Contents SKAR star Kamy back in Lanka 'Fatal Knights' play rock music Kokila Ginna: tragedy strikes singer 'Mandakini': study of how cultures merge Aponsu : self made actor  Ars Vivendi, Kashyapa: a new culinary venture The Delhi Lens

SKAR star Kamy back in Lanka

By Sanath Weerasuriya

Kamy Lye, the leader and the brother of Sherry Lye of the popular band 'SKAR' which stormed the Colombo music scene during the late '70's is back in Sri Lanka on a short holiday. 

Sherry Lye, Kamy Lye along with Ayad and Raj, left for Switzerland almost 20 years ago as SKAR. 

SKAR is the band that hit the night spots and concert stages in Colombo in the late 70's and gained fame and fortune at the Little Hut with Noeline Honter. 

According to Kamy, SKAR was the very first local band to be taken up to Switzerland by the famous Swiss Regency "Bugra Productions" in 1980. We changed our name to "Fame the Band" in Switzerland and then followed by "Esquire Set and Amazing Grace", he said. 

The brothers Sherry and Kamy Lye who have shared the band-stand for almost 25 years have now decided to quit the profi Night Life chain. For the last two years the brothers perform as a 'duo and mainly concentrated on the 70's music which is very popular in Europe at the moment. 

Kamy returned to the Island last month on a short holiday after a four month tour Down Under, performing in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.Now Kamy performs at the Holiday Inn, Colombo on Fridays. Sherry is at present playing in Germany with a helping hand from Christo Dharson of "Mahogany" and Kevin Almeida of Purple Rain. Sherry will be in Colombo to join Kamy in the near future to give their long awaited fans a taste of yesteryear music during the festive season. The duo is now under contract with FEWO hotels in Black Forest, Germany. 

"We are very happy as a duo as it takes only two to decide. We hope to come back to Sri Lanka next year as well and to settle down in the near future", he added. 

'Fatal Knights' play rock music

'Fatal Knights', a popular reggae and rock band from Hikkaduwa, is planning to hold a massive rock concert this year too. 

They did a big open air concert last year in Hikkaduwa to mark the death anniversary of Bob Marley, where they became an instant hit in the South. The boys are very popular among tourists and they intend to come and perform in a concert in Colombo. 

They are the permanent band in the trendy open air night club, "Why Not" located on the beach of Hikkaduwa. 'Why Not' is one of the most popular night spots in the South. 

With an experience of more than six years, Ranga Handunnetti is the band leader of "Fatal Knights". He and his boys are only interested in playing "live music". 

Ranga says that live music reaches the human heart more than anything else. 

'Fatal Knights' consist of four more talented young men with years of experience behind them. 

'Fatal Knights' consist of Sameera Weerasinghe (Bass guitarist), Chaminda Karunaratne (Drums), Ranga Handunnetti (Vocalist and Band leader) Dantila Amarasiri (Lead Guitarist) and Nishantha Abrew (Keyboards). 

Kokila Ginna: tragedy strikes singer

'Kokila Ginna' is a crime story beautifully wound around a flirtation singer named Sudharma.It is scheduled to be telecat on Swarnavahini from November 28 onwards. 

Why was Sudharma killed ? Who killed her ? Her body was found on the sea beach by the Police accidentally. However the Police being adament grilled many whom they suspected,to solve the riddle of the killing. 

Sudharma was a singer.Her singing qualities added to her beauty made her popular among listeners.Being the only child in the family she was loved by her parents and close relations. 

Her father was a musician who loved to make his only daughter follow in his footsteps Hence she was taught music.As the daughter of a musician she possessed inborn abilities in music and picked up the art quickly. 

Piyatissa was a young bachelor who was in her father's school of music.Sudharma was given in marriage to Piyatissa and they lived happily but only for a short time.After some time she gave birth to a child,a beautiful girl. 

