• Milroy celebrates 30 years in music
• 'Parasathu Uyana' gets Udayakantha's touch
• Anthassarayo: Coffee cultivation creates social unrest
• 'Re-live honeymoon'
• Versatile Vasana
• Samith to mix dancing with gymnastics
• Three decades of Golden Chimes

Milroy celebrates 30 years in music

Fernando of 'Los Flemencos' celebrates 30 years in the music scene.

Maestro in Calypso Music, Milroy was instrumental in introducing many famous songs with his brother Stanislaus, who led 'Los Flemencos' in late sixties and early seventies. 'Kalu kelle', 'Bolanda Katha,' ' Evankale' are some of the hits sung by Milroy and his band 'Los Flemencos'. He is still very much actively involved in music and performs occasionally.

"I do not play professionally but perform whenever I get a chance. I am now involved in teaching music and it is necessary and my duty is to give away whatever I know, " Milroy said.

He conducts his music classes at his residence in Moratuwa.

---

'Parasathu Uyana' gets Udayakantha's touch

By Susitha R. Fernando

Udayakantha Warnasuriya with his crew will move to Diyatalawa for the filming of his latest film once he has finished the locations around Colombo.

Filming in Diyatalawa for his fifth film will be followed by work in Kurunegala and Kotmale.

The film which has not been given a name yet is based on the story "Parasathu Uyana" published in 'Sathuta' comic magazine. The story revolves around two boys. One has urban connection which the other is a rural lad. It is a tragic love story.

According to director Udayakantha, it is a film for the family. Speaking on his latest film the director said " We lack quality popular films".

"There was a time in this country where the film-goers had a chance to watch good popular films but later we lost that audience due to many reasons," he said.

Mr. Warnasuriya who had made a name for producing artistic and popular films said " I believe we need popular films as the majority of the film-goers want to see them,".

"What is important in making popular films is to see that its artistic qualities are preserved when they are made,".

"At a time when there is a crisis in the film industry in this country what is most important is to survive. To do anything we should be in the competition, " he added.

The cast for the film with a number of youngsters will include Ranjan Ramanayake, Kanchana Mendis, Semini Iddamalgoda, Wijeratne Warakagoda, Ranjani Wanniarachchi, Buddhika Jayathunga and Nissansala Jayathunga will make her entry with the film.

The technical crew has Jayanatha Gunawardena handling the camera. Stanley de Alwis has edited it while make up is by Samarasiri Kandanage.

Art direction is by Chandana Samarasekara and still photography is by Ajith Premalal.

Gracian Ananda, Nirosha Wirajani and Samitha Mudunkotuwa have done playback music and direction by Rohana Weerasinghe. The film production is by Soma Edirisinghe and it is also the fiftieth film of the EAP films.

Anthassarayo: Coffee cultivation creates social unrest

By Sunil Jayasiri

"Anthassarayo" a new teledrama, which relates to some aspects of Sri Lankan history, will be telecast shortly.

It's directed by Nihal Fernando, and produced by Sunil Ratnayake.

It begins in 1836, when the British begin coffee cultivation plantations in Sri Lanka. John Collins is sent up-country by the rulers to choose suitable places for the plantations. Here he meets an area leader known as Korale. The leader in return for financial benefits and recognition from the British co-operates with Collins to find him lands for coffee cultivation .

John Collins purchases lands from the villagers for small amounts. Though a young man called Tikiri and a monk try to prevent the disaster that was to befall the village by explaining to them about the unfair deal the villagers are not prepared to listen to what they say. After some time these villagers find themselves chased away from their lands.

Tikiri and the monk intervene in this problem and Collins finally agrees to give a plot of land to all villagers and employ them in his estate. At this point an armed group is founded by Tikiri with the assistance of the monk to destroy the coffee cultivation. Except for these two only Tikiri's fiancee Subarath knows about the group.

