TV Times

TV Times

'Bogala Saundaris' in Welikada Prison
'Bogala Saundaris' directed by talented Dayaratne Ratagedara, is now being filmed within the precincts of the Welikada prison, one of the locations selected around Colombo.
The crew will shift to Galle for the final shooting of the miniplay made around a man who lived in the 1880s in an area which was famous for coal mining.

The teledrama is woven around Bogala Soundaris, a prisoner who had escaped and becomes an instrument to exploit poor employees in a coal mine.

Eventually certain changes taking place in the coal mine leads Saundaris to turn away from his employer and become a hero of down trodden and helpless workers.

The story is based on the award winning novel written by Sarath Dharmasena of the same name. Sarath also had written the script.

Having joined Rupavahini Dayaratne Ratagedara had assisted in directing some well-known teledramas some of which are landmark productions in the teledrama history of Sri Lanka like Titus Totawatte's "Ran Kahawanu", Damma Jagoda's "Palingu Menike", Lucien Bulathsinghala's 'Tharadevi" and Parakrama Niriella's "Yashorawaya".

Ratagedara later directed telefilm "Raigam Yahaluwo", "Mahamera Pamula" and "Dolos Mahe Api". His last direction "Dekathi Muwahatha" won seven awards including the Best Direction at the Sumathi Tele Award.

The main role of 'Saundaris' is played by Sriyantha Mendis and the cast comprise over 80 players including veterans like Tony Ranasinghe, Robin Fernando. Suminda Sirisena, Richard Weerakody, Edward Gunawardena, Jayani Senanayake, Meena Kumari, Nilanthi Wijesinghe and G. R. Perera who play major roles.

The technical crew comprises camera by Ashoka Jayasekara, Somaratne Perera with lighting, make up Ranjith Thilakasiri and Ranga Bandara. J. M. Dasanthamal is the assistant director.

"Bogala Soundaris" a Rupavahini production, is scheduled to be released in March.

Teleview Technology Academy
The presentation of certificates and awards took place at the BMICH recently to the students who successfully completed courses at the Teleview Technology Academy.

These courses included Television Programme Directing, Television Programme Presentation and Acting, TV technology and vediography and TV editing.

The chief guest at the event were Minister of Up Country Rural Development Tissa Attanayake and actor Ravindra Randeniya,MP was the guest of honour.

Two single episode teledramas and two documentaries produced by the students were screened at the event.

Sunil Ratnayake, Chairman of Teleview said that the certificates have earned international recognition as the Teleview Technology Academy has been affiliated to the International Management Institute in Hong Kong. Several TV and film artistes graced this occasion and participated in the event.

New theme for 'Sanda Maddahana'
'Sanda Maddahana' (mid-day moon), a story of a virtuous man who stands up against evil and injustices committed by society especially corrupt politicians and their henchmen in the bureaucracy, begins telecast over Rupavahini on Tuesday February 11.

The teledrama directed by teledrama veteran Bermin Lylie Fernando and produced by Mark Fernando and S. T. Murthi, is sponsored by Swadeshi Industrial Works Ltd.,Sri Lanka's pioneer herbal-based personal care products manufacturer.

Scripted by K. B. Herath, the story revolves round a teacher in a rural school, who receives a politically-facilitated promotion without his knowledge and as a principal comes under pressure from his politician benefactor to admit children.

His refusal to bow down to political pressure results in much opposition from his contemporaries and family, but he struggles against injustice and harassment and ultimately shows that truth will always prevail.

'Sanda Maddahana' which was shot largely in the Padukka area, stars Ranjan Ramanayake, Kanchana Mendis, Cletus Mendis, Avanthi Aponso, G. R. Perera, Sanjaya Leelarathne and many other accomplished actors and actresses.

Set in Ratnapura and in a remote village in the North Central Province, the teledrama shows the social and economic pressures that people face and the extremes to which they are driven to survive.

Commenting on what was his 20th teledrama, Mr. Bermin Fernando said he was influenced by the real-life suicide of a principal serving in a school following harassment. He stressed however, that in 'Sanda Maddahana', the character of the principal doesn't succumb to pressure but confronts each situation with courage.

He added that the significance of the title of the teledrama 'Sanda Maddahana' is that such a character is as rare as the moon at mid-day.

A spokesman for Swadeshi said the company has always encouraged and supported teledramas which carry valuable messages to society. Teledramas like 'Sanda Maddahana' prove to be good media to carry such messages to the public, he added.

The Swadeshi Industrial Works Ltd., is the pioneer and market leader in herbal soap manufacture in the country. Incorporated in 1941, Swadeshi manufactures and markets many leading brands including Khomba, Khomba Baby, Rani Sandalwood, Apsara Venivel, Perlwite, Sportsman Plus and the new herbal fluoride tooth paste Protekt.

Swadeshi has previously sponsored 'Bopath Sakkiya' a teledrama by Sathischandra Edirisinghe, 'Ambu Daruwo' by Sudath Rohana, and the popular 'Diyaketa Pahana' by Ashoka Handagama.

'Who's The Boss'
An established career woman, Angela Bower (Judith Light) is left without a maid or housekeeper for her mischievous son Jonathan. Always out for a good time Angela's mother Mona (Katherine Helmond) seizes the opportunity to hire Tony Micelli (Tony Danza), an excellent housekeeper who also happens to be a hunky single dad just relocated from a tough Brooklyn neighbourhood to Connecticut with his daughter Samantha (Alyssa Milano). The match is made in heaven, as Angela and Tony forge a special friendship. Now the only problem in the Bower household is determining who's the boss.
On Thursdays at 9.30 p.m. on MTV

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