Contents

• Screen show for Women's Day
• Divya weds, breaks intuition
• Geetha yet to play her role in life
• Wijenaike's 'An Enemy Within'
• 'Salupota Ahasata': a rare theme

Screen show for Women's Day

'Kinihiraka Pipi Mal' is a 45 minute teledrama.It is scheduled to be telecast on National Rupavahini to commemorate the International Women's Day on March 8 at 9.30 p.m.

The teledrama opens with Chaturi Lihiniyagolla (Chandani Senevirat-na) going to office driving her own vehicle. Although according to her education she could have been employed in the executive cadre in a public or private sector seeking job satisfaction Chaturi works as an instructess in a Women's Welfare Institution.She enjoys life by sacrificing her time and energy by attending to the needs of women in modern society.She takes all efforts to attend to the social and mental problems faced by women amidst exploitation and injustice.

Chaturi lives in a middle class flat with her husband who also holds a high position in society.However their family life is unsettled because of drunken habits of her husband.He not only insults her saying that her mode of employment is silly but even goes to the extent of neglecting the home.He also interferes in her official duties.

At times she even thinks of leaving her husband and living all alone but second thoughts stop her.

It is at this juncture that the climax of this teledrama begins and ends on an unexpected note.

Rangana Premaratna,Wilson Gunaratna,Gnananga Gunawardena,Prasannajith Abeysuriya,Nayana Hettiarachchi,Malini Caldera and Sharman Vindhaya are cast in other roles.

The teleplay and direction is by Inoka Sathyangani Mahadivulwewa-the award winning young film maker who has many highly acclaimed creations to her credit.Ruwan Costa has photographed it while Sudath Mahadivulwewa is the Executive Producer.

Divya weds, breaks intuition

By Bandula Jayasekara

In 1997 beautiful and charming Divya Chauhan was crowned Femina Miss India-Asia Pacific along with Nafisa Joseph and Diana Hayden who later went on to be chosen the most beautiful girl in the world as Miss World.

Within three days of winning the crown Divya flew to Sri Lanka with her two friends on a goodwill mission. It was her first trip abroad. She was fascinated with Sri Lanka. She spoke at length about Lanka's green and clean image and the places of interest. The Delhi Beauty was so charmed by the Sri Lankans that she declared openly that she wanted to marry a Sri Lankan. The Bombay papers highlighted the remark made by the young beauty queen. She moved the Lankans and the Lankans moved her.

Towards the latter part of 1997 she was crowned as the first runner up Miss Asia Pacific and had Asia at her door step. It was not for a long period and a young computer engineer Avanish Kumar stood at her doorstep and extended his hand to her. Divya forgot the Lankans and wed Avanish recently at the Asiad Village in New Delhi. And the TV Times was there to capture the lovely couple who took their vows to go on a timeless journey and moonlight walks.

Geetha yet to play her role in life

By Kumaradasa Wagista.

She has three films all ready for release.A script for another is being studied by the Defence Ministry.

She believes her role proper in life has not begun yet.

Geetha Kumarasinghe the tough woman that she is,is not afraid to call a spade a spade and nothing else.

'Vasulie' directed by Dharmasena Pathiraja,'Sathya Devi' made by Chandraratna Mapitigama and 'Anuragaye Ananthaya' are the three films that have been completed." I am making arrangements to release 'Anuragaye Ananthaya' which is directed by Mohan Niyaz No sooner I get the green light from the National Film Corporation it would be released"she said."It relates an interesting story of a woman falling in love with a conman."Lucky Dias,Angela Seneviratna,Tony Ranasinghe,Cyril Wickremage play in it.It is scripted by D.Keeragalaarachchi.Mohan Raj and Somapala Ratnayake direct music.Referring to a script lying with the Defence Ministry authorities she said it related a story of a woman who faces a problem because of an army officer."Therefore their permission is necessary to film it."she said.Udayakantha Warnasuriya will be directing this film after she receives the OK from the necessary authorities.

