Glitter extreme!

Sarasaviya Awards hits the stage again

Ruwini Jayawardana

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You cannot mention Hollywood without remembering the Oscars and you cannot imagine Bollywood without reflecting on Filmfare. Similarly you cannot imagine Sri Lankan cinema without reckoning the Sarasaviya Awards

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Movie addicts sadly missed the opportunity to witness this fascinating event which brings together some of the most prominent and sought after figures in local cinema under one roof last year. However the much-awaited ceremony which celebrates creativity and talent merges with experience and commitment is back after a two-year hiatus. The 32nd Sarasaviya Awards will unfurl at the BMICH on January 2 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Incepted in 1964 at Asoka Cinema, Grandpass, the Sarasaviya Awards has always been a noted event in the country’s arts calendar. It is organized by Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.’s popular cinema weekly, the Sarasaviya magazine.

Fifteen remarkable movies which have been screened in 2007 and 19 films from 2008 have been nominated to compete for this year’s festival along with some enchanting dance items choreographer by globally acclaimed dancer Channa Wijewardena.

Awards for the best up coming actor and actress, best supporting actor and actress, best singer, best script writer, best director, best cameraman etc. will be presented along with a number of other awards. The most popular actor and actress awards for 2008 will not be chosen but the most popular film of the year will be felicitated at the ceremony.

The Ranathisara awards which are handed over to two artists who have been a pride to the industry along with Rs. 100, 000 each and the Ranapala Bodhinagoda Commemorative Award for the renowned writer in the local scene are included in the list.

“We hope to add a novel touch to this year’s ceremony. The theme will be ‘Victory’ and we will engage novice actors who have shown a lot of promise in cinema along with the experienced campaigners,” Sarasaviya editor Gamini Samarasinghe who nspearheads the event opined his views.

The stage settings are by Ravindra Guruge onbehalf of T.V.T. The event is sponsored by Sri Lanka Telecom.

What they say...

Ravindra Randeniya

Sarasaviya Film Awards is the pioneering awards ceremony in the island. It is considered as the benchmark of the Sri Lankan film awards and since it is associated with the leading film magazine in the country, both the awards ceremony and the magazine have grown together alongside the industry for nearly half a century.

It had played a leading role in encouraging the seasoned as well as the new artistes who wish to make a noteworthy impact on the industry. We will always remember it with gratitude.

Sumitra Peries

I was actually asked to be a part of the jury in this year’s festival but I declined the offer. Selecting the winner is a subjective and collective decision. We have been through this process for nearly fifty years.

I won the award for best editor for Gamperaliya at the inaugural Sarasaviya Awards ceremony and clinched the award for best director several times but now it is the ceremony had taken a monotonous turn.

The same people are included in the jury each year. That is rather depressing.

Sabeetha Perera

I have clinched several Sarasaviya awards for the past years that I have been working in the industry and am pleased that such an event had been organized to felicitate those who are striving to uplift the industry. It has a motivating impact on all those who are involved.

The glomourous ceremony with its colourful dance performances celebrates a realm of creativity.

I am currently involved with the rehearsals of this year’s Ridee Reyake but I would always allocate a time to take part in the Sarasaviya Festival.

Ranjan Ramanayake

I won the best actor award at the recently OCIC awards for Nilambera for which I also clinched at the past Sarasaviya Award. The ceremony has a lot of responsibility and acceptance in the field and many of the other award ceremonies take their choice into account when they choose the best creations and artistes in the scene.

Lately the scene had become highly politicized. Though the heroes of films are normally given a cover page, Sarasaviya ignored this policy after my films Leader and Paya Enna Hiru Se were released. This was after I joined politics. I kindly request and hope that the authorities of the awards ceremony to make independent decisions sans political or personal agendas and treat each of the artistes in the industry impartially.

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2007 movies

Sankara - Prasanna Jayakody
Dhana Rina - Roy de Silva
Ran Kevita - Udayakantha Warnasuriya
Sankranthi - Anuruddha Jayasinghe
Tharuka Mal - Milton Jayawardena
Aaganthukaya - Wasantha Obeysekara
Uppalavanna - Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne
Nisala Gira - Thanuj Anavaratne
First Love Pooja - Kusum Chandra Gamage
Vada Bari Tarzan - Sunil Soma Peries
Sikuru Hathe - Giriraj Kaushalya
No Problem Darling - Kusum Chandra Gamage
Hi Master - Ranjith Siriwardena
Aasai Mang Piyabanna - Udayakantha Warnasuriya
Yahaluwo - Sumithra Peries

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2008 movies

Heart FM - Senesh Dissanayake Bandara
Vada Bari Tarzan Mathi Sabayata - Sunil Soma Peries
Aadara Meena - Keerthi Bandara
Hathara Dennama Soorayo - Neel Rupasinghe
Sandalu Tahlayen Eha - H.M. Gamini Pushpakumara
Super Star - A.A. Junaideen
Sura Sapa Soya - Luvi Vandarstarten
Rosa Kele - Sanjaya Nirmal
Rosa Diganthe - Suresh Kumarasinghe
Nildiya Yahana - Dayaratne Ratagedara
Aadarae Namayen - R. Sooryan and S. Nadange
Machan - Uberto Pasolini
Pitasakvala Kumarayai Pancho Hathai - Sirimal Wijesinghe
Ali Pancha Mage Mithura - Jude M. Mutthaiya
Prabhakaran - Thushara Peries
Valapatala - Vijitha Gunaratne
Siri Raja Siri - Somaratne Dissanayake
Ai Oba Thani Vela - Ranjith Jayasinghe
Aba - Jackson Anthony