Felicitating the queen
 

Irangani Serasinghe presents the NFC award to Malini	Malini with Anoja, who clinched the Silver Peacock in 1987, and nightingale Latha Walpola	Sumithara Peries and Malini Pictures by Malan Karunaratne

Malini with the Silver Peacock and the award she received from NFC

Legendary star of the Sri Lankan silver screen, Malini Fonseka, was felicitated with a special award by the National Film Corporation on her return to the isle after clinching the Silver Peacock at the 39th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa for her performance in Prasanna Vithanage’s movie Akasa Kusum.

A galaxy of celebrities flocked to the NFC premises to greet the screen queen as she made her entrance. She was presented with the NFC award by her favourite Sri Lankan actress, Irangani Serasinghe.

RJ

IFFI 2008: The Finale

K.S. Sivakumaran in Panaji,Goa

The curtains in four theatres of the Ionex Complex and the two auditoriums of the Macquinez Palace and also at the Kala Academy were drawn on December 2 with the wrap up of the 39th International Film Festival of India. Kamal Hasaan was the chief guest at the closing ceremony which preceded the showing of the 2008 Iranian film, ‘The Song of Sparrows’ directed by reputed filmmaker Majid Majidi.

I shall write briefly of some of the films I was able to see during the last week when I return to Colombo. Among the films I enjoyed and that I would recommend to our readers are the following: a German film directed by Marc Meyer titled ‘Family Rules’, another film from Germany titled ‘Absurdistan’ directed by Veit Helmer, a Polish film called ‘Scratch’ by Michal Rosa, again another German film by Hans Steinbichler called ‘Autistic Disco’, a Bulgarian film, ‘Forecast’ by Zornista Sophia, a Spanish film called ‘Under the Snow’ by Maitena Muruzabai, a German film called ‘My Dream or Loneliness never Walks

Alone’ by Roland Reber, a film from Finland by Petri Kotwica called ‘Black Ice’, ‘The Tango Singer’, an Argentina film by Arregui Gabriel, ‘The Tour’,a film from Serbia by Goran Markovic, a Czech Republic film titled ‘Vaxclav’ by Jiri Vejdelek, ‘Camera Obscura’ a film from Argentina by Maria Victoria Menis, a Russian film by Din Makhamatdinov called A Few Simple Wishes, and a French film by Barbel Schroder called ‘Inju, the Beast in the Shadow’. During the last two days of the festival, I chose to see the following

films:

‘Perhaps Love’, a China-Malaysia- Hong Kong film directed by Peter Chan made in 2005, a 2008 Hungarian film titled ‘Eszter’s Inheritance’ by Josef Sipos, a Thailand film, ‘Chocolate’ by Prachya Pinkaew, ‘Three Women’ from Iran by Manijeh Hekmat, ‘The Mystery of Sintra’ from Portugal by Jorge Manuel Paixao da Costa, ‘Treanquility’, a Hungarian film by Robert Alfoldi, ‘In the Mood for Love’ by Wong Kar Wal from Hong Kong, ‘Shadow Boxing 2;Revenge’ , a Russian film by Anton Megerdichev and the Iranian film ‘The Song of Sparrows’ by Majidi Majidi.

[email protected]
 

When ‘Once Upon a Time’ joined the web

Ruwini Jayawardana

Chandani and Sanath

French Ambassador, Michel Lummaux, launches the website while director Sanath Gunatileke and Rohan Sirisena director of Ceylinco Internet Services Limited look on.

(From left) actresses Thanuja, Semini, Himali and Nirosha

Popular film star Sanath Gunatilake’s maiden direction Ekamath Eka Rateka (Once Upon a Time) took to the web as its website www.onceuponamovie.com was launched at the Alliance Francaise de Colombo on December 4. French Ambassador, Michel Lummaux, was the chief guest along with a number of distinguished guests.

Members of the star cast lead by Nirosha Perera, Sanath Gunatikake, Roshan Ravindra, Chandani Seneviratne, Semini Iddamalgoda, Kumara Thirimarud, Lioni Kothalawala, Nilmini Buwenaka, Himali Saurangi, Chandana Silva, Thanuja Dilhani, Duminda Weerawardhana and others were also present.

The movie is based upon Emile Zola’s short story Pour Une Nuit d’Amour (For a Night of Love). Sanath who had named the lead characters as ‘unknown man’, ‘unknown girl’ and ‘unknown boy’ said that the story is universal. “It would have taken place or could happen at any place, in any country, at any time to any human being. Zola understood the reality of the human life and mind. The human mind is inconsistent and ephemeral, nothing is enduring or permanent which is the reality of this story,” he said.

