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Wind Bird to fly on to silver screen

This seems to be an era where the younger generation has invaded every field connected to arts - be it stage, cinema or television.

Inoka Sathyangani is from this new wave of talent. She is shortly set to release her maiden film Sulang Kirilli (The Wind Bird).

She entered the film industry after a promising career in television. She has won the best youth director award three times for her teledramas.

Her maiden celluliod effort is based on a controversial subject - abortion. "But it also focuses on the next issue twinned with abortion - illegitimate marriages which our society is experiencing nowadays," Inoka says.

She says that with a topic so far not used for a film in Sri Lanka, the film itself dwells on social and aesthetic planes. The film depicts the dilemma of a young couple who become victims of ignorance while trying to enjoy their youthful life.

She attributed this situation to the lack of proper sex education in the present society. " There is no room for the younger generation to be educated on sex and its related issues and this has created severe consequences," she lamented.

The film is set in the true backdrop of a Free Trade Zone." It is actually based on a true incident that took place in Katunayake a few years back," Inoka added.

Those who are working in the FTZ are more prone to be victims of this nature but this is not a problem confined to the FTZ, Inoka says explaining why she selected a garment factory zone for setting her film.

" We have entered the millennium and the whole world is getting closer with globalisation, so we have to openly discuss issues of this kind."

Another unique feature of the film is its music. "No musical instrument was used in the film. Only two voices - one female and male were infused into the music and this music runs through the whole film, representing the wailing of the two souls in the film," she added.

This is not a documentary film. Inoka adds that she has made every effort to present it in a cinematic language.

Inoka is busy making arrangements to bring down the first printed copy and subtitled copy from India.

The script of the film is also by Inoka. Nawaratne Gamage provided music. Cinematography is by Channa Desapriya and the film is edited by Ravindra Guruge.

The film stars Damitha Abeyratne, Linton Semage, Jayani Senanayake and Grace Ariyawimal.

The film is produced under the hundred per cent loan scheme of the National Film Corporation.

Bovine King

The Bovine King, the latest stage drama by well-known dramatist and actor Vijaya Nandasiri will go on the boards at the Elphinstone Theatre on April 18 and 19. The drama which is a comedy, stars Vijaya Nandasiri, Devika Mihirani, Gihan Fernando, Asela Jayakody, Kumara Thirimadura and Navanjana Mihirani. Music is by Tharupathi Moonasinghe.

A Majestic experience

Entertainment-starved Sri Lankan audiences are now in for a treat. And we journalists were the first to taste it, in the form of the sumptuous new Majestic Theatre.

We go the cinema for the movie, not to see the cinema itself. But in this case, it was for both these aims. The birth (or to be exact, rebirth in this instance) of a cinema is always a joyous occasion. When that is coupled with the screening of a world class film such as the Lord of the Rings-Fellowship of the Ring - there's simply no limit to sheer joy.

Ceylon Theatres, owners of the Majestic, has certainly chosen the best possible film to highlight the capabilities of the newly refurbished and improved cinema.

The first shock came as the lights went out. As the new Xenon lamp projector threw its beam of light on to the super wide screen, the JBL speakers located all rouind the theatre roared into action, thumping out megatons of incredibly clear sound and enveloping the whole audience in the total Digital Theatre Systems (DTS) experience. As for the movie itself, it is a visual spectacle that has to be seen to be believed, crammed with incredible special effects and breathtaking locations in New Zealand.

DTS is a state-of-the-art digital surround sound system which has especially been installed at the new Majestic to take advantage of the increasing number of films featuring DTS sound, which is contained in a separate CD linked to the projection system. Of course, the Majestic also supports Dolby Digital, the established format.

Needless to say, the surround steering was accurate and the acoustic ambience was perfect. From the shuffling of feet on grass to the swish of an arrow piercing the air to the thunderous roar of falling water, every subtle nuance of sound had its place.

Just a few minutes into 'Lord', having watched movies at many of the top cinemas in Europe and the US, I know that the Majestic is up there with the best the West can offer. With Lord (and hopefully, with the movies to come) the Majestic will be able to offer a truly memorable experience to moviegoers.

With the re-launch of the Majestic Cinema, Ceylon Theatres, said to be the oldest company in the entertainment industry in Sri Lanka, will bring the latest Hollywood smash movies and the newest box office hits to Colombo.

Ceylon Theatres plans to refurbish all its other cinemas to be equipped to screen international and local hit movies. It also has plans to build multi-cinema complexes where multiple movies could be screened simultaneously. The first such complex will be built in Kandy, at the site of the present Regal cinema.

The next attraction at the Majestic will be Scorpion King, starring WWF wrestler 'The Rock', whose first role was in the Mummy Returns last year.

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