Anjalika at Regal Kandy today

SARASAVIYA FESTIVAL: The Sinhala Film ‘Anjalika’ directed by Channa Perera and produced by Malith Palliyaguru will be screened at the Regal Cinema Kandy at 6 p.m. today, the second day of the 31st Sarasaviya Film Festival in the hill country.

The cast includes Indian actress Pooja Umashankar, Channa Perera, Sanath Gunatilleke, Anarkali Akarsha, Narada Bakmeewewa, Lakshman Mendis, Morin Charunee, G.R. Perera, Rex Kodippili, Chandrika Siriwardena and Somasiri Alakolanga among others.

Jayanath Gunawardena has handled the camera while Ravindra Guruge has done the Editing and Rohana Weerasinghe directed the Music. The Festival in the hill capital will conclude with the screening of Vasantha Obeysekere’s ‘Sevvandi’ on March 25.

The Film Week of the Sarasaviya Film Festival, the biggest cultural pageant of the local cinema will commence at the Regal Cinema, Colombo on Monday, March 26. Five films selected by a Jury from among films which recorded the highest box office collections in 2005 and 2006 will be screened during the Film Week.

The first film screened on the opening day March 26 is ‘Samanala Thatu’ directed by Somaratna Dissanayake and produced by Renuka Balasoriya.

It features Suminda Sirisena, Dulika Marapona, Jayalath Manoratna, Vijaya Nandasiri, Gamini Hettiarachchi, Sanjeewani Weerasinghe, Anton Jude, Giriraj Kaushlya, Quintus Weerakoon and Dayadeva Edirisinghe among others. Channa Deshapriya handles the Camera, Ravindra Guruge the editing and Rohana Weerasinghe directs the music.

The rest of the films screened during the film week will be as follows. March 27 Guerilla Marketing directed by Jayantha Chandrasiri and produced by Hemantha Welikala, March 28 “Sudu Kalu Saha Alu” directed by Sudath Mahadiwulwewa and produced by Chrishan Deheragoda, March 29 ‘Udugang Yamaya’ directed and produced by Sudath Devapriya, March 30 - ‘Anjalika’ directed by Sudath Devapriya and produced by Malith Palliyaguru, March 31 - ‘Sevvandi’ directed by Vasantha Obeysekera and co-produced by Sangeetha Weeraratne and Sunil T. Fernando and April 1 - ‘Hiripoda Wessa’ directed by Udayakantha Warnasuriya and produced by Soma Edirisinghe.

At the Regal Cinema, Colombo there will be three daily shows at 10.30 a.m., 2.30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Artistes of the respective films will be in attendance at the 6 p.m. shows on each day.

The Sarasaviya Film awards ceremony will be held at the BMICH on April 5. This year’s Sarasaviya Festival is sponsored by the People’s Bank which is committed to support renowned artistes of Sri Lanka.