"Punchi Veerayo" set on adventure 

'Punci Veerayo', is a children's teledrama. Good children's local productions is are hard to come by and Channa has stepped into the correct but difficult field of such production. 

Wijeratne Warakagoda, Srinath Maddumage, Deepani Silva, Upul Gunawardena, Sarath Kulanga, Sandun Wijesiri and Rahal Bulathsinhala are playing the main roles. Veteran heart-throb of TV fans, Channa Perera, begins a career as Director in this mini-film. In an epoch, where children are addicts to the so called 'Idiot-Box' mainly due to the dearth of TV serials for the young Uns exclusively, Channa has come up with a bright idea to direct a mini film for them. Channa deserves all the 'encores' for his debut film. 

Thisteledrama consisting of as many as 24 episodes, portray the heroic side of children, not to mention their sense of unity, something the elders lamentably lack nowadays . The story revolves around four children, two boys and two girls, who bind themselves together under a banner titled 'Explorers' - a sort of children's club. 

Bhanuka, Himal, Dulari and Anju are the foursome by name. The main aim of the society is to fight exploitation, and help those in need of succour. Besides their hobbies, is a craving for knowledge, which they gather, by often visiting places, whenever they find time, away from school hours. Unlike in our day, today's chidren are apt to the use of the computer. The foursome feed the computer with all the knowledge they gather on such trips. Before their trip to Galle, they do consult the computer, and gether all info about the Southern city. The pocket computer is their closest ally. 

By the time they arrive in the South, they are well aware of all data including the population, land space, climatic condition et al, all obtained via the computer. One suggests that, they first visit the Gravets of Galle Fort. It is holiday time, and the worries of school subjects are far behind them, enabling them to enjoy their trip to the full. While straying in the Fort, they come across a camera left by someone, in a crevice on the wall. They decide to find the owner. 

Meanwhile, Francis and Bala are two thieves who are after the camera, on the instructions of a professor. They come to know that the children are now owning it. Sensing this, the children concur that the camera is of a mysterious type and hence the pursuit of it by the robbers. They feed the computer with all such data, in a bid to solve its mystery. The story is about the experiences they have to undergo in solving the mystery of the camera, in which exercise they confront the two thieves time and again. 

The story unfolds every week, in a bid to answer such questions as, who the camera owner is, whether the children will succeed in solving its mystery, or why the Professor set the thieves on its chase and what ultimately happens to the adventure seeking children. Channa Perera has very ably directed this mini-film. His idea to expose the mind of the child and its lust to seek adventure, come what may, is intelligently portrayed in the tele-drama, which idea he says he nursed for a long time. He has succeeded in also selecting the correct child actors to suit the theme of the mini-film of which he is producer too. 

- Len. R. Mahaarachchi

'Ginigath Madhusamaya': Story out of the ordinary 

By Sunil Jayasiri

Anuruddha and Ruchira after marriage set out to a very distant and lonely location for their honeymoon. Heavy and incessant rain makes the night-drive extremely hazardous for Anuruddha. At an unexpected moment, a cyclist worse for liquor, stumbles on to the road and not being spotted in time, gets knocked down by Anuruddha's car. All their dreams of a sweet and pleasant honeymoon turned sour when they saw the cyclist sprawled across the road, seriously injured. They are faced with an unexpected problematic situation, for which an instant remedy was necessary but not forthcoming. 

There were two probable courses of action to be taken, but neither was considered feasible. They could not possibly leave the dying man and continue on their journey, for that would be too inhumane. They were reluctant to take him to the hospital for if he should die on the way; their wedding night would have to be spent in a police station. To make matters worse, their homecoming was scheduled for the next day. 

Faced with this dilemma, they refrained from taking either of these plausible courses of action and instead decide to take the injured man along with them to the hotel they had booked for their honeymoon. The young lovers had to forget about their honeymoon and spend the entire night doing everything possible to save the life of the injured man. The anxiously awaited honeymoon, which they had yearned for, turned out to be an awful and disastrous one. This causes much frustration and ill-feeling between Anurudha and Ruchira. The story reaches a most unexpected and exciting climax. 

