• Malini has new role in Sudu Meaniyo
• 'Well Done' at Serendib Leisure
• 'Sathyadevi' comes wit a human touch
• 850,000 songs for Sanu's credit
• The last film of the Millennium

Malini has new role in Sudu Meaniyo

"Sudu Meaniyo', the latest character played by versatile Malini Foneska can be seen in 'Kemmura' on National Rupavahini from tonight. (December 12).

"It's the role of an elderly woman charmer in a remote village. I have not played a role of a woman charmer earlier ,There are such cases even at present in villages," she said. However she had faced difficulties in 'Kemmura' as the script contained a lot of stanzas which are chanted by those who practice this as a profession. "The difference is that my work as a charmer is only for good deeds."

She had been made up to look a little more older to suit the role. Lucky Dias plays the role of a village chiefain which is also a new role for him. The drama is based on a period.

"I had to memorise some of these stanzas according to their real pronunciation accents' she said. As almost all of these stanzas are based on 'pirith' she had not faced difficulties in the pronunciation of lines.

According to tradition, this 'legacy' has been bestowed on Sudu Meaniyo' by her father, a one time popular charmer in the village.

It had not been given over to her brother as he was not of excellent character.

However ' Sudu Meaniyo' who is a disappointed lover is now devoting her entire time in serving the community by performing charms only for protective purposes of mankind. Her affair with the village chief and the all powerful Balawardena (Lucky Dias) was unexpectedly shattered. He finally marries another woman.

The drama starts with the 'abbithaya' of an ancient temple apprehending a man who comes to rob old palm leaf manuscripts containing a theory of hunting treasures.

He is produced before Balawardena who punishes him when quite unexpectedly the suspect is found to be dumb. However the man behind this scene is Rajapakse (Cletus Mendis) who is responsible for several crimes in the village.

The story of the drama is written by Sunanda Silva in the script showing the destructive work done by a 'kattadiya' (charmer) named Janis (Richard Weerakkody). A chance confrontation between Sudu Meaniyo and Janis take place which lead to several incidents which finally ends up in an unexpected end.

Ananda Fonseka, Malini Fonseka's younger brother directs this 20 episode teledrama while two of their nieces Samanalie Fonseka and Manori Fonseka play. A yesteryear film actress Shanthi Lekha plays'Maggie Hamy's role in this drama after a long lapse of time as she was in a foreign country with her children. Rohana Weerasinghe is the music director. Sunil Perera is the director of Photography. Internationally reputed art director cum film director Rob Nevis is the art director of this teledrama. Sisira K. Senaratne is its editor.

Felicia Deen has produced this teledrama on behalf of Malathi Films and Zenin Productions.

K. G. Group of Companies, a sister Company of Cinemas, sponsored 'Kemmura' to commemorate 50 years in the film industry. Cinemas Ltd. under the guidence of Managing Director K. Gunaratnam produced some of the yesteryear blockbusters like 'Sandesaya', ' Chandiya', ' Allapu Gedera' etc and also set up Vijaya Studios Hendela which produced several films and turned out several technicians.

'Well Done' at Serendib Leisure

Taking a clue from the recently concluded customer service training program conducted by Ron Kaufman in Colombo, Serendib Leisure introduced an "unbelievable" service month during November '99 in the hotels of the group.

A special credit card size card with the words "well done" was designed and handed over to resident guests in the hotels on arrival. The guests were instructed to hand over this card to any hotel employee who delivers some special service, which far exceeds their expectations. In this manner, employees who collect the maximum number of cards will be presented with handsome gifts by the management at the end of the month.

The program has become a great success with the employees striving hard to deliver superior customer satisfaction. In some cases the enthusiasm of the staff reached such heights and the service was so good, that the guests found it difficult to single out any one person to hand his card over to. In other cases, the guests wanted more cards than their quota, to give out.

The picture shows the Manager of Reefcomber Hotel, Mr Ronnie Perera explaining the process to resident guests at the launching of the program during a tea party hosted by the hotel, also in the picture are the Sous Chef Mr Lalith Haputantri, F.O.M. Mr Nishendra Fernando and the F&B Manager Mr Mahesh Mendis.

The program was spearheaded by Group Training Manager of Serendib Leisure, Mr Nishantha Manawadu.

'Sathyadevi' comes wit a human touch

The writer director with a touch for human subjects in films Chandraratne Mapitigama is ready to present his latest film 'Sathyadevi'.

"It's a story based on certain true incidents that have taken place in this country during the last few years. I have presented them cinematically on screen with the help of a team of artistes and technicians." he said.

Jeevan Kumaratunga, Geetha Kumarasinghe, Ranjan Ramanayake, W. Jayasiri and Susan Fernando along with many more artistes play in this film.

One of the reasons for the present crisis in our film industry is plagiarising stories from foreign films, mainly Hindi and South Indian films. "One needn't copy others' themes when there are many incidents happening in the country that could be blown up to powerful original film stories. Our ancient literature books give enough matter to be developed into fine stories. Jathaka Stories are also an asset in this respect " he added.

