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28th February 1999

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Chandimal's men in tour

By Sanath Weerasuriya

Chandimal Fernando, a popular musician in Sri Lanka, will be touring Australia, New Zealand and Singapore next month to perform in a series of dances.

Chandimal and the Second Connection will be playing four dances in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane, while in New Zealand it will be Auckland and Wellington. Finally they will be in action in Singapore.

"This will be our second overseas tour and our first one was to Bangkok in 1997. I think we are the first Sri Lanka band to perform most number of dances in Australia," Chandimal said.

The dances in Australia and Singapore are being held to coincide with the opening of Ceylon Shipping Lines' own offices Down Under and Singapore. This tour was made possible by 'Indran' of Skyway Travels of Australia said Chandimal. In fact, Indran has been responsible for several Sri Lankan artistes performing in Australia. Last year 'Chandimal and The Second Connection' released their latest calypso style music on CD. According to Chandimal, he has not used any of the electronic instruments for this audio and CD.

'This calypso party time CD and cassette are first of its kind and all songs are 'unplugged' versions. I have managed to get most of the original singers to sing with my band. There are about 31 songs, sung by fourteen local artistes, Chandimal explained.

'It is a Sinhala CD with a different kind of party music for easy listening', he said.

In 1996 Chandimal released Lanka's first Double Pack CD with a non-stop baila medley titled 'Temptation'. The Calypso CD is my sixth CD released into the local market and I think I am the first musician in Sri Lanka who has released the most number of CDs', Chandimal said.

'Chandimal & The Second Connection' now comprises Chandimal, Chandana Fernando, Sheridon Kuruppu and Senaka Batagoda.

During this year's April season, Chandimal and the Second Connection will be featured at the Grand Hotel Nuwara-Eliya for two weeks. It will be their twelvth consecutive year performance during the April season in Nuwara - Eliya.

Sri Lanka's first video CD, done by Chandimal and Second Connection, will be released shortly. This will comprise 13 originals and will come as a two-in-one - and audio CD and a video CD together. The video CD comes free when the customer buys the audio CD.

After releasing this VCD only Chandimal is planning to stage his second concert at BMICH and another open air concert in December and early next year respectively.

'All these concerts are in aid of charity. I plan to donate 500 artificial limbs to the Army. I have already gifted 50 after my first show in December last year,' he said.

Chandimal's open air concert will be the very first event of this kind with 250 speakers and 8,000 watts output in power.


Jetliners shake up Down Under

From a Special Correspondent reporting from Australia

When the curtain went up on January 30 1999 at the Blacktown Civic Centre in Sydney the original Jetliner put to rest doubts and questions in the minds of the Sri Lankan community here whether these six guys, getting together after 35 years, some having quit the music scene completely, could deliver the goods.

The very first note, the very first drum beat after the breathtaking introduction (creatively produced by Sohan and Ishan with the help of Tomie of Sound Shaft Studios, Sydney) had the Sydneyites stunned. As a guest commented, "I didn't know whether to cry or scream in joy. Finally, I did both."

The guitar mastery of Indra Raj (Switzerland) the booming bass of Felix Fernando (Melbourne) and rip-roaring rhythm of Anton Gunavijaya (London) and the dynamic drumming of Harris Jurangpathy (Denmark) zoomed us back to the 1960's and the Coconut Grove of Galle Face Hotel.

Then entered Ishan Bahar (Sri Lanka) beat boy extra-ordinary of the 60s (looking like a page from the swinging sixties) to the strains of the theme song from the Cliff Richard movie the "Young Ones" making everyone feel 35 years younger. And finally to complete the picture came Sohan Pieris (Hawaii) with his smooth rendition of "Man Without Love" which had the couples on the dance floor remembering the good old carefree days. The Jetliners ended the introduction bracket (set) with their version of the Shadows hit "Apache" with footwork, movements and the works.

