TV Times

TV Times

'Pawuru Walalu' on Sirasa TV
With the money she earns, working day and night, making clothes on a battered sewing machine, Violet manages to provide a living for herself and her two daughters in their small home inside the old fortress of the southern port city of Galle.

Violet conforms faithfully to the behaviour expected of a single mother in this traditional, post-colonial, Roman Catholic community of the 1960's. Her husband, a boorish, pompous man, who left when the children were very young, visits now and again to see his daughters and to gloatingly remind Violet that she is still his lawfully wedded spouse.

The eldest daughter returns home with her husband to give birth to Violet her first grandchild, the younger is attracted to a dashing James Dean - like young man on a motor cycle and Violet agrees to see him and his family to arrange a marriage.

These two happy milestones in her life are overtaken, one dark night, by the arrival of a message from Violet's first and only love,Victor. He had returned to port after twenty five years of sailing around the world as a merchant seaman. He is not well and needs special treatment. Violet introduces Victor to her family as a distant relative and takes him into her house to provide him with the care he desperately needs. As he recovers from his illness, their love is rekindled.

The passions kept hidden for so long, resurfaces, and the relationship is met with disapproval by family and friends. Violet gets pregnant and is forced to induce a miscarriage. Her younger daughter's engagement is called off. Unable or unwilling to play the guilt-laden role expected of her by an uncompromising and unforgiving society, Violet decides to follow her heart and live happily even after with Victor. When she finally finds this happiness some call insanity.

Starring: Tony Ranasinghe, Nita Fernando, Sangeetha Weeraratne and Directed by Prasanna Vithanage.

On Sunday, January 26 at 8.00 p.m. on Sirasa TV.

Anura Horatius achieves a dream
By Susitha R. Fernando
Novelist cum journalist Anura Horatius' debut film "Sonduru Dadayama" is now being filmed one locations in and around Colombo.

Mahendra and Srinath in a scene from the movie

Sanath Wimalaweera and Dilhani Ekanayake

Anura himself has written the script, screenplay and had directed the film which is produced by W. A. S. K. Samarawickrema.

Joining in the first teledrama (indoor) "Beckett" made in Sri Lanka in 1982, Anura was involved in the award winning film 'Gini Avi Saha Gini Keli' directed by Udayakantha Warnasuriya which was made based on the novel of the same name.
From Colombo the crew will proceed to Mawenella for filming.

"Sonduru Dadayama" a story with a detective touch depicts how a woman works to accomplish her objectives.

The lead roles are played by Dilhani Ekanayake, Sanath Wimalaweera, G. R. Perera, Muri Samarasinghe, Tony Ranasinghe, Mahendra Perera and Rex Kodippili.'

Asked about his maiden attempt, Anura said it was one of his dreams.

A writer by profession, Anura described the idea of his film "While I was writing the script I made it a point to make a full cinema script. I included not only background for locations and actors but even about the lighting effect,".

"Everybody who came across the script agreed that it would not be hard to advance it to celluloid," Anura said.

"At a time where making films is considered a risk I would be thankful to my producer who was willing to join me in my very first film. If not for him I would not have been able to realize my dream," Anura said in a greatful tone. The story is woven around two characters a boy and a girl who are far apart from each other in their outlook on life but whose destiny is similar.

Kamal, a married Army soldier has given up his wife and lives with his parents. Samangi abandoned at her most beautiful point in her life lives all alone with a fatherless child. The two who hold different expectations meet accidentally. While Samangi is planning a bright future for her child, Kamal is waiting for a chance to fill the gap caused by the loss of his wife.

Meanwhile Samangi is caught up in a trap made by an unknown gang.

There the girl makes a false confession stating that Kamal is her husband and as a result Kamal is imprisoned. Unable to get away from the snare made by the gang, Samangi has to give birth to another child .

Camera is by G. Nandasena, and art direction is from Suneth Nandalal. The music director for the movie is Premasiri Kemadasa.

Fantasy fare hits Majestic cinema
Fantasy adventure film 'Dungeons and Dragons' with dreadful monsters and complex magic lore is now screened at Majestic cinema in Colombo.

A scene from 'Dungeons and Dragons'

In the mystical land of Izmer, a class of Mages rule by means of magic and otherworldly powers. One Mage, Profion (Jeremy Irons), wants to rule the land by himself and hopes to topple the young and inexperienced Empress Savina (Thora Birch) by acquiring her mystical scepter-the key to controlling the Gold Dragons. To counter Profion's plans, a young Mage named Marina has to find the legendary Rod of Savrille-the key to controlling the Red Dragons.

Marina teams up with a rowdy dwarf, an elf, and a pair of thieves named Ridley (Justin Whalin) and Snails (Marlon Wayans). But even with the help of this team, Marina's path to the Rod of Savrille is a rocky one laden with booby traps, puzzles, and Damodar-Profion's henchman, who threatens death at every turn. Nonetheless, the Empress and her followers are determined to face the odds to prevent the evil Profion from triumphing. The popular role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons comes to life in this film with cutting edge special effects, culminating in an awe-inspiring battle between two hordes of dragons over a huge, elaborate, Gothic city.

"D & D" stars Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons with Richard O'Brian. "Lois & Clark" famed Justin Whalin, Zoe McLellan, Marlon Wayans, Lee Arenberg and Thora Birch (American Beauty) are in the cast.

D&D is distributed by New Line Cinema

'D &D' will be followed by latest released comedy "The Guru" from February 14 at MC.

The film directed by Daisy von Scherler Mayer and screenplay written by Tracey Jackson was produced by Shakher Kapur, the director of "Bandit Queen".

The "Guru" stars Heather Graham, Marisa Tomei, Jimi Mistry, Michael McKean, Dash Mihok, Christine Baranski and it is presented by Universal pictures. The film revolves around a young Indian dance teacher with the best moves in Delhi embarking for New York City in pursuit of fame and fortune - only to wind up working as a waiter in an Indian restaurant. But good fortune can arise from strange places as our hero, Ramu Gupta (Mistry), discovers when a catering gig at a ditzy socialite's (Tomei) birthday party catapults him into an extravagant version of the American dream. Mistaken for a spiritual healer, Ramu becomes an overnight celebrity with the city's elite hanging onto his every word - no matter how absurd.

The trouble is, he's also falling in love with the one woman (Graham) who knows the real source of his seemingly profound insights and Ramu must choose between his newfound notoriety and his love for a woman who accepts him as he is.

Back to TV Times