• Vengaboys will dance and sing
• Platinum Trio:
• 'Nethranjali': a modern day tragedy
• 'Sathmala Giravi': formulaic story
• SLBC 75 years old
• Sirasa: Lankan style restaurant in Paris

Vengaboys will dance and sing

Vengaboys (Pronounced Bengaboys) will be the next act to be in Colombo.

If the things go as planned they will be in action at the CR&FC grounds on March 10.

This popular dance act will be in Colombo after a couple of concerts in Dubai and will proceed to India for a live concert in New Delhi on March 12.

Vengaboys identifed as as number one pop dance troupe with the sale of over four million copies of their debut 'Party Album' worldwide.

"The Vengaboys" was a working name for the two DJ's Danski and Delmundo, who were touring with their schoolbus across Spain from 1992 to 1997. In the summer they placed their equipment on various Spanish beaches to organise illegal beach parties. The parties usually ended when the Guardia Civil showed up.

During one of the hottest Spanish summers (1996) the Vengaboys met up with Kim, Roy, Denice and Robin on one of their beach parties. They were at that time performing as independent artistes on a work-for-hire basis. Cruising from beach to beach during the 1996 summer it became obvious that 'The Vengaboys' no longer stood for the DJ's Danski and Delmundo alone. From now on everybody felt "Vengaboys" meant Kim, Robin, Roy, Denice, Danski and Delmundo.

They would be performing under the name "Vengaboys". Bearing in mind Danski and Delmundo are ugly as hell and can't dance at all, one thing lead to another and Denice, Kim, Robin and Roy were already planning the European tour during Christmas time 1996. With Kim and her gang being the performers, a positive side-effect would also be that Danski and Delmundo could spend their time on producing and DJ-ing.

It almost looked like the dream would vanish into thin air when the group in January 1997 got arrested in Spain for provocative reasons. During one of their legendary performances in Barcelona the Vengaboys decided it was time for an extra surprise. Under the banner "Music for the people, money for the people" they performed a socalled "Cash Chaos Concert". The Vengaboys threw an amount of approx. $10,000 cash in the audience. The results were: extremely happy fans, total chaos, a performance that only lasted for eight minutes.

In March 1997 was the single "Up & Down" first released.

The highest Benelux "Up & Down" single chart position was number 4 (April, 1998).

From then on Vengaboys perceived the Benelux as an excellent test market. Therefore, the follow-up single "we like to party! (The Vengabus)" and the Vengaboys debut album "Up & Down The Party Album" have both been released shortly thereafter in Benelux (April/May, 1998).

In August 1998 the single "We like to party (The Vengabus)" received the "PLATINUM" status in Benelux.

'We are going to Ibiza', 'Uncle John from Jamaika,' 'Sha la la la la', 'Forever as One' are some of the top hits popular in Sri Lanka.

They are dancers and they will dance and sing to the backing tracks as they usually do.

Maharaja Entertainment's (Pvt) Ltd the sole agents in Sri Lanka for Sony Music, Universal music and BMG have released three of Vengaboys hottest selling albums in Sri Lanka and they are available at all leading M Entertainment authorized dealer outlets. So prior to their arrival you may want to check out their music the albums being Vengaboys-Vengaboys, Vengaboys remix album and Platinum album.

TV Times readers are given a special place at this Vengaboys Concert as the organisers Yes FM and MTV, will give away two concerts tickets to Venga fans.

All you have to do is to write the four correct names of the Venga line-up on a postcard and send it to 'Vengaboys - TV Times Competitions', TV Times, C/o Wijeya Newspapers Limited, No 8, Hunupitiya Cross Road, C'bo - 2 on or before March 6.

Platinum Trio:

Led by musician, vocalist Roy de Silva, 'Platinum Trio' recently launched itself as a unique three-member musical outfit together with Nihal Dalpadadu and Sherine Hettiarachchi.

The Group has already established a name for Western Pop and folk music as well as Sinhala, Tamil and Hindi pops. Commencing work as entertainers at weddings and parties, 'Platinum Trio' has now graduated as a unit that is capable of producing full length concerts.

Roy is a veteran musician with over 25 years experience having played under the guidance of the legendary Patrick Denipitiya. He thereafter went along with Crystal Set, Knight Riders and SEAC. An old boy of De Mazenod College, he excels in guitar and keyboards as well as in vocals. He has also ten original compositions to his credit.

Nihal Dalapadadu, the other member of the group is key board specialist and is a past student of Maris Stella College in Negombo. He has for several years been involved as a piano soloist. He was earlier an active member of the group called Inner Circle in Negombo.

The third member young Sherine Hettiarachchi, the sister of vocalist Sherma Hettiarachchi gained valuable experience as a church organist and singer.

The combination of the talented trio who has the correct blend of youth and experience is all set to make a big impact in the local scene.

'Nethranjali': a modern day tragedy

By Susitha R. Fernando

Nethranjali is the latest teleserial to be telecast on Rupavahini. It is telecast every Wednesday. It is directed by Sunil Siriwardena and produced of Sunil Ratnayake.

