• Spice is the word
• Rohan on Star Parade
• Halloween Night at ‘Le Garage’
• The blue and white disc
• ‘Clothes Show’ at Galadari
• A decade of AFC 
• ‘Minissu’ on Rupavahini
• Adventure is reborn when Mummy Returns
• Rosa Wasanthe on screen soon
• A Home Away from Home
• Dim Sum at Long Feng
• “Buy One and Get One Free”: new Promotion from SLTB
• Wine party at Hilton
• First meeting of BBHA

Spice is the word

By Sanath Weerasuriya

The Spice Girls were the first major British pop music phenomenon of the mid-’90s to not have a debt to independent pop-rock. Instead, the all-female quintet derived from the dance-pop tradition. 

Their proud, all-girl image and catchy dance-pop appealed to younger listeners, while their colourful, sexy personalities and sense of humor appealed to older music fans, making the Spice Girls a cross-generational success. The group also became chart-toppers throughout Europe in 1996, before concentrating in America in early 1997. Every member of the Spice Girls was given a specific identity by the British press from the outset, and each label was as much an extension of their own personality as it was a marketing tool, since each name derived trom their debut single and video, “Wannabe.”

Geri Estelle Halliwell was the “sexy Spice”, Melanie Janine Brown was the “scary Spice”, Victoria Addams was “ posh Spice”, Melanie Jayne Chisholm was “sporty Spice”, Emma Lee Bunton was “ baby Spice”. 

By the end of 1995, the group had signed with Annie Lennox’s manager Simon Fuller, and began writing songs with Elliot Kennedy. “Wannabe,” the Spice Girls’ first single, was released in the summer of 1996, and it became the first debut single by an all-female band to enter the charts at number one in England. 

All of this added to the group’s momentum, and their second single, “Say You’ll Be There,”. Spice, their debut album, was released at the end of the year, accompanied by their first ballad, “2 Become 1”. Both the album and single went directly to number one, staying there for several weeks; both records were at number one over the Christmas week, making the Spice Girls one of three artistes to achieve that feat. Having topped the charts in virtually every other country in the Western world, the Spice Girls concentrated on America in early 1997 releasing “Wannabe” in January and Spice in February. They became massive stars in the US as well, also scoring the hits “Say You’ll Be There” and “2 Become l”, Spiceworld, their second LP, appeared later in the year in conjunction with their feature film of the same name. In May 1998, Geri Halliwell departed from the band, not citing major reasons for leaving the group.

The Spice Girls trudged on - Melanie B married Spice Girls dancer Jimmy Gulzar and released the solo single, a duet with Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot called “I Want You Back”. By Christmas, The Spice Girls scored a no.I hit with Goodbye . Melanie B gave birth to a daughter named Phoenix Chi in February 1999, and Victoria followed a month later with a son, Brooklyn Joseph. And now only known as Victoria Beckham, Posh Spice married Manchester United soccer star David Beckham later that summer. Becoming now more noticeable for their social status than their singing, the Spice Girls took a well deserved break while Melanie C. took over the English charts with her successful solo effort Northern Star, which was released in the US in fall 1999. To enter this contest, all you have to do is to answer the question on the coupon and send it to the address given below.

The address is “Listen to Original Music Contest, No. 56, C/o Maharaja Entertainments (Pvt.) Ltd., 330, T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10.

Tel: + 941672425-8, Fax + 941699070. E Mail: me@lgo.lk

All the entries must be originals from the TV Times and no photocopies or faxes will be entertained. All correct entries will be drawn by a panel of judges. 

The entries should reach the above address by October 30, the latest. The decision of the judges will be final and the names of the winners will be announced in The Sunday TV Times accordingly.

Here are the winners of contest no. 52. The winners of two Sony Original CDs are M.L. Sithy Ayesha of Badulla and Mr. Ivan G. of Colombo 2.The two audio cassette winners are W. Prasanna of Colombo 6 and Tharandi Fernando of Kandana.

The 10% off gift vouchers go to Anushka Silva of Dehiwela, Langston Jansz of Ragama, C. Anderson George of Colombo 13, Charlene De Motte of Dehiwela, Amith Dissanayake of Badulla and Dilip De Silva of Borelasgamuwa.

The Poster winners are Manilka Leanage of Colombo 8, Miss. P. Olivia Nirmalee of Punduloya, G. Ian Barthelot of Kalutara, Sanamali Anandagoda of Kandy and Michelle Wijesuriya.

