A cinematic creation titled ‘Kondadeniye Hamuduruwo’ is to be made based on the life and the miraculous deeds of the well-known Buddhist monk, Ven. Kondadeniye thero soon. Popular for his knowledge on ayurivedic medicine and healing power, Ven. Kondadeniye is considered most knowledgeable monk on incantation after Ven. Thotagamuwe Sri Rahula.
Directed by B. Sirithunga Perera to the production of Art World Films of Nalinda Prasad, the muhurath for the film was held recently in Colombo. The film is to be played by a talented and well-known cast including Ranjan Ramanayake, Wasanthi Chathurani, Mahendra Perera, Sathischandra Edirisinghe, Duleeka Marapana, Bimal Jayakody, Arjuna Kamalanath, Kumara Thirimadura, Somaweera Gamage, Nivanka Dharshani, Mangala Madugalle, Nalinda Prasad, G. R. Perera, Saman Weerasiri and Ranith Silva.
The film is also to be played by a talented foreign cast from Europe and a number of scenes are to be shot in several countries around Europe. “Even today the villagers in Kondadeniya which was in the corner of the historical Yapahuwa kingdom believe that some of the magical powers of Ven. Kondadeniye are still active in the area. It would definitely create an interesting visual story for our filmgoers and would be a good historical tale,” director Sirithunga Perera said. “This is also an effort to promote Sri Lankan cinema to the international arena with this unique story,” he added.
In the technical crew, Pushpakumara Rajaguru will handle the camera while Praveen Jayaratne will edit the film and Eheliyagoda Somathilake would do the art direction. Computer animation and assistant director is Nalaka Thalagala.
Make up Gamini Costa, screen play Sanath Samaranayake, production manager Kithsiri Hewagamage and the music direction is by Visharada Amerasiri Peiries.
‘Gandhi’
at American Center
A critical cinematic masterpiece, ‘Gandhi’ an intriguing story about activism, politics, religious tolerance and freedom and the Winner of 8 Academy Awards, will be screened at 6 pm on May 10 at the American Center, Colombo 3.
Directed by Lord Richard Attenborough, the film won the Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor (Sir Ben Kingsley) for the role played as Gandhi, the extraordinary man who fought for a nonviolent, peaceful existence, and set an entire nation free. The others in Gandhi’s highly acclaimed cast include Candice Bergen, Edward Fox, Sir John Gielgud, Roshan Seth and Martin Sheen.
In 1893, Gandhi is thrown off a South African train for being an Indian and travelling in a first class compartment. Gandhi realizes that the laws are biased against Indians and decides to start a non-violent protest campaign for the rights of all Indians in South Africa. After numerous arrests and the unwanted attention of the world, the government finally relents by recognizing rights for Indians, though not for the native blacks of South Africa. After this victory, Gandhi is invited back to India, where he is now considered something of a national hero.
He is urged to take up the fight for India’s independence from the British Empire. Gandhi agrees, and mounts a non-violent non-cooperation campaign of an unprecedented scale, coordinating millions of Indians nationwide. There are some setbacks, such as violence against the protesters and Gandhi’s occasional imprisonment. Nevertheless, the campaign generates great attention...
Music of the world hisoty at AF
The French history drama ‘Notre Musique’ (Our Music) directed by renowned French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard wil be screened at 3.00 pm on Tuesday, May 10 and at 6.30 pm on Wednesday, May 11 at the Alliance Francaise de Colombo.
‘Notre Music’ is divided into three kingdoms: Hell, Purgatory and Paradise like in Dante’s Inferno in the Divine Comedy. Hell shows footages of many wars; Purgatory mixes reality and fiction in Sarajevo; and Paradise is a surrealistic view of a beach “protected” by the American Marines.
‘Notre Musique’ reflects on violence, morality, and the representation of violence in film, and touches especially on past colonialism and the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It was screened out of competition at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.
NFC Short Films Competition
Applications are called for the annual short film competition conducted by the National Film Corporation. Conducted with the aim of attracting young filmmakers to cinema and filmmaking, the competition is organized by the Cinema Cultural Bureau of the NFC.
The application for the competition together with the guideline can be obtained from the NFC office at Bauddhaloka Mawatha or by sending a stamped envelope with the address of the application together with Rs. a 50 money order to the NFC address, No 303, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7.
The deadline for the application is May 31, 2011.
‘Monday Showcase’ on Rupavahini
Sri Lanka National Rupavahini, well-known for its documentaries has started a documentary series titled ‘Monday Showcase’ every Monday at 6.30 pm.
The documentary series will focus on the development of man from the pre-historical period to the high tech modern age.
The programme series will be on different themes including interesting personalities, important landscapes of our country and places of interests.
The programme is presented by the Education Unit of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) which has won awards localy and internationaly for its documentaries. |
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