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International exposure for Mandela-Mandela

Popular dramatist Sisil Gunasekera is to reach an international audience with his latest creation " Mandela - Mandela."

Sisil plans to produce the drama in several languages to cater to drama lovers here and abroad. It has universal appeal, being a dramatisation of the event-filled life of former South African President Nelson Mandela, a legend in his own lifetime. The play chronicles his life from freedom fighter to prisoner to President to an ambassador for oppressed communities everywhere.

At present, the TV Lanka satellite channel telecasts the synopsis of the drama to about 36 countries. It is also on the Peace-in-Sri Lanka website. "There is a very encouraging response. We receive inquiries asking whether we could produce this drama in their countries," Sisil says.

Not only internationally, but locally too the drama has become a crowd-puller even in remote areas like Ranna in Hambantota. It has even surpassed his drama " Raliya", in terms of popularity.

Explaining the reason for selecting the character of Nelson Mandela for this drama, Sisil said: "I wanted to depict the qualities embodied by him - equality, honesty and handing over power to a new generation of leaders voluntarily. These are real qualities that a politician should possess. Mandela has no grudges against his political foes and never took revenge from them when he became President. These are the ideals that I hope to highlight in this production."

These principles are universal and apply to any politician in any country. If the politicians live up to these ideals one day die peacefully, Susil says.

What is so special about this production ?

The subject of this drama, the former President of South Africa is still living after 27 years in jail. This is the main theme of this drama.

"I would have not accepted this challenge if not for the support extended by Foreign Affairs Minister Tyronne Fernando. The idea of staging a drama on the life and times of Nelson Mandela was suggested to me by the Minister. In fact, it was the Minister who conceptualised it. He provided me with the basic material for the drama."

How are you going to produce this drama internationally ?

When I recently visited China, I was interviewed by the Chinese International Radio.

It was a live interview conducted through an interpreter. They were pleased to hear about my drama and promised to extend their fullest co-operation towards its production. I hope to produce this drama in several languages in different countries.

The cast includes Wasantha Moragoda ( Mandela), Wimala Indra Kumari (Winnie), Nalin Pradeep Uduwela, Wasantha Wittachchi, Atula Pathirana, Ruwan Bandara, Sanath Wimalasiri, Sarath Kotalawala, Damayanthi Perera, Ishan Gammudhali, Shriyani Lunuwila and Sanne de Kaasjager, second secretary of the Royal Netherlands Embassy (Judge).

Indeewara

New-look espionage thriller in town

One of the most popular and durable motion picture genres, the espionage thriller gets a fresh and altogether contemporary approach in Universal Pictures' "The Bourne Identity" which is now screened at the Majestic Cinema.

Director Dough Liman acclaimed for his edgy signature film "Swingers and Go" infuses Robert Ludlum's 1980 espionage yarn with an unconventional sensibility and presents Academy Award winner Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ocean's Eleven) as a new breed of spy movie hero.

Filmed entirely overseas in locations including Prague, Paris and Italy, The Bourne Identity boasts a potent international cast headed by Franke Potente (Run Lola Run), Chris Cooper (American Beauty, October Sky), Brian Cox (Manhunter, L.I.E.) Clive Owen (Cropier, Gosford Park) and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (The Mummy Returns).

The story opens as an amnesiac (Damon) is rescued at sea by the crew of an Italian fishing boat. Nearly dead, he carries nothing but the bullets in his back and a Swiss bank account number embedded in his hip. Although completely without an identity or background, he possess an array of extraordinary talents in fighting, linguistics and self-defence that speak of a dangerous past.

In the present, he is disoriented and wary as he is propelled into an urgent search to discover who he is and why his life has taken this perilous turn.

A Zurich safe deposit box yields an assortment of passports, a hefty load of cash, an automatic weapon and a name ...... Jason Bourne.... with a Paris address.

What it means remains a mystery but Bourne quickly realises that although he knows no one, there are people who recognise him - and do not wish him well.

When he meets Marie Kreutz (Franka Potente), a hard luck German-born wanderer, he makes a desperate pitch - US dollars 10,000 for a ride to Paris.

The trail of Jason Bourne's past snakes from Europe to CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia where Treadstone, a controversial clandestine operation is based.

As Bourne and Marie struggle to stay below the radar in France, all of the stealthy muscle of Treadstone is focused on tracking them and neutralising Bourne as quickly and efficiently as possible.

A great deal of the world is already familiar with Jason Bourne, the enigmatic hero of three best-sellers by Robert Ludlum who died shortly after the end of the film's production.

Director Liman says he wanted to create a spy film for his generation. "Most of the spy films I have seen have had nothing in common with anyone I have ever known." he observed. "I have spent time in Washington D.C. through my father's work on Iran-Contra and I'have seen real spies in action.

" I wanted to do The Bourne Identity because of Dough and his sensibility," Damon said. "I knew that he would not make a standard Hollywood action movie and I also knew that if I was ever going to try something like this, I'd want to do it with a guy like him."

US-cinema : "Lord of the Rings" towers over North American box office

LOS ANGELES(AFP) - "The Lord of the Rings" towered over the North American box office last weekend, debuting with takings of more than 62 million dollars and becoming and instant blockbuster, figures showed Monday.

The ticket receipts of the second installment of the film version of author JRR Tolkien's epic legend, entitled "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers," brought the total for its first five days to 102 million dollars.

The average takings per screen for the darkly fantastic flick were a stunning 17,120 dollars, box office trackers Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. said.

The film's average gross per-screen last weekend was more than three times that of the runner-up in the box office competition, the romantic comedy "Two Weeks Notice" co-starring Sandra Bullock and heart-throb Hugh Grant.

That film came in a distant second with just over 14.3 million dollars worth of tickets sold in North America over the three-day weekend.

In third place was diva Jennifer Lopez's latest movie vehicle, the romantic comedy "Maid in Manhattan," with takings of 10.7 million dollars.

Veteran director Martin Scorsese's long-awaited epic "Gangs of New York" was crushed by the strong competition, coming in fourth in the weekly rankings with a disappointing 9.5 million dollars.

The delayed period piece stars Leonardo DiCaprio in a comeback role, as well as Daniel Day-Lewis and Cameron Diaz.

In fifth place was "Drumline," a comedy telling the tale of a hip-hop drummer's career in a marching band, took 7.1 million dollars in its second week on the screen.

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