From then on there was no stopping the Jetliners giving the 525 guests at the Civic Centre the time of their lives with their characteristic renditions of hits of the Shadows, Cliff Richard, Elvis, Englebert to name a few. Saying adieu, with their farewell rendition of the old time classic "May The Good Lord Bless & Keep You" brought tears, flooding us with fond memories of Sri Lanka.

It was no different at the Moorabin Town Hall in Melbourne, the following Saturday, 6th February. The 880 guests were given the full treatment. It was so electrifying that not only did the teeny boppers of the 60's let their hair down, the younger generation, most of them, I'm certain had been dragged by their parents for the show, stood stunned with mouths agape listening to the beautiful, refreshing sounds of the Jetliners, Ishan and Sohan ably supported by the Keyboard wizardry of Raddy Ferreira (Sydney). It was such a "turn-on" some of the teenage girls joined the Jetliners on stage for their final bracket to bump and grind with the boys.

Once again their farewell song was a touching and emotional one.

A special bouquet to Randy Pieris (Sydney) for the great effort to make this "Reunion" a reality. As the "boys" commented in unision, "NO RANDY NO RE-UNION".


Kushboo in town

By Ismail Khan

Kushboo Nakkath, better known to film fans as Kushboo the actress, will be in town from March 6. She is in Colombo to take part in a few programmes.

Kushboo of Persian origin hails from Bombay and the initiation of her film career was from Chennai formerly Madras years back.

Her first film was Tharmathin Thalaivan co-starring Shivagi Ganeshan's son Prabhu. That was the launching pad and Kushboo's second film 16 Varudam co-starring Karthik really set the ball rolling as upto that time it was her best performance.

What really zoomed her into real stardom was the blockbuster Sinnatamby co-starring again Prabhu which became a hit overnight. This film broke all records wherever it was screened and won the best Tamil film award in early 1990's.

Both Prabhu and Kushboo were highly commended for their roles. Even the music-maker in that film Illayarajah together with singers Swarnalatha, Balasubramaniam and Jesudas were singled out for special awards.

Sinnathmby, in which Kushboo gave her best performance of her career, was the only Tamil film to have won more than six awards and the only Tamil film to have run more than 100 days in every cinema screened in India and Sri Lanka. So, it was that Kushboo, the star was really launched after Sinnatamby.

Among other films Kushboo had made her mark were: Kilakku Vasal with Karthik, Kila-kku Karai with Prabhu, Pandyan with Rajni Kanth, Annamalay with Rajni Kanth, Naattupura Paattu with Siva Kumar and Kalyana Vaibagam with Ramki.

In almost all these films she is at her best. Not that she did not do her part in the other films as well.

She has cast herself in numerous films and in every one of them Kushboo has done her best.

There's one film which brought Kushboo the daring in her to do a scene.

It was in "Captain Magal" where she had to climb up the ladder to reach a windmill where the villain was waiting with an axe to cut her down.

Though a little on the bulge Kushboo performed her part very well without a double and climbed that windmill on her second attempt to the relief of the producer, director and all others who were on the sets. Of course the act was done with three safety nets spread under the windmill in case.... And brave as Kushboo was she did it very well. After the shooting the entire cast, the director and producer and others had applauded. And it was another first for Kushboo only star to have performed such a feat, without a double.

That goes to show what a character Kushboo is. On top of her Persian beauty Kushboo is very intelligent, well educated and simple in character.


Kiriammawaru: depicts the plight of working couples

By Kumaradasa Wagista

'Kiriammawaru' teleserial which was scheduled to be on Rupavahani was not telecast.

The story is woven around a young married working couple with a one year old child. As both have to go to their work places daily,they are compelled to employ a domestic servant to take care of the child.

The couple here are Vasantha (Sarath Namalgama) and Renuka ( Geetha Kanthi Jayakody) A.M.Jayasekera has directed it.

Script writer K.B.Herath in his script has exposed how interested parties exploit the lower middle class wage earner who need the services of domestic servants.

Some of the situations created by the script writer seems true to life incidents.In one such situation Renuka who is fed up of replacing servants visits one of them who had been working in their house before her marriage.

