Stars to perform at Cricket fiesta
ENTERTAINMENT: Sri Lanka reached the stars when it won the
Cricket World Cup in 1996. Now it is the turn of the "Stars" to take the
field. But from the looks of it they are set to give a good account of
themselves.
A host of popular artistes from the cinema and music world were seen
batting, bowling, fielding and appealing with gusto while some were
bowled over by maidens too.
Actresses’ team
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The scene was akin to a location shoot but for the cricketing drill
our celluloid heroes and heroines had to undergo. There were no special
cameras or props at the scene. Neither was there a set script to follow.
This was a real life act where the stars performed with gay abandon
demonstrating their hidden skills in a popular sport.
They are in vigorous training for the big do when the curtain will go
up on a festival of live cricket action where the film stars, singers
and ex-national cricketers will stage their act on green swards of the
R. Premadasa International Stadium, tomorrow (Sunday 28) at 3.00 p.m.
The event is bound to provide a host of thrills and spills as film
stars vie with each other in unfamiliar terrain which in turn is
guaranteed to provide unprecedented entertainment to the thousands of
cricket and film fans who will throng the venue.
Actors’ team
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Proceeds of the Cricket Carnival will go to swell the kitty of the
special pension scheme for retired and deserving film artistes.
All the matches will be friendly ones . Several teams are lined up to
take the field. There will be the "Comedians team" led by the inimitable
Tennyson Cooray. The 'Actors team will be captained by Arjun Kamalanath
and "Actresses team' by popular actress Sanoja Bibile.
The 'Stuntsmen' will be captained by Teddy Vidyalankara and the Film
Directors and Producers team will led by Dinesh Priyasad, while, female
vocalist Champa Kalhari and popular 'Baila' singer Saman de Silva lead
the 'Singers teams.
Sangeetha Weeraratne, Anusha Sonali, Damitha Abeyratne, Kanchana
Mendis, Geetha Kanthi Jayakody, Anusha Damayanthi, Thushani Weerakkody,
Nilanthi Dias Karunaratne, Nita Fernando, Chandi Rasika, Sureni Senarath
and Nilushi Halpita are some of the team members representing film
Actresses.
Meanwhile, Sanath Gunathilake, Roger Seneviratne, Cletus Mendis,
Channa Perera, Palitha Silva, Dinidu Jagoda, Suresh Gamage, Rajitha
Hiran (Ping Pong) and T.P. Mahinda will represent the Actors' team.
Apart from the film stars, there will be a side represented by
ex-national stars including Bandula Warnapura, Graham Labroy, Pramodya
Wickramasinghe, Roshan Mahanama and Hashan Tilakaratne which will be led
by former world cup winning cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga.
Registering a first in 'real' and 'fiction' cricket the husband and
wife combination - yesteryear's popular film pair Roy de Silva and
Sumana Amarasinghe will be the umpires.
After several 'side' games between various formations during the day
time, the final would be between the past cricketers and a combined team
of Film Stars which will be played under lights.
In addition to cricket action, there will be other side shows that
are bound to attract the spectators in between matches. During the
breaks, there will be musicals, skits and dance acts performed by
various artistes.
All these acts will be performed on a special stage on the grounds. A
grand musical show featuring prominent artistes in the country will take
place soon after the final.
"ICICI Bank Stars Cricket Carnival", was a concept of the CEO of the
Derana television, Anup Chandrasekeran who has been consistently
insisting that the media - both print and electronic should play a major
role to boost the cinema industry.
The proposal was forwarded to the National Film Corporation Chairman,
Asoka Serasinghe gave the project the go ahead realising the importance
of such a venture to help raise funds for the Retired Artistes Pension
Scheme to provide help for them who have made a great contribution
towards the Sinhala cinema.
The event will be telecast live on Derana from 3.30 pm.
So Film fans, don't miss this rare opportunity of seeing your
favourite stars live in action! - Anjana
Sybil and Nanda Malini receive Awards of Excellence
PERSONALITIES: Two renowned Sri Lankan artistes - Sybil Wettasinghe
and Nanda Malini were recognised recently for their contributions to Sri
Lankan literature and music.
The full house at BMICH stood up and applauded as they walked up to
receive the Eagle Award of Excellence from the Managing Director Deepal
Sooriyaarachchi.
Nanda Malini and Sybil Wettasinghe receiving the Eagle Excellence
Award from Managing Director Eagle Insurance Deepal
Sooriyaarachchi. Chandradasa Manathriratne A.G.M. Life Sales,
Priya Aponso - General Manager Finance, Upul Wijesinghe - General
Manager Non Life, Ronald Cheyen - General Manager Life
Distribution and Joe Karunarathne - General Manager Life
Operations look on.
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Sybil Wettasinghe wrote her first children's book "Kuda Hora" in
1952.
Many years later it was translated to Japanese and won its first
award at the Bolongna Book fair.
The book is being read in at least 13 countries today including
Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the United States, China, Korea and South
Africa - a unique achievement for a book written in Sinhala.
In 1986 "Kuda Hora" was presented the Best Foreign Children's Book
award in Japan. She also writes children's stories in English too. One
of them - "Hoity the Fox" won two awards in Japan - one by the Ministry
of Education and the other by the Ministry of Culture.
Another, "Strange visitors to the Cat Country" won a French Award for
children's books. "Mati Gedera Lamai" won the State Literary Award for
(juvenile books) in 1992 and the English version of the autobiographical
novel "Vanian Kalu" titled "The child in Me" was the winner of the
prestigious Gratien Prize in 1995.
The lady in white, Nanda Malini listened intently as her citation was
read over tracing her career from the age of 13 when she won the Best
Playback Singer's award at the inaugural Sarasaviya Film Festival in
1964, for her singing in "Ran Muthu Duwa". In the 1960s as a Grade One
radio artiste, she had to present a half an hour programme every month.
This meant looking for new compositions all the time. It was not easy
to locate lyric writers and get recognized musicians to compose the
melodies. She had no choice but to try and do it herself.
The first attempt was a tremendous success. The song "Sakura Mal"
became very popular. It gave her courage and determination to continue.
Her creations are well preserved. She has been releasing an audio
cassette every year for the past 25 years. They are fine compositions,
the words are so meaningful and they are so beautifully sung. They are
also a varied selection.
She is always on the lookout for fresh talent and is keen to build up
a new generation of musicians. Not so long ago she invited amateur lyric
writers to send her their creations.
She selected 12, sang them and released a cassette titled "Araliya
Landa". "Malata Renu" was another where 16 creations of amateur
melody-makers were presented.
Eagle felicitated maestro Premasiri Khemadasa and dramatist Henry
Jayasena last year. Earlier, Dr. Lester James Peries, Pandit W.D.
Amaradeva, the late Chitrasena and Vajira received the Eagle Award of
Excellence.
M.S. - C.T. songs in Australia
A concert featuring the songs of famous artists C. T. Fernando and M.
S. Fernando will be held on June 2 in Borman Hall, Blacktown, Sydney,
Australia.
Around forty popular songs will be sung by Walter Fernando, brother
of M. S. Fernando and Priyantha Fernando, son of C. T. Fernando.
Priyantha Fernando will also provide music for the show.
This show is organised by Monica Rodrigo and Gamini Rodrigo who
reside in Australia.
The concert is also scheduled to take place in Brisbane, Australia
and New Zealand. |