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| Saturday, 2 October 2004 |
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Features | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
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Colossus of the Sinhala silver screen bids adieu
He bestrode the firmament of the Lankan cinema like a colossus who injected a professionalism and the dynamism to the industry which owes him so much for its present status. He created a new dimension to acting. Time was when the nascent film industry was drifting aimlessly under heavy South Indian influence when our stars were mere caricatures of their Tamil Nadu counterparts. They were forced to ape every gesture and mannerism of the South Indian stars even to costumes and hairdo, the trade mark moustache. It is into this milieu that Gamini broke in like a fresh breath of air in the late 50s. He immediate made an impact with his compelling good looks and macho image which instantly appealed to the young fans who flocked to the cinemas in droves to view his exploits on the silver screen. It was certainly a cross roads in the local cinema which received a tremendous boost by this "new kid on the block" sending cash registers ringing at cinema halls through the country. Gamini was in tremendous demand with producers flocking after him with offers. This was also a time when the local cinema was striving to wriggle out of its South Indian strait-jacket and carve out a national cinema. The period also saw the emergence of several creative directors with the ability to make films on national themes. Among them Dr. Lester James Peiris who was to later gain international fame for his cinematic creations was to have a profound bearing on Gamini's evolution into a star performer. Lester who instantly recognised the potential of Gamini involved him in his very first film "Rekawa" albeit in a crowd scene and later cast him in Sandeshaya, Gamperaliya and Nidhanaya where he gave stellar performances. But it was "Serendibs" who turned Gamini into an overnight star by signing him for the country's first colour film 'Ranmuthuduwa'. Based on an adventure theme it was tailor-made role for Gamini to display his wide ranging potential which made him a hero and heartthrob of the sinhala cinema. He was the darling of the gallery audience who whistled their heads off even as the bell rang for show time. Following the runway success of Ranmuthuduwa, Serendibs cast him in "Getawarayo" and "Horungeth Horu" blockbusters skyrocketing him to dizzy heights of fame. Producers started queuing up for Gamini who had by now turned the local cinema on its head with "House full" boards hanging outside every cinema hall. Certainly the entire sixties decade of the local cinema belonged to Gamini with films such as Chandiya, Sura Chauraya, Yatagiya Dawasa, Ipadune Ei, Okkoma Hari, Seethala Wathura and Senasuma Kothanada standing out. Gamini also ventured out into film direction with Parasathumal, his first attempt. His versatility also drew him to authorship, scriptwriting while he once rendered his voice as a playback singer. His character portrayal was so unique he could slip into any role with the ease of a veteran be it the tough guy, a Roman catholic priest to a country bumpkin. Gamini also became a catalyst of sorts towards communal harmony through his portrayal of the character Nadarajah in the film Sarungale. - Rodney
Graceful and mesmerising: Russian ballet moves Lankan audiences
The graceful movements of Russian ballerinas do have the power to move our hearts and uplift our souls. And we can experience this magic right now in Sri Lanka. Anna Alexedze, Art Director from the Russian Ballet Academy was very proud to present their performance in Sri Lanka. "We are indeed very happy present our performance in Sri Lanka," she told Stage & Screen after arriving in the island with a troupe comprising 18 well recognised dancers from Russia. While explaining the intricacies of Russian ballet, Anna was proud to say that Russian ballets were the best in the world. Anna is a well recognised ballet dancer in Russia. She has received higher education and vast knowledge in ballet in a career spanning nearly two decades. "It not just ballet, Russian ballet depicts the emotions and inner feelings of Russians. It comes from the heart," noted Anna adding that their ballet are different from those of the rest of the world. "It helps to console your inner sufferings and improves the taste of the viewers. A ballet helps people to keep away from their problems and sufferings and enjoy life," said Anna. Being her second time in Sri Lanka, Anna stressed they were very much willing to help to improve ballet and other performing arts in Sri Lanka. "We are ready to help to Sri Lankans." She noted that Sri Lankans too have rhythm in their body and proper guidance would improve them. Anna's troupe from the Russian National Ballet Academy (BOLSHOI) will perform "The Nutcracker" of Peter Tchaikovsky at BMICH, Colombo. This troupe includes two well recognised principal artistes from Russia namely Vadim Yarullin and Svetlana Kuzyannina. Tchaikovsky composed the Nutcracker during just four months in 1891. The Nutcracker had its premiere at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg in 1892. Based on Hoffman's fairy tale, the Nutcracker and the Mouse King, the beloved classical ballet takes place one Christmas Eve in a nineteenth century Russian town. Uncle Drosselmeyer, a conjurer and magician, delights the entire family with tricks and magic gifts. He gives Marie, his young niece, a rather plain looking doll in a red uniform. Marie loves the doll, which has an unusual mouth ("... so strong it can crack nuts") - a toy mechanical nutcracker. Marie's brother breaks the doll in jealousy, and Uncle Drosselmeyer places it under Christmas tree to mend. Marie falls asleep under the tree with her broken doll in her arms and enters a dream world where the Christmas tree shoot up to the sky and all the toys come alive! Christmas morning however Marie wakes up and finds the Nutcracker doll still lifeless and broken. Marie is heartbroken until she discovers that whenever she closes her eyes, she can always return to the Kingdom of Sweets with the handsome Nutcracker prince. She said the Government of Russia are extending their assistance to improve Ballet and its performance. She stressed that in Sri Lanka too, Government assistance is necessary to improve the ballet. Anna said they like Sri Lanka very much. "We like the greenery in Sri Lanka. It is very attractive and also people are very nice." |
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Produced by Lake House |
The passing away of film idol Gamini Fonseka could be described as the
end of an era in the Lankan cinema. It is no exaggeration to say that
Gamini was the chief architect of the modern Sinhala cinema. His influence
on the local cinema being such that when the history of the Lankan film
industry is written some day his name will be etched in gold.