Meanwhile this woman who has become rich after a stint in Middle East,now lives a luxurious life in a well furnished posh house.

After exchanging pleasantaries as usual Renuka, tells her the purpose of her visit,to procure a domestic servant.Renuka is flabbergasted when the woman seeks Renuka's assistance to get her a servant.

Sarath Namalgama produces this teleserial for SNT Productions.

Domestic servants who looked after children were then known as 'Kiriammawaru',who took care of them like their own ones.

The situations in this teleserial depict the unfortunate low depth these present day domestic servants have fallen.Some of the episodes here are thus: The couple come to know that the servant they employed first had taken out their child on a begging mission. Next they come across a middle aged servant whose husband is a drunkard who pilfers household items.They later publish an advertisement to select a suitable female servant.

A few days later they are shocked to find the servant sleeping with a dagger hidden in the waist.To their amazement they find that the servant is disguised as a woman and come with the purpose of stealing.

The next maid servant is a young woman who after a few days elopes with a young man in the vicinity leaving the child all alone in the house.

Some well known names in tele scene are acting in this drama.


"Kinihiriya Mal" launch on Roof Top

It was a joyful day not only for producer Soma Edirisinghe but also for director H.D.Premaratna and the much talked about melody maker Rohana Weerasinghe.The fair film producer who has vowed not to fold up the 'EAP Films' banner founded by her late husband the late E.A.P.Edirisinghe three decades ago,started work on their 14th production'Kinihiriya Mal'amidst a galaxy of film stars at Galadari Hotel Rooftop.For director Premaratna it was his 17th film,and for Rohana Weerasinghe it was his 50th. birthday.

Although Rohana Weerasinghe tried his best to hide the fact that it was his birth anniversary, Veena Jayakody broke the ice by giving him the birthday kiss wishing him health and happiness.However he could not be at the venue for long as a song for the film rendered by Nirosha Virajinee and Nilu Adikari was scheduled to be recorded a few hours later.

Late lyricist broadcaster Karunaratna Abeysekere's only off spring Dileepa Abeysekere makes his debut as a lyric writer in this film.Wasantha Kumara Kobawaka is the other lyricist.

Handsome Pradeep Senanayake is back home after spending several years in Japan

Pradeep who made his debut in films by playing the third main role opposite Sabita Perera in the first Sri Lanka - Australia co-production 'Mandakini', was also present as he is playing a major role in this film.

'Kinihiriya Mal' is a social drama based on day to day happenings and some important scenes will be filmed in an apparel factory'director Premaratna said.Sangeetha Weeraratna plays the lead female role with Vasanthie Chaturani,Kamal Addaraarachchi,Veena Jayakody,Sanoja Bibile,Iranganie Serasinghe,Roger Seneviratna,Tony Ranasinghe,Asoka Peiris,and many other artistes.

Although Ravindra Randeniya does not play a role he was present with wife Preethi. A few poems have been penned by Ratnasri Wijesinghe,Ven Pallegama Hemarathana Thera and Preethi Randeniya.

Suminda Weerasinghe works as Director of Photography while Elmo Haliday is the editor. Filming is scheduled to commence this week.


Soldier Roger grows in stature

By Kumaradasa Wagista

His face is familiar as an actor on stage,in films and television

In Prasanna Vithanage's 'Pauru Walalu' being currently screened in fifth circuit he plays the role of a lover opposite Sangeetha Weeraratna.He is a busy artiste all the way.He made his debut in films by Roger Seneviratneplaying a tiny role as a soldier in Sunil Ariyaratna's 'Christu Charithaya'

He is Roger Seneviratne. He said "I played such an insignificent role in that film that after editing my visual lasted only a few seconds.I had the privilege of working with Professor Ariyaratna recently.While we were conversing he asked me what my first film was? When I said that it was 'Christu Charithaya',he was surprised.He congratulated me and was happy to hear that so far I had played in 30 tele dramas and 14 films It was Laxshman Arachchige who introduced me to Professor Ariyaratna"

The young actor has so far won several State Awards as well as National Youth Council Awards for creative script writing in teledramas and short films.He does not believe in plagiarism."Why should we lift the work of others when we have a theatre history of over 150 years? We enjoy a high literacy percentage and possess plenty of literary books. Film plots can be created easily only if we take extra pains to do some research in libraries" he said.