Rohan on Star Parade 

“Sri Lankan Star Parade” is the latest musical programme by popular presenter Bevil Palihawadana which features top names in the local music scene. Rohan will be the third artiste to be on this programme.

Rohan’s popular hit ‘Lorenzo’ which is composed by Ananda Seneviratne, ‘Tharu Maga Salakunu’ and ‘Bosonova Song’ will be played on this programme. 

The lyrics and melodies of latter two songs were done by Patrick himself and musical arrangements of all these songs were done by Sunil Cooray.

Halloween Night at ‘Le Garage’

Catch the performance of DJ’s of MOS and YES crew together with the lightings and sounds by Master of Sound.

Manager Le Garage, Rushdi Rahim said that the discotheque will be turned into a place of devils and ghosts. Also there will be thrills, shouts and surprises during the night.

Tickets are priced at Rs. 400 with ladies free and guests win weekend packages, vouchers, gift packs on ticket draw and other competitions.

The blue and white disc

The event is to be held at Hotel Kelaniya, Kandy Road, Kiribathgoda on the 30th October.Tickets (Dinner Tickets Rs. 350/=) are available at the gate.

‘Clothes Show’ at Galadari

The clothes show which will be held in association with Arena Dress Boutique and Galadari is the second in the series.

The “Clothes Show” will be presented by Colombo’s top models and the clothes will be from Area Fall and Winter 2001 collection.

A decade of AFC 

Ms. Sumitra Peries who was the Chairperson of the Cinefan Asian Film Festival in which this film won the Best Actress Award will introduce the film. AFC will launch five new publications to coincide with its 10th Anniversary. The Tamil translation of the book “Profiling Sri Lankan Cinema” co-authored by Professor Wimal Dissanayake and Ashley Ratnavibhushana, a Sinhala language book on “Erotic Zone of Sri Lankan Cinema” co-authored by Gamini Wijetunga and Darshana Liyanage, the first issue of the “Cinesith’’ film journal Engish edition edited by Robert Crusz with Ashley Ratnavibhushana as Associate Editor. “Film Annual 97” and “Film Annual 98” jointly edited by Ranjanee Ratnavibhu-shana and Thusita Jayasundara will be launched at this event.

Rev. Fr. Ernest Poruthota, the founder of the Sri Lanka Branch of the OCIC and Dr. Lester James Peries will deliver two appreciative talks on AFC’s contribution towards Sri Lankan Cinema.

The AFC was established in 1991 and its inaugural event was the festival organised in Colombo under the theme “New Indian Cinema of the Eighties”. Since then during the past ten years AFC had organised several important festivals in Sri Lanka (Colombo and other cities) and has introduced contemporary Indian Cinema, new Iranian Cinema, Swiss Cinema and also cinemas of Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore.

And on October 23 for the first in Sri Lanka AFC will introduce another cinema in the Asian Region - the Malaysian Cinema. AFC has organised three retrospective film festivals of Raj Kapoor, Ritwik Ghatak and Buddhadeb Dasgupta. AFC also co-ordinated the First European Film Festival held in Colombo in 1996 and the First SAARC Film Festival held in Colombo in 1999.

On invitations extended by AFC several film personalities and film critics visited Sri Lanka such as Adoor Gopalakrishna, Shyam Benegal, Shaji N. Karun, Archana, Sunny Joseph, M.T. Vasudevan Nair, Buddhadeb Dasgupta, Shoma Chatterji, Aruna Vasudev, Derek Malcom (President of the International Federation of Film Critics - FIPRESCI), Klaus Eder (General Secretary of the FIPRESCI) and Philip Cheah (Director, Singapore International Film Festival).

‘Minissu’ on Rupavahini

Adventure is reborn when Mummy Returns

By Sanath Weerasuriya

“The Mummy Returns”, the Blockbuster movie of Stephen Sommers with Brendon Fraser and Rachel Weiz team now runs at Liberty.

Arnold Vosloo, Oded, Febr, Patricia Velasquez, Freddi Boath, Alun Armstrong and Dwayne, The Rock Johnson also star in this movie.

Brendon star as ‘Rick O’ Connel’ and Weize as Evelyn. Imhotep is Arnold and Oded star as Ardeth Bay, while boath star as eight-year Alex.