He is not prepared to give a detailed account of the story of his latest creation. "But it's altogether a different type of a story and it's up to filmgoers to pass judgment on my work after viewing the film" he said. His 'Surabidena' which won awards at the main film festivals in Sri Lanka and participated at a few international film festivals was released to our expatriates in many countries.

Recently director Mapitigama stressing the need to make children's films hinted recently he intended making a film for children as his next venture. However he was anticipating state patronage for such a venture. Director Mapitigama who believes in giving pride of place for new talents has introduced a young new music director to provide music for 'Sathyadevi'. He is singer musician Jagath Wickremasinghe. "I am more than happy for the musical score Jagath has created for my film" he said.

Other main titles in this film are Jayanath Gunawardena cinematography), Sirinatha Wickremasinghe (art), Elmo Haliday (editing), Lionel Gunaratna (sound) and Leslie Siriwardena (assistant director).

Susan Fernando who plays a role in the film has produced it on behalf of Lionel Films.

850,000 songs for Sanu's credit

By Kumaradasa Wagista.

Bollywood's singing sensational star Kumar Sanu (Sanu Battachari) visited Sri Lanka last week. He hails from a family of musicians. His father, Pasupathi Battachari is a classical music teacher. Kumar Sanu entered the musical field as a tabla player in Calcutta where he played for several prominent Bengali singers of the time.

Like many other stars from the region he too migrated to Mumbai in 1987 when fortune waved at him with music directors Kalyanji and Anandiji changing his name as Kumar Sanu. " With the change of the name I became an artiste for everyone in India, although I am a Hindu Brahmin." he said. "This is essential in India where caste system prevails at a high degree" he said. It was director Jaggit Singh who introduced him to Kalyanji and Anandiji.

"An artiste's private life should always be in camera, away from been exposed to the media" he said at a press briefing at Galadari Hotel Colombo.on December 4

Kumar Sanu has won the Filmfare award as best singer for five years consecutively from 1990 to 1995. He has rendered 850,000 songs in 18 languages so far. Kumar Sanu has recorded a minimum of 28 film songs a day. "This is not a marvel today with techonological innovations. Music directors first record the music and play it for me to dub it with the lyric. The job is perfectly done with two rehersals" he said. "These are rare achievements in my life which many others cannot speak about"

"After I won the fifth Filmfare award I announced not to accept any more awards." He added. "I did so to give the opportunity for another playback singer to win it. "Awards presented to me so far can eaisly fill two houses' he said.

He believes in audience appreciation and recognition than awards given by the state or various other institutions.

He loves to sing to massive audiences and receive an immediate applause than receiving public reaction for a film song six months after recording it in a air conditioned song recording studio." This is because the song goes to the masses with the film or film ablums." He hates rap music because it's raping the music.

Only talents shine in this industry which is competetive to the teeth. No one can stop the grass growing in a fertile land and so are talents.

"My visit to Sri Lanka is also an award in this respect as I have seen an audience who have been my fans although they have not seen me in flesh and blood This is my first visit to Sri Lanka. I love the country and people,".

Before his departure he visited Kandy.

Kumar Sanu considers his father a classical musician in Calcutta as his guru and mentor.

His musical achievements have not yet reached its peak. His aim is to be a music director one day or other. "I have played the main role in a Bengali film. I played in it because it's story was woven around a singer. Very strangely some very touching incidents in the script were close to my life. The film will be dubbed into Hindi and screened in Mumbai and other states " he said.

He left Colombo for Australia and New Zealand on December 7. From there he will visit the Emirates. "But I won't stay for long in those places. The most will be 4 days in each country'. He is lucky as he has visited three fourths of the globe entertaining millions of people belonging to different ethnic groups. "It's because music has no language or colour" Kumar Sanu along with his troupe entertained thousands of song lovers at a packed house at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium on December 5.

The last film of the Millennium

Filmmaker H. D. Premaratne completed work in E. A. P. Films 'Kinihiriya Mal' recently. "I am happy that work in 'Kinihiriya Mal' is over before the dawn of the Year 2000, so that the film could be released" he said. It is the last film to be completed during 1999 at Film Corporation Studios Dalugama.

Director Premaratne filmed sequences in several garment factories in remote areas with a host of film artistes playing in them. "Several important incidents take place in these places that lead to the climax of the film."

He introduced yesteryear lyricist and broadcaster Karunaratne Abeysekera's son Dileepa Karunaratne to write a lyric in this film where Rohana Weerasinghe is music director. Singer Nirosha Virajini renders a song in this film.

Sangeetha Weeraratne, Veena Jayakody, Vasanthi Chaturani play key female roles in it.

The film is cinematographed by Suminda Weerasinghe and edited by Elmo Haliday.

The film is produced by Soma Edirisinghe.

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