Shumaya amalgamates Bengali and Western cultures

Want to learn how to think differently? Can’t we do something new and different avoiding the so-called rules and regulations? Can’t we move forward our own concern by our innovative idea? Yes, these types of emotions and thinking make dreams. Shumaya Bang is one of the many who have reached at top rearing dreams.

This feature is made by Kafi Aman, Staff Reporter of risingbd.com after online conversations with Shumaya Bang.

Since arriving stateside with her parents from Dhaka in Bangladesh to Brooklyn in New York, USA, Shumaya Banu knew this was the place where she would achieve success. While adapting to ways of a new Western culture, Ms. Banu grew up in a traditional Bengali family culture. Her parents put strong emphasis on upholding rich Bengali heritage and culture where discipline and good work ethic will accomplish great things.

While growing up in the urban areas of  New York City Ms. Banu developed keen interest in fashion and entertainment. Although the Western fashion and entertainment culture did not coincide with her Bengali-Bollywood-tradition, she figured out that there was a way of amalgamating the two which could be unique and universal.

After graduating from Long Island University (Brooklyn Campus) with a B.S. in Marketing, she pursued the corporate career, working on Wall Street as a Sales Analyst. While working at Wall Street, she realised that the ‘corporate life’ was not for her. In the summer of 2002 Ms. Banu founded BANG! Incorporated. A fashion and music company, with an initial focuses on modeling and urban music. This allowed her experimenting with her life-long dream of bridging the gap between Bengali and Western cultures.

Shumaya Banu did her Masters degree in Film and Production, which allowed her to focus on her first short film, “Unveiled” featuring America’s top model Anchal Joseph playing the role for ‘Mina.’ Shumaya wrote, produced and directed ‘Unveiled,’ with the help of two well-known professors, Larry Banks and Norman Steinberg--script revision by Academy Award-winning writer. The film, “Unveiled” was released in 2012.

The film “Unveiled” predominantly consist of a female crew, with the objective of women helping women getting into film has landed Bang Inc. and interview with NY1 Cheryl Wills. Also, with the script as an entree, Ms. Shumaya Banu had the pleasure of meeting with representatives of the Mayor`s Office to Combat Domestic Violence and with NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly. Both parties have taken an interest in the film and with the messages it holds for Muslim women and families as well as for countless others in all walks of life in New York City.

Shumaya Banu is popularly known as Shumaya Bang among her friends and colleagues in the United States.

With her ‘Bollywood to Hollywood’ brain-child, Shumaya Banu is prepared to bring her dream to life. Bringing a unique fashion sense and knowledge of current trends in other relating industries, called ‘BANG a.k.a. Bangladesh’ by some of her colleagues for intriguing urban--Benglai fashion taste and business savvy, Ms. Banu intends on leading the company to new heights as Bang! Incorporated enters the “Digital Age” of the global economy.

She expressed her own feeling saying that she missed her Bangladesh, its tradition and culture all the time. Though she is too busy, Shumaya cannot forget her friends, cousins and the people of Bangladesh.