• Annesley and Indrani with Gypsies 
• C&C in Bahrain
• 'The Swiss Film Season 2000'
• 'Sanda Yahanata' appeals to adults
• Life of a 'comfort woman' on screen
• Tale of a bridge ruins a village By Sunil Jayasiri

Annesley and Indrani with Gypsies 

Annesley and Indrani in concert has surpassed all expectations as a successful musical show in terms of popularity. 

Since staging Annesley-Indrani in concert for the first time at the BMICH in September 1998 (which was a sell-out) there has been an unprecedented demand from the music loving public in our country to repeat this show in Colombo and outstations. 

In response to this demand, 'the Gypsies' who enjoy widespread popularity through the length and breath of Sri Lanka, have volunteered to add yet another speciality to the show by providing the musical accompaniment to 'Annesley & Indrani'.

This is the very first time that 'the Gypsies' will be providing musical backing to artistes for a complete show. This will undoubtedly give the show additional clout. 

So keep the date December 2, 2000 free. Annesley and Indrani in concert with the musical backing of the Gypsies at the BMICH, for those who missed the show in 1998.

C&C in Bahrain

Musical duo Chandani and Chaminda popularly known as C&C are back in Bahrain for a couple of gigs organised by the Sri Lankan Association. 

This being their 14th trip overseas together, C&C performed in Bahrain at the Diplomat Hotel last Thursday for the Sri Lanka club's annual dinner dance. C&C left for Bahrain on Tuesday and will be away for a week, where they will also participate in some private Sri Lankan functions too. 

Chandani and Chaminda, both pleasing personalities have captured audiences here and abroad. Their close knit family life as husband and wife, the duo also take their listeners by storm at whatever musical event they participate in. 

This grand event in Bahrain held annually, usually during the month of October makes the second consecutive turnout for C&C. 

Meanwhile, with many contracts in five star hotels here, their Colombo hot spot is at the Taj Samudra, Where they are a favourite among guests. 

They are a regular feature at many private and corporate functions, which they say " keeps them on a tight schedule.' 

The Airport Garden Hotel has them as part of the hotel's musical pair. This leads them to return to Sri Lanka in a weeks time to start headlong into their work. 

C & C duo will be in action on the 31st night at the Airport Garden Hotel this year.

'The Swiss Film Season 2000'

'The Swiss Film Season 2000', jointly presented by the Asian Film Centre, Sri Lanka, Pro Helvetia (the Arts Council of Switzerland) and the Embassy of Switzerland in Sri Lanka, will be held in Colombo, Kandy and Matara in October 23 to 29.

The Season will be inaugurated by the Ambassador of Switzerland and the Swiss film director Francois-Christophe Mazal (writer/director of 'Attention Aux Chiens/Beware of the Dogs') on Sunday October 22 at the BMICH cinema auditorium. Public screenings will commence on Monday October 23 until Sunday, October 29 at the Elphinstone Theatre. 

Seven feature length films, accompanied by seven short and animation films will be screened. Screenings will commence at 3 pm and 6 pm daily and tickets will be sold at the gate for each day's films from 2 pm onwards. The films will also be shown in Kandy and at the Ruhunu University, Matara from November 10 to16. All the films will be screened with English sub-titles. 

This is the third such Swiss Film Season organized in Sri Lanka. The first collaboration between the three principal organizers was in 1992. This was an unique event in Sri Lanka's film history since it was the first comprehensive introduction that our audiences received to the cinema of Switzerland. The second season in 1996 reinforced the budding relationship.

Swiss Film Season 2000 consists of seven major feature films. The contemporary theme of illegal immigration is dealt with in Clandestins (Stowaways) (October 23) which depicts the horrendous ordeal of a group of people who have hidden themselves in a container on a ship from France to Canada. Attention Aux Chiens (Beware of the Dogs) will be screened on Tuesday October 24. This is a film in the genre of a detective film or chase film and has the quality of Quentin Tarrantino's Reservoir Dogs in its characterization, structure and pacing

Miel Et Cendres ( Honey and Ashes) is set in Moslem North Africa and is an example of the increasing number of international co-productions being made in Switzerland by second and third generation immigrants from the so-colled Third World. 

Beresina (or The Last Days Of Switzerland), to be screened on Thursday October 26 is arguably the highlight of this film season. It is a hilarious satire on the politics of modern Switzerland told through the story of a young and vivacious Russian woman who sleeps with politicians and bureaucrats in high places in order to get Swiss citizenship. 

Emporte-Moi(Set Me Free) to be screened on Friday October 27 tells the story of a teenage girl and her brother, growing up in a dysfunctional mixed-marriage family. 

The film to be shown on Saturday Meschugge (The Giraffe), is an exciting and well crafted mystery/suspense thriller very much in the Hollywood classic entertainment film mode, while the film scheduled for Sunday October 29 Pas De Cafe, Pas De Tele, Pas De Sexe (No Coffee, No TV, No Sex) is a funny and light-hearted story of triangular relationship between three friends, a woman and two men.

