TV Times

TV Times

Kalang back to his first love
Veteran actor Amarasiri Kalansuriya, after a 17 year lapse has come back to the cinema, playing a major role in Udayakantha Warnasuriya's latest film, "Diya Yata Gindara".

Kalansuriya popularly known as "Kalang", who has acted in 54 films, came to the silver screen playing a role in Sugathapala Senarath Yapa's "Hanthane Kathawa" with that ever popular actor, Vijaya Kumaratunge. This brilliant actor won the Best Actor's award in 1974 for his very second attempt in Dharmasiri Pathiraja's "Ahas Gawwa".

However, Kalang temporarily left the cinema due to the numerous difficulties and hardships he had to undergo in his personal life. He played more challenging roles in real life as a labourer, salesman and businessman which were completely different to his roles on the screen.

Then came his second entry to the cinema with H. D. Premaratne's "Apeksha" and the role he played brought him another Best Actor's award along with several other OCIC presentations in 1978.

He was destined for more remarkable roles in the local cinema, some of them being H. D.'s famous film "Parithyagaya" (Sacrifice) and "Podi Wije" in which he played the stellar role.

Kalansuriya who bade goodbye to the silver screen due to the setbacks the industry was facing, has returned after 17 years of silence.

The British Raj and 'Sudu Kaluwara'
By Susitha R. Fernando
Sudath Rohana's first cinematic experience "Sudu Kaluwara" (The intruders) depicting the life and times in Sri Lanka under colonial rule will be released from July 4 in the CEL circuit cinemas.

The film is based on N. T. Karunatilake's novel 'Ulu Gedara Arachchila' and its script has been written by the director himself. Director Sudath who turned out 'Bedde Gedara', 'Yuga Wilakkuwa' and 'Wana Wadule Wasanthaya' joined the silver screen as an assistant director in the film "Viragaya."

The story revolves around certain incidents that took place in the 1930s in Lanka though not historically important.

Despite being a new comer to the cinema , Sudath has employed a colourful cast including Sanath Gunathilake, Jayalath Manoratne, Somalatha Subasinghe, Indrajith Navinna, W. Jayasiri, Buddhadasa Withanarachchi, Palitha Silva, Sandeepa Sewmini (Our Cover Girl ), Jayani Senanayake and there are some guest appearances by Hemasiri Liyanage, Wally Nanayakkara, Richard Weerakkody and Bandula Withanage.

The village headman- Arachchila is a petty official with immense powers over the life and property of the people in the village under his charge. He is a loyal and obedient servant of British imperialism, promoting and establishing their political interests in the colony of Sri Lanka- then Ceylon.

Wilson Herald, a British planter, transforms a natural forest into a coconut estate. Seemon Fernando, a married man and an outsider, arriving in the village starts a business on a small scale. Dingiri Banda who befriends Wilson constructs the first tiled house in the village earning the wrath and displeasure of Arachchila who is later found guilty of felling illicit timber and is sacked from office. Dingiri Banda succeeds him as the Arachchila.

Meanwhile Wilson who had started a love affair with a beautiful village damsel Heen Menike decides to marry her. Her father Appuhamy objects to the marriage on grounds of cultural incompatibility. Podi Nilame, a grandson of the Korale Mahattaya who is proud of his ancestry as well as his country, becomes indebted to Seemon and thus becomes a tenant cultivator in his own land.

This was only the beginning of the troubles. More disasters are yet to come wrecking the peaceful simple lives of Sri Lanka due to the changes introduced in the economic, political and cultural sphere. In short it is the result of the foreign influence.

Depicting the beauty of old Ceylon, the film was shot in some of the eye-catching locations around Kalawana, Thambu-ththegama and Kaltota.

Sudath is technically supported by Welagedara Ranasinghe as art director, Elmo Halide as editor, Lal Wickremarachchi as cinematographer and Navaratne Gamage as the music director.

The Film Development Fund of the National Film Corporation has sponsored "Sudu Kaluwara."

'Bless the Child'
'Bless the Child' - a suspense movie from the director of "The Mask"- Chuck Russel, is now being screened at the Majestic cinema in Colombo.

Distributed by Paramount, the film is imported by CEL. The cast include Kim Basinger Jimmy Smits, Christina Ricci and Rufus Sewell

Maggie (Kim Bassinger) and Cody are a family. Maggie is a hardworking nurse -a strong independent woman, committed to her work, but bound by love to Cody. And Cody is special. She's a partially autistic six-year-old, a warm, brilliant child and everyone loves her. Then come the killings. Children are being kidnapped and murdered -and they're all six years old. The days pass. An edge of terror starts to spread like a disease through the populace as more and more children are lost. Then they take Cody.

In mortal fear, Maggie turns to the police who, at first, ignore her cries for help. Then she finds Decker (Jimmy Smits), a detective who responds instinctively to her absolute desperation. As they work together to rescue Cody, they find themselves drawn further and further into a storm of such ferocity, that it seems as if the very element of life itself is at risk.

Following the film 'Bless the Child', which would be screened till July 17, the MC will screen Academy Award director Steven Spielberg's "Catch Me If You Can" from July 18.

CEL's first production: 'Diya Yata Gindara'
The Muhurath ceremony of the film "Diya Yata Gindara" directed by Udayakantha Warnasuriya was held recently. This is the maiden production effort of Cinema Entertainment.

CEL is the banner organization of three film importers, Ceylon Theatres, Ceylon Entertainment and Cinemas Limited.

Udayakantha is a film director of repute having done "Gini Avi Saha Gini Keli" and "Bahu Barya" among others.

In this ninth directorial assignment he tackles a story in which a group of people run the risk of making money by illegal means and face the results thereof.

In the cast are veteran actor Tony Ranasinghe, Amarasiri Kalansuriya, Sanath Gunathilake, Srinath Maddumage, Nirosha Herath, Srimal Sathyajith Wedisinghe and Achala Alles who has made a name acting on the mini screen makes her presence felt on the wide screen with a major role in 'Diya Yata Gindara'.

Stanley de Alwis is the editor, K. D. Dayananda is director of photography and Sangeeth Wickremasinghe does the music score. Udayakantha wrote the story and screen play.

The shooting scheduled in locations in and around Kirindiwela and Colombo has already started and it is planned to finish the work by mid July.

CEL hopes to release it next year in cinemas of its circuit.

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