Due to unavoidable circumstances the school of music was closed and Piyatissa lost employment there.Being married he had to go in search of employment.As Sudharma was finding it difficult to meet both ends meet she signed an agreement with a song cassette producer to sing.He is Rajitha, the owner of a cassette producing company..Before long she falls in love with Rajitha.Her daughter lived with her father.Sudharma filed action in courts seeking the custody of her daughter.After several hearings the child is given to Sudharma by a court order.. 

However another chapter in the story is opened when Sudharma is assigned to sing with a male singer. 

He is Anthony.She falls in love with Anthony.Rajitha comes to know of her connections with Anthony.In an argument between Rajitha and Sudharma,he loses his temper and she is killed by him. 

He is tried for murder.But what would be the result of the trial.It can be known only when 'Kokila Ginna ' is telecast. 

Damita Abeyratna Sathischan–dra Edirisinghe,Ananda Wickremage,Menike Attanayake,Gunawardena Hettiarachchi, Sankini Edirisinghe, Hemachandra Piyadasa,Yasie Abeyratna,and Girija Kaushalya play the leading roles. 

'Mandakini': study of how cultures merge

By Kumaradasa Wagista.

A group of Sri Lankan expatriates in Sydney one day decided to produce a feature film combining some of our artistes and Australian actors.The live-wire behind this project was Kitsiri Karunaratne,Manager Information Services Opera House in Sydney.Their hopes blossomed with the completion of the entire outdoor work in 'Mandakini' (The Milky Way). 

Kithsiri popularly known as' Kit 'in Sydney who was in Sri Lanka last week is hopeful of releasing the film in April."The Sinhala film needs foreign exposure if the film industry is to raise its head.We are confident that 'Mandakini' will enter the foreign market"he said. 

He was glad that 'Mandakini' was produced by a group of young Sri Lankan products of free education and hailing from villages.Kitsiri himself is from Kurunegala and is a past pupil of Maliyadeva and Ananda Colleges.He left Sri Lanka for Australia in 1976 and qualified as an engineer in a University in Sydney. 

The total investment in this project is about Rs 15 to 20 million.If our expatriates in other countries also contribute in this manner to produce co-productions the ills that have befallen our film industry will be eased to a great extent..The concept of 'if there is a will there is a way' has to be practiced in these matters.Producer Karunaratne believes that money has to be invested to put out a quality product. 

'Mandakini' relates to an internationally accepted theme,that of aborigines.Like the veddha community in Sri Lanka, the Red Indians in America,Maoris in New Zealand, there are aborigines in almost every country.What is the future of their posterity?.Surely their future generation will some day mix with others. 'Mandakini' relates a story of clashes in culture which will be inevitable in time to come.Australian aborigines are now gradually getting closer to cities and its people since they no longer wish to be isolated from populated towns and the citizeury. 

A Sri Lankan Professor of Anthropology (Ravindra Randeniya) visits Australia with his wife (Sabita Perera) to study the life of Australian aborigines.His wife meets a young Sri Lankan,a radical minded man who has settled down in Australia.The Professor is involved in research work and neglects his wife. This young man becomes a companion to her and is finally attracted to her.Clash of cultures appear once again when the young man claims that she belongs to him as he was her companion.The woman rejects him as it is once again not in keeping to her cultural habits. 

Asked what made him to select H.D.Premaratne to direct this film 'Kit' said when he saw Premaratne's 'Visidela' in Sydney long before it was screened in Sri Lanka he was impressed by his work.The deal was finalised as it was Premaratne who came with 'Visidela',Kithsiri Karunaratne said.He is confident of a world release as the film discusses a theme common to many countries in the world." It's an international subject'he added. Australian aborigines had first read the script and decided to extend their co-operation to do the film, it was revealed. 

Aponsu : self made actor 

In the mid seventies a youth from Nuwara Eliya was assigned to play a comedy role in a film.The film was 'Suhada Pethuma'directed by Kingsley Rajapakse and produced by Camillus Perera.This young man was Jayasekera Aponsu who played an insignificent role in the film. 

In producer Camillus Perera's second film 'Sadhana'Aponsu was coupled with Joe Abeywickrema and was hailed by filmgoers. Jayasekera Aponsu became well known as another comedy artiste who was in demand among film makers of that time. 