Although Geetha has produced several films under the GSK banner and publishes a cinema magazine,she does not label herself as a business womam "My husband is a businessman but I do not call myself a business woman.There is much more to study and gain experience to be qualified to hold that title "She proudly calls herself a mother and a housewife.Although there is no record of the number of films she has acted under various banners since 1975,her love for art keeps on prodding her for more work in the art field.That does not mean dabbling in films only."I love anything beautiful and creative which may not necessarily be films.There are many more avenues in the art field for one to get involved" Although her first love was for films it is now not so."One learns more as one grows up.Then one becomes more serious and looks at things in a more realistic way

.The younger generation should come up as we cannot hold on to these vocations for ever. My first love now is my loving ten year daughter Tarika who is presently studying in an international school.Looking after her is my greatest pleasure".

"She has already graduated from the university of experience."I have no regrets.I have acheived much more than I anticipated.I have helped many but I shall not talk anything more. The good one does not be publicized.

Politicians may come and go but the problems of the film industryremain unaddressed.Tax relief measures, removal of GST in film transactions, improved cinema houses and many other matters remain unresolved by successive governments"We are proud to be involved in the Sri Lankan film scene. It's true that most of our film producers cannot compete with Hindi films where glamour outshines everything else.It's the duty of our foreign diplomatic missions to arrange cultural activities or co productions with us so that our country could benefit."

Geetha is so fortunate to enjoy the rare privilege of visiting Switzerland once a year."It's holidaying in her husband's mansion in Baran once a year when she is free from the usual type of work.

Wijenaike's 'An Enemy Within'

The heralding of authoress Punyakante Wijenaike's latest book 'An Enemy Within" will take place at the British Council Hall 49 Alfred House Gardens Colombo 03 on March 10 at 5.00 p.m.

'An Enemy Within' comprise collections of traumatic experiences from some of the victims of the Central Bank bomb explosion which took place on January 26,1996,showing a crime of man against man.

Dr Rajeewa Wijesingha will be the chief guest while Dr A.T.Ariyaratna will be the guest of honour.

The keynote address will be delivered by Film director Tissa Abeysekera.

Punyakante Wijenaike won the prestigious Gratien Award in 1994.Her novel 'Giraya' was made into a teledrama by eminent film maker Lester James Peries some time ago. She is also the author of "Waiting Earth'.These two creations have been translated and published in Sinhala. Sarvodaya Vishva Lekha are the publishers of this novel.

'Salupota Ahasata': a rare theme

A film advertised as strictly for adults only was scheduled to hold its premiere at Ritz Cinema Borella on Friday.

It's Mario Jayatunge's 'Salupota Ahasata'the controversial film which came under fire from the Public Performance Board (PPB) which has been finally allowed under adults only tag." It's true that the PPB was not happy with the presentation of some scenes of 'Salupota Ahasata'. However not allowing its screen rights would be a blow to the financiers of the film specially at a time like this when the film industry is in a crisis" Mario Jayatunge said. After several appeals the PPB sliced several parts of the film and allowed it Therefore the release of the film was delayed by about a year,I do not regret.it he said."

'Salupota Ahasata' is centred around a boarding house which is occupied by Prema (Veena Jayakody)a fancy woman.She lives with her bed ridden husband (Lucky Dias) and their daughter.It's her dream house where many sinister acts take place.Boarders are seen visiting this house frequently. One fine day while Prema was engaged in her profession a woman who lives down the same street, but not spoken to, visits her. She is Subha (Gayana Sudharshini) who becomes an addition to the profession.

Prema is in search of sexual satisfaction and entices young men to satisty her needs.

After a few days a young university undergraduate is brought to her house by her mother. He is Sirimal. Prema finally finds the man she wants.

Cinematographed by Nimal Nakandela and edited by Asanka Perera the musical score is directed by Sarath Wickrema. Sunila Abeysakera,Ivor Dennis, Indika Upamali,and Athula Adikari are the playback singers.

Sunil T Fernando presents the film for S.Y.Films.

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