Interestingly the movie is also Maestro Premasiri Khemadasa’s last music direction. Gunatileke together with Khemadasa had recorded the haunting flute music which captures the heroine of the movie before the shooting sessions.

“The background music gave a special meaning to the characters. Though he was not well, he did his bit with great enthusiasm. His advice and contribution was a great encouragement to me. My only regret is that he was not able to be with us to see the final product,” Gunatilake expressed.

Speaking at the launch, Ambassador Lummaux stated that it was indeed a bold step taken by Gunatileke in launching the movie on the web. He said the Web had become a crucial medium in taking products to the international audience. Ceylinco Internet Services Limited designed and developed the website. Ekamath Eka Rateka is produced by Janaka Ramanayake.

Emerging from the shadows

Sujeewa shifts to the limelight with Machan:

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA
 

“I entered the scene with Dharmasiri Bandaranayake’s stage drama Yakshagamanaya in 1994 followed by Buddhika Damayantha’s Adipathiyage Marana Manchakaya for which I won the award of the best supporting actor at the National Youth Awards in 1994. I portrayed a role in another stage play, Rajiv Ananda’s Baraniya, before taking a break from the scene,” explained Sujeewa Priyalal who portrays the charming but shady character of Piyal in Machan.

He made a comeback in 2001 with yet another Dharmasiri Bandaranayake creation, Trojan Kanthawo in which he played the character of a soldier.

His film career starts in 1996 with a role in Asoka Handagama’s Sanda Dadayama (Moon Hunt), a movie which had not been screened up-to-date. Turning to the mini screen, Sujeewa portrayed roles in Dayaratne Ratagedara’s Poya drama series, Sitha Nivana Katha. Dr. Ariyaratne Athugala’s Samanala Kandavura, Christy Shelton’s Gal Pilimaya Saha Bol Pilimaya and Ananda Wickramage’s Menik Maliga were some teledramas in which he had portrayed memorable roles.

“I acted in a song visual for Udayakantha Warnasuriya’s Ran Kevita in which characters in a pack of cards come to life. I took up the role of the joker,” he said adding that he is still taking part in stage dramas like Trojan Kanthawo, Bandula Vithanage’s Romaya Gini Ganee and Simon Navagatthegama’s Suba Saha Yasa which are making their rounds around the isle.

How did you come across your role in Uberto Pasolini’s Machan?

“Most of the characters in this movie were chosen after an audition. I was unaware of this at its primary stage but during the stage that the final casting was done they were searching for suitable youths to take on the roles of Piyal and Nesa. One of my friends, a stage manager named Ashoka, informed me about this and introduced me to Prasanna Vithanage.”

How was the experience working under Pasolini?

“He is a well seasoned director. We were given freedom and he provided us with the aid to build our characters. I was able to allocate time to bring out the best in me for the film. He was not after what we could offer but the best of what we could offer.

He knew how to spot and bring that talent out of all of us and he was not easily satisfied until we got the scene right. Everything was well organised on the sets and we knew what was expected of us. I did not take up any other offer during that period so I was able focus my attention on Piyal’s character with plenty of time at hand and believe me, the role demanded it!”

How do you feel about the success of the film?

“I am pleased it did so well. Everyone was dedicated to this project. Dharmapriya Dias and I had to change our appearance and undergo a diet because the director wanted us to slim down for our roles.

Dias even had to sell oranges in the street for rehearsals. Both of us went in search of beach boys so that we could observe them and portray our roles successfully. I am proud that the movie, a Sri Lankan co-production comprising a Sri Lankan cast, won applause from the local as well as foreign audience.

What kind of characters are you looking for?

“Acting is my profession and what I enjoy doing. I try to emerge as a good actor and I do not have any particular roles in mind. I do not mind taking up roles of the hero or villain in a creation. I am looking forward in portraying interesting roles to quality productions under good directors.

What are your future plans?

“It is difficult to have big plans for the future in a country like ours. I do have a few anticipations as an actor. Focusing on my personal life, I wish to continue to lead a peaceful existence.”

Sujeewa is part of the cast in Lalith Ratnayake’s popular tele creation Arungal which is telecast on ITN. He also portrays a role of a journalist in Devinda Kongahage’s teledrama Sadisi Tharanaya which is ready for release on Rupavahini.