Jayasekera Aponsu's talents were not limited to films only,he wrote and produced several stage dramas which were popular among the audiences."A highlight in his drama and film titles was that they bore short titles.Words like 'Thatu' stuck with the fans When television was introduced he acted in several teledramas and directed one,'Giju' where he played opposite Menik Kurukulasuriya."I am a self made man.I have not reached the sky but whatever position I have reached is due to my own efforts" he said. 

After working in films,dramas and teledramas he tried his hand in films,which was altogether a different subject.He wrote produced and directed a film'Re Ru'(Night Visuals). "It's a story based on re-birth.It was a theme which was in my mind since a school boy at GaminiVidyalaya in Nuwara Eliya.After four long years I am getting a chance to release it"he said. 

Asked whether the theme of the film has not gone stale as it was queued up for four years he said it was not."What I feel is that a re birth story will never go stale if it's treated properly." 

As a schoolboy Jayasekera Aponsu was an avid filmgoer.Born and bred in Hawa Eliya he had the opportunity of seeing more Tamil films than Sinhala. 

The reason being the demand was for Tamil films for the entertainment of plantation workers." 

However I enjoyed them as there was no language barrier and I loved the songs and acting of the doyens of the South Indian screen" he said. But he had not dreamt of being a professional actor. 

Although Jayasekera Aponsu is not a soothsayer to predict the future he is confident that his maiden directorial film venture will be a success." Filmgoers enter the cinema hall for entertainment. If there is that component films will run.There should be incidents to attract them and should be packed with a tightly knit story. 

As students, we saw films because of this 'magic' drawing power. Romance, mellifluous music, glamour, enticement are the combined magnetism to pull crowds" 

He is also thankful to all who contributed to complete 'Re Ru' which was produced under many constraints. 

The lead female role is played by Dilhani Ekanayake with Jayasekera Aponsu, Bandula Vithanage, Avanthi and Gamini Aponsu doing other roles. Continuing, producing and directing films depends on how 'Re Ru'fares at box office levels.His film has been awarded a merit certificate by the Film Critics' Forum Awards 1996. 

Others behind the venture are Bandula Cooray(Photography),Elmo Haliday (Editing) and D.D.Gunasena (Music). 

Ars Vivendi, Kashyapa: a new culinary venture

By Sanath Weerasuriya 

At the 'Thummulla Junction' adjoining the popular 'Showboat', comes the place for a real combination. Starters include Italian and Sri Lanka cuisine. 

Ars Vivendi, the Italian cafe and restaurant, has two faces. The real Italian food with authentic Sri Lankan dishes. 

Sri Lankan restaurant is called 'Kashyapa' and serves typical Sri Lankan dishes like Ambul Thiyal, Pol Sambol, Dhal, Seeni Sambol, Polos Malu, Pittu, String Hoppers, Hoppers, Chicken, Fish, Beef tropical fruits and curd. 

'Kashyapa' is open for both lunch and dinner. According to Susanne Filippin, the Italian managing director, the recently launched lunch time menu is more popular among office workers. 

The latest addition to the place is the sea food restaurant. 'This serves all types of sea food in different styles. The customer can select his choice from 'Malu Kade' and can give the order to prepare according to his choice,' she said. 

Basically we started this as an Italian restaurant and added few new items. Now we have Sri Lankan and sea food corner. Sidewalk cafe, Bar-becue and fast food outlet are the new wings to be added on to the 'Art of Living' which is in Italian 'Ars Vivendi'. 

The Ars Vivendi, a fine dining restaurant serves traditional Italian food: 

Starters (Antipasti), Salads (Insalate), Soup (Zuppe), Pastas Pizzas and Main courses (Seondi) are the main parts of the menu. 

Starters include 'Poached seafood with assorted sauces on French bread' ,'Slices of grilled aubergine' and 'zucchini and bell peper' 

Mozzarolla and tomato with olive oil and fresh basil , Marinated seafood salad, are some of the salads on menu. 

