Vimukthi Jayasundara:

Riding High

VIMUKTHI JAYASUNDARA, Sri Lanka’s acclaimed and award winning director had received the commendation of being one of the great future hopes for the renewal of cinema in the world from Gilles Jacob, President of the Cannes Festival.

This is yet another honour that young director Jayasundara has brought to his motherland, a recognition of the true talent that lies in the country.

Jacobs has helped to anoint some of the most important auteur to have emerged in the past three decades, with the inclusion of Lars von Trier, Quentin Tarantino, the Coen Brothers among others, whose selection and prizes at the festival consolidated their careers and tossed them into international spotlight.

Among Jacob’s greater achievements is the inauguration of the ‘Camera d’ Or’ prize for first time filmmakers, the same award which Jayasundara was awarded in May 2005 for his Sinhala language film Sulanga Enu Pinisa (The Forsaken Land). He was the first Sri Lankan to win this prestigious award.

With the embrace of art cinema and with the Cannes Festival’s aim of taking the developing world to its heart, Jacobs stated Vimukthi Jayasundara who hails from Sri Lanka is one of his four great hopes for world cinema.

Jayasundara is among four renowned up and coming directors, comprising Amat Escalante of Maxico who received the ‘Un Certain Regard 2005’ for his film ‘Sangre’ and ‘Un Certain Regard 2008’ for ‘The Bastards,’ Celine Sciamma of France who received the ‘Un Certain Regard 2007’ for ‘Water Lilies’ and Antonio Campos from the United States who received the Cinefondation first prize for ‘Buy it Now’ in 2005 and the ‘Un Certain Regard 2008’ for ‘After School.’

In addition to this, Jacobs realising that the auteur pool requires constant renewal, launched the Cinefondation, a Paris based filmmakers’ screen writing lab as well as Cinefondation Atelier, a networking initiative at Cannes for young directors and producers in 1998.

After spending three decades at Cannes, Jacobs at age 77 shows no sign of slowing down; currently writing his memoirs ‘Life will go by like a dream,’ which showcases his memories of life, his relationship with Cannes and the cinema world.

He has also developed a taste for filmmaking, with his most notable production being “To Each His Own Cinema” an omnibus commemorating the Cannes Festival’s 60th edition.

Vimukthi Jayasundara’s newest venture is titled ‘Fallen from the Sky’ and the cast includes an enviable list of actors comprising of Steve de La Zilwa, Thusitha, Kaushalya Fernando and Chinese actress Lou Hong.

The film conveys a profound message to the audience concerning himself and how they should view his work. Set to be released in 2009, it is to grant his fans the opportunity to see a hitherto unseen aspect in his films. –PR

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Winter wonderland

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA

Some of the captivating exhibits by Samarasinghe

Trees bare of leaves, snow flakes and the bitter cool climate may not be a welcoming experience to some but photographer Duleep Samarasinghe proves that it brings a sight to behold through a collection of photographs expressing the beauty of winter.

Snapped in the backdrop of New Zealand landscapes, Samarasinghe brings his latest batch of photographs through Salu Mudha Hara, an exhibition of photography which will be held at the National Art Gallery on August 9 and 10 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The exhibition will be opened by veteran media personality, Dr Tissa Abeysekara, on August 8 at 4 p.m.

Samarasinghe had shown interest towards photography during his school days at Harischandra Maha Vidyalaya, Negombo and had learnt the subject under the National Photographic Art Society of Sri Lanka in his early twenties.

He joined a video production house and enhanced his skills while engaging in video editing and studio camera work. He was employed at the Open University of Sri Lanka as a photographer and video editor.

Samarasinghe’s debut solo exhibition, Pani Mora Mal, was held in 2002 while his second exhibition “The Darkness I Fell For” was held in New Zealand in 2006. Salu Mudha Hara is his third exhibition of photography.

“I believe that the exhibits are closer to paintings more than photographs. I hope they will provide a novel experience for the viewers”, Samarasinghe noted.

He had won many awards for his work and one of his night photographs was among the best six photographs displayed at the Ellerslie Photography Competition organised by Auckland City, New Zealand in 2005.

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Dr. Udara clinches gold medal at “Gala of Photography”

Dr. Udara Ariyasinghe who is currently employed as a medical officer at Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Colombo, had won a gold medal in the children of the world category for his exceptional photograph a the Trierenberg Super Circuit, the “Gala of Photography”.