Roshan Pilapitiya and Anusha Damayanthi play the lead roles and they are ably assisted by Nimal Pallewatte, Saranapala Jayasuriya, Hilarian Perera, Gamini Jayalath and Manel Chandralatha. Veteran cameraman M.A.Gaffoor has handled the Camera and the Music is by Marius Fernando. Raju Banadara. 

H.S. Perera, Tissa Pandula and Eranga Senaratne have jointly produced "Ginigath Madhusamaya" on behalf of Sri Jaya Cineru Films. 

'Dadabima' shows how the drug rings operate 

By Sanath Weerasuriya

Debut film for popular model Michelle Reimers; Dadabima will run on the second circuit including Asoka and Empire cinemas 

A couple of new faces have been introduced to the silver screen along with Michelle. 

Michelle Reimers, Robin Fernando, Anusha Damayanthi Chanki Ipalawatta, Tissa Wijesuriya Nimal Sumanasekera, Wilson Karu, Sanath Imbulmure N. Samaraweera Milton Kuraperuma. Lakmal Fonseka and Kumudu Nilaweera have roles in this movie. 

Dadabima' unveils a story of powerful businessman involved in drug peddling under cover of his normal tea exporting business. Nimal Sumanasekara plays Baladasa. 

Mark Samson plays the role of ' Jumbo' who works for Baladasa and Tina (Michelle Reimers) a close friend and a business partner of Baladasa. She slowly gets closer to Jumbo. 

Wickrama (Chanki Ipalawatta) is a friend of Jumbo' attached to the Police working in civvies. 

Wickrama noticed that Jumbo is a high spender, so he questions ' Jumbo for the source of his income. 

He said he had found a packet of ' Heroin ' in a tea box. The following day Jumbo is killed and Wickrama is unable to investigate because of influence from the authorities. 

Wickrama applies for leave and tries to meet ' Baladasa' but fails. 

' Baladasa ' lets Wickrema walk into his trap and hands him over to the police saying he is trying to wreck his business activities. 

The Police assign an officer to go after Wickrema to look into his activities, but finally he too has to help track down Baladasa's illegal business involvement. 

Tina, Wickrama and this officer crash into his 'safe drug house' in a remote island and bust up the illegal activities. 

Dinesha Kumar is the cinematographer of 'Dadabima' and Lal Priyadeva assisted Louis in direction. 'Dadabima is produced by Pradeep Palithawadana and is a presentation of Hanako Films. 

'Cinesith' has come a long way

The theme for the cover page of the latest edition is taken from the article written by Gamini Wijetunge on using women as commodity in Sri Lankan society and in the cinema. 

The journal also carries a review on Prasanna Withanage's film "Pavuru Walalu" and the recently screened telefilm "Smarana Samapthi" of young dramatist Sathyajith Maitipe. 

"Post Modernism and the Cinema' is the full talk given by Prof. Wimal Dissanayake at the Neil I. Perera memorial lecture. 

Prof. Kusuma Karunaratne has written of her experiences while watching Prasanna Withanage's "Purahanda Kaluwara" at the Asian Film Festival in Tokyo in December 1998. 

'Cinesith' is available at the 'Asian Film Centre', 118, Dehiwela Road, Boralesgamuwa. 

Six dramas vie for state 

By Susitha R. Fernando

The six dramas selected for the final round were Buddhika Damayantha's 'Dawasa Thama Gewune Ne' (The day has not finished yet) and 'Bansi Marila Ne' (Bansi is not dead), Thu-mindu Dodanthenna's 'Arun-dathi', Bandula Jayawardhena and Nissanka Diddeniya's 'Swarnamali', Sunil Chan-drasiri's 'Beema Bhumi', Dharmasisi Bandaranayake's 'Trojan Kanthawo' (The Trojan Women), and K.B. Herath's ' Vasudeva'. 

At the 29th State Drama Festival (STD), recalling its history, Chairman of the Sinhala Drama Panel, E.M.G. Edirisinghe said that the first STD was held in 1959 at Lumbini theatre. For this, there were eleven dramas including dramas like 'Maname', 'Raththaran' and 'Kada Walalu', 'Kapuwa Kapothi'. It was in 1962 that STD was held as a competition and there were two sections namely stylized drama and realistic drama. The best Realistic drama was awarded to Suga-thapala de Silva's 'Bodi-ngkarayo' and the award for the best stylized drama was not given. At the beginning the awards were given only to the best actor, actress, music direction, script and production. 

