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Chandimal's men in tour
By Sanath Weerasuriya
Chandimal Fernando, a popular musician in Sri Lanka, will be touring
Australia, New Zealand and Singapore next month to perform in a series
of dances.
Chandimal and the Second Connection will be playing four dances in Sydney,
Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane, while in New Zealand it will be Auckland
and Wellington. Finally they will be in action in Singapore.
"This will be our second overseas tour and our first one was to
Bangkok in 1997. I think we are the first Sri Lanka band to perform most
number of dances in Australia," Chandimal said.
The dances in Australia and Singapore are being held to coincide with
the opening of Ceylon Shipping Lines' own offices Down Under and Singapore.
This tour was made possible by 'Indran' of Skyway Travels of Australia
said Chandimal. In fact, Indran has been responsible for several Sri Lankan
artistes performing in Australia. Last year 'Chandimal and The Second Connection'
released their latest calypso style music on CD. According to Chandimal,
he has not used any of the electronic instruments for this audio and CD.
'This calypso party time CD and cassette are first of its kind and all
songs are 'unplugged' versions. I have managed to get most of the original
singers to sing with my band. There are about 31 songs, sung by fourteen
local artistes, Chandimal explained.
'It is a Sinhala CD with a different kind of party music for easy listening',
he said.
In 1996 Chandimal released Lanka's first Double Pack CD with a non-stop
baila medley titled 'Temptation'. The Calypso CD is my sixth CD released
into the local market and I think I am the first musician in Sri Lanka
who has released the most number of CDs', Chandimal said.
'Chandimal & The Second Connection' now comprises Chandimal, Chandana
Fernando, Sheridon Kuruppu and Senaka Batagoda.
During this year's April season, Chandimal and the Second Connection
will be featured at the Grand Hotel Nuwara-Eliya for two weeks. It will
be their twelvth consecutive year performance during the April season in
Nuwara - Eliya.
Sri Lanka's first video CD, done by Chandimal and Second Connection,
will be released shortly. This will comprise 13 originals and will come
as a two-in-one - and audio CD and a video CD together. The video CD comes
free when the customer buys the audio CD.
After releasing this VCD only Chandimal is planning to stage his second
concert at BMICH and another open air concert in December and early next
year respectively.
'All these concerts are in aid of charity. I plan to donate 500 artificial
limbs to the Army. I have already gifted 50 after my first show in December
last year,' he said.
Chandimal's open air concert will be the very first event of this kind
with 250 speakers and 8,000 watts output in power.
Jetliners shake up Down Under
From a Special Correspondent reporting from Australia
When the curtain went up on January 30 1999 at the Blacktown Civic Centre
in Sydney the original Jetliner put to rest doubts and questions in the
minds of the Sri Lankan community here whether these six guys, getting
together after 35 years, some having quit the music scene completely, could
deliver the goods.
The very first note, the very first drum beat after the breathtaking
introduction (creatively produced by Sohan and Ishan with the help of Tomie
of Sound Shaft Studios, Sydney) had the Sydneyites stunned. As a guest
commented, "I didn't know whether to cry or scream in joy. Finally,
I did both."
The guitar mastery of Indra Raj (Switzerland) the booming bass of Felix
Fernando (Melbourne) and rip-roaring rhythm of Anton Gunavijaya (London)
and the dynamic drumming of Harris Jurangpathy (Denmark) zoomed us back
to the 1960's and the Coconut Grove of Galle Face Hotel.
Then entered Ishan Bahar (Sri Lanka) beat boy extra-ordinary of the
60s (looking like a page from the swinging sixties) to the strains of the
theme song from the Cliff Richard movie the "Young Ones" making
everyone feel 35 years younger. And finally to complete the picture came
Sohan Pieris (Hawaii) with his smooth rendition of "Man Without Love"
which had the couples on the dance floor remembering the good old carefree
days. The Jetliners ended the introduction bracket (set) with their version
of the Shadows hit "Apache" with footwork, movements and the
works.
