Life is beautiful indeed!

Jeevithaya Lassanai celebrates 350th episode on March 31:

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA

Someone once said that life is beautiful. Life is a gift given to living beings to cultivate love and harmony. When you are surrounded by Manuwansha, his wife, Sarala, and their children: Sathsara, Ridma, Gayana, Manohara, Pansilu, Dhananjana and Neshadi (aka Sudu Nangi) life is beautiful indeed! Art & Soul met the Jeevithaya Lassanai team as the popular mega series gets ready to celebrate its 350th episode.

Jeewithaya Lassanai is a teledrama which touched the hearts of many viewers with diverse characters and episodes. Many have grown to love the steady Sathsara, the carefree Ridma, the glamorous Gayana, the supportive Manohara, the rebellious Pansilu, the obedient Dhananjana and the bubbly Sudu Nangi, Manuwansha’s seven children who are named after the seven musical notes, so much a part of their life. It is the fans’ devotion which has helped keep the story alive and kicking throughout its long journey.

The mega teleseries comprises purely Sri Lanka artistes and is the longest running teledrama in Sri Lankan history. Directed by Ravindra Wijeratne and produced by Sandya Mendis, on behalf of Susila Productions, Jeevithaya Lassanai visits the small screen every weekday at 7 30 p.m. on Swarnavahini.

Another specialty in connection with the mega series is that the story is scripted by six individuals, namely Gayan Kavinda Malawarachchi, Asanka Sayakkara, Anoma Wijewardane, Chathura Adikaram, Suneth Warnasooriya and Lal Wasantha. Many new faces had been introduced to the industry and a number of veteran artistes like Irangani Serasinghe, Ravindra Randeniya, Malani Weeramuni, Wijeratne Warakagoda, Deepani Silva, Janak Premalal and others have taken part in the series.

The story had brought to life many memorable characters, some which have set examples and inspired the life of its viewers. Around 30 songs penned by Rohana Weerasinghe and Navaratne Gamage and set to music by Rohana Weerasinghe had also been included in the series.

According to the director the ratings of viewers who watch television programmes at 7.30 p.m. is around 40 to 50 percent. Jeevithaya Lassanai had clinched about 22 percent of its ratings.

“We did not introduce any kind of competitions to win money or prizes to tie the audience to our programme. They have been with us willingly,” Wijeratne expressed also adding that when the series approaches a milestone, the team holds a special function to celebrate the event.

“We celebrated our 200th episode by giving a memorial to each member of the team. It was a token of appreciation for all their hard work. They are the strength behind its success,” he said.

There are many who believe that mega series do more harm than good to the industry. They complain that this is not a suitable method to be practiced as the actors are limited to playing one particular role and are not given the chance to experiment with diverse roles.

They also hint that directors tend to drag on certain episodes to lengthen the series. Many creations are on queue to be telecast in television channels and many more join the line each day waiting for their turn.

“Mega series is not a new concept to the Sri Lankan audience. Doo Daruwo was the lengthiest teledrama ever made till Jeevithaya Lassanai broke that record. Ours is the only mega series that is telecasting in Swarnavahini and it is telecast for half an hour.

ITN telecasts two mega series. There is plenty of time for everyone as the channels have put aside time for telecasting teledramas from 8.30 p.m. till around 10.30 p.m.,” Wijeratne pointed out also adding that actors gain immense popularity through the roles they portray through mega series.

“They are recognised under the names of their characters and many have become trend setters,” he said.

Among its many significant features lies the fact that none of the characters created so far had been eliminated from the story.

“We do not feel the urge to kill off any character or send them abroad so that they can be cut off from the story. They are given space to return and contribute to the plot ,” Wijeratne explained.

“The aim of the series is to send examples across to the society. These are included in the story and we have had positive responses from our viewers. They learn from the plight of our characters.

“It is not just a story but a story with depth and meaning. We hope to continue unfolding the tale of Sri Lanka’s beloved on-screen musical family till our audience permits.”

The cast also includes Somasiri Alakolange, Kusum Perera, Gayan Wickramatilake, Jagath Chamila, Nadeesha Alahapperuma, Umayangana Wickramasinghe, Danushka Rathayake, Sampath Shri Roshana, Ayomi Shanika, Tharanga Disanayake, Lahiru Mudalige, Niroshan Wijesinghe and Alfred Perera. Hema Nalin Karunaratne is the executive producer of the series.

The cameramen are Chandana Dharmapriya and Jayantha Ranasinghe. Saliya de Zoysa is the line producer while Pushpakumara Bandaragama is in charge of the make-up.

Deepthi Mangalasoma is the art director is the art director, Saman Ariyaratne is the editor and Tharanga Disanayake is the production manager of Jeevithaya Lassanai. H.M. Sugath Sisira is the media coordinator of Jeevithaya Lassanai.