Like Rick O’ Connell, the hero of The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, director Sommers was primed for his mission because his new story had already been brewing for months.

The Mummy, which told the story of Sahara Desert treasure-seekers in the 1920’s who stumble upon an ancient tomb and unwittingly unleash a legacy of terror, was loosely based on the classic 1932 Universal Pictures production starring Boris Karloff.

Sommers decided to set The Mummy Returns in 1933, eight years after the events of The Mummy, allowing his characters time to evolve. 

“Rick and Evelyn are now happily married and a great romantic couple, living comfortably in London but still poking around the basements of ancient temples from time to time.” “They have a son Alex, who carries the best qualities of both parents, and is very much part of their lives. He is not just cut and cuddly - he has nerve.”

By 1933, the O’ Connells have established an idyllic home, but dark forces put them in the path of pent-up ancient energies so intense that they rip through the centuries and plunge the couple back into a life of adventure. For Evelyn, the echoes of the past begin with dreams that eventually invade her waking life as she slips between the realities of the present and frightening glimpses of another strangely familiar existence long ago. Even Rick, firmly rooted in the here and now, learns that something as innocent as a tattoo on his arm might mark him as a man with an undeniable destiny.

The Scorpion King’s primitive beginnings 5000 years ago, Imhotep’s history in the pharaoh’s court 3000 years ago, and the O’ Connells’ current life in the 1930’s.”

Evelyn, the feisty librarian that Weisz played in the first film, is a woman in full bloom in The Mummy Returns. Evelyn has developed an intense physicality, which meant that Weisz had to be in fighting shape. To approximate the story’s primitive Egyptian hand to hand combat, Weisz and co-star Patricia Velasquez trained extensively in ancient Japanese martial arts. As Evelyn’s brother Jonathan, John Hannah once again delivers much of the film’s comic relief.

The villians are bigger, too. In addition to the powerful Imhotep, the evil Meela and her ancient counterpart, Anck-Su-Namun, and the legions of other worldly beings who blindly serve the master mummy, The Mummy Returns introduces World Wrestling Federation superstar The Rock in his first major screen role.

The Rock plays the terrifying Scorpion King, whose story is told in a prologue set in 3067 BC. Back then, he was a proud desert warrior who made a pact with the God Anubis in the face of death - his soul in exchange for victory. The implications of that agreement are still reverberating in 1933 when The Mummy Returns begins in a bug and snake infested tomb.

‘The Mummy Returns’ was shot at the exotic locations in Morocco, Egypt and some adventurous places in Sahara desert.

Rosa Wasanthe on screen soon

The plot deals with the love of two boys, coming from two different back grounds urban and rural. It is based on a story published in a comic magazine long ago.

Rosa Wasanthe is the fifth directorial effort of Udayakantha and will be the fifteenth production of E A P Films.

Among the young cast is Nissansala Jayathunge making her debut on the silver screen. The rest of the cast will include Ranjan Ramanayake, Kanchana Mendis, Semini Iddamalgoda, Wijeratne Warakagoda, Sanjeewani Perera and Buddhika Jayaratne. 

The filming has been done in the locations mostly around the Colombo city, Nuwara Eliya, Kurunegala, Kothmale and Minipe

The technical crew has Stanley De Alwis as editor, Chandana Samarasekara as art director and Donald Jayantha and Priyantha Pathirage assisting in the direction. Make-up is by Samarasiri Kandanage, production management was by Ashoka Ariyaratne and Nihal Sanjaya, Jayantha Gunawardena was behind the camera. 

While Rohana Weera-singhe did the musical score the play back singing is done by Gretian Ananda, Nirosha Virajani and Samitha Mudun-kotuwa. The lyrics were written for the three songs in the film by Bandara Ehaliyagoda, Kularatne Ariyawansa and Bandula Nanayakkarawasam.

A Home Away from Home

The winner of this week’s (No. 6) ‘TV Times-Confifi Vacation Voucher Competition’ is S. G. Jayawardena of Eksath Mawatha , Pannipitya.

Congrats Mr. Jayawardena! You could collect your Confifi Vacation Gift Voucher from the Confifi head office at No.38 St Michael’s Road, Colombo -3. You will be entitled for one night full-board stay at Hotel Confifi from any Saturday dinner to Sunday lunch. Do not forget to take your beloved partner along with you as your voucher entitles for two.

