Shakthi back in Lanka NiRo for any gig 'Fire' burns Bombay Anna Pavlova in Colombo Teenage Carnival '98 Raja learnt film making the hard way Delhi Lens

Shakthi back in Lanka

Shakthi is back in Sri Lanka after a very successful Concert Tour (named "Shakthi in Concert 98") in Italy and France. Shakthi performed 6 concerts in Italy (Catania, Messina, Napoli, Rome, Lucca, Milano) and one in France (Firenze).

Jagath Wickramasinghe, a well-known vocalist, musician and a music director, joined the Shakthi tour as the "Key Boards cum Vocalist" of the Band. Jagath was one of the earlier members of Shakthi and later moved to solo. It was a pleasure and an excitement for all the Shakthi fans in Italy and France to see Jagath back with Shakthi to perform at the concerts.

According to Anthony Surendra, the leader of the Band and the tour manager, all the concerts received large audiences of Sri Lankan expatriates as well as foreign nationals.

Shakthi is planning to get back with its performance in Sri Lanka from January '99 - after a little break.

The members of Shakthi are: Anthony Surendra (Leader) Visharadha Jagath Wickramasinghe, Anthony Vijendra, Trevyn Joseph, Visharadha Jananath Warakagoda, Sarath Fernando and Benhur Fernando.

NiRo for any gig

NiRo led by, Nihal Fernando, the one man Kalutara band will be at 'Hotel Mermaid" for the fourth year on New Year's eve. Nihal with Rohan Man-ukulasuriya , cal-led themselves NiRo.

Thilak Perera, the third person joins NiRo for weddings and other functions. He specialised in Sinhala songs, rendered by the late Clarence Wijewardene, and Annesley Malawana.

He also specilized in singing C.T Fernando's golden hits as well as Milton Mallawarachchi's evergreens.

Nihal does the major part of the band, handles four key boards and three drum machines 'live' and sings both in English and Sinhala. Rohan joins Nihal as guitarist and sings too in both languages.

We are very flexible. Sometimes I operate as a one man band, sometimes as a duo and on some occasion as a Trio, according to the requirements of my clientele" said Nihal, who has 25 years of musical experience with popular bands in Sri Lanka and abroad.

'Fire' burns Bombay

By Bandula Jayasekara in New Delhi

In two separate incidents Shiv Shankis belonging to the ruling Shivsena in Bombay stormed and stopped two theatres from screening Deepa Methta's film 'Fire' starring Nandita Das and Shabana Azme.

They also damaged the two theatres.

Pressure has been mounting in the Sena rui Bombay to ban the flim citing that the film was morally offensive on account of its lesbian scenes.

Speaking to the TV Times immediately after Senas' violent protests and action, Nandita Das the main actress of Fire said "the film has been cleared by the censor board and in a such a scenerio all those who wish to see the film should be allowed to do so.

The rights of the paying public should not be questioned by a small section of the society.

Noted film-maker Mahesh Bhatt voicing his support for Fire said "It seems stopping cricket matches and banning films is all we do.

Fire does not tackle a western issue but a human issue".

However, the distributors in Bombay has suspended the screening of the film in the wake of the violent protests and are monitoring the situation.

Anna Pavlova in Colombo

The Russian Film "Anna Pavlova' in colour (wide-screen) with English sub-titles, will be screened at the airconditioned Auditorium of the Russian Centre, No.10, Independence Avenue, Colombo 7, on Friday December18 at 6.30 pm. It is a 2 1/2 hour film which tells the extraordinary life of Anna Pavlova, the legendary Russian ballet dancer, who conquered the whole world with her selfless art, and who is remembered by people as the unsurpassed ballet star at the beginning of the century.

Excerpts from ballets to the music of Chaikowsky, Delibes, Liszt and other famous composers, the scenic beauty of Russia, with famous stars Galina Belyaeva, Serguei Shakurov, Svetlana Toma (Russia) and stars from USA, France and Great Britain who feature in this film will captivate the audience. It is written and directed by Emil Lotyanu.