Buddhika Damayantha's 'Davasa Thama Gevune Ne' is a adoptation of the American drama 'The Typist'. The drama was adjudged as the Best Drama at the State Drama Festival 99. Though the drama brings humour to its andience it examines far deeply the tragedy of the human behaviour. 

The other drama of Buddhika selected for the final round was 'Bansi Marila Ne' (Bansi is not dead) adaptation of African drama 'Sizwe Bansi is Dead'. The story of the drama is about the colonasation and the suffering of the Blacks due to it. 

The first stage play of young dramatist Thumindu Doda-nthenna's 'Arundathi' was also one of the six plays selected for the final round. The drama grabbed nine awards (including one for Best Script and Best Production) at last year's Youth Drama Festival. 'Arundathi' had a cast of youngsters, around the year old director, Thumindu. The story was woven around the caste issue. "Swarnamali" chosen for the final round was a co-direction of Bandula Jayawardena and Nissanka Diddeniya. Bandula Jayawadena was the Chairman of Sinhala Stage Drama Panel in 1976 and from 1980 to 1986 and had won the award for the Best adaptation in 1994. 'Swa-rnamali' is Nissanka Diddeniya first. I revolves round the maithree concept in Buddhism. 

Sunil Chandrasiri's "Beema Bhumi" is an adaptation of Indian drama and it is a story of a ruler called 'Tughlaq' whose violent behaviour brings about his down fall after a twenty-year rule. 

Speaking on 'Beema Bhumi' its director said "the theme of the drama has a parallel to the political arena of our country",. 

Dharmasiri Bandaranayake's "Trojan Kanthawo" (Trojan Women) chosen for the final round is an adaptation of Euripides' anti war tragic play. The play suffering of women in the defeated city a 'Troy' after a 10 year war. It depicts the woeful fate of women in Troy who are being taken as slaves to Greec. K. B. Herath's " Vasudeva" is a story of a man who struggles with his good and bad qualities that are in him. The drama depicts the end of an entire society that creates this inner struggle of one person. 

Hotelshow 2000' to boost local tourism 

The show organized by Ceylon Hotel School Graduates Association and host to over 200 exhibitors will showcase all hotel goods and services and offer hoteliers and suppliers alike, from the SAARC region to meet under one roof. 

A key player of the multi-billion dollar tourism industry, with a membership of over 450 professionals taking up more than 90% of key positions, events of this kind reflect the organization's commitment to its mission of being the catalyst for continuous development of the industry. The four seminars to be held concurrently with the focus on subjects such as Eco Tourism, Investment Mechanism, New World Wines and Service Excellence of Tourism Products will provide the participants with greater opportunities of professional development. 

This, coupled with the final competition of 'The Marie Brizard Cocktail and Bartenders' and 'The New World Wine Tasting and Training' are set to be key promotional events. 

With the backing of the government, Sri Lankan Convention Bureau and the national carrier SriLankan Airlines as well as numerous other government and non-governmental agencies, the Hotelshow 2000, the very first one of the millennium, has assumed the significance of a national event. The Hotelshow organized by the Ceylon Hotel School Graduates Association will be the showpiece events of the Sri Lankan hotel industry 

Over 200 stalls are expected with a wider participation compared to the previous year. 

The forum for all suppliers to showcase their products and services to the hotel and like industries of the SAARC regions will take place at the BMICH Colombo. 

The event will further focus on professional development of the Industry by a series of Seminars and Discussions for the Industry Professionals under the following topics - "Investment Opportunities in the Tourism Industry", "Information Technology e-commerce for the Hotel Industry" and "Towards Excellence in Customer Care". 

The final of 'The Marie Brizard Cocktail and Bartenders' competition as well as 'The New World Wine Training' will also be held concurrent to the Hotelshow 2000 Exhibiton. 

