'Makkal Kalari' (Jana Karaliya) - a theatre bridge between Sinhala
and Tamil people
DRAMA: "We will not directly speak on peace. But the entire audience
who view our dramas will realise that it as a collective work by both
Sinhala and Tamil theatre loving groups.
For example, Tamil artistes would play roles in Sinhala dramas and
Sinhala artistes would perform in Tamil dramas.
The presentation of our theatre production, would provide some kind
of a signal to the inner thoughts of the viewers in an exemplary
manner", points out veteran small screen and stage drama director
Parakrama Niriella.
Parakrama Niriella
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"Jana Karaliya" or " Makkal Kalari" in Tamil means theatre of the
people. "Jana Karaliya", a drama and theatre activities group, which
focuses their programmes throughout the country, was a brain concept by
Niriella two years ago.
Speaking on the object of "Jana Karaliya", Niriella said: "Jana
Karaliya" was launched in July 2004, just two years ago. But I had
immense experience in handling theatre production with Haththotuwagama
in 1970s when we were doing the production of "Sitha and Rama".
However I had a difficulty with the term of 'performing space' in
stage dramas. We were used to call the stage in Sinhalese as "Ranga
Madala" or "Karaliya" or " Vedikawa".
But in Europe, although they called it "Stage" when it comes to use,
it means a lot. The stage dramas should go to the ordinary people. We
should offer it in more attractive way rather than it was".
Describing the activities of the mobile theatre group of "Jana
Karaliya", Niriella said that the unique of its mobile group is that it
owned a huge tent that can accommodate thousands of theatre lovers at
once.
"It is called new arena type theatre. The mobile theatre group in
Colombo visit the area they chose and put up the tent there. From that
point they start their theatre activities. The very first mobile theatre
came to live from Anuradhapura.
Another one was held in Trincomalee. The mobile theatre is different
from the applied theatre. We have a group consisting of Sinhala and
Tamil youth of 25 members. The dramas produced by these members will be
shown from time to time at the tent.
Apart from the performance, we will also hold drama workshop for
youth and series of workshop and practical sessions for Sinhala and
Tamil teachers in the area with the intention of promoting their
knowledge on theatre which will assist them in teaching Drama and
Theatre in schools".
The huge tent
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This time "Jana Karaliya" has launched its Drama and Theatre
programme in Puttalam District. "Jana Karaliya" Mobile Theatre Group
arrived Puttalam in May and installed the Mobile Theatre at St. Mary's
Tamil Maha Vidyalaya ground.
They will stay there till mid of July, engaging with Drama and
Theatre activities. They have already started conducting Drama and
Theatre appreciation programmes at Puttalam, Mahakumbukkadawala,
Karuwalagaswewa, Anamaduwa, Vanathavilluwa, Serakkusiya, Kalpitiya and
Nawagaththegama with the assistance of the Provincial Secretaries of
those areas.
They will start Drama and Theatre appreciation programmes and
workshops for school students and teachers after A/L examinations and
holidays.
"Jana Karaliya Drama Festival", the most attractive item of their
activity in the Jana Karaliya Mobile theatre started from June 23 and
continue till July 3.
Mobile theatre activists
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Jana Karaliya Sinhala and Tamil Drama production, "Charandas", "Seethambarapata",
"Andaramal", "Devlowagamana", "Charandas Kallan", "Mayappattadai", "Erukkalam
Poo", "Dewaloha Payanam" and Children's Plays of Saman Pushpakumara ("Ahankara
Kiribabi and "Dangayo Ne") and Sumith Samarasinghe ("Soru Evilla") also
included in the list of Drama Festival scheduled.
All the "Jana Karaliya" plays are collective efforts of the
Janakaraliya Mobile theatre group that consists of Sinhala & Tamil
youth.
Palitha Abeylal, Jayantha Kumara Muthuthanthri, Suneth Shanthapriya,
Sokkalingam Krishanthan, Chaminda Prasad, Manjula Ranasinghe, Nishantha
Kularatna, Sumudu Mallawarachchi, Thyagaraja Sivanesan, Muniyandi
Kalidas, Verni Theresa, Ajanthan Shanthakumar, Arosha Tharanganee,
Sineth Devinda, Dinesh Swarna Sri Livera, Sam Paul, Malithi Kumari,
Praneeth Jeewantha, Chinthaka Kodithuwakku, Rasaiya Lohanadan, Selvaraj
Leelawathi, J. Sr Devi and B. Radhika are performing artistes in all
these plays.