From then on there was no stopping the Jetliners giving the 525 guests
at the Civic Centre the time of their lives with their characteristic renditions
of hits of the Shadows, Cliff Richard, Elvis, Englebert to name a few.
Saying adieu, with their farewell rendition of the old time classic "May
The Good Lord Bless & Keep You" brought tears, flooding us with
fond memories of Sri Lanka.
It was no different at the Moorabin Town Hall in Melbourne, the following
Saturday, 6th February. The 880 guests were given the full treatment. It
was so electrifying that not only did the teeny boppers of the 60's let
their hair down, the younger generation, most of them, I'm certain had
been dragged by their parents for the show, stood stunned with mouths agape
listening to the beautiful, refreshing sounds of the Jetliners, Ishan and
Sohan ably supported by the Keyboard wizardry of Raddy Ferreira (Sydney).
It was such a "turn-on" some of the teenage girls joined the
Jetliners on stage for their final bracket to bump and grind with the boys.
Once again their farewell song was a touching and emotional one.
A special bouquet to Randy Pieris (Sydney) for the great effort to make
this "Reunion" a reality. As the "boys" commented in
unision, "NO RANDY NO RE-UNION".
Kushboo in town
By Ismail Khan
Kushboo Nakkath, better known to film fans as Kushboo the actress, will
be in town from March 6. She is in Colombo to take part in a few programmes.
Kushboo of Persian origin hails from Bombay and the initiation of her
film career was from Chennai formerly Madras years back.
Her first film was Tharmathin Thalaivan co-starring Shivagi Ganeshan's
son Prabhu. That was the launching pad and Kushboo's second film 16 Varudam
co-starring Karthik really set the ball rolling as upto that time it was
her best performance.
What really zoomed her into real stardom was the blockbuster Sinnatamby
co-starring again Prabhu which became a hit overnight. This film broke
all records wherever it was screened and won the best Tamil film award
in early 1990's.
Both Prabhu and Kushboo were highly commended for their roles. Even
the music-maker in that film Illayarajah together with singers Swarnalatha,
Balasubramaniam and Jesudas were singled out for special awards.
Sinnathmby, in which Kushboo gave her best performance of her career,
was the only Tamil film to have won more than six awards and the only Tamil
film to have run more than 100 days in every cinema screened in India and
Sri Lanka. So, it was that Kushboo, the star was really launched after
Sinnatamby.
Among other films Kushboo had made her mark were: Kilakku Vasal with
Karthik, Kila-kku Karai with Prabhu, Pandyan with Rajni Kanth, Annamalay
with Rajni Kanth, Naattupura Paattu with Siva Kumar and Kalyana Vaibagam
with Ramki.
In almost all these films she is at her best. Not that she did not do
her part in the other films as well.
She has cast herself in numerous films and in every one of them Kushboo
has done her best.
There's one film which brought Kushboo the daring in her to do a scene.
It was in "Captain Magal" where she had to climb up the ladder
to reach a windmill where the villain was waiting with an axe to cut her
down.
Though a little on the bulge Kushboo performed her part very well without
a double and climbed that windmill on her second attempt to the relief
of the producer, director and all others who were on the sets. Of course
the act was done with three safety nets spread under the windmill in case....
And brave as Kushboo was she did it very well. After the shooting the entire
cast, the director and producer and others had applauded. And it was another
first for Kushboo only star to have performed such a feat, without a double.
That goes to show what a character Kushboo is. On top of her Persian
beauty Kushboo is very intelligent, well educated and simple in character.
Kiriammawaru: depicts the plight of working couples
By Kumaradasa Wagista
'Kiriammawaru' teleserial which was scheduled to be on Rupavahani was
not telecast.
The story is woven around a young married working couple with a one
year old child. As both have to go to their work places daily,they are
compelled to employ a domestic servant to take care of the child.
The couple here are Vasantha (Sarath Namalgama) and Renuka ( Geetha
Kanthi Jayakody) A.M.Jayasekera has directed it.
Script writer K.B.Herath in his script has exposed how interested parties
exploit the lower middle class wage earner who need the services of domestic
servants.
