Ups and downs throughout 2017

2017 was filled with a number of ups and downs in the global media world. Our peaceful country also did not lag behind sadly since there have been more controversies than discussions. From break-ups of unbelievably strong couples to cracks within the film fraternity and film promoters themselves the year has been quiet a trying one, hopefully the best would come out next year.
Marriage breakups
There was breakup of Brangelina in Hollywood of course, shaking the western media and tattering the faith of those throwing their lots for a lasting relationship between celebrities. Back in the country singer Habib Wahid divorcing his wife the promising TV actress Tanzin Tisha opened books at divorce courts. But the one reaching the degree of Brangelina split was Tahsan-Mithila separation even after having a four year old daughter. The two however quickly joined in their acting ventures, whether it was to battle divorce traumas is not known. Tahsan has also joined his first film. He signed for the film "Fire Dekha" in November.

Then there was Sporshia getting divorced from director Rafsan Ahmed and actress Nova also getting divorced from her celebrity spouse Raihan. Towards the end there was TV actress Badhan submitting to the news of divorce which she had been denying for three years compelling her husband Mashrur to bring the truth before media. The divorce papers filed by Shakib Khan to get rid of his ties with Apu Biswas are still awaiting the ninety days trial period before officially getting finalised. Many hoped and still hopes that Shakib would not go through with the process but given the luster of celebrity life anything is possible. Neither of the spouses has however made any headway into the legal proceeding of the divorce. The DNNCC has sent notices to both to appear the first hearing to state their mutual progress on January 15. The notices were sent on December 24. If the two are still found in a fix two more notices for court appearance will be sent.
Suicides, a new phenomena
Although having a long history in the west the trend in 2017 was started by Chester Bennington, Linkin Park lead singer. He was found dead at his Los Angeles apartment on July 20. Jahin Ahmed, son of Manam Ahmed, the key-boardist of Miles committed suicide exactly the following day, as if he was inspired by Bennington. Jahin himself was a guitarist at band Machanix. Other than that a number of model-actresses committed suicide the last one being country's ramp model Ricilla.
Earlier in US music icon Chris Cornell also took his life by hanging on May 18. The Soundgarden vocalist was found dead with a band around his neck inside his hotel room in Detroit following a concert.
Struggle against joint-productions

