• 2000-year old Stories
• Best of Sri Lankan music from Manoj
• One more feather in cap
• In tribute to Anand Patwardhan
• New faces Somasekeran brought to screen
• Sumathi gives filip to tele makers
• The story of Gajaman Nona

2000-year old Stories

A novel cassette named "obatai me" '10 True stories of 2000 years ago' has been released at the right time, when we are heading for the fast approaching millennium.

The songs are based on the incidents of true life of Jesus Christ, that had taken place 2000 years ago. This cassette which comprises of 10 songs is quite different from other cassettes, as this is the first time a cassette of this type has been released. All these Songs being duets are extracts for the new testament of incidents of Jesus Christ and another person. A tremendous amount of care had been taken in composing these songs by Lucky Deva who planned to create something very special.

The themes are Reggae, Disco, Baila etc. In keeping with the modern melody Mahesh Kumara has directed music. The highlight of this novel cassette is that the easy lyrics and the modern melody tends to stick in ones mind, and be appreciated by people of any religion. Sunil, of 'Gypsies', and Piyal, Indrani Perera, Annesly Malewana, Chaturani Meegoda, Chandani Hettiarachchi, Asanka Priyamantha, Jagath Devapriya, Lankika Perera, Lucky Deve of Golden Chimes, Thilak Perera of Nec, Christine Goonawardana, Saumya Chathurani Anuradha Mendis, Shimali Gomas Lalith Kalubowila of MAF, Anil Bharathi, Uresha Ravihari, Mahesh Silva of Simple, Sureshi Wanigasooriya of Experiments, Oshanthi Dalpadadu share in the singing.

Presenting this perpetual cassette, will undoubtedly be a new experience. Says Lucky Deva, and this will be a big attraction for the festive season and the new millennium.

This cassette is a presentation by Lal Withanage of Spider International Networkers and Ceylon Bible Society. This can be purchased at Ceylon Bible Society, 293, Galle Road, Kollupitiya.

Best of Sri Lankan music from Manoj

By Sanath Weerasuriya

Manoj Peiris, one of the best music directors in the scene and a well known tabla maestro, released his very first CD 'The Best Sri Lankan Instrumental' recently.

This instrumental CD comprises sixteen songs from various artistes and Manoj had given his magical new touch to these songs.

The new music arrangements and the direction were handled by Manoj and the CD was produced in Greenwood studio in Zurich, Switzerland.

The sixteen songs featured on the compact disc are 'Seetha Re Yame' (Sanath Nandasiri), 'Raththran Neth' (TM), 'Udumbara' (Dayaratne Ranatunge), 'Ran Tharakawan' (Jagath Wickremasinghe), 'Ran Dunuke Mala' (Clarence Wijewardena), 'Waradak Kaltah' (Sanath), 'Muyuru Kalpana' (Victor Ratnayake), 'Sandak Nam' (Rohan Bulegoda), 'Duka Hadu Dena' (Kapuge), 'Shantha Me Re Yame' (Amaradeva), 'Mal Bara Himidiriye', 'Akuru Meki Ne' (Edward Jayakody), 'Malagiriviya' (Divulgane), 'Sanda Midulata' (Mervyn Perera), 'Umada Sithuwam' (Kapuge) and a Hindi Melody.

Although Manoj has performed with back up orchestras for about 700 audio casettes from various artistes, throughout his career, this is his very first CD under his music direction and also performances.

Apart from his own achievements in the field of music, Manoj hails from a family of celebrities in Moratuwa. Malkanthi Nandasiri, Nirmala Ranasinghe and Neranjala Sarojini, who have made a name in music field are his sisters.

At the age of 12 Manoj found himself being a member of the SLBC Children's Corner and soon rose to be an 'A' Grade artiste. His favourite instrument was the tabla. At the age of 14 Manoj began playing the first notes 'Na din din na'. His brother-in-law Wijeratne Ranatunge a 'tabla' maestro gave him the necessary backing to pick up this art.

With the intention of mastering this art Manoj entered Bhartkande University where he obtained a diploma and later qualified for the title 'Visharad'.

Manoj proudly says he holds a record for having visited more than thirty foreign countries with more than 25 artistes.

For the first time in 1995, Manoj and Jagath Wickremasinghe are jointly putting out a CD of 'tabla' solos recorded in a popular studio in Germany.

