Magnificent Malini

Screen queen on her role in Akasa Kusum which won her international accolades:

Ruwini Jayawardana

She was born to rule the silver screen. Oozing beauty, dignity, modesty and talent she had thrilled many a film enthusiast with enthralling performances.

For almost four decades she was the darling of Sri Lankan cinema and 150 films later with 61 years behind her, she still maintains her role as the undisputed queen of cinema.

Malini Fonseka was also the first Sri Lankan actress to reach international heights having bagged awards at the Moscow International Film Festival in 1975 and the New Delhi Film Festival in 1977.

The Silver Peacock was the third in line that she won at the recently concluded 39th International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

(As exclusively reported in Daily News of December 4).

What went through your mind after you were handed this prestigious award?

I was overjoyed and proud of the achievement. This a triumph for our cinema industry more than a personal gain.

Sandhya Rani, your role in Akasa Kusim is an actress. Was it easy portraying an actress?

It was quite a different role from those I have been offered so far and a tough one to portray. To tell you the truth, I had no idea on how to take up this challenge.

(Laughs) Prasanna Vithanage and I discussed the role at length and we built up the character. I hesitated a lot during the shooting because I was not sure whether my performance is up to expectation but since the audience praised my portrayal of Sandya Rani, I guess I did justice to the role.

Didn’t you identify with the role since you too are an actress? Some even say that this film is based on your true-life-story.

(Laughs) Yes, Sandya Rani is quite close to me. She faces many incidents in the film, incidents that very much present in an actresses’ life. It is best to watch the film and make up your mind whether it centres on my life or not.

This is the first time you have acted under director Prasanna Vithanage. Was it easy working with him?

Definitely. He was very supportive and is dedicated to his task. He was able to create an image of the character in my mind.

He never pressurised me while shooting. He managed to bring out the best in me by highlighting out the most delicate characteristics of the role. Both the Indian actress Tabu and an Iranian actress who had seen the movie said that my act was realistic. They were very interested in Sandya Rani because they themselves are actresses.

You are acting with many generations of actresses in this movie. How was the experience?

Dilhani Ekanayake, Nimmi Harasgama, Kaushalya Fernando, Jayani Senanayake and my niece, Samanalee Fonseka portray pivotal roles in this movie. Another niece, Sanduni Fonseka, portrays my childhood.

All the lead roles are being played by females and I got a lot of support from my co-stars.

Akasa Kusum was screened in India during the IFFI. What was the reaction of the audience in general?

They were all overwhelmed and applauded the creation. They congratulated all of us and some fans even asked if they could hug me! I was also invited to take part in a number of international festivals.

Many years have passed since you entered the scene and though many new faces joined the industry you are still the most loved and sought after artiste.

I feel very fortunate because it is a very rare opportunity that comes across one’s life.

I wish to thank my fans for their good wishes and request them to give their support even in the future. Their blessings are an encouragement to me and give me strength to continue with acting.

Do you see any promising newcomers to the scene?

I have seen many but they should choose their films wisely and tread on the correct path.

Good scripts are a scarcity these days. It is such a pity because these youths do not get a chance to shine due to lack of quality productions.

What are you engaged in these days?

I hope to take part in the International Film Festival of Kerala, the International Film Festival in Chennai and the Palm Beach Film Festival which will be held in Los Angeles.

Golden Globes nominations herald start of Oscar race

Brad Pitt and Batman are expected to be among the front-runners as the race for Oscars glory swings into top gear with the announcement of nominees for the 66th Golden Globes.

Hollywood heart-throb Pitt is vying for honors for his performance in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” an adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1922 short story about a man who ages in reverse.

Director David Fincher’s movie, which sees Pitt star opposite Australian icon Cate Blanchett, does not open in the United States until December 25 but has already wowed critics and audiences at sneak previews.

“I think the presumption among pundits right now is that ‘Benjamin Button’ is the front-runner,” Tom O’Neil, an awards-season expert with the Los Angeles Times’ theenvelope.com, told AFP.

Long-regarded as an indicator of films likely to challenge for top honors at the Oscars, which take place on February 22 next year, the Globes have thrown up a series of red herrings in recent years.

The last movie to achieve the Golden Globes best drama and Oscars best picture double was 2003’s fantasy epic “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”

However the Globes, which are chosen by around 80 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and handed out on January 11, can help to shape the overall field and give valuable momentum to front-runners.

AFP

Emma Watson ‘Intrigued’ for ‘Deathly Hallows’ split

It’s been hard to be a Harry Potter fan this year. Not only was the next installment ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ delayed until next summer, shocking reports to split the final film, ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’ into two movies is also circulating.

It seems like fans will have to wait for the cinematic finale longer than they waited for the book. The split didn’t just surprise fans - it was unexpected to the film’s cast as well.

“I am as intrigued about the decision and waiting to receive the script.

It’s a tough call. I’m sure it will be some cruel cliffhanger,” Emma Watson remarked on the topic.

The delays of the next three films means that Watson will be saying a long goodbye to Hermione Granger - but she is emotional when it comes to leaving the character behind. “It’s really mixed feelings. It will be bittersweet. It will be very scary because it’s been such a massive part of my life.

It will have been nearly over a decade that I’d been playing Hermione.

It’ll be tough but I’ll be ready to go I think.

I’ll be ready to take on other projects. It will be exciting.”

MTV

A match made in heaven!

Have you ever stopped to think if the most ordinary, uninteresting, unobtrusive man you might see on the road or around you might have a love story to tell? Maybe not! How can an ordinary man have a breathtaking, goose flesh igniting, awe inspiring love story of all things to tell?

But guess what - love does not differentiate between the ordinary and exceptional, the uninteresting and interesting, the unattractive and attractive. Because love knows no distinction. It can happen to anyone and once it does it engulfs us into it completely and gives us those miraculous experiences that only love can yield.

This is what happened to Surinder Sahni (Shahrukh Khan) - a simple, clean hearted, honest man working for Punjab Power, leading a humdrum life, when he meets his total opposite and finds love in the flamboyant, fun-loving, vivacious - Taani (Anushka Sharma) for whom the whole world is her canvas and she paints her own life with the colours of rainbow all until unforeseen circumstances changes it all and brings them together.

What follows is a journey filled with laughter, tears, joy, pain, music, dance and a lot of love. A journey that makes us believe that there is an extraordinary love story in every ordinary jodi.

SRK’s double role

After Duplicate and Om Shanti Om, Shahrukh khan is back again playing two roles in Aditya Chopra’s Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. People love Shahrukh... for obvious reasons and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi has two of him surely making it a treat for his fans!

Anushka Sharma couldn’t have asked for More!

With a dream debut on the silver screen, model turned actress Anushka Sharma, the female lead of Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi could not have asked for a better debut.

To say it in short, Sharma stars in one of the biggest production houses, she stars opposite arguably the biggest and most popular bollywood actor in the world, being directed by one of the most successful directors in recent times.

This 5 feet 9 inches tall, 19 year old model turned actress is all set to take over Bollywood after modeling realm. The movie, an EAP films and theatre distribution, is screening at Liberty cinema .