Some of the situations created by the script writer seems true to life
incidents.In one such situation Renuka who is fed up of replacing servants
visits one of them who had been working in their house before her marriage.
Meanwhile this woman who has become rich after a stint in Middle East,now
lives a luxurious life in a well furnished posh house.
After exchanging pleasantaries as usual Renuka, tells her the purpose
of her visit,to procure a domestic servant.Renuka is flabbergasted when
the woman seeks Renuka's assistance to get her a servant.
Sarath Namalgama produces this teleserial for SNT Productions.
Domestic servants who looked after children were then known as 'Kiriammawaru',who
took care of them like their own ones.
The situations in this teleserial depict the unfortunate low depth these
present day domestic servants have fallen.Some of the episodes here are
thus: The couple come to know that the servant they employed first had
taken out their child on a begging mission. Next they come across a middle
aged servant whose husband is a drunkard who pilfers household items.They
later publish an advertisement to select a suitable female servant.
A few days later they are shocked to find the servant sleeping with
a dagger hidden in the waist.To their amazement they find that the servant
is disguised as a woman and come with the purpose of stealing.
The next maid servant is a young woman who after a few days elopes with
a young man in the vicinity leaving the child all alone in the house.
Some well known names in tele scene are acting in this drama.
"Kinihiriya Mal" launch on Roof Top
It was a joyful day not only for producer Soma Edirisinghe but also
for director H.D.Premaratna and the much talked about melody maker Rohana
Weerasinghe.The fair film producer who has vowed not to fold up the 'EAP
Films' banner founded by her late husband the late E.A.P.Edirisinghe three
decades ago,started work on their 14th production'Kinihiriya Mal'amidst
a galaxy of film stars at Galadari Hotel Rooftop.For director Premaratna
it was his 17th film,and for Rohana Weerasinghe it was his 50th. birthday.
Although Rohana Weerasinghe tried his best to hide the fact that it
was his birth anniversary, Veena Jayakody broke the ice by giving him the
birthday kiss wishing him health and happiness.However he could not be
at the venue for long as a song for the film rendered by Nirosha Virajinee
and Nilu Adikari was scheduled to be recorded a few hours later.
Late lyricist broadcaster Karunaratna Abeysekere's only off spring Dileepa
Abeysekere makes his debut as a lyric writer in this film.Wasantha Kumara
Kobawaka is the other lyricist.
Handsome Pradeep Senanayake is back home after spending several years
in Japan
Pradeep who made his debut in films by playing the third main role opposite
Sabita Perera in the first Sri Lanka - Australia co-production 'Mandakini',
was also present as he is playing a major role in this film.
'Kinihiriya Mal' is a social drama based on day to day happenings and
some important scenes will be filmed in an apparel factory'director Premaratna
said.Sangeetha Weeraratna plays the lead female role with Vasanthie Chaturani,Kamal
Addaraarachchi,Veena Jayakody,Sanoja Bibile,Iranganie Serasinghe,Roger
Seneviratna,Tony Ranasinghe,Asoka Peiris,and many other artistes.
Although Ravindra Randeniya does not play a role he was present with
wife Preethi. A few poems have been penned by Ratnasri Wijesinghe,Ven Pallegama
Hemarathana Thera and Preethi Randeniya.
Suminda Weerasinghe works as Director of Photography while Elmo Haliday
is the editor. Filming is scheduled to commence this week.
Soldier Roger grows in stature
By Kumaradasa Wagista
His face is familiar as an actor on stage,in films and television
In Prasanna Vithanage's 'Pauru Walalu' being currently screened in fifth
circuit he plays the role of a lover opposite Sangeetha Weeraratna.He is
a busy artiste all the way.He made his debut in films by  playing
a tiny role as a soldier in Sunil Ariyaratna's 'Christu Charithaya'
He is Roger Seneviratne. He said "I played such an insignificent
role in that film that after editing my visual lasted only a few seconds.I
had the privilege of working with Professor Ariyaratna recently.While we
were conversing he asked me what my first film was? When I said that it
was 'Christu Charithaya',he was surprised.He congratulated me and was happy
to hear that so far I had played in 30 tele dramas and 14 films It was
Laxshman Arachchige who introduced me to Professor Ariyaratna"
The young actor has so far won several State Awards as well as National
Youth Council Awards for creative script writing in teledramas and short
films.He does not believe in plagiarism."Why should we lift the work
of others when we have a theatre history of over 150 years? We enjoy a
high literacy percentage and possess plenty of literary books. Film plots
can be created easily only if we take extra pains to do some research in
libraries" he said.