'Nethranjali' the latest teledrama is a story woven around a teacher who struggles to live but whose life finally ends in tragedy. 'Nethra', though young in years is compelled to carry a big burden of responsibility.

Her first love affair which started while she was an undergraduate had to be given up in the face of opposition from her parents.

Nethra is the eldest daughter of a retired police officer. She has to look after two siblings, a younger brother and sister.

Her responsibilities are not only limited to her family. She has to look after the family of her father's sister whose husband had eloped with another woman leaving her with a son and two daughters to be fed and cared for.

Nethra worries about the future of these two whose married lives are not happy. One was a proposed marriage while the other was a love marriage. But from the beginning both were bound for failure. The family burdens become heavy when the head of that family, Nethra's male cousin goes missing suddenly. He had once been interested in Nethra but never expressed his love.

Meanwhile Nethra's sister is chosen to model for an advertisement and this brings some light into their lives. But her brother who begins to study computer systems becomes a victim to a crafty businessman.

At this time her cousin who went missing returns with the news that he has joined the army.

After the advertising assignment the sister becomes exposed to the pitfalls of society. This begins to worry Nethra.

Her sister begins a love affair with a brother of one of her teacher friends. This affects her friendship with Manori, the teacher friend and leads to a number of disputes in Manori's family too. Though Manori's brother who comes from abroad brings some relief to Nethra's life this new friendship too begins to trouble her.

The troubles come in a row with the financial difficulties in the family. The other problem was the cousin's love for her. But Nethra's life gets into a mess when she meets her old flame.

Though age is catching up with her, she yearns for a little love. Will she find happiness at long last? Will she abdicate her responsibilities?

Many troubles follow her with the meeting and would she able to begin a new life with her old lover? and would she be able to forget all her responsibilities?

Speaking of the teledrama its director, Sunil Siriwardena said mature and couragous women could be affectionate, mild, gentle and lovable at one and the same time. "But I wanted to pose the question whether this could be applied to a young and inexperienced girl", he said.

'Sathmala Giravi': formulaic story

"Sathmaala Giravi", seventh directorial venture by Sanath Abeysekara will be screened every Monday at 7.30 pm on ITN from March 12, 2001. This tragic story is about Appuhamy and his two sisters. The theme of the drama is the success enjoyed by the courageous and hard working while the injust fall by the wayside.

Appuhamy's nephew 'Raja', is a singer in a hotel. He falls in love with a female vocalist, 'Sanju' in the musical group. They dream of being the best in the country in singing. 'Kumara' lives in a house belonging to Appuhamy and entertains high hopes of owning Appuhamy's property one day. He is able to achieve his goal with the help of forged deeds.

As all evil plans are bound to end in a tragedy, Kumara fails to enjoy the property he gained by unfair means as he becomes a drunkard.

He wastes his money on liquor and is finally bedridden with a stroke. Kumara's wife is compelled to resort to the begging bowl.

Meanwhile Raja after achieving his goal comes to support Appuhamy a helpless man in old age. Raja and Sanju get married and take Appuhamy to live with them. But this blissful life does not to last long as 'Sanju' is followed by a man who tries to win her heart and causes a number of problems between the couple.

SLBC 75 years old

Broadcasting in Sri Lanka has a long history that stretches back 75 years. The period has not been an entire success-ups and downs were there- but broadcasting has survived.

A gala event was held to mark the occasion last Tuesday at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH). It was organised by the SLBC.

The audience was taken back to the beginning with music being provided from the old times.

The programme also included the presentation of souvenirs to twenty eminent scholars and twenty employees representing the staff who rendered commendable service to the SLBC.

Sirasa: Lankan style restaurant in Paris

Paris and Lyon are regarded as the capitals of international cuisine where even the most remote villages in Africa have representative restaurants and patrons are able to sample delicacies from those regions.

Sirasa is not the first Sinhala restaurant to open its doors here but is certainly the most popular among both Sri Lankans and foreigners.

Situated between the two of the busiest railway stations the Gare du Nord and Gare de L'Est at Rue Louis Blanc the forty seater restaurant has a menu varying from the basic Sinhala string hoppers and pittu to hoppers, Malay dishes, thosai, vadai and the Northern Sri Lankan cuisine. This is also treated as a rendezvous for peace loving Sri Lankans of every race creed and caste where newscomers to the French Capital are given guidance whenever they seek it.

Spokesperson for the restaurant Kumar Vincent said that the relaxed atmosphere at the restaurant is making it extremely popular with the French who are keen students of Sri Lankan History, Geography, Culture, Art and Drama. Most of them are keen to visit Sri Lanka and make extensive inquiries into the social situation here.Vincent said the restaurant is an ideal place to inform prospective visitors to the country of the pros and cons of Sri Lanka. "We are open day and night whereas information can only be got in other places during working hours.

We serve as a dual purpose outlet." The restaurant has promotions of Sri Lankan Tea to the people who have not tasted the various brands and are also hoping to hold exhibitions of Sri Lankan cottage industry produce and handloom material.  

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