• Michael's 'Invincible' now in Lanka
• Haloween Party at Legends
• Sri Lankan Evening at Trans Asia
• Rare honour for 'Me Mage Sandai'
• 'Suseema' stopped on the tracks
• Priyantha: ambitious young film maker
• Hyderabadi Biriyani Festival at AGH
• Sergeant's songs with Sunflowers
• 'Taste of Asia'
• Down Memory Lane in Moratuwa

Michael's 'Invincible' now in Lanka

By Sanath Weerasuriya

The worldwide release of "Invincible" Michael Jackson's latest album and the first studio recording in six years was announced in New York on August 23, 2001 by Sony Music and epic Records. The album was released on October 29 in the United States and Canada on October 30. Believe it or no "Invincible" will be released in Sri Lanka too on October 29.

M-Entertainments being the authorized agents for Sony Music in Sri Lanka will be releasing "Invincible" on the 29 as well, the album has also been open for prebooking by M- Entertainment authorized dealers since the October 13, 2001 wherein free home delivery will be provided. This album is executive produced by Michael Jackson, and features contributions from some of today's most successful producers.

"Invincible contains some of Michael Jackson's finest work to date,'' commented Thomas D. Mottola, Chairman and CEO, Sony Music Entertainment. "Michael continues to grow as an artiste and, together with his talented co-writers and co-producers, he has created a fresh body of music that is destined to take its place alongside the greatest recordings in Pop history. Music lovers around the world will be surprised and delighted by the power, depth and range of Invincible.

As a singer, composer, producer, arranger and musician, Michael Jackson is one of the most talented and influential artistes in the history of recorded music. The release of this album is a global event,

From 'You Rock My World' to'Speechless', 'Invincible' album is a towering musical achievement, that breaks new ground for this pioneering artist.

The first single "You Rock My World" was produced and written by Michael Jackson and Rodney Jerkins. Look out for the short film of You Rock My World which was directed by Paul Hunter, This will too be available in Sri Lanka shortly.

"You Rock My World represent the very best of Michael Jackson," commented Epic Records group President Polly Anthony "Simply put, this record will be a global smash!

Recently Michael Jackson sang and dance in front of a US audience for the first time in almost a decade. With the world focused on New York's Madison Square Garden, where the Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration, The Solo Years tribute shows take place on Friday and Monday, Jackson's clout still resonates throughout the music industry, despite his long hiatus.

There are Jackson's dance moves from "Thriller" in Destiny's Child's "Bootylicious" Video. Ginuwine and Sisqo do M.J.'s crisp spins and sidesteps regularly in their performances. Usher's popping in the video for "U Remind Me" is remiscent of a young Michael from the off the Wall era. Alien Ant Farm, who are enjoying success largely due to the strength of their remake of Jackson's "Smooth Criminal," imitate Jackson right down to crotch grabs in their video for the song. Some artists, however, have decided to keep their Michael Jackson mirroring private.

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. 57, 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. 53. The winners of two Sony Original CDs are Lakmal Rodrigo of Kandy and Christina Samarasinghe of Colombo 14.The two audio cassette winners are H.M. Mohammed Lebbe of Hali-Ela and Ana Maria M Erese of Panadura.

The 10% off gift vouchers go to Ravini Weerasinghe of Unawatuna, Caryl Dason of Bandarawela, Agram Preena of Dehiwela, F. Farhana of Dehiwela, Shamalee Perera of Nittabuwa, Thilini Samarasinghe of Kandy.

The Poster winners are Lien K. Keerthisinghe of Maharagama, Nishan Saliya Harankahawa of Gampaha, Malinie Nanayakkara of Peradeniya, Chamini Warakatiya of Rajagiriya, Lahiru Ramanayaka of Kuruwita.

Haloween Party at Legends

A dance act by a popular dance troupe and guest DJ Ricky will also be in action at this Haloween Party. 

Tickets are priced at Rs 500 per male and the ladies are free to enter the Halloween party. 

Singing Sensation Ginger will also be there to sing the grave yard songs. 

The welcome 'blood punch' for the first 100 witches, prizes for the Scariest witch and Horniest Devil are some of the attractions of the night.

Sri Lankan Evening at Trans Asia

The United Nations Women's Guild will present this exciting Sri Lankan evening to raise funds for orphanages in Panadura, Kalutara and Trincomalee. The event will feature Ravibandu the renowned dancer, choreographer, musician and present director of the Sri Lankan State Dance Ensemble. He will lead a thrilling programme of traditional and contemporary Sri Lankan dance and music. Tickets which include a Sri Lankan buffet, are priced Rs 1,500/-.