Paying tribute to a handful of directors of his time who took up the
challenge and made a few excellent films that will go down in film annals
he said."Prasanna Vithanage must be congratulated for making a film
that won recognition even at international film festivals."he added.
Going down memory lane Roger recalled how he worked behind stage for
7 years in many dramas.His mentor in stagecraft is Sugathapala de Silva.He
has acted in many of his dramas starting from 'Dunna Dunugamuwe'.Working
as a prompter has given him a thorough knowledge in dialogue delivery.
"The experience I received in the stage not only developed my mind
but also moulded my film career."
He also believes that taking part in sports also has gone a long way
to be in films.He is a football player and boxer."However the lessons
I gathered in in Martial Arts has been of tremendous advantage to me in
film career"he said.In the foreign scenario technology has already
creeped into films."We should be happy technology is used for the
betterment and protection of mankind and not for destruction.
"Today scientists are undergoing nerve breaking experiments finding
a cure for cancer, man's number one enemy. 'Films like 'Jurassic Park'
and 'Titanic' are computer made films although human beings act in them"he
said
The plight of the local film industry is known to all of us.However
India the biggest film producing country in the world is also facing threats
from various quarters."It's time to take the past as an example and
march forward with a new vision and face the coming century with confidence
by starting afresh where films are concerned."
Assistant casting director in 'Mother Teresa'and playing a role in 'Rose&Margaret'are
his foreign films so far.Roger won the first prize at the National Youth
Council Awards '89 for a script based on Anton Chekov's 'Death of a Clerk.He
is planning to make a telefilm based on this script.
Roger was educated at St Thomas'College and St Joseph's College Grandpass.
As his interests have expanded to the art field he has no intention of
seeking other employment. His wife Chandani is always helpful to him in
film activities. They have two school going sons
Wise man in film direction
Oscar winning film director Robert Wise was scheduled to be honoured
by the Society of Motion Picture & Television Art Directors at its
annual awards ceremony on February 27.He was to receive an award for Outstanding
Contribution to Cinematic Imagery.
Director Wise has been nominated seven times,and won four Oscars two
each as producer and director of 'West Side Story',which he co-directed
with Jerome Robbins.He received the Directors Guild of America's prestigious
D.W.Griffith Award in 1988.He also won the Academy of Motion Picture Arts&
Science Award in 1967.
This renowned film maker has a number of titles to his credit like,'West
Side Story','Sound of Music','The Hindenburg','The Andromeda Strain','The
Sand Pebbles','Run Silent Run Deep',Somebody Up There Likes Me' and Executive
Suite'..
Wimalasuriya : musician by persuasion
Though an electronics engineer by profession however he is more popular
as a versatile musician with the ability to play several musical instruments
both western and oriental.
He is Beddeliyanage Don Nissanka Dayaseela Wimalasuriya of Moratuwa
who started playing the violin at the age of six in 1943.His first teacher
in violin was Tennyson Rodrigo.
He enjoyed the rare privilege of presenting his debut live violin solo
broadcast in classical oriental music at the age of ten over the airwaves
of then Ceylon Broadcasting Station at Cotta Road, Borella in 1947 51 years
ago.
He excelled himself as a boy violinist taking part in school concerts
and even public performances then onwards.
At the age of 15 Nissanka Wimalasuriya mastered the chromatic harmonica,button
accordion, electric Hawaiian, and Spanish guitars, piano and church organ
by 1952.
Then he taught music to students at school.While studying for the SSC
at Moratu Vidyalaya Nissanka started a School Orchestra and a Piano Accordion
Trio and repeated the same while studying for the HSC examination at Sri
Sumangala College Panadura in 1956.
