• Sharmini's fabric jewellery is unique
• MAF go for elections
• Vengaboys show" : Disappointing
• 'Sulan Kirilli' : Maiden effort by Sathyangani
• Sarath's fund raising cassettes
• Suresh: the hulk
• NZ - SL cultural aspects on screen

Sharmini's fabric jewellery is unique

This week's TV Times cover comes some of her crations. 

Sharmini won the Best Award for Jewellery and Patchwork in an All-Island Needlework and Jewellery Competition organised by the Housewives Association. In a Festival of Cribs Competition held in 1998 Sharmini's creation had won the first prize.

Her own creations carefully selected cut out pieces of patterned fabric sewn by hand over bits of hard cardboard to fashion jewellery that is uniquely different from the general run of costume jewellery. The results of Sharmini Candappa's patient, painstaking handiwork are very satisfying to the eye. 

Using the same technique, she has created some striking wall-hangings, pasting figures and objects cut out of fabrics on to a plain cloth. 

"When an idea enters her mind, Sharmini won't talk. She shuts herself up in her work-room and won't even come for meals until she's finished what she sets out to do".her mother said

Her talent is many faceted. "I've always loved sewing and at first I was happy producing embroidered baby layettes. I also designed bridals. I have worked as a saree designer for Ceylon Synthetics, have designed textiles for Pugoda Fabrics, done crafts and tapestries for Barefoot and have been a lingerie designer for Unichella. Now I work for myself"

When on holiday in England last year, a friend of hers had organised a display of Sharmini's work at an arts centre in Cardiff and her creations were also on display at an annual open air exhibition held in Cardiff Bay, said to be Wales's largest open air art show bringing original work before the public. 

MAF go for elections 

The Moratuwa Arts Forum (MAF) consists of over one hundred members, many of whom have reached the pinnacle in their respective artistic fields. The main objective of the forum is to help talented youth from Moratuwa to blossom in their respective fields of arts.

The Forum has done immense service during the past six years and a host of meaningful programmes are lined up for the future as well.

The next MAF project is titled 'Country & Folk Concert' which would feature a galaxy of well known stars from the forum performing country and western songs. This programme would also take the form of a one hour sing-along session with audience participation and is scheduled to take place on April 1.

The new committee is bound to meet soon after the AGM to discuss the programme for the ensuing year. It has been earmarked to execute programmes for the youth of Moratuwa to improve their artistic and leadership skills.

The AGM would have two segments - a ceremonial opening with many distinguished invitees, followed by the formal business sessions.

Vengaboys show" : Disappointing

By Tania Fernando

The hype created prior to the concert was such that people who had paid Rs. 500/- to see them perform was expecting something spectacular. 

According to tickets issued the concert was scheduled to commence at 7.30 pm, but even by 9.00 pm there was no indication as to when the Vengaboys would finally make their appearance on stage.

At about 8.00 pm the two comperes of the show Chevaan Daniels and Tom Hart, who were totally unprofessional came on stage and introduced Ginger. Next came Natasha who also tried to keep the audience entertained but was not quite successful. 

Meanwhile, the thousands who gathered at the CR & FC grounds were getting impatient and restless awaiting for the promised Vengaboys to appear, but was getting more local entertainers to perform.

The comperes at every chance they appeared on stage was requesting the people to get off the cable which they had laid and kept threatening the crowd that if they did not "get off the cable" the Vengaboys would not be performing and that they would have to cancel the show.

It was not possible to understand what the comperes were saying most of the time since the sound system was not upto standard.

After Natasha the next was Men In Black who also tried to get the audience prepared for the Vengaboys who even at 9.00 pm was yet to make an appearance.

After Men in Black who sang three songs the comperes returned to the stage to introduce Bhatiya and Santush. They said that Vangaboys wants to see some local talent, hence the performance by Bhatiya & Santush who were on for about half an hour. During their performance the crowd was getting enthusiastic knowing that Vengaboys would be next, however it fizzled out since it took about 15 minutes for the Vengaboys to make their appearance.

By the time Vengaboys made their appearance it was 9.45 pm. They sang six songs which included Sha la la la la, Venagboys are coming, I am gonna kiss kiss kiss. It also looked like they were lip synchronizing because I saw on screen the lips moving but did not hear any sound. When they actually interacted with the crowd you could hear the difference in the tone.

They sang the same songs in different sequences at least three times for the lack of songs. The show finally ended at 10.30 pm with a very disappointed crowd creating a stampede on their way out since there were no proper exit gates.