The public are cordially invited to see this beautiful film. Tickets at Rs. 25/- will be sold on a "first come first served" basis (to defray expenses) at the Russian Centre between 9.00 am to 5.00 pm on weekdays from Monday 7th December onwards.

As accommodation is limited you are advised to purchase your ticket early and avoid disappointment.

Teenage Carnival '98

'Teenage Carnival '98', a carnival with a difference will come alive on 19th December at Show Lanka Restaurant, Mt Lavinia from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

As none of today's entertainment events are exclusive for teenagers nor with a right atmosphere to entertain them the Teenage Carnival '98 will be he right event for today's teenagers to have maximum fun and enjoyment as well as to share their thoughts and ideas together.

This event will be exclusively for Teenagers from 13 to 19 years. While alcohol and tobacco will be strictly prohibited tight security measures will be taken to prevent bringing in alcohol and tobacco. 'Being the first weekend of the school vacation and being the Saturday before X'mas, this would help the "teens" to get away from a years stress and bring in the X'mas mood, said said Shean Dharmaratne, the organizer of this project. The Teenage Carnival '98 will be a day filled with fun and excitement featuring some of the top entertainers in town. The day will come a live with the performance of Dream Team.

'Dreams' will spin the day throught out while a few guest D J's will pop in to add in more fun.

Some of the up coming models will display top labels in town.

To bring out the spirit of X'mas season and to put the teens in the right mood for the festive season Santa will walk in with gifts and surprises. Selection of Beach King and Queen, Funckiest outfit. (girl/boy), Singing contest, Best Dancer for the day, Best Dancing Couple and Best Dancing Group are some of the attracations of the day. Entrance Fee will be only Rs. 100/-. Show Lanka Restaurant in Mt. Lavinia is the ideal location for this event as this is the widest and most spacious private beach available. And also the atmosphere is also ideal for such an event.

Raja learnt film making the hard way

By Kumaradasa Wagista.

There were a few educated youngsters who had worked under eminent filmmakers doing film direction.In the early sixties a young film enthusiast joined Serendibs who made films like 'Ranmuthu Duwa','Geta-warayo',Sarawita 'Lakseta Kodiya 'etc. Raja de Silva is one of those young men who worked as an assistant director under this team where film makers like Mike Wilson,Sesha Paliakkara,andTissa Liyana-suriya. Arthur C Clarke was one of the co- producers of these films.Raja was determined to work with them with the intention of learning film direction.'Ragini' written and directed by Raja de Silva is now being screened."Unlike in the past releasing a film these days is more difficult than producing it.Although my film is tagged for adults only it's not a sex film."Raja said.According to him there are some theatre managers who look at the producer with tinted glasses worn on their eyes.

He reminicised that studying the craft was not easy as there were no facilities like now.It had to be done in the usual hard way where no silver spoon was offered on a platter.

Apart from films made by Serendib,Raja has worked in several international films lensed in Sri Lanka.'Mountain in the Jungle','American Tiger' are just two of them.He is grateful to his mentors for giving him the proper guidance and training in film direction.

In 'Laksetaya Kodiya',Raja was assistant to Sesha Palihakkara who directed it.While in 'Ragini' Sesha played a role under the direction of Raja."Even now I respect my 'guru' not only in the film field but even otherwise.After all they taught me the craft of film making well that I have been able to direct a film of my own."Raja added.He lamented that one of his mentors Mike Wilson was not alive to see his film.Damith Fonseka,Sunethra Dissanayake,Veena Jayakody,Menik Kurukulasuriya,Alfred Perera and Mervyn Jayatunge play in 'Ragini' which is cinematographed by K.A.Dharmasena. Nanda Malini has rendered a song for the film to music directed by Sarath Wickrema.'Ragini' is filmed both is black and white and colour. A few flashback scenes are in black and white ,he said.