Paying tribute to a handful of directors of his time who took up the challenge and made a few excellent films that will go down in film annals he said."Prasanna Vithanage must be congratulated for making a film that won recognition even at international film festivals."he added.

Going down memory lane Roger recalled how he worked behind stage for 7 years in many dramas.His mentor in stagecraft is Sugathapala de Silva.He has acted in many of his dramas starting from 'Dunna Dunugamuwe'.Working as a prompter has given him a thorough knowledge in dialogue delivery. "The experience I received in the stage not only developed my mind but also moulded my film career."

He also believes that taking part in sports also has gone a long way to be in films.He is a football player and boxer."However the lessons I gathered in in Martial Arts has been of tremendous advantage to me in film career"he said.In the foreign scenario technology has already creeped into films."We should be happy technology is used for the betterment and protection of mankind and not for destruction.

"Today scientists are undergoing nerve breaking experiments finding a cure for cancer, man's number one enemy. 'Films like 'Jurassic Park' and 'Titanic' are computer made films although human beings act in them"he said

The plight of the local film industry is known to all of us.However India the biggest film producing country in the world is also facing threats from various quarters."It's time to take the past as an example and march forward with a new vision and face the coming century with confidence by starting afresh where films are concerned."

Assistant casting director in 'Mother Teresa'and playing a role in 'Rose&Margaret'are his foreign films so far.Roger won the first prize at the National Youth Council Awards '89 for a script based on Anton Chekov's 'Death of a Clerk.He is planning to make a telefilm based on this script.

Roger was educated at St Thomas'College and St Joseph's College Grandpass. As his interests have expanded to the art field he has no intention of seeking other employment. His wife Chandani is always helpful to him in film activities. They have two school going sons


Wise man in film direction

Oscar winning film director Robert Wise was scheduled to be honoured by the Society of Motion Picture & Television Art Directors at its annual awards ceremony on February 27.He was to receive an award for Outstanding Contribution to Cinematic Imagery.

Director Wise has been nominated seven times,and won four Oscars two each as producer and director of 'West Side Story',which he co-directed with Jerome Robbins.He received the Directors Guild of America's prestigious D.W.Griffith Award in 1988.He also won the Academy of Motion Picture Arts& Science Award in 1967.

This renowned film maker has a number of titles to his credit like,'West Side Story','Sound of Music','The Hindenburg','The Andromeda Strain','The Sand Pebbles','Run Silent Run Deep',Somebody Up There Likes Me' and Executive Suite'..


Wimalasuriya : musician by persuasion

Though an electronics engineer by profession however he is more popular as a versatile musician with the ability to play several musical instruments both western and oriental.

He is Beddeliyanage Don Nissanka Dayaseela Wimalasuriya of Moratuwa who started playing the violin at the age of six in 1943.His first teacher in violin was Tennyson Rodrigo.

He enjoyed the rare privilege of presenting his debut live violin solo broadcast in classical oriental music at the age of ten over the airwaves of then Ceylon Broadcasting Station at Cotta Road, Borella in 1947 51 years ago.

He excelled himself as a boy violinist taking part in school concerts and even public performances then onwards.

At the age of 15 Nissanka Wimalasuriya mastered the chromatic harmonica,button accordion, electric Hawaiian, and Spanish guitars, piano and church organ by 1952.

Then he taught music to students at school.While studying for the SSC at Moratu Vidyalaya Nissanka started a School Orchestra and a Piano Accordion Trio and repeated the same while studying for the HSC examination at Sri Sumangala College Panadura in 1956.