The event is backed by Ministry of Tourism & Civil Aviation, Ministry of Commerce and International Trade, Ceylon Tourist Board, Tourism Hotel Association, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka Trade Centre - Maldives, Ministry of Tourism - Maldives, Maldives Chamber of Commerce, Sri Lanka High Commission - India, Sri Lanka Convention Bureau and the national carrier SriLankan Airlines, would be a tremendous boost to the local tourism industry and Sri Lanka's International Trade. 

S-k-e-w-e-r-s irresistible 

Juhi Chawla at war with critics 

By Ismail Khan

Juhi Chawla is grinning from ear to ear, happy that the film had done well in Mumbai and the southern circuit. Sitting in the conference room. Juhi sifts through papers. Finally she removes her spectacles and sighs: "Frankly I don't understand a thing about these figures. I'm going mad just trying to decipher what they mean." 

So Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani is the topic du Jour. She can't even think beyond it. She chirps: "All our production guys have visited the theatres. Its the last half-hour that grips the audience. That's when they get emotional. Especially during the scene when the guards refuse to fire at the Indian Flag". 

She adds: "The hanging scene is my favourite. I thought the quiz on the name of the hangman's biwi (wife) was a brilliant piece of satire. It's something you see on television often. 

All of a sudden, her face takes on a fierce mum and she says: "Films which have done lesser business have been declared super hits. So why is Phir Bhi — being given stepmotherly treatment? The film recovered the money in the first week itself. If that is not good news then what is? 

Just then a unit hand brings along clippings of the film's reviews for her perusal. While the Hindi press has been kind the English press went town tearing Phir Bhi... to shreds. 

Juhi Chawla is miffed. She snaps. Critics crib that we keep making formula films. But when someone tries to do something different, they demolish the effort. One critic even wrote that its a stale tale of two TV reporters. Excuse me, but who has ever made a Hindi film on TV reporters before" ? She quizzed. 

She adds: "Sometimes I feel it would have been better if we had stuck to the tried-and-tested tender love story. Would you believe that some even said that the film wasn't like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. But it wasn't supposed to be like Kuch Kuch... Phir Bhi... was about powerplay in the media. I guess the promos were misleading. 

The actress can't fathom why the media have taken a strong offence to the film She reasons: "We weren't taking potshots at the media. You have to admit that media is big business today. Every minute on the air is sponsored. You can't deny that television is being controlled by the moneybags. 

She adds: "Our aim was to show how potent the electronic media can be if used correctly. Something like those propaganda ads during elections which prod you to vote because every vote counts. 

But was it necessary to endorse all those products in the film? "What's wrong with that?" She protests. "It was all a part of the script. After all, the film was about product endorsements. I thought it was done very cleverly. Besides, don't we get influenced by brand names while making our choices?" 

One wonders if the over-hype affected the film. "Was there an over- hype"? She asks. "I don't think so. Every big film is over-published. 

That's normal. 

Quite a few people did tell us that our promos looked like those of Duplicate. Some even said that the film was doing average business in B and C centres because everyone was confusing it with Duplicate and Yes Boss. That was silly." 

She refutes the allegation that the film went way over-budget. "We did go we bit over-budget" she admits but quickly adds. "But that happens to practically every movie. So what's the big question and the big deal. Besides we did not want to compromise on quality by cutting corners. It is a big film and we couldn't think small", she continued. 

Zooming in on her career, much has been made about her hitting skid row. Add to that the long lineup of rejected projects including Hansal Mehta's project starring Manoj Bajpai. 

Juhi has an explanation: "I heard the script. Believe me there are too many gaping holes in the girl's character. I couldn't understand it. There has to be an explanation for her behaviour. Probably they will develop the character later on. It's possible that I might regret refusing it tomorrow. But right now, it sounds half-baked to me. 

Has she thought about her future? Oh yes she says: "We will make another film. What else can we do? This time I promise even the critics will love it." 

That's the spirit, I thought. 

Udayakantha goes on state service

By Thusitha Fernando

The film written and directed by Udayakantha Warnasuriya has Sunil Wijeratne as the director. 

There was a time when we experienced unofficial curfew in many parts of the country. Arrangements are now been being to impose an unofficial curfew once again in some parts of the country. 

The political crisis that prevailed in the country during this period and the politicians of the day are portrayed in the film. 

