"Punsanda Paaya"

By Sanath Weerasuriya

'' Punsanda Paaya - 4'' will come alive this year too at the Buddhist Hall Moratuwa at 7.00 p.m on October, 25 1998

'Pundanda Paaya' , a variety entertaiment programme, is an .annual fund raising project organised by the Moratuwa Arts Forum (MRF).

'All funds we raise are utilised to develop the talents of up and coming young artistes of Moratuwa and assist them to start upon a career. This is the main objective of the Moratuwa Arts Forum, said Asoka Peiris, the project chairman

'With the money we raised for the past three years, we have already completed four major projects namely ''Nirmana'', ''Sithuwam'', "Rangum" and ''Padhi Muthu'', he added.

This year the show will feature Lincoln de Silva ( Super Pink "Purple ), Jayanthe de Silva ( Summer Set), Sureshni Wanigasuriya ( X' periments),Sumagi Perera, Priya Peiris , Rolinson Ferdinando & Brian Fernando, Errington Perera (La Bambas), and Jagath Devapriya ( Golden Chimes)in the Western segment of the programme.

The oriental section will feature Nihal Nelson, Thilak Perera (NiRo), C.L. Fonseka, Christopher Paul, Somasiri Fernando, Kumari Silva, Chathurani Meegoda, Anuradha Mendis , Merryl Fernando (Romance), and Shimalee Gomes.

The music for the show will be provided by the band 'Ebony'.

There will be a couple of comedy skits by Tennyson Cooray , Don Guy, Muthusala Fernando and Savan Fernando.

Popular Janadar Salgado , Nelika Wickremasinghe , Jayadgra Mendis, Rupika Sutherlan,Kanani Fernando and Varuni Cooray will present dance items.

The Chief Guest for the show will be Prof. M. T. A. Furkhan , the Chairman of the Confifi Group.

The tickets are priced as Rs. 200/-, 100/- and Rs. 50/-.

Models on parade

The Best Model Sri Lanka '98, the biggest ever modelling contest and show will be held at the Trans Asia Hotel on November 29.

The show is organised by Leo Club of Thimbirigasyaya in collaboration with the International Association of Lion Clubs, 'Swarnavahini', ETV, Wijeya Newspapers Ltd., ABC Network and Cool Tribute Model Bank.

The event is sponsored by Coca Cola, Oriflame, Swarnamahal, Hameedias, Mondi, Inspirations, Odel, Fashion Optic and Keells. The entire show - from the preliminary levels to the finals will be choreographed by Geraldine Bandaranaike and dance steps will be choreograped by Kevin Nugera.

Girls and boys between 14-28 years are eligible to participate in this contest. Height should be 5'3'' for male contestants and 5' for female contestants.

The coupons should be from The Sunday Times, Midweek Mirror, Lanka Woman, Sirikatha and Lankadeepa only and should be sent on or before October 28 to 'Best Model Sri Lanka 1998' C/o, Swarnavahini, 676, Galle Road, Colombo 3.

Every entrant should enclose his/her recently taken full length colour photograph with their respective application.

For more details listen to SUN FM, Gold FM or watch Swarnavahini and ETV.

The production team for this project includes Mohan Thilina, Perera, the Project Chairman of the Leo Club, Tears' Pop group, London Soul DJs Club and Interwork Club.

Sangeetha fashions new interest

By Kumaradasa Wagista.

Calling film star Sangeetha Weeraratne as a woman with a cartload of ambitions is no exaggeration.She is one of those rare film actressess who have enjoyed the privilege of working under the baton of many film directors of different tastes in the craft.She is happy that time has passed purposefully.

Her latest desire is to study and specialize in a more complexed field in still photography."It's digital fashion photography.I intend studying this technology under an expert in the subject"she said.As Sangeetha is knowledgeable in still photography, picking up fashion photography will not be a problem.Although she has not yet decided where she would study this subject everything points it to be in a foreign country."I am confident that fashion photography will be a lucrative profession in the future "she said.

However she prefers to start it as a hobby and gradually turn professional. Dreaming of being a fashion photographer some day had been working in her mind while being a model one time. Vasantha Obeysekera's 'Dorakoda Marawa' is one of those that she will not easily forget. It's the first film in which I played opposite Sanath Gunatileka and then I had to lie in a casket for many hours. She is happy that 'Dorakoda Marawa' is doing well at box office levels. Many of her fans had congratulated her for her performance in it.