He has taken this opportunity to introduce as many as possible local drums such as 'rabana's', 'geta bera', 'uddakki' along with many of our traditional drums. "I am proud to say that the combined renderings of our local drums have produced the much needed rhythm for the CD".

Manoj holds the view that we can easily get a breakthrough to the west by exploiting our oriental instruments by way of CD cassettes.

This new instrumental CD too was with new trend music where Manoj had experimented with many traditional sounds.

One more feather in cap

By Kumaradasa Wagista

At a colourful ceremony versatile filmmaker Steven Spielberg (51) was awarded the US military's top civilian medal by the Defence Secretary of the country. amidst top military brass recently.

When the medal was pinned in lighter vein Mr Spielberg had said "I am in the Army now"

The reason for the presentation of this rare honour, is canvassing public support for the US armed services with his film World War 11 epic ' Saving Private Ryan', it was reported.

A lunch was hosted by the Defence Secretary to celebrate the honour bestowed on the world's most renowned film director.

Here Mr Spielberg said he wished every American could feel the experience of producing such a film and pride in their country that right now fills his heart and soul which makes him humble.

"My goal was to remember unsparingly the sacrifices of my father's generation, and to try to get my children to honour the past and also understand the importance of what World War 11 did for us and the world" he said.

Today's youth have a tendency to live in the present and work for the future., and to be totally ignorant of the past. "I just hope through films, television, literature and through people who are conscious of our vanishing history, that we will all do more to point people backward, so that we can take that giant leap forward." he added.

Steven Speilberg won his second Oscar as director for ' Ryan', becoming the 13th, filmmaker to have won the second award for direction.

The Defence Secretary William Cohen said the film 'Ryan' had a profound impact in promoting awareness of a generation of Americans who went off without question to fight World War 11 to Europe and the Pacific.

"I think one of the most remarkable results of the film is that it not only prompted us to go back into the past, but that it prompted so many of the veterans to come forward." Mr Cohen added.

'Ryan' won Oscar awards for Cinematography, Sound Effects and Editing also.

It was also reported that when Steven Spielberg won the best Director Oscar award for 'Ryan' he acknowledged his father Arnold Spielberg, a radio operator, on a B-25 airplane during the war, was the inspiration for making Ryan.

In tribute to Anand Patwardhan

A documentary film festival of artistic creations by internationally reputed film director Anand Patwardhan is to be held in Colombo.

The festival will be held at BMICH Auditorium from November 2 to 5. Screenings will start at 5.00 p.m. each day.

He will conduct a workshop on the package of films on November 3, from 9.00 a.m to 12.00 noon at the same venue.

Anand Patwardhan hails from Mumbai. He is an internationally acclaimed documentary filmmaker. He is an anti nuclear peace activist, environmentalist, and above all a humanitarian.

His films have discussed diverse issues from communalism to masculinity, environmental degradation to violence affecting marginalised communities.

The festival will commence with the screening of 'In the Name Of God' (90 m) on November 2. This documentary is on the rise of Hindu fundamentalism as reflected in the temple/mosque conflict in Ayodhaya and the resistance to this by the urban and rural poor

'Father, Son and Holy War' (120 m) is scheduled to be screened on November 3. On the patriarchal roots of religious violence and the link between male insecurity and communal bigotry in India.

' In Memory of Friends ' will be screened on November 4., is on the relevance of the martyred freedom fighter Bhagat Singh's socialist legacy in the strife torn atmosphere of today's Punjab.

Two films ' Narmadha Diary' (60 m) and 'Bombay Our City' will be screened on the concluding day November 5. Narmada Diary is on a non violent anti dam movement led by the Narmada Bachao Andolan (Save Narmada movement) in western India. 'Bombay Our City' is on the daily battle for survival of Mumbai's slum dwellers.

Admission tickets are available at Vibhavi Cultural Centre, phone 812407.

New faces Somasekeran brought to screen

Filmmaker T. Somasekeran introduced several new faces in 'Sujatha' produced under Cinemas Banner. Most of these artistes took film acting as their career later.

Florida Jayalath who made her debut appearance in 'Sujatha', in mid sixties directed a film titled 'Sweep Ticket'. and made a name as our first woman film director. Prem Jayanth who later rose up as a top film publicity artist specialised in creating film hoardings was also introduced in this film.

