• DJ Bin back to spin discs
• New film on planning board
• 'Mille Soya' has reached the top through hardship
• 'Sivusiya Gawwa': tale of a dramatist and his love
• 'Travel Days' to boost tourism
• 'Bonikko' discusses a social theme

DJ Bin back to spin discs

He was attached to TNL Lite Radio and vanished without a trace some years ago. 

But Bin is here again to spin his discs specially for his fans. 

Bin Mohammed was in Melbourne, Australia doing his studies and spinning in a discotheque circuits in Melbourn. 

'I am a professional Mobile DJ. I do lot of gigs at popular night spots in Melbourne, Australia. Zane Bar, QBH Discotheque are a couple of places to name.' Bin said. 

' I started there in last December and QBH is one of the biggest spots in Australia, where lots of international artistes are doing their acts very frequently. I sometimes spin my discs along with these famous faces and I' m very proud of it,' he added. 

Bin is studying music and studio production in Down Under, while working in night spots after dark. 

'I play lot of R & B funk and dance music. The scene in Aussie is quite different to Sri Lanka. Here we play lot of commercial music and pop stuff. But in Melbourne the popular music is House music and Underground music., ' he explained the different between two scenes.

Bin said he get lot of private functions from Sri Lankans living there.

'Moorabin Town hall is one of the famous places to hold Sri Lankan Functions and I do get lot of opportunities to play at these functions.' he said.

'I play baila too, because it is a must for a Lankan functions', he added.

Bin will be here till January next year and hopes to perform at a popular venue till then.

New film on planning board

The director who did the films "Dehena" and "Vimukthi" will deal with what happened in a rural village in the 1960s. The shooting of the film is scheduled for December.

The film, initially titled "Kurumitto" (Dwarfs) is a story woven around a circus team coming to a calm and quiet village. The film depicts the changes taking place with the new invaders to the village which was peaceful.

"Kurumitto" which would be an entertainment and a family film will unravel the pathetic life of the circus men and the exploitation they are undergoing. There would not be anybody who would free them from exploitation but a group of children.

The cast though not confirmed yet will star Jackson Anthony and H. A. Perera in the leading roles.

'Mille Soya' has reached the top through hardship

By Susitha R. Fernando

Sihina Deshayen which was screened in 1994 won 30 national and international awards including best actor and four critics awards. 

Mille Soya is a Sri Lankan-Italian co-production, with a major part of the location work being completed in Naples, Italy. 

The story of "Mille Soya" revolves around a group of youth who are musicians who want to reach the top among the other musical groups. But their search for quick money appears dangerous and risky. 

These musicians come from the less fortunate class in Lankan Society, They are without money and without opportunity. Friends returning from Italy talk about the money to be made in that country. But the journey there is not straightforward because it's not legal. The film follows them on their dangerous journey with all its hazards, its tears and laughter, and also death. When in Naples, the appalling conditions of their day-to-day living, the hard labour, but also the basic human frailties, strengths, loves and hates, are also shown.

The shooting of the film which started in 1997 included locations in Naples, Positano in Italy in addition to local locations in Chilaw.

Enlightened with the many stories of the Sri Lankans who have gone in search of greener pastures, the talented film maker turned to a cinematic experience what he came across sometime in 1993 . The film was not a easy task but a challenge according to young Buddee, a graduate of the School of Visual Arts, New York City. The search for funds was not easy to put into the celluloid what he had in his mind. 

Speaking on the difficulties he narrated how one of the leading actors was arrested in Sri Lanka, tried and jailed for a crime he vehemently denied having committed and the script had to be re-arranged to accommodate his non-availability. And it was not financially possible to take a large contingent of people and equipment to Italy.

Further accommodation was not the only problem on the two-week pre-production and two-week shoot in Italy. Being unable to hire professional Italian production managers, the team found themselves constantly falling over the bureaucratic obstacles of the Naples municipality when it came to filling in forms to obtain the necessary permission to shoot a film on location in Italy. In many instances the desired locations were not made available. Other problems followed. People got ill. Time and money was running short. So the point was reached when parts of the original script had to be put aside, 

Back in Sri Lanka the struggle to complete the film continued. Technical hiccups had to be sorted out, some scenes had to be re-shot, and worst of all, more money had to be found. 

But the director kept cool, backed by his friends both local and foreign.

In Sri Lanka, many personal friends among the acting and cinema technician fraternity helped Boddee. 

The Lankan community in Naples, about whom the film was about, gave Boddee amazing support both financial and practical terms. Some of them even acted in the film. They opened up their homes to the film crew.

Among the crew number of accomplished film stars also pitched in to work with Boddee - for example actors Ravindra Randeniya, W. Jayasiri, Kamal Adaarachchi, Sanath Gunatileke, Linton Semage and Mahendra Perera and the actresses Sangeetha Weeraratne,Sabitha Perera and Veena Jayakody.

The well known crew also included , Roger Seneviratne, Wasantha Vittachchi, Victor Ramanayake, Anthony Surendra, Pradeep Hettiaratchi.

The film is produced by Buddhi Keerthisena, director's father as the main producer and Film location Services as co-producers. Camera was handled by Moshe Ben Yaish and K.A.Dharmasena while Ravindra Guruge did the editing. Production designed by Chandraguptha Thenuwara. Music was done by Anthony Surendra, Earny Peiris, Charith Wickremanayake while the original film score was by Lakshman Joseph De Saram.

'Sivusiya Gawwa': tale of a dramatist and his love

By Sunil Jayasiri

"Sivusiya Gawwa" is the latest teledrama of Susil Goonaratne, who has wide experience of doing teledramas, cinema and stage dramas. He is the Deputy Editor of the "Sarasaviya" cinema magazine.

