Hashini Gonagala

New face lights up silver screen

Ruwini Jayawardana

Dancing might have been her middle name for it not only brought her luck and accolades but also provided her with the opportunity to step into the silver screen at a very young age. At 17, Hashini Gonagala has it all - talent, fame, fortune and the looks to keep her going in the celebrity scene. Thus it is no surprise when the rumour mill did the round that this petite lass had caught the eyes of many of the directors who were on the search for a new face to mesmerize moviegoers.

Q: You have had many offers ever since you clinched the title of ‘Sirasa Dancing Star’ in season one along with Dushyanth Weeraman.

Yes, I believe dancing brought me luck. I was offered characters in several films and the latest is a movie by Roy de Silva. I had to refuse most of the offers that came my way because of my studies.

Q: You entered the movie scene at a young age and even made it the league of bagging main roles. How do you see this?

(Laughs) I’m really happy. It’s true that not everybody gets such a good break- through like I did. Even veteran actress Malini Fonseka entered cinema at a tender age so I consider it an achievement indeed.

Q: How did you get into dancing?

Dancing was one of my inborn talents. From 12 I studied under Channa Wijewardena. Though I like any dancing style, I’m mostly into ballet and hip hop. I hope to come up with a style of my own in the future.

Q: You portray the lead role in Sandun Rajakaruna’s Uththara. How did that opportunity come your way?

Suraj Mapa who is the male lead of the movie had recommended my name to the director. He called me while I was still engaged in practices for the finals of ‘Sirasa Dancing Stars’. Since my parents had no objection, I signed up for the role. Uththara is somewhat like me in character meaning she has a passion for art.

She is the daughter of a minister. She notices immense talent in a young musician and helps him to emerge into the limelight.

They fall in love but her father soon discovers their relationship. He has other plans for her.

The story flows through many clashes and obstacles. It includes a lot of music and dance scenes.

Q: Though Uththara is an innocent and charming character, you have taken on an entirely different role in your second movie, ‘Dancing Star’.

Yes, she is also wealthy but she has a mean streak. She is the daughter of Ravindra Randeniya and Malini Fonseka.

It was thrilling for me to act with them. My character realizes from her mistakes at the end.

Q: How was the experience facing the camera for the first time for the movie?

I did feel a little nervous but I had been used to the camera focusing on our moves while performing for the reality program.

The directors guided me and veteran actress Anoja Weerasinghe too had a lot of words of wisdom to offer. I took part in one of her workshops before the shooting sessions.

Q: Will you take up more roles in the future?

It depends on the offers. I would like to take roles suitable for me in quality productions while helping my father with his business.

I am also studying commerce for my Advance Level examination.

Q: What about singing? Wouldn’t you like to pursue a career in that sector?

(Laughs) I can’t sing so the answer is no.

Lanka needs a Film Institute

K S Sivakumaran

Having seen many Indian features and non-feature films in many Indian languages over the years, (apart from the Bollywood films produced in Mumbai) extravaganzas, which in recent times had also produced a few quality films), I am convinced that the quality of some regional films (which Lankans are not familiar with) is the result of vibrant film society movements, particularly in Kerala and Kolkatta and most importantly due to film educated graduates that pass out from film institutes in a few major cities in India.

The major film institute is the FTII Pune (Film and Television Institute of India).

It is in existence for almost half a century. We need such an Institute in the model of the Indian one. We have a Television Training Institute mainly handling courses in technical aspects of television productions.

While the Lankan Sinhala cinema has come of age Lankan Thamil Cinema is yet to be born in the contemporary sense.

There are many talented people in the Thamil-speaking provinces that do not gain state patronage to learn the art of cinema in their own language.

When sanity prevails and peace and normalcy returns when all Lankans are treated with respect and as one people while giving their individual cultural rights that include language, a grand film institute could be established with various departments where courses are conducted in Sinhala, Thamil and English.

This is a grandiloquent vision, but it could be made a reality with foreign funding and professional assistance.