He also played instrumental music for film recordings which were taking
place regularly those days.
Nissanka Wimalasuriya is said to have started the first Dance Band to
play strict tempo Ballroom Dance Music with string instruments.A highlight
in this venture is not using the pia-no,saxaphone,trumpet or clarinet.
As a member of the Radio Ceylon orchestra he has taken part in many
musical programmes conducted indoor studios and those conducted with packed
audiences.
In 1958 he started the Wheels Combo with Ossie Perera,Elsworth Alwis,drummer
Tilak Wijedasa and Vernon Perera. Under the patronage of Vivil de Kauwe
he has played music for dances too.
He was a regular player at Sun Down dances on Sundays at Vivil de Kauwe's
dance school and for Sunday morning dances at Beach Club,Mt Lavinia. He
has also composed and directed music in the original recordings of Kalu
Kelle,Ahasata Pimbina,Seegiri Komaliya,and Kaju Kella for the Los Flamingos
group.
Ramooji: Film City
By Bandula Jayasekara
Ramooji film city in the State of Andhra Pradesh's capital Hyderabad
in India is considered as the biggest film studio in the world today. I
had the opportunity of visiting this wonderful film city recently.
The film city which is dedicated to the dream makers of the world is
spread over an area of two thousand acres. One hour's drive from Hyderabad,
the City of Dreams makes the film makers' dreams real. The city is geared
to handle over 100 films and television productions at a given time.
It has forty studios, flower gardens, five star hotels, theatres, lakes,
multi-storeyed buildings and even hospitals and airports.
At Ramoojis film makers shoot in a picturesque village in remote India
at one moment and then recreate a street in Switzerland the next time.
Then an Englsih front garden turns out to be a Japanese garden.
The film city maintains a nursery with tens of thousands of foliage
and flower plants from all over the world. It has a place to look after
travel arrangements, to provide credit links, special office complete for
the busy film executives, a five star hotel, a three star hotel and catering
facility for over 2000 people at any given time.
Apart from all the modern equipment, a world class processing lab and
a vision for 2001 and beyond, what fascinated me most were the support
services, Maya, Harmony, Parade and Rhythm Maya is the workshop, set construction
division with over a 1000 skilled carpenters, moulders and sculptors.
It creates ones own magic from ancient Greek to modern American. Re-creates
streets, builds facades, a fairy-tale setting or the setting of years beyond.
Harmony is Ramoojis furniture division. It is equipped to create traditional
Indian or pseudo chippendale or any furniture under the sun. Parade is
the prop shop.
It supplies from medieval English constumes to Rajasthani cook-ware.
Six storeyed Parade House has jewellery from flutes to fishing rods from
Belgian crystal to bullock carts and from Hammocks to horse saddles. Rhythm
is a 6000 sq. ft. rehearsing area, mainly for dance sequences.
At Ramoojis we met beautiful and cheerful Hindi film star Kajol, film
star Sanjay Dutt and 'Mr. India' Anil Kapoor who were busy, shooting stars.
But the person who interested me most was the simple creator and dream
maker Ramooji Rao, the billionaire owner of Ramooji Film City. He silently
remains the creative master.
Kids hit ball for 'Haye Pahara'
A newly formed Television Production Company called South Asian New
Wave Entertainment presents a new type of children's fare teledrama in
'Haye Pahara'(The Sixer). It will be telecast on  Swarnavahini
from March 4.'Haye Pahara' comprises 10 episodes.
Cricketer Hashan Tillekaratne plays a role in 'Haye Pahara'along with
a team of experienced artistes.
Introduced as a present day children's adventure drama with ingredients
to entertain the entire family its story is wound around seven cricket
crazy boys from a suburban housing estate.These pre-teenaged children are
new faces to local television viewers.
A generous Test cricketer who is a close neighbour of their housing
project gifts a high quality leather ball to these children.These boys
get into the habit of playing cricket with the gifted leather ball regularly.One
fine day the ball hit for a six is lost.