Overall the organizers cheated the public claiming that it was going to be Vengaboys when performance by local artistes seemed to outweigh the performance by the Venagboys. In future organizers should be more honest and give the public what they are paying for. 

The Sunday Times photographer was not permitted to take any pictures.

'Sulan Kirilli' : Maiden effort by Sathyangani

By Susitha R. Fernando

The muhurath ceremony for the film was performed with Dharmasena Pathiraja and Sunil Ariyaratne gracing the occasion. 

"Sulan Kirilli" is one of the three films to be produced, using funds given by the National Film Corporation through the Film Development Fund project.

Inoka has won the "Sumathi" and "Unda" Awards. 

Filming of "Sulan Kirilli" is scheduled at several locations around Colombo from the first week of May. 

The drama based on a true story portrays the shattering experience of a village girl who had come to town seeking employment as a garment factory worker.

The cast selected for some of the principal roles are Linton Semage, Damitha Abeyratne, Jayani Senanayake, Leonie Kotalawela, Buddadasa Vithanarachchi, Rada De Silva, Bandula Vithanage, Senaka Wijesinghe and child actress Pramudi Karunaratne.

Sarath's fund raising cassettes

One of the two cassettes, named "Sanda Sisilai" comprises songs by Visharadha Nanda Malani, Sunil Edirisinghe, T. M. Jayaratne, Priya Suriyasena, Rukantha Gunathilake, Pradeepa Dharmadasa, Athula Adikari, Samitha Mudunkotuwa, Damayanthi Jayasuriya, Amarasiri Peiris, Indrani Perera and 'Gypsies. All the songs for the other cassette named "Oba Hinda Ma Gayuwe" are sung by H. R. Jothipala, one of the best playback singers. 

Completing his studies at Dharmaraja College in Kandy, Sarath first studied Hindustani music and later Western music while practising on the accordion. Joining the "Fortunes" musical group as a permanent player in 1993 he had become a cello player in the SLBC band in 1998.

"He was the music director for twenty seven films including "Handana Kinkini", "Abhiyo-gaya", "Savithrige Rathriya", "Ragini" and "Sanda Yahanata". Sarath Wickrema was awarded the Presidential Award in 1998 for the music composition of a song sung by Nanda Malani who also won the best female singer award that year. Sarath also has directed music in over 50 teledramas.

"The main objective of the cassette is to raise funds to produce a compact disc (CD) with experimental symphony from the Sri Lankan folk songs" Sarath Wickrema said.

Suresh: the hulk

By Susitha R. Fernando

Suresh entered the world of films in Mario Jaythunge's "Salupata Ahasata" which came under the 'adults only' tag. That was when he was just twenty years old. 

This was followed by another five films and among them are 'Disco Girl', Salupata Ahasata 11', 'Kawuda bole Allis', 'Unusum Rathriya' and 'Adam and Eve' which has not been released yet.

His talents are many sided. As a student at D. S. Senanayake Vidyalaya he studied oriental music and acted in several stage dramas in the school. 

A Bharatha Natyam dancer Suresh performed his 'Arangetram' (debut) four years back under the tutelage of Baratha Natya maestro Mrs. Vigneshwari Harichchandram, an Indian artiste. He is well versed in Latin American dancing as well.

Reminiscing on his first experience before the camera Suresh said "I was really shy and frightened. It was a dream come true to act with some leading figures in the cinema scene,".

While recounting his past experiences he did not forget to thank actresses like Veena Jayakody who acted alongside with him while giving a wide margin for his shortcomings as a novice.

Youngest in a family of two sisters Suresh is studying to be an accountant. 

When asked about love, Suresh became red in the face and confessed there had been two or three minor affairs which never became serious. "At the moment I don't have time to start a serious affair and I am awaiting to meet the right one in the future" said Suresh. 

NZ - SL cultural aspects on screen

The script written by one of the leading script writers deals with incidents that arise due to cultural and social differences faced by immigrants.

As a part of the cultural exchange programme a group of indigenous people from New Zealand, will perform with Sri Lankan cultural groups in Colombo, Kandy and Galle next year.

According to the Chairperson of VISION aspac Inc, Dr. A. H. Dhanapala Maori's are similar to the indigenous people of Lanka and their culture.

"According to Maori legends they had arrived in New Zealand in the 14th century", he said. 

Ngati Rangiwewehi Maori club of Rotorua of the North Island in New Zealand have planned to visit Lanka on a two-week cultural tour.

Among the other objectives of the organisation is the desire to support projects which could help to a enhance in multiple ways the living standard and development of the people of the two countries.

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