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| Saturday, 01 February 2003 |
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White Roses to bloom in June
A new joint Sinhala-Tamil film titled White Roses which will be shot in both India and Sri Lanka will get off the ground by June this year. The film borders on family ideals, sentiments and romance. This will also be the first Sinhala film to be shot in India. It will be screened in both Colombo and Tamil Nadu. Veteran Director/Actor and Producer Roy de Silva will co-direct the film with veteran Award winning Indian film personality Udaya Kumar, who will be the partner in this venture. The direction will also be shared on an equal basis, in a bid to promote ethnic amity and Indo- Lanka relations. This film will be another milestone in the annals of Sri Lanka's film industry as it also touches on the national ethnic question and the peace process, Roy de Silva told the Daily News Stage and Screen. The film, which will be initially released in Sri Lanka will then find its way to India, Canada, Britain and other world capitals in which Sinhalese and Tamil populations live in large numbers. We will be adding Tamil subtitles to the Sinhala section of the film and vice versa and the cornerstone of this film will be ethnic amity and integration, he said. Several local stars have been 'screened' and the final list was being prepared, he said. It was too premature to spell out the names of the stars and they were withheld as it could cause disappointment. Sumana Amerasinghe will act as the Production Executive/Coordinator to the film. Udaya Kumar was of the view that there would be plenty of scope for the screening of popular Sinhala films in India following the screening of White Roses in South India. He said that the Indian list of actors for the Chennai wing of the film was also being shortlisted. Kumar is a veteran Indian producer of over 20 Tamil/Telugu films and among the Indian stars who have taken part in his films are Sivaji Ganeshan, Kamal Hassan, Vijaya Kanth, Kathik Arjun and their ilk. At the relative young age of 32, he was also the youngest recipient of the much coveted Kalaimamani Award when he directed Sivaji Ganeshan. Roy is also a pioneer in Sinhala cinema, having had a hand in Chandiya, Dheevarayo, Soora Chouraya and Allapu Gedera. RAVI #################### Lester in retrospection in India
The event was organised in collaboration by the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission in collaboration with Madras Film Society and the International Cine Appreciation Forum and National Film Corporation in Sri Lanka. Films Gamperaliya, Nidhanaya, Beddegama, Kaliyugaya and Ahasin Polawata were screened in the presence of a large gathering at this festival held at the Film Chamber Theatre. In 2000, Lester was conferred with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Indian Government at the 31th Indian International Film Festival. The festival was inaugurated by a renowned cinema personality in Chennai A.B. Raj. A well-known Indian film critic Randor Guy recalled the contribution made by various Indian cinema artistes in developing Sri Lankan film industry and also appreciated Dr. Lester James Peries's contributions to the Sri Lankan cinema and his efforts. Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner Sumith Nakalanda said the Sri Lanka Mission in Chennai has embarked on an exercise in bringing the Sri Lankan culture and entertainment to its neighbour across Palk Strait. The Deputy High Commission will hold more film festivals this year too. #################### Devi honours Indrani
Indrani won the Presidential award in 2000 and the OCIC award in 2001. In 1967, she won the Deepashika award for the best female vocalist while she was still a student. Here, Indrani receiving the award from college's founder principal Wimala de Silva. #################### To Bandula, with love Popular lyricist Bandula Nanayakkarawasam recently released a compilation of songs written by him titled 'Sinathotak' at the BMICH, Colombo. Journalist Ranga Kalansooriya, an ardent fan of Bandula, wrote this open letter to the lyricist. "To my dear Bandula, I was so proud to see you on TV, being felicitated and honoured by a galaxy of stars and eminent persons during your 'Sinathotak' show at the BMICH, but felt a little disturbed when I realised that I was not so 'lucky' or privileged enough to be there to be with you on that particular occasion. Later I came to know that I was one of the thousands of such 'unlucky guys'. However Bandula, I feel proud of you, a talented lyricist whose promising skills have been embraced by millions of fans in Sri Lanka. More than that, when thinking about your warm friendliness, your humanity and simplicity. You never sent us with an empty stomach whenever we visited down South.To tell you frankly, we were waiting for such a magnificent occasion of your life, but were so unfortunate to be with you when the dream came true. As your beloved friends and fans, we must thank people like Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne, Kularathna Ariyawansa and Rohana Weerasinghe for your great success. If your organisers thought for a while about the common fan who always loves you, they would have searched for a better venue which is more accessible to them. Then we would have not seen the empty seats we saw on TV. You would have had thousands and thousands of fans to fill those chairs if it was a place for the common man. However, please do not forget that our sentiments are always with you, though we were not in that prestigious gathering. All the best to you Bandula, Keep it up !!" |
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Produced by Lake House |
A festival of Sri Lankan films under the title " Lester James
Peries in retrospection " was held in Chennai, India recently.
Veteran songstress Indrani Wijayabandara was awarded the Peak Award for
her achievements in the field of music by her alma-mater Devi Balika
College, Colombo recently. She was among 11 others who received similar
awards for peak performances in their respective fields. The felicitation
ceremony was organised to mark the college's 50th anniversary.