Blessings of my parents was always there as my father also started life as a cinematographer before he produced and directed films.Further this art is also in my blood"she said.Managing the chain of photographic studios owned by the family for several years has given Sangeetha confidence of handling even major business enterprises. However Sangeetha will continue to act in films in the future also."Acting in films has been my first love since my debut as a tele star in Lester James Peries' teledrama 'Golu Hadawatha" and later entering the mainstream of feature films. Sangeetha dismisses hearsay stories spread by rumour mongers."I care a hang for gossip makers.I have also heard so many rumours spread not only about me but also about many others."

I know what I should do and it will be for the betterment of my future"she says.Where marriage is concerned she believes in the time factor.She too likes to enter family life."But why hurry ?Let's allow nature to take its own course.Haste only makes waste.But my future partner will definitely be from the business world."she assured.

The other side of film making

By Kumaradasa Wagista.

Films are patronised by millions of viewers.The majority of them see films for entertainment or educational value.Very few enjoy the privilege of seeing what is taking placing behind the screen,specially when sequences are filmed.

What would have been the feelings of a living being lying in a casket for several hours for a film sequence? Two top stars in the local screen underwent that frightening experience for a film.Sangeetha Weeraratne and Sanath Gunatileka are the two stars when the climax scene for 'Dorakoda Marawa' was filmed."This was not the first occasion. Earlier I was placed in a worse situation for a feature film"Sangeetha Weeraratne said.

As a schoolgirl Sangeetha once heard of a man making his own coffin and lying in it after liquor."Men can do such things only after liquor"she thought.

Director Vasantha Obeysekera is a perfectionist and he would expect all players to do their best in the climax scene."I was carried and placed in the casket.Mr Obeysekera gave strict instructions that we should stay still and motionless.The slightest movement will result the casket falling down" she said.

Lying in the casket was no problem for her as she was to pretend being dead only during the takes.But as and when the lining flaps in the casket touched her ears it not only tickled but even irritated.This was special when shots of her being dead were filmed."I was thinking of life in a meditative mood.Because of the crowd and my heavy make- up it perspired profusely while I lay in the casket.It was a terrible experience in life which millions of others have not experienced. "Sangeetha said.

At times she even thought the casket would fall as mourners surrounded it."The worse part was when the casket was closed. I slowly opened my eyes .It was dark but I could breathe as one of the side flaps was semi open."As soon as the shoot was over director Vasantha Obeysakera thanked Sanath and me for the co- operating with him to make the scene a reality.

In'Dorakoda Marawa' she lay in a casket amidst a large gathering of known faces like artistes who worked with her, but the scene in H.D.Premaratne's 'Saptha Kanya' was quite different.For this film she was taken and locked up in a cell ."It was a cell in a real Police Station .As I have not seen the inside of a Police Station I trembled in fear.In fact I forgot for a moment that I was an actress performing in a film."

According to the scene, Kamal Addararachchi comes to see her in the Police Station."Kamal was late for more than 30 minutes and I was in the cell all alone all that time.I saw a few men who were arrested by the Police for various offences and uniformed Police Officers only."

Sangeetha is happy for her performances in both films.For 'Dorakoda Marawa'Sangeetha Weeraratna was adjuged the best actress award by the Sri Lanka Film Critics' festival 1996.Two of my films have been released during this year,'Dawal Miguel Re Daniel' and' Dorakoda Marawa'.The former was a massive commercial success and the latter a fifth circuit film is doing well at box office levels. She plays a lead role in'Pauru Walalu' which is also a fifth circuit release.

A treat of Indian films

Indian Film Week '98 is scheduled to be held at the BMICH from October 20 to 27 (except October 24).

Admission on the opening day will be restricted only to invitees. On other days admission will be free for patrons on a first come first served basis.

The package comprises seven feature films and a few short films.The festival is to commence with the screening of 'Katha' directed by the Indian woman film maker Sai Paranjpye.'Katha 'is a tragi-comedy.

Film director G Aravindan's 'Thampu' will be screened on October 21.Shaji N Karun is the cinematographer of this film which relate a story of a group of a circus team.The Indian National award winner as the best short film in 1967 Shanthi S Varma's 'Akbar' will be shown.