Pictures by Ruwan de Silva

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‘Inspired’ with power to touch hearts and minds

‘Inspired...’ a “musical journey of thoughts and impressions” will be held at the Lionel Wendt Theater, on April 6 at 7.30 p.m. Natalie Gooneratne and Natasha Senanayake will direct it.

Natalie, the co-director and the main featured vocalist, is a past pupil of Ladies’ College, Colombo. She started singing at an early age with Christine Perera and Meneka Sahabandu. Later she took lessons from Naomi Gooneratne.

Natalie was awarded her Licentiate with Honours and she was also the prizewinner for obtaining the highest mark in the country. Natalie was privileged to get a scholarship for extensive technical vocal training in Austria under renowned Opera Singer Peter Karner.

She is preparing for her Fellowship in Singing from the Trinity College London, and Later this year Natalie will be featured as a vocal soloist with the symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka for their annual Young performers Concert.

Natasha is a past pupil of CMS Ladies’ college. She is an ‘ Associate’ of the Trinity College of music London having obtained the diploma for piano with honors. She has studied advance level music and flute under Sureka Amerasinghe, and singing under Meneka Sahabandu, and is studying piano under Louisa David.

Natasha has arranged most of the songs sung by the combined choir. She will also be one of the featured accompanists

The Programme consists of a wide array of music to suit each and every listener and the music consists of songs and Arias ranging from Mozart and Puccini to Mika, Enya and Josh Groban.

The programme will also showcase songs from much loved animated feature films and musicals. A special feature in the concert is the performance of Original compositions by talented local artistes that will add a different flavor to the concert.

Each song has been carefully selected to touch and inspire the audience at a personal level and most of the songs chosen by the directors are ones that they feel will instill serious thought in the audience long after they leave the concert hall; hence the title “Inspired...”

The Choristers and singers are between 18 to 30 years of age.

The past Bridgeteen Choir, as well as choristers from numerous schools and universities in Colombo will take part.

Guest Artists for the show includes Ayesha Casie Chetty on Piano and Dominic Johnpillai on Violin. Ayesha will also be the accompanist for the show along with Natasha Senanayake.

American College, Dehiwala, is the main sponsor of the event.

The profits of the show will be given to the “ Hearts and hands project”.

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‘Introspection’ of an artistic mind

‘Introspection’ will contain works by Dr. Anitha done over the past 18 years:

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA

The paintings were different from many I have seen so far. There were portraits and crowd-infested scenes. These paintings are skillfully portrayed in caricatured postures with comical faces and gestures.

These are the kinds of paintings which make up ‘Introspection’, an exhibition of paintings by Anitha Kalani Haputantiri which will be exhibited at the Alliance Française de Colombo from April 3 to 25. ‘Introspection’ will contain works by her done over the past 18 years. The exhibition will be opened by the Ambassador of France, Michel Lummaux.

Anitha is a dental surgeon. She is a product of Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya, and was named the most outstanding art student at her school for many years and Child artist of the year for a couple of years.

She had exhibited her work at a few exhibitions in Colombo and in Scotland.

“My father, Lionel Goonetilleke, is a cartoonist and my mother is also a professional artist. I inherited the artistic touch from them,” Anitha explained adding that she draws her inspirations from the female characters.

Indeed there are many themes related to the rural and urban women in her art. Her work revolves around the lifestyles of women focusing on topics like cooking, travelling in a bus, selling fruits, interaction and friendship and many more.

Art had been her mode of expression from a tender age and it had gradually developed over the ages to form the eye catching images she presents today. Her work carries a hidden message for its observers. It probes their mind and opens a window to the thoughts and feelings of the artists on the chosen topics.

“My husband had been very supportive. He is my best critique,” she stressed adding that she also wish to express her gratitude to all her colleagues at the Dental Institute who helped her in putting together the exhibition.

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Rupavahini State Awards - 2007

The Rupavahini State Awards - 2007 was held at the BMICH recently. Chief Guest, Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayake and many others attended this glamorous occasion.

It was a night of celebrations as many youths and veterans in the field were felicitated at the event. One of the main highlights of the evening is when the audience got the opportunity to witness a few scenes of ‘And Company’, Swarnavahini’s weekly political satire.

The picture on extreme left shows Ananda Wickramage, in the role of the President and Keerthi Ranjith, acting as the Prime Minister, set the scene for a sea of merriment.

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Olanda Sirakaruge Lanka Charikava to be launched today

Palitha Jayakody’s Olanda Sirakaruge Lanka Charikava will be launched at Dayawansa Jayakody Book Exhibition Hall, Ven S. Mahinda Mawatha, Colombo 10 on March 25 at 10 a.m. The book is the authentic Sinhala translation of J. Haafner’s “Travels on Foot Through the Island of Ceylon”.

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Photographic exhibition at ICC

‘The Path of Compassion’, a photographic exhibition on Buddhist Historical and Art Heritage will be held at the Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) on March 28 and 29 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.