The plot revolves around a powerful Minister, Janaka Situbandara (Sanath Gunatilleke) and Mahesha Upamali (Geetha Kumarasinghe) a middle aged widow. She loves music and dancing. 

Her second marriage to an old man named Sumanasekera (Joe Abeywickrema) is almost a failure. Sumanasekera is only a namesake husband. He doesn't mind living a henpecked life as long as his desires are fulfilled. 

Mahesha Upamali succeeds in getting around the Minister to get favours done for her own benefit. 

The Minister exercises unlimited powers to move the machinery of state terrorism. Then comes political cut throatism and the people become helpless. Utter chaos prevail in the country. 

" Crazy for power, desire to accumulate more and more wealth, nepotism and favouritism among the power hungry rulers finally ends those involved who are destroyed like moths around a fire. 

After the final scene of the unofficial curfew is filmed Udayakantha Warnasuriya has scheduled a 10 day voice dubbing schedule which would be followed by Stanley de Alwis editing the film. 

K.D. Dayananda was the cinematographer of the film. The only song is Rajya Sevaya Pinisai which is rendered by Nirosha Virajini set to the melody of music director Dilup Gabadamudalige. 

Ranjith Jayasuriya produces Rajya Sevaya Pinisai for Ureka Films. 

Mohideen Baig : Sang over 8000 songs 

By D.B. Kappagoda

He obtained a place as a play back singer in B.A.W. Jayamanne's films. His interest in music and singing began after listening to Rukmani Devi's first gramaphone record which she sang along with H.W. Rupasinghe who was known as Rupasinghe master. 

This was the popular song, "Siri Buddhagaya Vihare''. Later he confessed that this song created in him the interest to sing Sinhala songs. His dream was realised when he sang with Rukmani Devi in "Umathu Vishvasaya''. He created a record later when he sang in 400 Sinhala films. 

To name some of the well-known films, "Kala Handa", "Dingiri Menika", "Duppathage Duka", "Anagulimala". His songs were mostly on Buddhilst themes conveying religious feelings among the listeners. 

He had deep voice which could be raised to a high pitch. Film directors made use of his voice to raise the tempo of the song. This can be seen in his songs such as "Thanivai Upanne", "Narilatha Pushpe", "Sudo Sudu Ran". 

The songs he sang had meanings which appealed to the mind. Most of his songs were composed by C.T. Fernando, Karunaratne Abeysekara, Sri Chandra Ratna Manwasinghe, Sirisena Wimalaweera, Cyril A. Seelawimala, Premakeerthi de Alwis, U.D. Perera, Chitrananda Abeysekara, Sarath Wimalaweera, Hemasiri de Alwis. 

Baig had the chance of singing in 1935 when he sang "Karuna Muhude Namu Gilila" composed by U.D. Perera. It was for gramphone record. He was discoverd by Mohamed Ghouse who visited N. Parolis Fernando's shop at Maradana where Mohideen Baig had a rehearsal before he sang "Karuna Muhude". After listening to his rendering of the song Mohamed Ghouse gave a helping hand to Baig. 

In 1932, Baig came to Sri Lanka with his wife from Salem in South India. He arrived here to face an interview in the Police Department. From his school days he had the ability to sing Urdu and Hindi songs. At that time music parties were common and Baig was able to earn money by participating in musical shows. 

With the money he earned he proceeded to Madras and studied Raga and Tala under Professor Ahamed Baksh. 

In 1949 he had the opportunity of meeting Latha Mangeskhar in India. He wanted to sing two songs with her but she declined because she did not know Sinhala. But when T. Somasekaran produced "Seda Sulan" he was able to persuade her to sing with Baig. 

In 1945 he married his uncle's daughter Sakeena. His two sons, Ishan Baig and Illiyas Baig are following his father's footsteps in taking to singing. 

An Avalanche of thrills and pills 

By Ismail Khan

Somewhere in the Arctic lies a sleepy town of Jeune having 6000 inhabitants. Just outside this tiny township a huge nuclear reactor works day and night in supplying energy to this township and a few others beyond this town. 