'Percy' a film made by director Pervez Merwanji about the Parsi community in India is to be shown on October 22.

Another film directed by G.Aravindan "Kanchan Seeta' will be screened on October 22.It 's a film based on the Ramayana where Sita is represented by the spirit of nature. Two documentaries 'Tropical Wilderness' and 'Sanctuary' are also scheduled to be shown.

Popular commercial director Yash Chopra's 'Silsila' is the film on October 26.Amitabh Bachchan,Shashi Kapoor.Jaya Bhaduri,Rekha and Sanjeeva Kumar are in the cast.

Pioneer in India's alternative cinema movement film maker Mani Kaul's 'Ashad Ka Ek Din' is the film on October 26.It relates a saga of poet Kalidasa,the Royal Poet who lived during the time of King Chandraguptha 11.It was this poet who composed poems in 'Sakuntala' and 'Meghaduta ' A short film directed by B.D.Harga too will be screened.

The festival will conclude with the screening of Rajiv Raj's ' Tridev '

Film screenings on October 22 and 27 will commence at 6.00 p.m. and at 5.00 p.m. on all other days of the festival.

Asian Film Centre along with the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka have organised the festival.

Peterite Chorale: "The Quest"

By Mel Gunasekera

The Peterite Chorale is on a quest……..to capture their own brand of choral music on CD. The chorale has thrilled many an audiences, when they performed at St. Peter's College at "Virtus et Veritas" (part of St. Peter's 75th year celebrations) and "Voices for Hospices" (a concert for Cancer Hospices).

The Peterite Chorale brings together the a talented group of young "old Peterites" in concert on the 20th and 21st of October 1998 at the Lionel Wendt to help make this dream of recording their own CD a reality.

Over the years, the Chorale has continued to grow, both in numbers and in their music.

This led to a collective decision - to capture on CD the music which the chorale so enjoyed making and audiences never tired listening.

Ably led by Stefan Corera, the 'quest' was begun, and the initial set of recordings was completed in 1997. However, as the Chorale lacked the necessary finances for the CD project, it was decided to have a concert to raise the balance monies.

The Quest will also feature the Youth Choir of St. Mary's Church Bambalapitiya.

A common message that both choirs would like to communicate to their audiences is their ability to sing not only semi classics and religious music, but also popular songs and ballads taken from the 1970's through to the 1990's.

The programme for 'The Quest' includes - "Born Free" (from the motion picture), "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" (from the Sound of Music), "Oklahoma" (from the musical Oklahoma), The Quest (a.k.a "The Impossible Dream" - from the musical Man from La Mancha), "My Heart will go on" (from the sound track of the motion picture, Titanic).

The famous "Battle Hymn of the Republic", "The Pilgrims Chorus" (Tanhauser), "Crocodile Rock", "Georgy Girl", and "Salve Regina" (from the motion picture Sister Act) and much, much more.

The choirs will be conducted by Jehan Bastian and Geoffrey Alakaratne

Tickets are priced at Rs. 350, 250, 200 and 100.

'Bottom Line': One year old

'Bottom Line - G' a five piece band that has formed in line to provide music for any kind completed one year in the scene this month.

The band was formed a year ago with the intention of catering to all young and old listeners and has been a great success within a short period, says the leader Nilan Perera the bassist of the band.

'Our primary objective is to make the audience satisfied by fulfilling their requests. With the help of the boys and the little barbie girl; things have become pretty easy. The understanding among the members has taken us a long way and we are ready to take any challenge that comes our way? said Nilan.

'We play all kinds of music - country and western, pop, oldies rap and raggae, to name a few. The band has a lot of hidden talent and I'm sure they will help me to make it a success very soon. The barbie girl, Sharmalee who is seventeen plus has a great voice, she was with some of the leading bands, before joining 'Bottom Line,'' he added.

'We find it little difficult to play on week days as all the boys are employed. We pick and choose bookings. I'm hoping to do some of my originals and the boys are helping me to complete it', Nilam said.

The group comprises Nilan Perera (leader and bass), Roshan Dias (Keyboards - vocal), Dulanka Dias (lead) Reza Fai (drums) and Sharmen Lee Fernando (vocals)

'Bottom Line' performs at three Colombo venues on weekdays and on weekends the band performs at Robinson Club. However they will come alive at the 'Hut' before the Steelers, start their stint.

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