The teledrama "Sivusiya Gawwa" is a story dealing with the struggles in the life of a stage drama artiste. The 14-episode teledrama is to be released in the near future.

Arjuna is a young and well known artiste. He was born in the village but came to the city in pursuit of his vocation. When he runs short of money to finance his stage dramas he disposes of his ancestral properties to pursue work in dramas. Arjuna had an affair with Nanditha, who is the leading lady in his stage drama. Nanditha lives with her mother, brother and an uncle Mahathun.

Kamal, who is the best friend of Arjuna is working in a bank. Kamal's fiancee is Manel, who is very rich, and lives with her mother and sister. Arjuna's stage drama was staged and Manel was seen among the audience. After watching the drama Manel falls in love with Arjuna but she was only fantasizing.

Arjuna faces financial problems after staging the play, while Kamal has to go to India for official work. Kamal promised to get the money from Manel. After Kamal left for India for a few weeks, the relationship between Arjuna and Manel developed into a love affair.

When Kamal returns everything seemed changed. He has lost his best friend and his girl friend too. Nanditha also suffers because of her boy friend's new affair. While these things were happening Arjuna and Manel get married. After hearing this Nanditha's uncle attacks Arjuna. Meanwhile Arjuna is offered the main role in a new teledrama, where the heroine's role was being played by Nanditha. Manel too accompanies Arjuna on locations. But she was unaware that the main role was being played by Nanditha. This causes a family dispute and Manel accuses Arjuna, of being aware of Nanditha's role from the beginning.

Manel goes home to her mother and sister. She refuses to live with Arjuna. What would be the future of Arjuna? Will Nanditha or Manel accept him.

The cast of the drama comprises Palitha Silva, Dilani Abeywardane, Susantha Chandramalee, Harsha Bulathsinhala, Manel Wanaguru, Buddhi Wickrama, Ama Wijesekara, Damitha Saluwadana, and Kumari Perera.

'Travel Days' to boost tourism

Leading European Travel Editor, Tom Brucoleri speaking at a travel function in London spoke of the huge potential where tourism is concerned. Sri Lanka has it all.... a marvellous combination of culture, exotic scenery, beautiful people., a thriving economy, first class accommodation for the discerning traveller', said Tom Brucoleri in London. He added that this year's World Travel Market scheduled to be held at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre in West London will be a showcase to the world as to what Sri Lanka has to offer to the international traveller. 

Sri Lanka represented by Ceylon Tourist Board will be participating at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London. The Sri Lanka Tourist Board will have a huge stand at the WTM and joining them will be the new look Sri Lankan Airlines now under Emirates management. The Editor of Travel Days pointed out that the island has had very good positive converge in the British media - recently, Travel Shop on the NTL/Cable & Wireless TV network highlighted Sri Lanka as an ideal destination with palm fringed beaches and stunning scenery. 

Travel Days are publishing the only WTM travel supplement on Sri Lanka focusing on the very best of Sri Lanka where tourism is concerned. A Travel Days team are to visit Sri Lanka shortly prior to the World Travel Market. The supplement will look at the ideal locations for the discerning traveller and will contain messages from the Minister of Tourism, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board, the Direcctor of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board in London and the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka. 

Travel Days has a huge circulation aimed at leading trade buyers, airlines, hoteliers, travel agents and business companies. 

'Bonikko' discusses a social theme

The 24 - episode drama takes a compassionate look at the impact of divorce and family strife on little children through the story a five -year-old girl who is deprived of her mother's love by the break-up of her parents' marriage. 

" Bonikko" is produced by Sandya Mendis and directed by the award winning teledrama maker Nalan Mendis ( the team responsible for Doo Daruwo , Nedeyo, Senehavanthayo and Sathpura Wasiyo.) The teledrama brings together an accomplished cast led by the effervescent Sriyantha Mendis (Palingu Menike, Dandubasna-manaya, Beddegedera) the serene Yashodha Wimaladharma (Situw-arayo, Nedeyo, Sathpura Wasiyo) and debutant Subhani Prisika, whose performances reflect the zenith of their craft, the drama's sponsor Hayleys Electronics said. 

The company, which has undertaken to sponsor the production and telecast of the drama over Rupavahini, said it believed the sympathetic handling of the story and the mature performances by the cast would make a lasting impression on audiences of all ages and would be significant contribution to the art of teledrama making. Director Nalan Mendis added: " This is a story filled with dramatic situations, which are very relevant to contemporary society. It is my first attempt to portray how middle class families cope with life's challenges, and their impact on children".

He said one of the biggest challenges of directing " Bonikko" was the casting of a child (Subhani Prisika) in a leading role. " We interviewed more than 50 children for the character of Surangi, a little girl whose loneliness leads her to confide in her dolls, " Mr. Mendis discloed. " Subhani was the perfect choice , and it has been a rewarding experience for me and for her co- stars to work with her." 

The drama's male lead Sriyantha Mendis, is the winner of two Best Actor awards in 1995 and 1996 and was adjudged the most popular teledrama actor in 1999. Yashodha Wimaladharma, who plays the female lead, was voted one of Sri Lanka's ten outstanding young persons in 1998, and also won the most popular telderama actress award twice, in 1998 and 1999. Chandani Seneviratne, the other female lead has also won awards as Best Teledrama Actress and Most Popular Teledrama Actress. 

" Bonikko" is scripted by Reginald Jayamanne and is based on a story written by the well-known picture storywriter Janaka Ratnayake. It also stars Manel Jayasena, H A Perera, Gamini Hettarachchi, Srinath Maddumage, Anoma Nandani Wijeratne, Ratnavali Kekunawela. The teledrama is scheduled to be telecast over Rupavahini shortly.

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