On a night the group kills a group of security men on their way back after torching some houses in the village. On the same night they kill another group of men after destroying a stock of coffee. John Collins and his wife see some youth with bald heads but fail to identify them properly.

Then the Korale tries to send some villagers to jail saying that they were members of the group. But Tikiri and his men manage to release them, while they were being taken to Kandy.

These incidents lead to the Tikiri -Korale clash. Tikiri's girl friend is warned by her father not to meet him. After some days the monk is poisoned and dies mysteriously, but later the villagers find out it was the work of Korale and they strike protesting the killing.

Later a number of villagers are shot dead by Collins as they refuse to go back to work. In an attempt to force the villagers back to work Collins brings some thugs from Kandy. But Tikiri and his group kill these thugs and it leads to a large number of security personnel being sent to the village from Kandy. However, all the security personnel are killed and the house of a high ranking officer of the British government is burnt down.

As all their attempts to save the village fail, the people decide to leave the area and while they leave they see workers from another country being brought to the plantations for work.

'Re-live honeymoon'

Not only newly wedded, but for those, who celebrate their wedding anniversaries in June are now have a chance to win a 'Re-Live honeymoon' package from Hotel Eden.

The promotion is organised by Combank Card Centre and Confifi Group.

During the promotion all Combank Credit Card Holders who celebrate their wedding anniversary in the particular month will be invited to call the Combank Card Centre on the 3rd Sunday of the month between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

While the first 10 callers will receive a very cosmic souvenir (which is a pair or heart shaped key ring), all the callers are entered into a draw. The winner will receive a fully paid anniversary voucher for a weekend at Hotel Eden, courtesy the Confifi Group.

This voucher includes a welcome surprise, lunch, candle lit dinner, Champagne breakfast and late checkout.

This voucher can be used in any weekend of the month. The call-in date for this month will be Sunday, June 18 (today) for all those who celebrate their anniversaries in June.

The promotion will be held in two stages - from June to August, 2000 and from October to December 2000

Versatile Vasana

Vasana Danthanarayana a versatile personality in the local fashion industry takes one step further as she makes her debut appearance on the screen in a one of a kind film titled "Ree Daniel Daval Migel".

Starring a top character in her first movie Vasana is definitely a lucky lady with a special way about herself. As a young spinster of 22 years she has appeared in at least three Tele dramas and a number of commercials up to date.

Beginning her career as a model under the guidance of fashion experts Senaka de Silva, Lou Ching Wong and Subashini Dias Abeygunawardene, Vasana has come a long way to get into the limelight.

During her recent modelling stint she succeeded in winning for herself Miss. Venus tittle and a "Runner-Up in the Miss. Working Girl 2000 Contest."

Apart from her busy schedule Vasana also makes time as a Beautician and takes pleasure in handling " Bridal Dressing". Even when her fellow models need a helping hand Vasana is always there to help them. Her motto she says is " Team Spirit" and goes onto say that it is not always important to win a contest but it is important to have the right team.

Samith to mix dancing with gymnastics

Our cover picture takes a different turn this week.

Sukitha and Samith Fernando of 'Kulasiri Budhawatta Dancing School' pose as they have graduated after four years of hard work.

Samith ( 19) had his 'Wes Bendima' recently with Sukitha.

Samith, a young, talented Kandyan dancer says it is very difficult to survive in this trade with dancing only, because of the flooded situation with Kandyan dancers in Sri Lanka.

Either you must belong to a family of Kandyan dancers who do dancing for generations or must mix with ballet and gymnastics. It is very very difficult to get a recognition alone for a just dancer he said. He has completed three levels in dancing and music and wants to further his studies under a good instructor of Gymnastics.

Three decades of Golden Chimes

"The Golden Chimes", which would bring memories to every music lover in Sri Lanka, would be celebrating 30 years of unbroken musicianship with a programme titled "The Golden Chimes In Concert" on July 22, 2000 at the Buddhist Hall, Moratuwa.

The band members who are organising this show have made elaborate arrangements to make this different from the normal musical shows.