The United Nations Women's Guild was established in New York in 1948 and there has been a branch in Sri Lanka for over 25 years.

The Guild is a non-profit organisation with two main objectives - to foster frinedship and encourage cross - cultural understanding among its members and to improve the lives of disadvantages children throughout the world.

In Sri Lanka the 30 Guild members are mainly spouses of present and retired UN professionals. In the last two years they have raised funds to support children's homes in Colombo. Kalutara and Galle districts. They have also purchased equipment for a centre for young rape victims, a home for mentally hadicapped girls and women, a certified school for girls and a home for street children.

Rare honour for 'Me Mage Sandai'

The award winning film was chosen to open the Cheirs Du Cinema, Autumn film festival in Paris next month.

The director had left for Japan to represent the film at the Tokyo international film festival which is held from October 26 to November 1. Me Mage Sandai also would be screened at the Bangkok International Film festival held from 14 to 20 of next month.

The film won international acclaim at several international film festivals including the Cinepan Asian film festival in New Delhi.

The main cast include Samya Liyanage, Dihani Ashokamala, Hemasiri Liyanage and Somalatha Subasinghe.

Meanwhile several local screenings will be held around the country including Ratnapura today and at the Elphinstone theatre tomorrow (October 29) at 4 and 7 pm.

'Suseema' stopped on the tracks

Ms. Jayasinghe had claimed that the main character portrayed her and the film would defame her.

The main role in the film was to be played by Sangeetha Weeraratne to which she objected.

Susanthika Jayasinghe had said the film and the story around it which refers to people closely connected to her would be an invasion of her privacy and the exhibition would degrade and humiliate her, cause her pain of mind and damage her reputation.

The producer and the director of the film, Sarath Namalgama and Mohan Niyaz were cited as respondents. However speaking to the TV Times film director Niyaz said he was going to file objections.

Priyantha: ambitious young film maker

By Susitha R. Fernando

Leaving school, Priyantha joined a newspaper as a photojournalist. And it was his talent as a photographer that persuaded him to enter the film scene. He started his directorial career with 'Dehana' in 1991 followed by 'Vimukthi'. Both films were released under the adult's only tag on the prestigious circuit. But the young film maker who is prepared to handle any theme, is adding final touches to his latest directorial venture "Arumosam Wehi" a film for children. The theme of this is in complete contrast with his two earlier films.

The film around a circus team is said to be dedicated to children after "Handaya" made 23 years ago.

"In a country where films are rarely made for children "Arumosam Wehi" would be an entertainment for the age group ranging from eight to eighty years. However the main target group would be children", Mr. Colambage said speaking on his latest direction.

When questioned about what made him to do a film different to his previous ventures Priyantha said "I never wanted to be limited to one theme or to make films for a limited section of the people, adults or otherwise'.

"The idea to direct a film for the children as my third direction came when I was questioned by one mother in a radio interview as to why at least the young film makers could not think about children when directing films,". he explained.

"And another reason why I wanted to do this type of film was that for a better cinema in the future the children have to be armed with good cinematic experiences while children," Priyantha said hopefully.

"It is a fact that we don't have children-films at all, what children see today is cheap commercial films full of obscene and double meaning words which supply cheap entertainment for the adults and children want to see them just for the outward appearance of them" Priyantha said.

Speaking on his film and generally Sri Lankan film scene this gifted film maker said "One of my dreams is to make the Sri Lankan cinema reach the international film market which would lessen the risk taken by the film makers today with regard to financing" he said.

When asked as to what the Sri Lankan cinema could achieve in the international film scene of tomorrow, Priyantha said right now our young film makers have been recognised at the world cinema. "It was not for lack of a better film history but the drawback was the absence of someone to direct them towards it. With films like "Hansa Vilak" our cinema could have won international fame many years ago". he claimed.

"The credit for introducing our cinema to the world should go to Asian Cinema Centre and also to the National Film Corporation and I also think that our cinema history also had contributed to it," Priyantha said. "We were fortunate to have directors like Lester James Peiries and Dharmasiri Pathiraja, whose films bestowed us with cinematography experiences with indigenous flavour and from which point our true identity was made.

Speaking on his latest direction Priyantha said "In the film 'Dehana' along with me there were several newcomers both as members of the cast and technical crew." "In my third direction too I have introduced a main actress and seven children taken from Maliyadeva College. Out of them five play main roles doing a bit of superb acting". Others in the main cast are W. Jayasiri, Mahendra Perera, Nuwangi Liyanage, Wasantha Wittachchi. The film revolves around a fight between the ill-treated clown in a circus by the manager of the team who is working hard to make the circus a success. The real culprit is punished at the end with the help of the children.