Dommie Jayawardena is another artiste introduced in this film. He later rose up to be the most accomplished villain of the Sinhala screen. He appeared in a number of films under various film directors. Dommie Jayawardena directed two films, ' Daru Duka' and ' Singapore Charlie'.

Dommie Jayawardena died two decades ago, aged 52, on December 12, 1979.

Arrangements are being made to pay tribute to this artiste by organising a 'Dommie Jayawardena Commemoration Day' at John de Silva Memorial Hall Colombo on January 8, 2000. Clippings of Jayawardena films will be screened at this meeting attended by film personalities..

Cultural Ministry, The Film Actors Guild and Kala Lanka Foundation will organise this event, his two sons Nihal and Roy said.

"We have been informed that a certain group of people are getting ready to collect advertisements to publish a souvenir in memory of our father which is not so. The souvenir will be published by the organisers and not by any other party." they said.

They warn advertisers not to contribute advertisements to these bogus organisers.

Sumathi gives filip to tele makers

The annual Sumathi Tele -Awards Festival will be held at Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium on November 6

Tourism and Aviation Minister Dharmasiri Senanayake and Sports and Youth Affairs Minister S.B.Dissanayake are the chief guests. Television programmes telecast and concluded between April 1, 1998 and March 31, 1999 are eligible for entry.

Bronze Trophies and cash awards will be presented to the winners selected by an independent panel of jurors.

Teledramas, Musical Programmes, Current Affairs Programmes, and TV Commercials submitted by the Television telecast organisations sre submitted for selection, Sumathi Tele-Awards, sources said.

Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, Independent Television Network, MTV, Teleshan, Swarnavahini and Sirasa TV have submitted these programmes and other materials. The highest cash prize is Rs 50,000/- for the best teleserial. The best single episode will receive a cash prize of Rs 20,000/-The other cash prizes in this category are Rs 10,000/- and Rs 7500/-. The most outstanding artistes, male and female, will be bestowed with the cash prizes and trophies presented in memory of the founder of Sumathi Group of Enterprises and film producer U. W. Sumathipala.

Awards for TV Commercials, Popular Awards Miscellaneous Awards and Youth Awards are also in the list of awards.

The National Youth Services Council and Sumathi Newspapers Ltd. have jointly organised this festival.

The story of Gajaman Nona

The story of Dona Isabela who gained a name as poetess Gajaman Nona is now made into a teleserial with Vasanthi Chaturani playing Gajaman Nona.

The first episode of 'Gajaman Nona' was telecast on National Rupavahini on Saturday (yesterday) at 8.30 pm. It will be continued on Saturday's.

Her life is full of very interesting incidents. Most of them would be incorporated in the drama which is written by K.B.Herath.

A group of women in Kamburugamuwa in Matara area went to a forest collecting firewood. Amongst them was a pregnant woman. The women unknowingly went a bit deeper into the forest where wild elephants roam. Suddenly the pregnant woman developed labour pains in this thick jungle. With no help from anyone the women attended on the patient, where she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.

Although the girl was christined as Dona Isabala, villagers called her 'Gajaman Nona' because she was born on the paths where elephants strode. (Gaja is also a Sinhala word for elephants)

This little girl grew up in the village, when a scholar monk from Kandy visited Matara for a bana preaching.

This monk was so popular that villagers went to meet him to exchange pleasanteries. Gajaman Nona now a young woman was also interested in visiting the monk. But as a custom women did not visit religious prelates those days. Her urge to meet this scholar monk was so intense that she disguised herself as a young man and went to meet the monk.

While chatting with the monk the young man proposed that he was prepared to study oriental languages under the guidance of the monk. The monk agreed and the young man accompanied the monk to Kandy.

Much later after she was popular as a famed poetess this prelate visited Matara once more. On his second visit she went and introduced herself as Gajaman Nona who studied under the thera disguised as a youth. The story goes on with many more interesting incidents taking place.

Neil Alles, Priya Ranasinghe, Nayana Kumari, Jayalath Manoratna, Nissanka Dikdeniya, Roger Seneviratna, and Ranjan Ramanayake act in it.

The teleplay based on historical facts is written by K.B.Herath.

The musical score is composed by Rohana Weerasinghe. Wimalaratna Adikari has directed it.

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