The short films and animation films which will be shown along with these seven features, reflects the high quality and wide range of Swiss cinema today and confirms its place among the leading filmmaking nations of Europe.

'Sanda Yahanata' appeals to adults.

The film "Sanda Yahanata", scripted and directed by Mohammed Niyaz will be released at the Regal and fifth circuit cinema halls from next Friday.

The latest work of Niyaz after films like "Yasoma" and "Blendings" will come under the 'adults only' tag.

Depicting the pathetic end of a girl who rose against her powerful political opponent the film highlights the existing brutality in the political arena.

The cast include a number of veteran stars like Sanath Gunathilake, Sabitha Perera, Palitha Silva, Roshan Pilapitiya, Senaka Wijesinghe, Paboda Sandeepani, cletus Mendis, Pradeep Hettiarachchi and G. R. Perera.

Viveka (Sabitha Perera), the Grama Sevaka in the area and the District Secretary of the Women's Movement is a revolutionary who is ready to do anything to have justice done. Jagath (Sanath Gunathilake) who becomes rich and powerful within the existing political system by helping a politician in the area falls in love with Viveka though she is opposed to his political ideology. 

Viveka strongly opposes his proposal which he directly put forward to her parents. 

Determined get her love even forcibly Jagath abducts and rapes Viveka just before the day she is to get married to someone else. 

Victimised by the male dominance combined with the political power, Viveka has no alternative other than to marry Jagath, the man who makes her helpless. Enraged Viveka does not have to wait long with her distasteful wedded life as Jagath is mysteriously killed one night. Viveka's decision to remarry a journalist is vehemently opposed and infuriates Jagath's relations who suspect her of Jagath's murder. Would an educated and headstrong girl be able to go for her second marriage? While the story continues the film ends in a tragedy.

"Sanda Yahanata" was edited by M. S. Aliman while art direction was by Lal Harindranath. Produced by Anil Jayasuriya, Lal Wickremarachchi has cranked the camera.

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Life of a 'comfort woman' on screen

A string of adult only films are lined up for release commencing with the release of Mario Jaythunga's "Salupata Ahasata II" on the fourth circuit.

The film is the continuation of the first part screened last year with the same name.

The story revolves around the life of a woman who was addicted to the life as a prostitute.

In Salupata Ahasata I, the stellar roles were played by Lucky Dias, Veena Jayakody and Gayana Sudharshi in the story of a boarding house, frequented by young men bent on seeking sensual pleasures.

The film nauates the story of Prema (Veena Jayakody) known to have many an illicit affair with young boarders. Determined to begin a new life after losing everything near and dear to her in the first part, Prema remarries to a man from a village. When her new life fails to fulfill her dreams, she is tempted to return to her old, libertine life. 

Meeting with her old lover at this crucial moment gives a new beginning to her dead relationship. Giving herself to wantonness she moves to the town and as the film continues the story ends in tragedy.

According to the director Jayathunge the film was released after the long wait of more than one year. Yet the filming was completed in a matter of 20 days.

Though the director does not want to continue the same story as a series he said the film 'Salupata Ahasata II' was made as several important sections were censored in his earlier film.

The cast of the Salupata Ahasata II includes Veena Jayakody and Suresh Gamage who played the main roles in part I and has Anusha Sonali, Srinath Maddumage, Mury Samarasinghe, Sureni Senarath, Sonia Disa as new stars. Sarath Wickrema, Rukantha Gunathilake, Amarasiri Peiris and Damayanthi Jayasuriya were behind the scene singers.

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Tale of a bridge ruins a village By Sunil Jayasiri

There are villages in Sri Lanka which are not affected by the trends of development. They unsophisticate and diffuses the old world charm. This story is based on such an unspoiled village, which is situated in a remote area in the country.

'Gang Dela Nisalai' the latest tele-drama tells what the villagers face when the village in the mood of 'new development'. 

'Gang Dela Nisalai' is now being telecast on Rupavahini every Wednesday at 8.30 p.m. The 18-episode tele-drama was directed by Tikiri Ratnayake. The day to day activities of the villagers are very simple, their main income depends on village environment. The village has a doctor (indigenous) and he is helped by his only daughter. It has only one boutique to which everyone gathers. Sirimal a young boatman earns for the mother's upkeep. He has a love affair with Nalini daughter of publis. She is a poor girl and she does not go to school as her family has not enough money to spend on her studies. But she goes to a private class with the help of one of her friends.

While these things are happening the authorities plan to build a new bridge over the river connecting the village and the town. Some of the villagers are for it, while some are against. Kamal, a young businessman cames to the village as the contractor of the new bridge. Beginning with the construction of the bridge things gradually change. The only boutique started to sell illicit liquor. Publis and a few villagers being work at the construction site. One day Publis got sick and is admitted to the hospital with the help of Kamal, which leads to a love affair between Nalani and Kamal, who stays at a hotel nearby. This new love affair went far while it became the main talk of the town. Sirimal does not believe in the love affair, as villagers' say. When the construction is finished Kamal plans to open a new hotel in the area with his cousins, who come from the States.

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