Arbitrary usage of joint-ventures reportedly benefitted the Indian producers singularly. On the other hand the popularity of West Bengal films in Bangladeshi theatres threatened commercial success of local films. Thus the sixteen associations related with films aligned to form the common body Chalachitra Paribar with actor Farooque as the convener to lead a strong movement for reforming the join-venture regulations. The movement itself drew controversy as Iftekhar Uddin Nawshad was assaulted while coming out of the office of Censor Board in Eskaton by angry protesters from Bangladeshi film fraternity. Actors Misha Sawdagor, Riaz were amongst those blamed for the attack. A case filed in this connection was later withdrawn.
On the other end many defeated at the Film Actors' Election polls joined in support of joint-productions vying against the majority of the film fraternity. As a result Abdul Aziz, chief of powerhouse Jaaz Multimedia was banned by the Chalachitra Paribar.
Most of the owners of movie theatres were also in favour of the current joint-production system as they want Indian films to run halls, claiming Bangladeshi films fail to gather enough money. The government finally revised the regulations in which now the MD of FDC will lead the body for approval and no duplicate plots will be allowed to be developed.
Shakib's to and fro
Shakib Khan, dubbed King Khan of Bangladesh for his repeated success at box office made headlines first by criticizing movie directors. The directors decided to ban him from their films prompting him to ask for apology. He however again got the spotlight when his undisclosed wife, Apu Biswas disclosed her existence in an interview on News24. Apu Biswas has long been Shakib's wife, have converted to Islam, has had a child with him and got married plus child delivered in India to assist him in making cover-ups. She then suspected Shakib of turning back on his word of keeping a marital relationship and made the revelation of her marriage. Shakib had since been fluctuating in his commitment to keep up the marriage before filing for divorce towards the end of the year claiming Apu has not been housewife-ish.
Shakib also made headlines when he claimed that fraudulent is taking place at the poll center for the Film Actors' Association Election. Making the allegation Shakib, president of the body till 2017 personally went to inspect the situation in the dead of night and later claimed many of his co-actors attacked him. The results of the election later went against his favour and the police investigation into the night attack also found nothing.
Bands fractured
Tanzir Tuhin one of the key founders of Shironaamhin announced his departure from the band citing financial reasons. He claimed that the band had brought in another singer in his absence when he was receiving treatment for cancer. He claimed the band wanted to throw concerts even when he was ill. The news was revealed on October 6 on his facebook post. Tanzir's Shironaamhin-exit made way for another band breakup, that of Obscure. Tanzir said that he would launch his own band in 2018 after band members of Shironaamhin were reluctant to allow him to use his own songs outside of the band. Thus Tanzir's newly formed band drew in three members from Obscure to form its five member crew. The new band of Tanzir, "Abhash" will release their first track in January and will go to musical shows from February.
In response Syed Hasan Tipu, lead of Obscure fired those three who joined with Tanzir in Abhash, from his band claiming he does not like musicians doing job with two bands for financial benefits. Obscure has already got two replacements with Binod on keyboard and Faisal on base guitar. The third on drums is yet to be recruited.
Ibrahim Ahmed Kamal, lead guitarist of band Warfaze since its inception in 1984 left the band on December 20 citing physical unfitness he has been suffering since 2010.
Miles broke-up later last year. Shafin Ahmed says other band members including his brother Hamin has been taking undue advantage of him and the band and has been taking monetary gains from different firms with Shafin's signature. The band has been hiding the transaction details keeping Shafin away from the profits. Thus Shafin registered the band under his own name, claiming others like Hamin, Manam can return if they want to. Shafin also surprised everyone claiming that he will be contesting in the next DNCC mayoral polls as an independent candidate with support from the newly formed NDF.
Rizwan dominating Eid fiesta
Natbangla's drama Rizwan has been the talk of theatre houses. The drama marked the return of Jamil Ahmed into direction after nearly twenty-four years. The drama was premiered before the Eid-ul-Adha on September 1 and continued throughout the Eid fiesta for ten days becoming the first drama to do so. It also scored the highest shows in a stretch with nineteen performances. Another big point was the staging of Kanjus for the 700th time. The drama by Loko Natyadal of Liaquat Ali Lucky also made record becoming the first drama to step into 700th rendition. Theatre sector also bloomed with a number of new productions in 2017. Towards the end on December 30 Dhaka Manch brought the last original drama of the year ruminating on the inherent selfish nature of men despite wearing a righteous outlook. Another significant incident of the theatre movement was the restarting of stage performances at Bangladesh Mahilla Samity office. Renovated hall of the office at Baily road named "Nilima Ibrahim Auditorium" restarted. The hall was established in 1973 to become the first modern stage in the post-independent Bangladesh to show dramas to audience after ticket purchases. Later after establishment of the National Theatre Hall at Shilpakala Academy, Segunbagicha the hall faced closure.
Hollywood rocked by harassment allegations
Following two investigative pieces by The New York Times and the New Yorker in October 2017 accusing Harvey Weinstein of decades of sexual assault, several other of Hollywood's biggest names have been accused of sexual misconduct, harassment and assault including Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Piven, Oliver Stone and more. There however has been claims, counter-claims, supports, oppositions to supports in a myriad of blames that seem to further threaten awareness against such misconducts.
Ruby's viral message
On August 6 Rubi, sister-in-law of the late popular icon Salman Shah dropped a bombshell claiming the actor was murdered. Salman Shah died in 1996. In July, 2014 Dhaka Court ruled that Salman Shah was not killed. But Neela Haque, Salman's mother challenged the ruling on court prompting the court to go for reinvestigation. Ruby herself is among the eleven convicts in the murder case filed by Neela Haque. Ruby confirmed that the convicts her Chinese husband Jan Lin Chan, her brother Rumi, and Salman's own wife, Samira Huq are truly culprits. She later in another video fell short of her conviction saying that the case might either be of murder or suicide. Questioning of Salman's wife Samira and father-in-law would bring out the truth, she said. Rubi has also claimed to be in US to avoid the said culprits.
Multiple agencies including Detective Branch, CID and the judiciary have all found the reason for the death to be suicide in the past so currently the inquiry is being done by PBI. Ruby  made her revelation nine months after the order of reinvestigation was delivered.
Light for the Rohingyas
In the wake of the Rohingya crisis started in August, National Award winning director Syed Wahiduzzaman Diamond started production works of his long-awaited film on the Rohingya crisis. The director announced making a film on the crisis after the earlier exodus of Rohingyas from Myanmar in the face of barbaric army operation in 2012. After the near-genocide was inflicted again in 2017 the director officially started the project with newcomer Arshi as a lead actor. On the other hand another Rohingya-centric film dubbed "A Pair of Sandal" also made headlines in 2017. The short-length documentary film by youngster Jashim Ahmed won him the Best Director Award at Turkey's Haak-Is Short Film Festival and was also selected in Naples Human Rights Film Festival.
Miss Bangladesh Competition
Then there is the first participation of Bangladesh at beauty contest Miss World. Media personality Swapan Chowdhury, Chairman of Antar Showbiz took the initiative of selecting the best contestant from Bangladesh to vie against global performers in the beauty contest held in China in 2017. However the selection process dipped into anarchy at the final selection round. Jury members claimed the organisers defied their jurisdiction over sending contestant Jannatul Nayeem Avril to compete for Bangladesh in China. Later the controversy was further fuelled as news broke out on social media that Avril was married. Reports of the finding and the mishap regarding final judgements were sent to central authority of Miss World and later Antar Showbiz and other organisers in Bangladesh claimed that a divorced lady is not a problem for Miss World competition, but as Avril had lied about her marital status she would be disqualified. Later another finalist Jessia was selected to represent Bangladesh. In the global contest Manisha of India snatched the crown for 2017.
Avril also confirmed her marriage in a video in the social media. She however defended herself saying that she was a divorcee and was married against her will and that she wanted to prove that even a married lady can do many things even after she gets divorced. In light of these events it can be hoped that many guardians will take more caution in guarding their restless children against the glamour world and also against un-discussed and forced marriages.