We have internationally known film directors, technicians, writers, script writers and dramatists among the Sinhala community. Their lectures and instructions can be translated into Thamil by professional translators who have knowledge of the art of cinema.

Lanka born Thamilian filmmakers are doing well in India and other countries. They could be invited to conduct courses.

Balu Mahendra (a product of the Pune Film Institute) is such a person as a cinematographer and filmmaker.

We must have a separate and independent sub ministry to cover aesthetics (film, theatre, music, dance, painting and the like for each language.) This should be separate from Ministry of Culture which could include Religious Affairs, Heritage, Archaeology, Folk Arts etc.

The Public Performances Board can come under Ministry of Information or Ministry of Defence or Ministry of National (Sinhala) Culture.

There should be separate Departments to cover Thamil, Muslim and English Cultural Activities under a Ministry of Cultural Integration. Several courses at post - graduate level could be started. - Diploma in Film Direction, Cinematography, Audiography and Film Editing, Diploma Course in Acting, Art Direction and Production Design, Post-Graduate Certificate Course in Feature Film Screenplay Writing, Certificate course in Animation and Computer Graphics etc.

All this is fine on paper, but if the ultra nationalists think otherwise, then nothing could be done and we will go back to a primitive stage of racism.

[email protected]

Billu Barber

SRK back in Lankan cinemas after Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi success

Finally Deepika Padukone will be seen with Shahrukh Khan again after the big success in OSO, but this time not as the heroine of SRK, she will have a guest appearance in the upcoming comedy movie Billu Barber, directed by Priyadarshan and produced by Shahrukh Khan himself. This is the first time that SRK will be seen in a comic movie of director Priyadarshan.

Priyadarshan actually signed on for Irrfan Khan, Akshay Kumar and Tabu to perform the main roles in the film in the first round but, Akshay didn’t find the film interesting and opted out. Later Tabu refused to work with Irrfan Khan.

Then director offered those roles to Shahrukh Khan and Amisha Patel respectively, and both of them agreed to do the movie.

However later on Amisha refused to do the film as she felt her character’s role was not substantial enough and sources had indicated that Juhi Chawla was then chosen for the role.

In April 2008, Priyadarshan finally reported that he had signed on Lara Dutta to essay the role of the barber’s wife. What a mess!

Bollywood actresses Kareena Kapoor and Deepika Padukone have added colour through special appearances in the film. It is the first time that item number for new and fresh Deepika. Sexy Priyanka Chopra also makes an appearance beside King Khan.

The movie, a remake of the Malayalam film Kadha Parayumbol, will begin screening at Liberty cinema, Colombo, and Wembly cinema, Kandy, from February 27. It is an E.A.P. distribution.

The story in short:

Billu Barber is a story of a simple ordinary man who led an extra ordinary life. Bilas Rao Pardesi was living in his village with his wife Bindiya and two great kids. Life was bitter sweet... or rather more sweet than bitter.

One day a superstar came into their lives and everything changed. Life changed, people changed, friends changed, the village changed but one man did not... Billu Barber. Will this ordinary man redefine the words ordinary? Will the words see the greatness behind his small existence? And most of all, will life ever be the same for Billu Barber again?

Oscar Hollywood’s golden mystery man

The golden guy known to the world as the Oscar, the real star of tonight’s Academy Awards, has become a Hollywood icon over the past 80 years, but the origin of his name is lost in time.

The venerable statuette, officially named the Academy Award of Merit, is the child of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which was created in 1927 as a small industry body to promote films. Initially made up of 36 members with actor Douglas Fairbanks as its first president, the newly founded body created the golden trophy to honor performances by the industry’s leading actors, actresses and directors.

An art director from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios, Cedric Gibbons, was selected to design the statuette - the figure of a knight standing on a reel of film, his hands gripping a sword.

From these humble beginnings was born an award that would become a global symbol of excellence. The first Academy Awards were held on May 16, 1929 at Hollywood’s Roosevelt Hotel.

They consisted of a simple dinner banquet attended by around 270 guests and Fairbanks handed out the 15 statuettes in just 15 minutes.

AFP