DOT Desk: Two of Shanarei Devi Shanu’s books were published at this year’s Ekushey Boi Mela, a poetry book titled ‘Bhalobashar Epaar Opaar’ and a thriller novel titled ‘Bhokkhok, reports TBS.
A budding writer some would say, Shanu has been on a roll, as a published writer, at least for the last four years. In 2018, Shanu released three books: ‘Laal Epitaph’, ‘Oshomoyer Chirkutt’ and ‘Tribhuj.’ 2019 saw her release a novel ‘Ekla Akash’ and a children’s book. In 2020, she published another novel ‘Lipstick’ followed by a crime thriller ‘Amar Ekta Tui Chai’ in 2021.
However, Shanu first rose to stardom as the winner of Lux Channel-i Superstar (beauty pageant) in 2005, not a writer. If one were to look closely at Shanu Devi Shanu’s professional trajectory, a versatile portfolio seems to emerge. Shanu hails from Sylhet. Her father, of Monipuri descent, A K Sheram is a poet and her mother, Chandra Devi, used to be a dancer. The importance of cultural activities was ingrained in her since childhood. She was introduced to dancing because of her mother’s influence but regularly participated in cultural activities as well. After graduating from a local higher secondary school, Shanu starred in a play directed by popular playwright and architect Shakur Majid. And that is when the ball started rolling for Shanarei Devi Shanu – it landed her into the world of acting. Shanu tapped into the mainstream cultural world. And soon, Shanu relocated to the capital, where she had to stay for three months because she was a participant in the beauty pageant Lux Channel-i Superstar.
It was through an unforeseen victory in this competition that Shanu gained her much-required confidence to establish herself in the entertainment industry. Winning the competition radically changed her life. And eventually, she had to permanently move to Dhaka to propel her career as an actor and model. All the while, she had immense support from her parents. By this point, Shanu completed the transition from being a small-town Sylheti girl to a nationwide popular celebrity. “I never imagined that I would win Lux Superstar. I used to think that I might receive a respectable place, but never thought I would be crowned. And in that particular year’s pageant, different abilities [IQ, educational qualifications, presenting and anchoring skills, etc] were taken into consideration in addition to physical attractiveness.