"Golden Chimes In Concert" would provide their many fans an opportunity of listening to their popular hits they had composed and sung during the past three decades and also bring on stage a variety of entertainment by way of Oriental, Western and Latin American dance sequences which would synchronise with the singing.

The show would take the form of a recollection of events depicting the story of the Golden Chimes. Many music lovers would recall that the Golden Chimes emerged as the 'Most Popular Band '86 ' at the all island competition titled Musical Stars.

In August '99 they toured Lebanon and held four concerts for capacity crowds, most of whom were Sri Lankans.

All band members take pride that they have been performing at various hotels managed by the Confifi Group, namely, Confifi Beach, Club Palm Garden, Riverina , and Hotel Eden in Beruwala for over 20 years.

The Golden Chimes are grateful to Prof. M.T.A. Furkhan, Stephan Furkhan, Anura Lokuhetti, F. Ansar and S. Anandaraj for the opportunities given. They are also thankful for the earlier opportunities given by Dr. Vijeya Corea, M/s. Gerald, Wickremasooriya, Malcolm Andree, Jayatissa Hettiarachchi, Rohitha Jayasinghe and many others.

Perhaps many fans are not aware of the release of some of their hits such as 'Kiri Muhuda', 'Sihina Pethum', 'Mangalam', 'Ranmonarun' etc..

'Sihina Pathum' was composed by Clarence who at that time had made Moratuwa his home. Having seen Lankika's infant son, Chamine smiling in his dreams, it was composed at her request. But it was rather unfortunate she could not sing it as her wish. Instead, she sang the much loved favourite 'Mola keti Puthuni' which was composed by Chanaka's cousin, Lakpriya de Silva. It was immediately afterwards that Clarence composed 'Kiri Muhuda' for 'Viren' the son of Dr. & Mrs. Vijeya Corea. 'Mangalam' was specially composed and sung at the Church ceremony of Chanaka and Lankika's wedding and subsequently made a commercial hit by Clarence.

"There are many heart warming anecdotes that would be related during the course of the show," said Lankika.

"The sing-a-long session with the audience including past members of the band would be one of the many highlights lined-up," she said.

Every participant would receive a souvenir which includes the musical biography and lyrics of the popular songs created by the Golden Chimes during their musical career.

Adding glamour to the programme would be many contemporary musicians such as Annesley Malewana, Anil Bharati, Indrani Perera, Mariazelle Goonetilleke, Sunil and Piyal of Gypsies, Sureshni Wanigasuriya, of X'periments and La Bambas will also be there to grace the occasion.

The Chief Guest of the Occasion would be Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Wickremasooriya, the Sooriya People, while the guests of honour would be Mrs. Savithri Jayasinghe, General Manager, Bank of Ceylon who are the main sponsors of the show. Sri Lanka's number one Compere of Yesteryear Dr. Vijeya Corea and his wife, Deshabandu Prof. M.T.A. Furkhan Chairman, Confifi Group and Mrs. Furkhan will also be there as honoured guests.

The show would be compered by the popular duo Bevil Palihawadana and Lanka Perera. Tickets priced at Rs. 300/- (Box Plan. reserved), Rs. 200/- and Rs. 150/- are available at Multi Pharmacy & Ruwan Book Shop, Rawatawatte, Janapriya Music Centre and Milk House, Idama, Moratuwa.

The present line-up of Golden chimes consists of Chanaka Perera - Leader/Bassist/Vocals (Pioneer Member), Lankika Perera - Female Vocalist (Pioneer Member) Jagath Peiris - Lead Guitar /Vocals (being with the Band for the past 18 years), Shiraz Sudar - Drummer/Vocals (being with the Band for the past 14 years), Lucky Deva - Vocals - (being with the Band for the past 15 years) and Disnaka Dhanasekera - keyboardist/vocals (being with the Band for the past 1 1/2 years.)

Return to Mirror Magazine Contents