The young film maker with much ambition said "I wish a better future for the Sri Lankan cinema.

Hyderabadi Biriyani Festival at AGH

Chef Gangaram Belga a specialist in Hyderabadi food preparation has surrounded himself with herbs, spices, condiments, masalas, and many other ingredients to make the dining experience a memorable one at Hyderabadi Biriyani Festival.

Some of the tempting Biriyani preparations include Jingha, Murgh, Gosht And Dum Biriyani. Salads, pickles, chutneys and sambals that go with various Biriyanis will also form part of the menu.

Sergeant's songs with Sunflowers

Nihal Silva popularly known as 'Sergeant Nallathamby' teamed up with band Sunflower to bring this novel cassette with 14 songs. 

'Dawale Payana' 'Sahodara' 'Subramaniam', 'Saraswathi', 'Tomiya' 'Ibba' 'Ananda Bawan', Rathu Kekuli' are some of the popular hits from this audio. The lyrics for these songs were done by Kalum Srimal, Shantha Deshabandu, Upul Shantha Sannasgala, K.D. Nicholas, Saliya Kumara and sergeant Deepal Silva. 

'Taste of Asia'

Patrons for the movie during the month of October will be entitled on presentation of the counterfoil of admission ticket to a 10% discount on all Food and 20% discount on all Beverages at the 'TASTE OF ASIA' Food Festival at the Holiday Inn Colombo 

The gourmandisers could relish an exotic Asian cuisine from ancient secret recipes of India, Malaysia, China, Japan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and West Asia. Patrons are bound to receive their monies worth at the affordable price of Rs. 550/- per person. 

Roomali roti, Biththara roti, Vegetable Kottu, Thai Apple Salad, Sambai Goreng Sotong, Jahp Sik Choy, Kaho Phat, Alu Gobi Dingri Mutton are some of the attractions at this Asian food festival.

Down Memory Lane in Moratuwa

"Down Memory Lane - 2001" is projected as the millennium show and is certain to attract a full house of old favourite lovers, as it had been, ever since the inaugural show held in 1997.

This year's sing-along programme of golden oldies would be held once again at the Hotel Ranmal ballroom, Moratuwa on Sunday, November 11 commencing at 6.30 p.m.

In keeping with tradition, English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh standards, cowboy songs, American plantation songs, Negro spirituals, Dixieland favourites, wartime hits, Hawaiian melodies, calypsos, and evergreens from the '60s & '70s era are all included for this mega two and a half hour programme, which promises more audience participation and community singing than on previous years.

Some of the golden oldies lined up for this year's show include "Old Folks at Home", "Clementine", "Ashgrove" "Red River Valley", "Galway Bay", "Home on the range", "Silver threads", "Don't fence me in" etc., while the latter part of the programme would feature perennial popular old hits such as "Irish Eyes", Que Sera", "Mary Ann", "Coming round the mountain", "Oh when the saints", "Tipparery" "Pack up your Troubles, "Roll out the Barrel", "Irene Goodnight" to bring the curtain down with "Auld lang syne". 

A special segment from the Jim Reeves vintage has also been included in the sing-along due to popular request.

"This year's colourful songbook comprising 100 vintage songs, given to each participant at the gate would include many songs that have not been published before" said 'Priya Peiris who co-chairs this event along with Erinton Perera. The rest of the committee includes songsters Lilanthi Jayaratne (Secretary), former Amigos Romaticas singer Merril Fernando (Treasurer), Laksiri Fernando and Hiran Fernando - both reputed drummers of yesteryear, Lincoln de Silva leader of Super Pink n Purple, former musicians Brian Cooray, Ivan de Silva, C.L. Fonseka, Thilak de Mel and Kumari Silva.

Entry tokens which would have to be purchased in advance are priced at Rs. 300/- (box plan- reserved) and Rs. 200/= (unreserved).

The 'vintage orchestra' - featuring Nissanka Wimalasuriya on his unique steel pedal guitar, veteran Randolph de Silva and popular music instructor Ramini Soysa (both on piano) among others, would provide the ideal sound on guitars, banjos, violins, harmonicas etc.

In order to give real effect to the sing-along sessions for this years millennium show - "Down Memory Lane 2001" there would be just a few special 'vocal items' performed this year, in order to have more community singing".

The Master of Ceremonies would be Arun Dias Bandaranaike who is bound to keep the audience in a happy mood with his inimitable style with his anecdotes.