The company, an Alaskan network, has kept its sight in supplying energy through this huge nuclear reactor. But the pipeline is not sufficient to bear the pressure in supplying energy to Jeune and the outskirts. But greed gets hold of some shareholders of this company and somehow they compel the engineers to do the job. 

But there is one among the staff who is paid by another reactor company who is bent on sabotaging the whole works. He convinces the Alaskan firm that extra pressure could be put through even though the pipeline is small. In this setup enters Dr. Freeman (Caroline) who loses her husband in an avalanche and Thomas Griffith (Neill) who rescues her but gets delayed in rescuing her husband, thereby weaving a tale of hate-love or love-hate whatever you prefer to call it. 

Dr. Freeman sees something wrong in the set-up of the pipeline and the pressure it could hold and gets in touch with the Alaskan firm who promptly engages her as an advisor. She supplies it and here begins the mission-salvation of Dr. Freeman and her consort Neill. 

At first they are shot at high above the Alaskan ice-capped mountains which they miraculously survive, then they are nearly done within another attempt when a smaller avalanche hits the town. Even here they escape the bid and live to tell the tale almost losing their lives in the big Avalanche the showdown scene in the film at end. They live through even this harrowing experience and defiantly live to tell the tale having made up over their petty differences to fly away in a helicopter very much in love. 

Now for the dissection: At the outset of the film a good part of the Alaskan ice-capped mountains are shown. They are well photographed. The scenes of animal life mostly of Arctic wolves and bears are fascinating. One where a polar bear goes after Dr. Freeman and Neil is thrilling and suspenseful indeed. The bear finally gets hold of Dr. Freeman's socks and outer garments and has a merry meal. I thought the director Stowell Kroschell did it very well by portraying the loneliness of this animal and its resultant hunger. It had an electrifying effect on the audience. 

The avalanches are few and far between, there are only three of them the most thrilling one being the last, the showdown part of it where part of a township is swallowed by it. The special effects are very good and it is very realistic. Full marks to the technicians for bringing out this scene as lively as possible. It was realistic to the last detail or somewhat. 

Performance-wise Caroline Feaney gives a good account of herself as Dr. Freeman and Thomas Griffith too gives a good account as her consort Neill. The humour and wit of Neill took me by surprise because in his earlier films this was absent. May be the director did the trick in injecting some humour and wit into an otherwise dull storyline, which never had any continuity as such. The direction and performance apart in this film plus the filming of the live avalanches especially the final showdown, one has something to see and digest. It is absorbing indeed. But the rest falls into the category of no hold. Especially the story, screenplay and the performance of lesser stars was much to be desired. 

Anyway enough was enough, and what I saw of Avalanche was worth the money 60/- I paid for it and nothing more. 

Verdict: An Avalanche: With thrills and of course spills. Spills were more than the thrills and add performance, special effects and fair direction by Kroeschell. it balances out well fifty-fifty. My rating is Fifty-Fifty. You will enjoy it part by part, and not the film in entirety. 

India's manycrowns of glory 

By Nuwan Senadhira

Recently it was said that one of the main reasons why Indian beauties tend to win is because most of the girls from the West, who take part in these contests, are rarely from the intellectual classes. 

So lets take a peak into the Indian Beauty Queens of the latter half of the 20th Century. 

1947, In India became independent. The very first Miss India was conferred with all the euphoria - India towards Independence, and the holocaust of partition - the nation was going through. Pramila, actress and stunt queen of Indian cinema, was pressed into taking part in the first Miss India contest. She was saddened by the fact that her very first film she signed, Return of Toofan Mail, was never completed. 

After a number of films she finally gained recognition with the movie Mother India (not to be confused with the Nargis epic of a later year, 1957). Pramila was featured as a foreign-educated Indian who returns home with progressive new ideas, only to realise that her roots lie in India. A big success, the film became the first Indian film to be ever shown in Buckingham Palace. 

