha Mitra and Darshana Banik, alongside the up-and-coming Bangladeshi actor Shifat Amin Shuvo. The film, shot in Kolkata's Newtown, Rajarhat area, is now set to release on July 18 on an OTT platform.

Jani Chacko Uthup, husband of renowned Indian pop singer Usha Uthup, passed away in Kolkata yesterday, their family confirmed. 

Since its release in Bangladesh, the Shakib Khan starrer film “Toofan” is now creating quite a stir in West Bengal. The excitement was palpable at Thursday night's press conference, where it became evident that the people of West Bengal are keenly interested in the blockbuster. 

Actor and director Arindam Sil, who directed her first Tollywood film, shared his overwhelming admiration for her with Anandabazar.

The Bharat-Bangladesh Film Festival, a three-day event, commences in Kolkata. This festival has been organised by the Bidhannagar Film Society of West Bengal in collaboration with the Fazlul Haque Mani Smriti Sansad, the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC) of Kolkata, and the eastern section of the Federation of Film Society.

The film “Mujib: The Making of a Nation,” which chronicles the life of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was screened at Nandan yesterday (June 7), a traditional cultural center in Kolkata. This film is a joint production of India-Bangladesh.  

Renowned Indian singer Krishnakumar Kunnath, popularly known as KK, tragically passed away on May 31, 2021, shortly after his final live performance. The artiste spent the last moment of his life on the musical stage he passionately adored. KK experienced a heart attack right after concluding his live performance. The news of his sudden death following the show left fans devastated.

To mark the 101st birth anniversary of the late Syed Badruddin Hossain, an eminent educationist, a language movement veteran, and lifetime chairman of Padatik Nattya Sangsad (TSC), a four-day long theatre festival titled "Syed Badruddin Hossain Smrity Natyautsab o Smarak Sammanona 2024" is set to take place at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) on May 16. This theatre festival has been orchestrated annually since 2010.