Raja de Silva's first film was a short film running only for seven minutes.Titled as 'Mathaka Bana' (The bana preaching on the sixth day of a dead person), won a citation at Oberhausen Film Festival in 1979.Although the film was based on a Buddhist theme it was Rev.Fr.Ernest Porutota who encouraged and initiated action to submit the film for this festival,Raja said.Dilman Jayaratna had cranked the camera and Narada Disasakera was music director in the short film.

Raja is only sad that 'Ragini' was not selected for the fifth circuit.He is hopeful of making another film depending on the success of 'Ragini' at box office levels.

• 'Channel V' music kept fans swinging
• Urmila: 'month watering item'
• Kharisma treasures grand-dad's snap

'Channel V' music kept fans swinging

'Channel V' Asia music channel held their annual awards night recently at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.

India's musical talent shared cheers and the beat with international stars Def Lepparo, Aqua Sting and 911. The British rock group Def Lepparo had everyone rocking with their hysteric rendition of 'Pour Some Sugar On Me' and the hot favourite 'Lets Get Rocked'.

The group Aqua and Barbie Girl Lene thrilled the audiences with Lets go Barb and Dr. Jones. There was Sting with his musical night going the Indian way. The award for the outstanding contribution to music went Stings way. 911 stepped up the beat with 'Bee Gees' old time favourite 'More Than A Woman'. The singing Sheik Daler Mehndi and the three look alike dancers the Tunak Tunak had the 12,000 strong ground asking for more. Then there was Shaimak Davar, Silk Route and the Pakistani pop group Junoon.

Silk Route won the award for the best Indian newcomer, the award for the best international video went to Aqua for Barbie Girl, Ricky Martin who is due in Delhi shortly was selected as the best international male artiste and Janet Jackson as the best international female artiste.

Pakistani pop group Junoon won the award for the best international group. India's nightingale Lata Mangeshkar won the award for the best female playback singer and sister Asha Bhonsle as the best Indian female artiste. Daler Mehndi won the award for the best Indian male singer. Life time achivement award went to Def Leppard and A. Rehman won the Coca Cola viewers choice award.

This was Aqua's first visit to India and they enjoyed their short stay in Delhi shopping for carpets and jewellery, looking for snake charmers and going through the dingy lanes of old Delhi. Aqua has just started work on their new album which will be released during the second half of 1999.

Urmila: 'month watering item'

Voluptuous actress Urmila who shot to fame in Rangeela has got the stuff and the makings of a hot number. Her vital statistics and her tantalising walk has captivated audiences throughout India, Sri Lanka and South Africa where Hindi films are a rage.

In the film Sathya though Urmila's acting did not reach exceptional standards, her beauty and voluptuousness did. Although not up to touted standard Sathya got box office billing, it is stated due to Urmila. According to a Bombay producer Urmila is something. She is surely a mouth-watering item"

The grapevine running throughout Bollywood has it that Sathya Ram Gopal Varma, the producer of Sathya and Urmila are closely connected to each other. So whatever films Varma produces Urmila is sure to get top billing.

Kharisma treasures grand-dad's snap

Kharishma Kapoor, the oomph girl of Bollywood has reached the top of the cinema world. She is really going places now. She has co-starred with most of the top stars of Bollywood at this early stage already. According to sources she is the most sought after heroine in Mumbai's celluloid world Bollywood.

With all this fame and the attended riches she has amassed, one small item she keeps close to her heart is a snapshot of her grandfather Raj Kapoor.

This picture taken when she was a wisp of a girl shows Raj Kapoor being led by his hand by her in their sprawling garden at Loni, their equally sprawling bungalow.

Kharishma says she is proud to own a snapshot of her grandfather who was a colossus in Bollywood in a bygone era.

Raj Kapoor you will remember was a great actor from the late 1950's and he bagged award after award for his performances for more than a decade.

Kharishma says she is proud to be the grand-daughter of Raj Kapoor. She cherishes the snapshot very dearly.

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