He also played instrumental music for film recordings which were taking place regularly those days.

Nissanka Wimalasuriya is said to have started the first Dance Band to play strict tempo Ballroom Dance Music with string instruments.A highlight in this venture is not using the pia-no,saxaphone,trumpet or clarinet.

As a member of the Radio Ceylon orchestra he has taken part in many musical programmes conducted indoor studios and those conducted with packed audiences.

In 1958 he started the Wheels Combo with Ossie Perera,Elsworth Alwis,drummer Tilak Wijedasa and Vernon Perera. Under the patronage of Vivil de Kauwe he has played music for dances too.

He was a regular player at Sun Down dances on Sundays at Vivil de Kauwe's dance school and for Sunday morning dances at Beach Club,Mt Lavinia. He has also composed and directed music in the original recordings of Kalu Kelle,Ahasata Pimbina,Seegiri Komaliya,and Kaju Kella for the Los Flamingos group.


Ramooji: Film City

By Bandula Jayasekara

Ramooji film city in the State of Andhra Pradesh's capital Hyderabad in India is considered as the biggest film studio in the world today. I had the opportunity of visiting this wonderful film city recently.

The film city which is dedicated to the dream makers of the world is spread over an area of two thousand acres. One hour's drive from Hyderabad, the City of Dreams makes the film makers' dreams real. The city is geared to handle over 100 films and television productions at a given time.

It has forty studios, flower gardens, five star hotels, theatres, lakes, multi-storeyed buildings and even hospitals and airports.

At Ramoojis film makers shoot in a picturesque village in remote India at one moment and then recreate a street in Switzerland the next time. Then an Englsih front garden turns out to be a Japanese garden.

The film city maintains a nursery with tens of thousands of foliage and flower plants from all over the world. It has a place to look after travel arrangements, to provide credit links, special office complete for the busy film executives, a five star hotel, a three star hotel and catering facility for over 2000 people at any given time.

Apart from all the modern equipment, a world class processing lab and a vision for 2001 and beyond, what fascinated me most were the support services, Maya, Harmony, Parade and Rhythm Maya is the workshop, set construction division with over a 1000 skilled carpenters, moulders and sculptors.

It creates ones own magic from ancient Greek to modern American. Re-creates streets, builds facades, a fairy-tale setting or the setting of years beyond.

Harmony is Ramoojis furniture division. It is equipped to create traditional Indian or pseudo chippendale or any furniture under the sun. Parade is the prop shop.

It supplies from medieval English constumes to Rajasthani cook-ware. Six storeyed Parade House has jewellery from flutes to fishing rods from Belgian crystal to bullock carts and from Hammocks to horse saddles. Rhythm is a 6000 sq. ft. rehearsing area, mainly for dance sequences.

At Ramoojis we met beautiful and cheerful Hindi film star Kajol, film star Sanjay Dutt and 'Mr. India' Anil Kapoor who were busy, shooting stars.

But the person who interested me most was the simple creator and dream maker Ramooji Rao, the billionaire owner of Ramooji Film City. He silently remains the creative master.


Kids hit ball for 'Haye Pahara'

A newly formed Television Production Company called South Asian New Wave Entertainment presents a new type of children's fare teledrama in 'Haye Pahara'(The Sixer). It will be telecast on Hashan Thillekaratne in new teledrama 'Haye Pahara'Swarnavahini from March 4.'Haye Pahara' comprises 10 episodes.

Cricketer Hashan Tillekaratne plays a role in 'Haye Pahara'along with a team of experienced artistes.

Introduced as a present day children's adventure drama with ingredients to entertain the entire family its story is wound around seven cricket crazy boys from a suburban housing estate.These pre-teenaged children are new faces to local television viewers.

A generous Test cricketer who is a close neighbour of their housing project gifts a high quality leather ball to these children.These boys get into the habit of playing cricket with the gifted leather ball regularly.One fine day the ball hit for a six is lost.