H.A. Perera has composed music with the assistance of Sumudu
Mallawarachchi and Tharindu Gamage. Palitha Abeylal is the sound
controller, Ajanthan Shanthikumar is the lighting technician and
Chaminda Prasad is the Make up Artist. Ravinda Mapitigama assists in
choreographing and direction.
Dilip Rohana is doing the management while Parakrama Niriella and H.A.
Perera leads the entire Jana Karaliya Programme.
- Anjana -
Bollywood superhero goes head-to-head with Superman
MUMBAI: The Bollywood movie industry is banking on a masked
crime-fighter to take on Superman in the first box office clash in India
between rival superheroes.
"Krrish," which breaks Indian movie industry norms with lavish
special effects and dramatic stunts, will be released on Friday, a week
before Hollywood's "Superman Returns" debuts here.
The Indian industry is best-known for making love stories, comedies
and tragedies but has never before attempted to make a film about a
superhero, a formula that has proved popular in western cinema.
"Krrish is an attempt to lay the foundation of the superhero concept
in Bollywood," the star of the film, Hrithik Roshan, told AFP.
"The concept of the superhero so far has been alien to Bollywood and
we hope to achieve that with this film."
The film was produced with a large budget by Bollywood standards of
450 million rupees (10 million dollars), and is the sequel to the 2003
hit "Koi Mil Gaya" (I've Sound Someone) - which was loosely based on US
smash "E.T."
Roshan, who also starred in the first film, is Krrish - the inheritor
of supernatural powers from an alien visitor which allows him to fight
crime in Singapore, where the film was partially shot.
Rakesh Roshan, the producer-director and father of the star, denied
the film was a copy of Superman but said he wanted to take on Hollywood.
"I feel these are two different films and my film is not about the
Superman character. As there is Batman, Spiderman and Superman - in the
same way I have created a superhero character and that is Krrish."
He added: "I want to prove to the world that Bollywood is no less
than Hollywood."
The movie, which also stars former Miss World Priyanka Chopra, is
Hrithik Roshan's first after a gap of two years.
His last film "Lakshya" (Aim in Life) flopped in 2004.
"Bollywood audiences have not seen such a film and much excitement
has built up for Krrish and it is expected to get a great opening at the
box office," trade analyst Taran Adarsh said.
The Indian film industry is the largest by volume in the world,
producing more than 1,000 movies in 2005 but accounting for only one
percent of global film revenues.
Bollywood, the term for the Mumbai-based heart of the industry,
generates about 40 percent of Indian film revenues.
- (AFP) -
Anjalika introduces a 'new star' to the silver screen
FILM: 'Anjalika', the maiden film directed by Channa Perera will be
screened from June 28 at leading cinemas including the Savoy, Wellawatta.
An Indian-Sri Lankan mix Pooja Uma Shankar
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Pooja Uma Shankar, an Indian born to a Sri Lankan mother will be
introduced as the leading star in this movie.
Thivanka Imbulgoda is the only son of Clifford and Induthara. After
his mother's sudden demise he goes abroad and his father moves to the
city with his sole companion - loneliness. Years later, Thivanka returns
to his motherland as a dashingly handsome, well-mannered young man.
Though he is much sought after by his childhood love Kavya, his heart
truly longs for Anjalika - the attractive daughter of a caretaker at one
of Thivanka's estates. Kavya allows their love to blossom. Though
Clifford has no objections for the affair, Anjalika's father does.
Thivanka and Anjalika's affair meets a fatal and when Anjalika
mysteriously disappears. Unable to bear this sorrow, Thivanka suffers
from a breakdown. Clifford too suffers a similar fate.
Thivanka meanwhile, meets Uththara who resembles Anjalika in manner
and looks. Thivanka's life caught between two lovers thus head in an
unexpected direction...
This film offers a rare glimpse of the life in high society. The
camera capture in detail the glitter and glamour of high places.
The cast: Channa Perera, Pooja Uma Shankar, Anarkali Akarsha, Sanath
Gunathilaka, Rex Kodippili, Narada Bakmewewa, Rosy Senanayake, Robin
Fernando, Maureen Charuni, Lakshman Mendis, G.R. Perera, Somasiri
Alakolanga, Oshadie Hewamadduma, and Chandrika Siriwardhana.
Child artistes are Himasal Thathsara Liyanage and Panchali Kaushalya.
Dubbing artiste for Pooja is by Nadeesha Hemamali. |