Persis Khambata

Miss India (1965), Persis Khambata, was perhaps one of the very few Indians to ever make her mark in Hollywood. She was one of the first Indians to be known as a Hollywood starlet. She went on to star in such greats like Casablanca (not to be confused with the 1942 classic starring Ingrid Bergmen and Humphrey Bogart), The Wilby Conspiracy (opposite the very first black actor to make a name for himself in Bollywood, Sidney Poitier of To Sir With Love fame), Conduct Unbecoming, Night Hawks and many other Hollywood hits to her credit as well. She is best, remembered for her role of 'Lt. Aliea' in one of the greatest hits of the 1970's, Star Trek (motion picture). In 1982 when Persis met the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, had said. "Who doesn't know Persis. She is the Pride of India." Sadly the Pride of India was not destined to see herself complete half a century of her life. She died, aged 49, of a massive heart attack in 1998. 

Reita Faria was the very first Miss India to win the Miss World crown. The first Indian beauty queen to take the crown into the shores of India. When previously reigning Indian queen, Persis, met Reita she had felt that Reita was a "certain winner". "She was statuesque and confident. Not the assertive confidence of the 90's, but a very proper self-assurance. "As in those days very few people had swimsuits, Reita had to borrow the pink swimsuit Persis had worn at the Miss Universe contest. Reita went on to win the Miss Bombay contest, the Miss India and finally the World was under the spell of her mesmerizing beauty. 

Zeenat Aman, had not even thought of taking part in a beauty contest, it just happened to her by chance. Zeenat had applied to Femina (a magazine for women) as a journalist, instead Femina put her picture on their cover. The Femina covergirl went on to take part in the Miss India contest in 1970 and eventually brought the first Miss Asia Pacific crown into the country. Superstar turned film director Dev Anand offered her a role in a "hippie" movie on drugs, sex and Disco. Zeenat went on to be a Bollywood sex symbol, a heroine of an era when Bollywood was at its peak, with the sexiest, most fashionable and most glamorous people in the world. An era where the bikini was no such big deal, and sex and nudity started coming out of the closet. She also acted in an adult movie made by Raj Kapoor. Just 2 years ago she was beaten up black and blue by her inlaws over a custody battle for her children, after the death of her ex-husband. 

Tina Munim, another girl who gained fame by chance had done a fashion spread for Femina and on that basis was selected for the contest. She was selected for Miss Photogenic & Miss Bikini category in the contest, finally being chosen to enter the Miss Teen International. She won again. In movies, she was again another Dev Anand discovery for Bollywood. After spending her glamour life for around a decade or so, she bravely left cinema during her peak to complete her long overdue higher education in California. Later she married Anil Ambani, and now Tina Ambani is a popular figure in the social circles. 

Pamela Bordes

One of the most controversial beauty queens in India ever. Alleged to having an affair with a British member of the 'House of Commons". That was major scandal back in the 1980s. 

Juhi Chawla won the Miss India (84') contest at a very young age. She started acting, but her movies, even if doing well, didn't fetch her the required break. Little did she realise that by the 90's she would be a sweetheart of Indian cinema. 

One of the best years for Indian Cinema as well as the beauty circle was "1994". Shah Ruk and Juhi won their very first best actor/actress filmfare awards the same year. Shah Ruk Khan came, he saw, he conquered. Shah Ruk and Juhi shown on the screen like Amitabh, Hema Malini and Parveen Babi. Juhi might have not won the Universe crown, but Sushmita Sen did. Shockingly in '94 the first Miss Universe crown was brought down and paraded in India. Aishwarya Rai went a step further winning the second Miss World crown after a gap of 28 years. Diana Hayden, Yukta Mukhi were the next two Indians to win the Miss World title in 1997 and 1999 respectively. Lara Dutta, won the Miss. Universe 2000 this year for India for the second time. Meanwhile Dremz Unlimited (the Juhi, Shah Ruk & Aziz production company) released there first venture earlier this year Phir Bhi Dil He Hindustani Sushmita Sen and Aishwarya Rai captured the Universe and the World in 1994, this year they won awards for Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress respectively at the Filmfare 2000 ceremony. Do they always win everything together? Will India win again this year at the Miss World 2000 contest to be held later this year? 

All praise for EFM!

Nalin Wijeratne of Mount Lavinia writes…..........

He states that E! copied 'Thank you for making us number one' from SUN, then goes on to state 'but we played a similar one very much before'. 

The latter being my guess because he also goes on to mention something about market research. I wonder where he got a hold of that info being an outsider ?!... 

