TV Times

TV Times

Bandu is a versatile character
By Poorna Rodrigo
Bandu Samarasinghe proved himself well beyond his usual role of the comedian and that he is as much an actor and could give a good shot in playing the serious lover's role and also a talented singer - - when "Bandu Live in Concert" came alive at the BMICH last Sunday.

Anybody who had seen Bandu on the silver screen playing the comedian, would have had second thoughts on how Bandu would put up a solo show all by himself knowing too well all that he was good at was acting the jokers' role. But it was not to be so.

In a one man show maintaining variety and breaking the monotony is very important. And Bandu did it well and in fact gave his very best. As the show began at 7.30, though one hour behind schedule, Bandu made a surprise appearance, dressed like a politician, riding a ramshackle motorbike made his way down the isle of the audience, with a blaring horn, right onto the stage.

The experience in itself must surely have been a different one for the compere Vijaya Corea. Shedding his usual way of compering Corea too joined Bandu and instead struck a casual conversation with him, cracking jokes, providing much a drama and humour for the audience.

While Bandu and Corea did a superb job of work, Channa Upuli's dance troupe duly compensated for any lack of actress in the show. The only actress that performed with Bandu was Damitha Abeyratne.

Bandu came up with an amazing performance to some 21 old favourite songs of the yesteryears' films which however had all been sung all by himself and recorded for the show.

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