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Lanka touched
by Teresa again Film Location
Services Limited, which was instrumental in the production of the
previous film on Mother Teresa in Colombo six years ago, is the
local partner in this new venture. Its chairman, Chandran Rutnam
said that the film is due to be screened in October to coincide
with the beatification of Mother Teresa in Rome. According to Mr.
Rutnam, filming began in early July and is due to be completed on
August 21. Several locations in Colombo were chosen; sites as diverse
as Madampitiya, Holy Family Convent, the Ayurvedic Hospital in Rajagiriya,
Victoria Park and the Fort railway station. Mother Teresa
is played by the dimunitive actress Olivia Hussey, famous for her
haunting performance in Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 hit Romeo &
Juliet. The cast is a truly multi-national one encompassing artistes
from Spain, Italy, India, England and, of course, Sri Lanka. The
stars of the local silver screen include Ravindra Randeniya, Nimmie
Harasgama, Sangeetha Weeraratne and Satischandra Edirisinghe. Ravindra Randeniya
plays the painfully finicky- Police Commissioner of Calcutta and
says his role represents Mother Teresa's interaction with the administrative
hierarchy in Calcutta, bringing out the political and social opposition
she faced in her endeavours.
Complimenting
director Fabrizio Costa, for the importance he places on the proper
portrayal of character, Mr. Randeniya said the working environment
on the set was pleasant. "I think this project is a great boon
to the local film industry. The best thing about this venture is
that it gives positive publicity to Sri Lanka. Mr. Rutnam and Film
Location Services must be thanked for giving this exposure to our
country." Sangeetha Weeraratne,
who plays Sister Francisca, echoed the same sentiment, adding that
a number of local stars are being exposed to the international film
arena as a result of such a production. Having played Sister Nirmala
in 'Mother Teresa: In the name of God's Poor', a documentary film
shot here in 1997, she says, "I am very happy to be part of
this production, as I have always admired Mother Teresa." The role of
Sister Nirmala ( known as Sister Celes in this film), is played
by Lankan actress Nimmie Harasgama. She was also cast as a nun in
the previous production on Mother Teresa. Working with different
actresses from different countries has been a novel experience for
Nimmie, who says of lead actress Olivia Hussey, "I think she's
amazing!" Having worked with a number of extras on the set,
she believes they have coped very well and complemented the excellent
co-ordination of filming as a whole. That's no surprise,
considering that Film Location Services Ltd. has over 80 local technicians
providing logistical support to the Italian producers. Film Location
Services has taken over the arduous task of re-creating the slums
of Calcutta down here in Sri Lanka. "We had to put up sheds
and dilapidated buildings, and we even planted beggars on the streets
to re-create the settings," says Mr. Rutnam. The Oslo site
of the Nobel Peace Prize will also be recreated here, he says. The
film is to be shot entirely in Sri Lanka. As to the choice
of location - Why Sri Lanka the second time over? "Sri Lanka
is a God-made film set," says Mr. Randeniya. Adds Mr. Rutnam,
"Our country is more co-operative towards filming this than
Calcutta. We have done this kind of thing before, and people know
what we can do." He revealed that over a thousand Sri Lankans
were part of the film, mainly as extras involving crowd scenes depicting
the busy roads of Calcutta. "Mother Teresa of Calcutta", an English feature film will have its premiere in October 2003. Little
cheer for Madampitiya slums In the same
location, you find a few sports clubs as well. The teams of football,
cricket and elle comprise the youth in these areas. They practise
at a playground in Madampitiya, but the facilities there are hardly
anything to boast about. But Madampitiya
is now one of the chosen locations for 'Mother Teresa of Calcutta'
. And the Memory
of Mother (MOM) Foundation, an organisation committed to improving
the conditions of the down-trodden, has appealed to the Italian
Film company to help re-construct the playground for the youth in
the area. Considering the difficulty in collecting funding for such
a project, the MOM says that any form of assistance towards re-building
the playground will be a blessing to the youth. It is learnt
that the film company has consented to extend its support in some
form for this venture. Helping hands
stretch out to Anil Kindhearted
Sri Lankans rallied round sending their mite ranging from Rs. 100
to Rs. 15,000 for Anil's fund launched by the newspaper, to see
him through the agony of his disease and hopefully give him a longer
childhood. Following numerous
requests after infant Anil's story was published in the PLUS of
June 15, The Sunday Times, in coordination with the Commissioner
of Probation and Child Care of the Western Province, opened Savings
Account No. 1-0001-08-4276-1 at the National Savings Bank Head Office
branch. Donations in the form of cheque or cash can be made to any
branch of the NSB islandwide, to be channelled to his account. Anil, became
a ward of the state when he was abandoned by his mother soon after
his birth at the Castle Street Hospital for Women and was handed
over to the Commissioner of Probation and Child Care by the hospital
authorities. He was being cared for in a state home, until he was
found to be HIV Positive. Now being treated at the Mulleriyawa Infectious
Diseases Hospital, Anil needs medication to keep the HIV virus down.
The government, unfortunately, does not provide anti-retroviral
drugs through the free healthcare system to treat the HIV virus
and bring it under control. Please rally
round Anil, otherwise he may not live to see his fifth birthday. Every donation
sent through The Sunday Times to Anil's fund will be acknowledged
and the monies utilized for his medical needs. The funds will be
channelled through the Probation and Child Care authorities. * Anil's name has been changed to protect his identity. |
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Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers
Ltd. All rights reserved. |
saintly
Mother Teresa, a woman whose courage and humility touched the hearts
of people the world over. 'Mother Teresa of Calcutta' directed by
Italian Fabrizio Costa will be produced by Lux Studio SPA, an Italian
film company.
slums
of Hennemulla and Samithipura in Colombo North, it is not difficult
to stray into the dark world of gambling, drug pushing, alcohol
dens and blue film video parlours.