We of the public have certainly never seen any of this around. So please let me ask interested parties to stay out and let this be a public affair. 

When it comes to Radio, I think E!. deserves a standing ovation for their refreshingly new approach. They surely know how to break the monotony and fake attitudes of other stations . The only other Station that even comes close is TNL, because they too have their own unique style and like E! believe in creating something fresh and new rather than recycling the same old style. 

As for music, E! plays all the Number One hits that we want to hear including songs like RAZOR TONGUE, CRUSHED and Wonderland. 

All these songs were played first by E! and I don't think there is anything wrong with them saying so. 

All of us really love E!'s unique programmes. There is never a dull moment in our office, thanks to E! keep up the good work guys!!! We like your music . 

Best regards to the TV Times as well for giving everyone an opportunity to express out views like this. 

'Housewives Choice' 

Sheila de Alwis of Boralesgamuwa writes....

I for myself, still continue to say that it is a pity that most of our English films clash and so we have no choice but to see only one film each day. 

Thank you E.T.V. for showing us our favourite soap film "Bold and the Beautiful" especially because it is shown twice a day at 2 to 9 pm. We prefer to view the 2 pm show as it gives us a chance to watch other shows from 9 pm onwards. So I would like to suggest to E.T.V. that they telecast 'Sunset Beach' too at 2 pm. It will help us Housewives to view other films from 9 pm onwards. As 'Sunset Beach' has to be followed, we simply cannot miss a single episode. Showing it at 2 pm too will be convenient for us housewives. 

Please give us housewives a better deal, and try to give us some good English shows in the mornings and afternoons. This is something we old folks can look forward to. Please adhere to our requests and provide more entertainment for us. I also hear Kegalle viewers are unable to view any of the E.T.V. shows. How is that. 

Old is Gold

Don Sarath Abeyesekera of Bandarawela writes................. 

Though the old order has changed yielding place to a new generation of films catering to the new generation of fans, those of us of the old generation who had enjoyed them, yet prefer those old goodies. 

Even those crippled, the disabled and those hospitalised seem to feel a great sense of spiritual and mental solace while watching such films or listening to their melodious music on the televisions provided for them in hospital wards. They admit that the melodious music act as a pain-killer and lull them to a slumber of musical ecstasy. 

Decades ago, I could remember , people (like me) who really possessed the comprehension to appreciate quality entertainment, used to travel miles and miles to take our places in the long queues of cinema halls despite their old-fashioned, worn out uncomfortable seats, just to watch a good film. 

However, we are grateful to the I.T.N. authorities for atleast giving us the opportunity to watch a few sequences of old hits with song and dance every Wednesday at 9.30 p.m. A big thank you to Mr. Ranjit Edirisinghe for your "Bharatha Gee" programme. 

Therefore I would like to suggest that all T.V. Channels telecast atleast some of the following old films of yester year if could be salvaged from the archives, once a week for the benefit of those who had missed and of course for those who had seen, to revive the memories of the old generation. 
To name a few are - 

English Films - "Blow Hot, Blow Cold", " Love is My Profession", 

"Blood and Sand", "Purple Noon", "And God created Woman", "Snows of Kilimanjaroo", "For a Few Dollars More", "Guns of Navarone". 

Hindi Films - "Daag", "Mela", "Andaz", "Sangdil", "Shabnam", "Babul", "Tarana", "Bawju Bawra", "Rattan", "Anmolghadi", "Aan", "Jugnu", "Hul Chul", "Dulari" etc. 

Do not harass local musicians

Mohan Jayasuriya of Colombo - 4 writes............

Is it only the rich circle can enjoy these facilities . They can have casinos, can watch Euro 20000 on cable TV, can go to Lionel Wendt or to Bishop's Auditorium or Dancing at a night club with DJs. All these are allowed under 'war footing'. But rural 'Sangeetha Sandharshana' or musical shows in and around the city with our local artistes are very bad thing to do , when there is awar going on. 

Can I ask authorities to open up their big eyes and see the unfair things happening in this country? Or they can keep the blind eye as they always used to do in this country. Remember music is also an industry like other things and do not destroy it.

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