The boys eager to search for the ball venture into the forest.They see a distant light and after investigation they stumble upon a large old,dilapidated mansion.This has secretly been occupied by a gang of notorious -yet clumsy bank robbers wanted by law officers.

Incidentally the leader of this gang lives a dual life, as a well to do big businessman and by a very strange coincidence resides in the housing estate where these boys also live.

The gang holds up the boys except one who accidentally falls down a tunnel -shaft in the marshes that leads all the way to the basement of the house.After several thrilling incidents the boys foil the plans of the gang and manage to trap the gang.

Somi Ratnayake,W.Jaya-siri,Wijeratna Warakagoda,Sandun Wijesiri,Chitra Warakagoda,Ruby de Mel,Manel Wanaguru and Prasanna Fonseka play in it.


Buddhi, Mathura join in food business

By Sanath Weerasuriya

'Buddhi' and Batiks has been a household name in Sri Lanka for deeades.

Time has changed and if anyone says Buddhi is now more popular in food business than batiks it is true to a some extent.

'Mathura', an Indian vegetarian restaurant at Havelock Road is the first venture of its kind by Buddhi Keerthisena.

'Mathura' is a BOI project of Woodlands Restaurant chain of India, which is a very popular vegetarian chain in Bharata.

'Mathura Madras Woodlands Restaurant' started about six months ago and it has become one of the best meeting and eating joints in Colombo.

'I had connections with 'Woodlands' people from 1960 which I developed when I was studying in India. They were very keen on investing in Sri Lanka even two three decades ago, but because of my batik business I never gave a thought to this. But my son Boodie persuaded me to step into this business, because he is a total vegetarian' explained Buddhi Keerthisena.

'Mathura' has the capacity for 75 pax inside and 32 pax in the open air garden which is now being expanded.

"We are extending our building in front to give more facilities to our customers. Most of the time, specially during dinner time we have found many staying outside waiting to get a table" Buddhi said.

'Mathura' serves no liquor and it is a total family restaurant. Most of its chefs are from India.

"We do not serve any meat itms or even seafood. So that no one need worry about the dishes. Our kitchen is a total vegetarian kitchen and chefs too are total vegetarians" the Indian Manager and F&B specialist of 'Mathura' A. Ramakrishnan said.

'Mathura' has seven Indian chefs in action at the kitchen. They are Brahmin Dilvari Singh Adikari, Mustaque Ali, S. Raja Ra, N.V Nivasan, S.B Jagir Bacha, Venkata Ramanan and Ragu.

The restaurant is open from 11.00 am to 3.00 pm and from 7.pm to 11.00 pm.

'Tomato Soup' 'Sweet Corn' Vegetable Soup' and 'Special Rasam' hit the top of the soup toureen of the 'Mathura Menu'. 'Vegetable Basmathi' Buriyani', Basmathi Pullow', 'Kashmi Pullow' are some of the popular rice dishes from the menu.

'Kulcha', 'Masala Kulcha'. Naan Paratha', and 'Chapathi' are some of the popular dishes from Tandoori pot. The price ranges from Rs. 35 to Rs110/=.

Indian delicacies such as paneer butter Masal, 'Mushroom DO Piyasa', 'Gobi Masala' are in the range of Rs 90/= to Rs 120 /-. Mathura Special Dishes ,'Mathura Paneer 65' and 'Mathura Gobi 65 are priced at Rs 120 per portion.

'Mathura Dosai' section is another attraction of South Indian lovers.

'Masala Dosai', Chilli Masala Dosai 'Garlic Masala Dosai,' Curd Rice and South Indian Special Thali meals are popular items on the menu.

The prices range from Rs 15/= to Rs 90/=.

'Mathura' has a Chinese section on its menu.

We have 'Spicy Fried Rice', 'Noodles'; vegetable Manchurian etc.

These items are all vegetable based but in Chinese style. This is mainly to customers who are looking for hot and spicy dishes. 'Mathura' is the only Indian restaurant with Chinese dishes on menu said Manager Ramakrishnan.

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