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TV Times

Sinhala ‘Rashomon’to be staged at Bishop’s College
By Manjari Peiris
Rashomon is the first Japanese film to win an international award (Oscar Film Festival) for the Best Film in 1952, which tells a story similar to the Chulla Danuddara Jataka story and is popular among the Sinhala readers.
The Sinhala version of Rashomon, a full-length drama was staged for the first time in 2002 at 3.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. on Saturday, August 30t at Bishop’s College auditorium.

Dr. Ariya Rajakaruna translated the script, Akirakura Sova did the original Japanese film. The Sinhala script for the play is written and staged by dramatist Hemantha Prasad.

Hemantha Prasad entered the field of drama in 1987 as an actor with Hansa Vila Kelambi, a 30 minute drama. This drama won the awards of Best Drama, Best Script, and Best Actor at the 20th Anniversary of the Youth Services Center. Prior to that he followed a course in acting, script writing, voicing, etc.

Since then 10 short dramas have been directed by Hemantha to his credit. They are Samanelaya, Channa Kinneri, and Hathalis Ek Wenna, Amma Ahimi and Gathu Kivu Geethika, Sayonara. In year 2000 he won the Best Drama, Best Supporting Actor and 8 other awards at the National Youth Services Festival.
Hemantha has contributed in acting in 15 other stage dramas such as Sokkano Rajano of Satischandra Edirisinghe, Bheema Boomi of Sunil Chandrasiri, Moonu Dekak of Susil Gunarathne, etc.

He won the Best Actor award for his acting in Anthima Paleveni Kochchiya of Saman Jayaweera in 2000 at the National Youth Services Centre. His name was nominated for the Best Actor Award in 1999 at the Stage Drama Festival. In 2000 Hemantha won the award for Best Actor Special Award for his performance in Wedikaven Maha Polovata at the Short Drama Festival.

Hemantha’s contribution to 8 tele dramas includes Sausiri Uyana of Satischandra Edirisinghe, Sthri Mayam of Ratnasiri Paranavithana and Idiri Masa of Christi Shelton Fernando. Hemantha’s has made his contribution in the film Theertha Yathra of Vasantha Obeysekera too.

Hemantha conducts free drama classes at Parakramabahu Maha Vidyalaya, Narahenpita on Sundays from 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. Anybody interested may enroll.

Composer, musician Chandrasena
By D.B. Kappagoda
R.A. Chandrasena outshone other musicians in the field of Sinhala music with his contribution as a singer and composer. In 1942 he joined Radio when it was housed at Cotta Road. He was the youngest musician to join the Sinhala orchestra.

As a musician, Chandrasena helped a great deal in the programmes produced by D.M. Colombage, Thevis Guruge and U.A.S. Perera who was popularly known as Siri Aiya.

Chandrasena was a gifted composer who created scintilating tunes that became popular among the listeners. His song, “Dasabaladari Budu Raju Pera Kala” was the first that brought fame as a singer.

Chandrasena then provided music for films and out of the number of films “Kolomba Hadayo” was chosen as the best film that had quality music. He was awarded as the best music director that year.

The salient quality as a musician was that he introduced quite a number of singers to the music scene. In 1969 under R.A.C. label he began his own record company.

He was credited with the creation of records containing songs such as “Mohen Mulawela”, “Linden Watura Beela” which brought fame as a musician. He was the pioneer in organising musical shows in Sri Lanka. When the Indian singers in the calibre of Mohammed Rafi, Talat Mohammed and stars Raj Kapoor and Nargis held their musical shows, Chandrasena provided the background music which was acclaimed a success. ……To commemorate Chandrasena’s 78th birth anniversary a special radio programme was on air on Friday 22.

‘Breeze’ blows new tunes
Popular Moratuwa band ‘Breeze’ will be celebrating their twentieth year in the local music scene next month. Breeze’ started as a family band with four brothers and the sister in 1983. But today only one member is left from the original lineup.

Mahendra Fernando, the leader and the lead vocals of the band is the only remaining member, who is very keen on taking his band to the next generation. The other members are Sumith Welaratne on key boards and vocals, Dishan Peiris on bass and vocals, Janaka Colombage on guitar and vocal and Hasitha Samarakoon on drums and vocals.

Breeze is performing at Hotel Riverina in Beruwala on Saturdays and at the Bentota Beach Hotel on every other Friday. “Other than that, we play for a lot of weddings, gigs and other functions during the rest of the days. All the members are doing full time music and we got enough time to do our practices’ said Mahendra.

The boys are capable of handling any audiences and their repertoire is very wide from oldies, evergreens, pop, commercial music, rock, reggae bails and even Hindi according to the requirement.

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