Noted as the most prestigious awards and competitive photography awards ceremony of the world, the Trierenberg Super Circuit “Gala of Photography” awards ceremony will be held on August 13 in Linz, Austria. Dr. Ariyasinghe had entered 16 photographs for the competition and 9 FIAP had been accepted.

The old boy of Royal College, Colombo, had developed a passion for photography during his A\L days. He had studied the subject under the National Photographic Art Society (NPAS) of Sri Lanka in 1998 and Photostar Sri Lanka in 2008. He wished to express his gratitude to the NPAS and Photostar Sri Lanka for their guidance. – RJ

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Kandy girls strike gold at dance competition

Students of Bharatha Natyam Rangayathanaya of George E de Silva Mawatha, Kandy participated in the “Sri Lanka Festival of Music, Dance and Speech” competition conducted by the International Institute of Music, Speech and Drama. Bharathanatyam and Kandyan Dancing are taught at the institute by Nrittya Visharad Sansala de Silva. Students from four years up to the University level attend her classes.

At the regional competition held in Kandy, the Students of the Rangayathanaya were able to win 21 Gold Medals for Kandyan Dancing and Bharatha Natyam.

The Rangayathanaya was placed first in the Kandy district for its overalls performances and nine students were able to win first places at the all Island Competition.

Denethi Pussegoda, Wenushka Weerasinghe, Kushmini Wijesundara, Chamilka de Silva, became first in Baratha Natyam while Sithini Amunupura, Chamilka de Silva, Indiwari Herath won the first places for Kandyan Dancing. Amanda Fernando, Denethi Pussegoda, Neema Marasinghe, Imeshi Munasinghe clinched first place for Free Style Dancing.

Denethi Pussegoda won the “Laura” award for best performance while Indiwari Herath won the special trophy.

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Kasun takes jumbo strides

Sachitra MAHENDRA

Kasun Wickramasinghe has jumbo dreams. Whenever he comes across either an elephant or tusker his eyes become glued to its frame. Kasun received his primary education at Nalanda College before stepping into the neighbouring Ananda College to follow A/Ls in the Arts stream.

“I love building pandals and Elephants ever since my childhood, “ he explained about his passion in life.

Kasun set off on his elephantine journey from Gangarama temple, Hunupitiya.

“Those days I frequented the temple, because of the elephants. Ven. Galaboda Gnanissara had been observing my visits, and once he asked whether I was going to buy an elephant. I was embarrassed,” he said.

That was the first step towards discovering a talent that had been struggling to reveal itself. The next day he appeared with an album full of images of elephants moulded out of wood and cement.

Ven. Gnanissara was so impressed seeing the album that he handed him the task of moulding the life-size figure of Ruwan Raja, one of temple’s most precious elephants who had died in 2003.

Moulding a life-size figure certainly proved to be an elephantine challenge for the young man but his creative capacity did not let him down. He finally came up with the figure of an 11-foot Ruwan Raja with the extraordinary blend of the pair of tusks and skull.

“All my friends, especially Ranjith Susantha Rathnayaka helped me with the work and we completed building the image in a short period of nine months. Our A/L examination was also near at hand. Venerables Galaboda Gnanissara, Kirinde Assaji, Pallegama Rathanasara and Palatuwe Jinarathana were also very helpful.”

The pinnacle of Kasun’s jumbo venture is what everybody saw last Vesak at Gangarama. Kasun’s elephant fooled many who thought that the creature was actually a live one as it was shaking its head and trunk.

Kasun has now created the figures of all 20 tuskers living in Sri Lanka. He has been invited to mould another figure of a much loved tusker Raja of the Dalada Maligawa.

Kasun’s talents do not end here. One look at his garden at home will relate a different story. He has been making eight pandals since 1996 with artworks and light systems.

His wish is to become a professional sculptor someday. “Many Sri Lankans have the impression that sculpting is the task of a bass. That is a wrong impression. You need a great deal of creativity. I will go abroad and study this art. I want to change the general opinion,” he replied with great determination.

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Dushyanth dances his way to the top

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Sinhala Ketikatha Sahithya Wanshaya to be launched

Kalasuri Norman Siripala’s “Sinhala Ketikatha Sahithya Wanshaya” will be launched at Dayawansa Jayakody Book Exhibition Hall, Ven. S. Mahinda Mawatha, Colombo 10 at 10 a.m. on Tuesday July 29. This is his 48th publication.

Siripala is the author of many research works such as Janakavi Ashritha Janakatha, Sinhala Janakaviye Samaja Darshanaya and Janakavi Adyanaya. Sinhala Ketikatha Sahithya Wanshaya is published by Dayawansa Jayakody Book Publishers.