'Napolelana', 'Margherita', 'Spnach v agloi', 'Tomato,chicken, onion,chillies pizza' and prawn pizzas are some of the popular pizzas at the Ars Vivendi 

Some of the popular pastas on menu are Tagliatelle with smoked salmon in cream sauce, Maccheroni with four cheese sauce and vegetable and meat filled lasagne .Also veal, chicken ,beef, lamb and pork will be available prepared in Italian style. 

The Delhi Lens  

• AirLanka holds awards day 
• Shankar's new gene 
• Star war 

AirLanka holds awards day 

AirLanka in New Delhi held its third agents awards presentation last week at the Taj Palace Hotel. It was a well attended function and the National Airline gave the Delhi Agents and the Sri Lankans living in Delhi a taste of Paradise. Deputy High Commissioner Prasad Kariyawasam who was the Chief Guest, with Country Manager Rienzie De Silva and India's well-known travel man Subash Goyal, Chairman of Stic Travels gave away the awards. Goyal is a great fan of Sri Lanka. 

He is an Indo-Lankan, Founder Member of India - Sri Lanka Friendship Society and the Indian Buddhist Society. The Gold award went to the 'The Travel People', Silver to Midair Express and the Bronze to American Express. They filled up the AirLanka flights from the Capital City of Delhi. 

Fourteen-year-old Delhi girl Piya Vass was the special guest of the evening. Delhi Lens learnt she won the Femina Essay Competition and won a ticket to Sri Lanka her 'Dreamland'. She read out the winning essay to the large gathering present, with great pride. I like the readers of TV Times to know why young Piya wants to visit Sri Lanka. Here are some parts of her essay. "I find that Sri Lanka's topography is varied and interesting. Sri Lanka's picturesque waterfalls, the beauty of her mountains, the lush green paddy fields, the flora and fauna were absolutely breathtaking on video tapes. How much more would their impact be in reality. 

The Indian teenager continued, "It would also be wonderful to experience a day in the life of an islander. I have never been on an Island before and I like Sri Lanka to be the first one". 

However, the gentleman who brought darkness to the event was none other than our own Director of the Tourist Board in New Delhi, Pani Seneviratne. 

He had one dark idea. In his long-lasting speech a proposal was made to commence a special railway service between Sri Lanka and India. The Indian Travel Agents wondered and questioned. 

In November Sri Lanka Convention Bureau and AirLanka will host the corporate giants of India at the Inter-Continental in Delhi. Hotel Ceylon Inter-Continental will join hands with their Indian Hotel to provide a taste of Lanka. 

It is the third Lankan Food Festival to be organised in New Delhi this year. The previous ones were held at the Le Meridian and Hyatt Regency. 

Shankar's new gene 

K. Shankar who gave us many blockbusters latest being 'Jeans' though a flop in Mumbai running to crowded houses in Chennai and other Tamil Nadu theatres is planning another big one and is in quest of a heroine with beautiful long legs and an oval face. 

Whether she would fit into the slot that Shankar has in mind is another matter. 

Anyway Shankar is a genius and a director with the golden touch. So what he picks could will be a gem. 

Grapevine from Chennai has it that he has spotted one - Isha Gopikar with all the statistics he is looking for, long legs and all that, one thing is certain - she has the face to launch an armada of fans! 

So K. Shankar launching his own film has cottoned on to the feminine lead. 

And now to the male lead. Your guess is as good as mine. 

Star war 

Manisha Koirala's comment on Miss World beauty Susmitha Senn, and another former Miss World beauty Aiyshwarya Rai: They may look good to look at and could even shake their bodies to titillate the male fans but where acting is concerned they are nought to nothing. 

And this comment has already disturbed a hornets nest. 

According to Aiyshwarya Rai: Manisha can talk. She hasn't what I have got. If Manisha thinks Jeans was a flop let her think it that way. 

But as for me I did my best in Jeans and the director was satisfied. Why should Manisha care about it? 

And Susmitha Sen has this to say: I don't gossip about others. If Manisha wants to talk let her do it. What do I care. So the confrontation continues. 

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