After curtains fell on Raigam Tele Awards 2008...
Ruwini Jayawardana
The Raigam Tele Awards initiated by the Kingdom of Raigam for the
fifth consecutive year came to a finale recently amidst glitz and
glamour. The gala ceremony which is aimed at felicitating the great
creations, artistes and crew of the tele field was a crowd puller as 40
awards were handed over to the winners.
The group also introduced five new awards: upcoming actor of the
year, upcoming actress of the year, best humorous piece of acting, award
for special creative talent - single episode tele-drama and award for
the most talented child artiste.
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Janak and Nilmini. Pictures by Malan Karunaratne |
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Deepani with her special jury award and Irangani with her
special award of appreciation |
Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake was the Chief Guest of the
occasion which was also attended by Minister of Agricultural Development
Maithripala Sirisena, Minister of Trade Bandula Gunawardene, Minister of
Highways T.B. Ekanayake, Minister of Cultural Affairs Mahinda Yapa
Abeywardena, Minister of Industrial Development Kumara Welgama, Minister
of Water Supply Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of National Integration
Vinyagamurthi Muralidharan, Governor of Northern Province Dixon Dela
Bandara and Governor of Central Province Karunaratne Divulgane.
Sudath Rohana’s Karuwala Gedara topped the list in the nominations
for the best teledrama while veteran actor Janak Premalal clinched the
best actor award for his performance as Thinan.
Popular actress Nilmini Thennakoon bagged the best actress award for
her role, Tikiri Manika, in Handawa.
In the most popular category, last year’s winner Amila Abeysekara
managed to hang on to his title while the petite Nehara Peries emerged
as most popular actress. Muthu Kirilli was voted as the most popular
mega teledrama while Sathara Dennek Senpathiyo carried away the award
for the most popular teledrama of the year.
The Prathibha Prabha Pranama Award was given to veteran Titas
Thotawaththa and special awards of appreciation were handed to veteran
technician K.N. Gunawardhana and actress Irangani Serasinghe.
Swarnavahini emerged as the channel of the year.
Speaking to the media at a gathering held last week Chairman\CEO of
The Kingdom of Raigam Ravi Liyanage thanked everyone who had contributed
towards making the ceremony a success.
“We started on a small scale but we have gradually improved each
year, adding unique features to our event. Raigam Tele awards had come
as far as to reach national heights,” he said.
Raigam Managing Director Ganaka Amarasinghe added that the team’s
challenge is to find a location to hold the annual tele awards festival
next year.
“We were told that the BMICH will be renovated this time next year so
we need to find a venue which will suite the glamorous event and have
facilities to pack a large crowd,” he commented.
Speaking on behalf of the jury which comprises Dr. Patrick Rathnayake,
Dr. Ajantha Hapuarachchi, Jayantha Rukmani Siriwardana, Chandrasiri
Bogamuwa and Visharada Edward Jayakody, Dr. Ratnayake said that they
worked painstakingly to make the best decision in picking the winners
out of the abundance of talent presented to them.
“It had not been an easy task but apart from a few references from a
particular director, we have not been pressurized to make any decisions
in favour of anyone. We discussed and came to an agreement by grading
the creations and performances. The organizers of the event had been
very supportive and did not question our verdict in any manner,” he
revealed.
One of the unique features of the Raigam Tele Awards is the theme
which underlines the whole set up. This year it was Sigiriya which the
one of Sri Lankan natural heritages, a fortress constructed by King
Kashyapa.
It was chosen by the team to project its importance contribution to
art in general and poetry in particular by inspiring wanderers through
its ancient frescos. It was indeed a night of celebrations of talent,
glamour, joy, hope, surprises and inspiration for many of those who took
part. |