The boys eager to search for the ball venture into the forest.They see
a distant light and after investigation they stumble upon a large old,dilapidated
mansion.This has secretly been occupied by a gang of notorious -yet clumsy
bank robbers wanted by law officers.
Incidentally the leader of this gang lives a dual life, as a well to
do big businessman and by a very strange coincidence resides in the housing
estate where these boys also live.
The gang holds up the boys except one who accidentally falls down a
tunnel -shaft in the marshes that leads all the way to the basement of
the house.After several thrilling incidents the boys foil the plans of
the gang and manage to trap the gang.
Somi Ratnayake,W.Jaya-siri,Wijeratna Warakagoda,Sandun Wijesiri,Chitra
Warakagoda,Ruby de Mel,Manel Wanaguru and Prasanna Fonseka play in it.
Buddhi, Mathura join in food business
By Sanath Weerasuriya
'Buddhi' and Batiks has been a household name in Sri Lanka for deeades.
Time has changed and if anyone says Buddhi is now more popular in food
business than batiks it is true to a some extent.
'Mathura', an Indian vegetarian restaurant at Havelock Road is the first
venture of its kind by Buddhi Keerthisena.
'Mathura' is a BOI project of Woodlands Restaurant chain of India, which
is a very popular vegetarian chain in Bharata.
'Mathura Madras Woodlands Restaurant' started about six months ago and
it has become one of the best meeting and eating joints in Colombo.
'I had connections with 'Woodlands' people from 1960 which I developed
when I was studying in India. They were very keen on investing in Sri Lanka
even two three decades ago, but because of my batik business I never gave
a thought to this. But my son Boodie persuaded me to step into this business,
because he is a total vegetarian' explained Buddhi Keerthisena.
'Mathura' has the capacity for 75 pax inside and 32 pax in the open
air garden which is now being expanded.
"We are extending our building in front to give more facilities
to our customers. Most of the time, specially during dinner time we have
found many staying outside waiting to get a table" Buddhi said.
'Mathura' serves no liquor and it is a total family restaurant. Most
of its chefs are from India.
"We do not serve any meat itms or even seafood. So that no one
need worry about the dishes. Our kitchen is a total vegetarian kitchen
and chefs too are total vegetarians" the Indian Manager and F&B
specialist of 'Mathura' A. Ramakrishnan said.
'Mathura' has seven Indian chefs in action at the kitchen. They are
Brahmin Dilvari Singh Adikari, Mustaque Ali, S. Raja Ra, N.V Nivasan, S.B
Jagir Bacha, Venkata Ramanan and Ragu.
The restaurant is open from 11.00 am to 3.00 pm and from 7.pm to 11.00
pm.
'Tomato Soup' 'Sweet Corn' Vegetable Soup' and 'Special Rasam' hit the
top of the soup toureen of the 'Mathura Menu'. 'Vegetable Basmathi' Buriyani',
Basmathi Pullow', 'Kashmi Pullow' are some of the popular rice dishes from
the menu.
'Kulcha', 'Masala Kulcha'. Naan Paratha', and 'Chapathi' are some of
the popular dishes from Tandoori pot. The price ranges from Rs. 35 to Rs110/=.
Indian delicacies such as paneer butter Masal, 'Mushroom DO Piyasa',
'Gobi Masala' are in the range of Rs 90/= to Rs 120 /-. Mathura Special
Dishes ,'Mathura Paneer 65' and 'Mathura Gobi 65 are priced at Rs 120 per
portion.
'Mathura Dosai' section is another attraction of South Indian lovers.
'Masala Dosai', Chilli Masala Dosai 'Garlic Masala Dosai,' Curd Rice
and South Indian Special Thali meals are popular items on the menu.
The prices range from Rs 15/= to Rs 90/=.
'Mathura' has a Chinese section on its menu.
We have 'Spicy Fried Rice', 'Noodles'; vegetable Manchurian etc.
These items are all vegetable based but in Chinese style. This is mainly
to customers who are looking for hot and spicy dishes. 'Mathura' is the
only Indian restaurant with Chinese dishes on menu said Manager Ramakrishnan.
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