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ANCL cartoonist wins at Int'l cartoon contest



Ruwan Tharaswin

Lake House (ANCL) cartoonist Ruwuan Tharaswin has won an honourable mention award for his cartoon presented to the 8th International Cartoon Contest held in Haifa, Israel this year.

One hundred and twenty cartoonists from 48 countries participated in this contest held on the theme 'Music and Festivals'.

Tharaswin's award winning cartoon has been featured among other cartoons assembled in a special book printed to mark the occasion titled 'Music'.



Tharaswin’s award winning cartoon

Tharaswin in his cartoon portrayed a person depicting a world power blowing a trumpet the keys of which depicted the poor of the Third World.

Its theme was that developed countries had to dance to the tune of super powers.

Tharaswin who is attached to the Dinamina as staff cartoonist has won nearly 14 international awards at cartoon contests held in several countries including Germany, USA, Japan and Switzerland.

This is his 15th international award. The Haifa Cartoon Contest was jointly organised by the Israel National Commission for UNESCO, The Israel Cartoon Association PENCOM and the Haifa Municipal Council.

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Yasapalitha Nanayakkara's 64th birth anniversary on June 19:

A sincere friend of the Sinhala cinema

by E.M.G. Edirisinghe

Yasapalitha Nanayakkara, a film personality, whose imprint on Sinhala cinema in the golden 70s and later in the 80s left a lasting impression on the audience.

Yasapalitha's childhood ambition was to be an accountant but destiny drove him to cinema, the real beneficiary of which is the Sinhala film-goer. He was treated to a feast of popular films which he had hitherto not experienced at that core entertainment level.

In fact, he was one of the few film-makers whose principle mission was to take the Sinhala cinema direct to the people. He helped to make it their sole medium of entertainment and the route of escape from social and economic pressures under which they lived in mentally stressful conditions.

His first feature film Thushara (1973) featuring Malini Fonseka and Vijaya Kumaratunga, set the pace for a long persistent glittering career for the duo on silver screen.

Yasapalitha carved a niche in Sinhala cinema for himself with his first attempt itself releasing an abundance of dance, song, music, quirks couched in a compelling story for the undiluted attention of the viewer, with his captivating scintillating cinema craft.

While his films such as Monara Tenna, Muwan Pelessa were based on folklore giving life to folk characters, his other films like Tuck-Tick-Took, Sahayata Danny, Rosi were comedies designed to produce pure entertainment and laughter for the average film-goer.

His other films like Jaya Sikurui, Yukthiyada Shaktiyada, Kadira, Newatha Hamuveu manifested screen power and magical strength of heroic feats which will linger in the memory of the viewers for a long time to come.

One of his popular cinematic creations, Dedunnen Samanaliyak (1990) the screening of which followed the untimely sad tragic death of the then screen hero and the most popular actor Vijaya Kumaratunga was one of his most popular films.

It endeared Yasapalitha to audiences with greater emotional appeal than ever. Yasapalitha made two Tamil language films Anuragam and Nadu Petra Valga as well, which itself shows that he had widened his movie-horizon, a step no other Sinhala movie-maker had undertaken.

It also demonstrated his versatility and, proved the importance of Tamil speaking film-goers who at that time had only a few selected South Indian films imported to quench their thirst for Tamil movies.

He started as an actor. His first and the last performance as an actor was a comic role in Vasanthi (1967), which also he co-produced with another. Incidentally, every film director is supposed to be a good actor, too.

David Lean, an award winning film director, once said that a film director is a frustrated actor which shows the innate presence of an actor in every director. He is frustrated because he is unable to perform; his role is to get others to act, and if he begins to act, direction is certain to suffer.

Second in a family of nine, two of Yasapalitha's brothers Vasudeva and Hemakumara are prominent national level politicians who had made their presence felt in their own political lines, as Yasapalitha himself did in his chosen field of art.

Towards the end of the eighties he temporarily left cinema to take to full time politics alongside the present President and late Vijaya Kumaratunga who formed the mainstay in his films. Being a leading member of the newly founded Bahujana Nidhas Peramuna, Yasapalitha was once a Provincial Councillor representing the Western Province.

Besides he was the first treasurer of the Party as well. However, he bid good-bye to politics when he realised that politics and films did not make good companions in his life.

Towards the end of his colourful career, he ventured into the teledrama scene and produced Pahalawella a teledrama exuding hilarity and curiosity.

Eight years ago the patrons of Sinhala cinema lost for ever, one of their true friends.

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'Expressions 2' - a unique creation of arts

Jayantha Silva last June created a stir in the Colombo art scene with his first ever exhibition "Expressions" at the Lionel Wendt which has left beautiful memories of his unique talent and style for all those who saw the exhibits.

This undeniable gift to capture moods and characteristics is reflected in his paintings. His signature portraits amazingly capture the beauty and innocence of the adolescents, the vigour and vibrancy of the aged.

His unique creations from acrylics and soft pastels coupled with his individual style and ability to capture nature and life so vividly, has caught the eye of several in Sri Lanka.

His work did not go unnoticed by the Sri Lanka Tea Board who commissioned Jayantha to create an artwork as a gift from them to the Airport and Aviation Office. Hence today a permanent public exhibit of his talent is featured at the reception of the Airport and Aviation Office at Katunayake.

The good news for all art enthusiasts is that soon after his successful debut Jayantha Silva is hoisting "Expressions 2" at the Wendt from June 25 to 27. It promises to be yet another feast for the senses for everyone visiting and also an opportunity for art lovers out there to purchase a masterpiece to adorn their walls.

- Ishani Hendry

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