To enter this last competition you should answer all three questions on the coupon given below and send it to the following address. The address is Vacation Voucher Competition No. 8, C/o TV Times , Sunday Times, No.8, Hunupitiya Cross Road, Colombo-2. 

The winners of the competitions No:7 and 8 will be announced next week. Senders are requested to send entries on post card only. 

All the entries must be originals from the Sunday TV Times and no photocopies or faxes will be entertained. The entries for No.8 should reach the above address by October 29 , the latest. 

Confifi Beach Hotel, the first Hotel of the Confifi Group, re-opened after refurbishing recently.

Confifi Beach Hotel, also one of the first hotels in the Beruwela area, which is considered to be a “home away from home”, patronized by a large Sri Lankan clientele. The hotel is famous among both foreigners and Sri Lankans as a tranquil place to spend their holiday. The sea front property offers a picturesque swimming pool and mini patches of shade under the thick canopies of old trees.

The two-storied 70 bed-roomed building spans the bay in a sweeping curve, of which 40 ground floor sea facing rooms have been air-conditioned. The reef in front of the hotel turns it into a natural swimming pool, where sea bathing is safe year round.

For children there is a wooden bridge and a tree house, which will keep them occupied. The hotel offers Ayurveda treatment (a qualified doctor comes three days a week), massage and bath at a homely earthen house on its premises.

AIthough rest and relaxation is the flavour of the place, you get regular activities such as, tennis, aerobics, basketball and volleyball. Evenings generally feature light entertainment programmes. The hotel is also infamous for its scrumptious food, combined with the true Sri Lankan hospitality of the staff. If you are looking for a simple and economical holiday Confifi Beach Hotel is the ideal hideout for everyone.

Dim Sum at Long Feng

In some places it is known as Yum Cha (‘drink tea’) which one does a lot while popping these wonderful appetizers into the mouth.

The majority of Dim Sum dishes are steamed and braised. They are famous for their smooth, soft and delicate textures making the “little hearts” so tasty and delightful.

“Buy One and Get One Free”: new Promotion from SLTB

In efforts to rebuild customer confidence and to be top of mind for potential travellers during the winter season, Sri Lanka Tourism industry have rallied around to present a very special campaign. This Sri Lanka Special Promotional Campaign offers a “Buy One Get One Free” on the hotel stay during the period November 1 to December 20 this year.

Sri Lankan Airlines too join this campaign with the Tourist Board and Hotel Association, with similar offer on their direct routes from Europe, India and Middle east destinations.

“We have also developed a web site at srilanka@tourism.org, which we could refer our potential customers to more information. Afro Private Limited is partnering us on this venture”, said an official from the Sri Lanka Tourist Board.

Wine party at Hilton

The Ceylon Hotel School Graduates Association and Sirimavo Bandaranaike International School of Tourism and Hotel Management showed keen interest and gave the necessary encouragement to go ahead with this project.

E&J Gallo Wines are in the Guinness book of records as the largest winery in the world. They too believe in training on selling wines world over.

This year the selection was done after the quiz, the winners were selected from those who got highest marks from the quiz from each region. The selected first five participants from the quiz will undergo a week’s training at the hotel school. During the training sessions they will receive? knowledge on many aspects. 

Periyapperuma (Director Operations, York Hotel Management); Chrysanthus Miranda (Senior Executive, National Development Bank) Salesmanship on Personnel Selling; Lilan Weerasinghe (Senior Lecturer, Ceylon Hotel School) -Etiquette and Proper Conduct in a Hotel environment; Upul Atapattu (Catering Manager, Uni Lever) -5 “S” Concept.

First meeting of BBHA

“Bentota-Beruwala Hoteliers Association” comprises of twenty four top Hotels in the region, from Beruwala to Ahungalla. This includes famous 4/5 star Resorts, such as Bentota Beach, Triton, Taj Exotica, Eden, Club Robinson, Riverina, Club Palm Garden, Ceysand to name a few.

For the first time 24 managers of “Bentota-Beruwala Hoteliers Association” will be meeting to discuss their problems in the current crisis situation.

This Association will mainly focus to combat the present crisis situation to the hotel industry. Also Community Development, down South Hotel Staff Training and helping hotel Staff at crisis situations.

Also, to have all hotels in one roof will strengthen and managers to be united to resolve whatever the problem each hotel may face at difficult times, said Rohan Amerasinghe, the vice president of the Association. This Association will be the largest Hotels Association in Sri Lanka, he added.