PROJECTOR

Man of ‘a thousand thoughts’

G D L Perera’s creations on show at Punchi Theatre in October :

Ruwini Jayawardana

[G D L Paryalokanaya]

* October 1

* Saama (1965)starring Leonie Weerasinghe, Shelton Silva, Denavaka Hamine, Sugathapala Senarath Yapa, Elson Divithurugama and Buddhi Wickrama (10.30 a.m.)

* Hora Police (2000) starring Sriyani Amarasena, Sanath Gunatileke, Ashoka Peries, Geethanjali, Sandun Wijesiri, Nihal Jayawardena and Shiromi Malalawansha (2.30 p.m.)

* Dahasak Sithuwili (1968) starring Henry Jayasena, Nilanthi Wijesinghe, Joe Abeywickrama, Dhamma Wannirarchchi, Denavaka Hamine, Malini Fonseka, Chandra Kaluwarachchi and Buddhi Wickrama (6.30 p.m.)

* October 2

* Rata Giaya Attho (1982) starring Namel Weeramuni, Geethanjali, Malini Weeramuni, Rochelle Rasanji, Ivon Peries, Maddhuma Ratnayake and Wasantharaja (10 a.m.)

* Samanala Gamanak (2004) starring Palitha Wijesinghe, Ayesha Udakumbura, Nuwan Akalanka, Malki Dilesha, Shamili Handunge, Kanchana Gannile, Sumedha Madugalla, Damayanthi Ranasinghe and the students of Mada Dumbara Arts centre (2.30 p.m.)

* Dinnano Paradinna (1986) starring P Yanasiri Silva, Anula Perera, Namel Weeramuni, Geethanjali, Malini Weeramuni, Rochelle Rasanjali, Ivon Peries and Wasantharaja (6.30 p.m.)

* October 3

* Peter of the Elephant aka Ali Peter (1980) with Sinhala subtitles starring Joe Abeywickrama, Felix Premawardena, Malini Fonseka, Geethanjali, Nihal Jayawardena and Navanandena Wijesinghe. (9.30 a.m.)

*Thotupala book launch (2.30 p.m.)

Renowned film director and dramatist G D L Perera is a versatile artiste who had left many landmarks in the arts field. He has a number of creations: from stage dramas, teledramas, short films to movies to his name. His most famous works are the movie Saama and the stage play Thotopala.

The artiste is had now passed the 75th year in his life. G D L Paryalokanaya, a special screening of the artiste’s creations will be held at Namel Malini Punchi Theatre, Borella, from October 1 to 3.

Many artistes, mainly those who have collaborated with the experienced dramatist cum director will take part in the event. Leone Kothalawala, Shriyani Amarasena, Nilanthi Wijesinghe Geethanjali, Roshan Pilapitiya, Professor Tissa Kariyawasam, Namel and Malini Weeramuni will grace the events. His Englsih film Peter of the Elephant will be screened at NFC to celebrate International Children’s Day. Thotupala, a book on his award winning play will also be launched on October 3.

The book comprises information and critical reviews penned by experts in the field.

Rasanduna Editor Sunil Mihidukula will chair the event while A M Karunaratne and Thilina Alahakoon will grace the occasion. Some scenes from the drama will also be portrayed on stage.

G D L’s interest towards theatre began while he was schooling at Prince College, Kotahena.

Meeting arts patron Edwin Hewakapuge heightened this interest. Soon after completing studies at Nalanda College, Colombo, the young lad joined the Labour Department. His venture towards the arts stream began at the middle of the 1950s when he and a group of his friends went to see a drama.

The group was thoroughly disappointed as the production was not up to their satisfaction.

This incident provoked young G D L to script and director a drama of his own. Thus his first production under the Kala Pela banner saw the light of day as Kandulu. Interestingly Hazel de Silva who was a part of the singing troupe in the play was later popularly known as Denavaka Hamine. She and some others like Leone Weerashinge, Dhamma Jagoda, Sriyani Amarasena, Shelton Silva, Sugathapala Senarath Yapa, Buddhi Wickrama and Gamini Wijesooriya entered the arts stream through G D L’s creations.

Gamini Wickramasooriya, Elson Divithurugama, Mallika Perera, Jayatissa Alahakoon, and Devananda Vidyasekara too were introduced by G D L.

He has many stage plays like Manamalakama (1957), Thammanna (191958), Saama (1990), Sakkarawattan (1961), Rathu Rosa (1962), Mehav Lokeka (1962), Magul Mathe (1962) and Thotupala (1964) to his name. Each play differed from the other in many aspects because the dramatist enjoyed to experiment with his productions.

He also produced the first drama that was focused on the conflict between the Tamils and Sinhalese.

The next challenge was to make a film and this he met with his creation Saama. Next up was Dahasak Sithuvili.

G D L initiated the first cinema and drama diploma in the country. This was known as the Kalapela Cinema Diploma. He also made the first children’s movie.

He flew to England to engage in further studies on the subject and also tried to make a movie starring local artistes like Vijaya Kumaratunge. The movie titled Igilena Kurullo, scripted by Professor Sunanda Mahen never took shape.

However he was not disheartened because he went on to make a short film named Dura Giya Gamanak.

Only a few are aware that the veteran filmmaker played a pivotal role in moulding and brining young talent to the forefront.

Artistes like Parakrama Silva, P U D Perera, Stanley de Alwis, Suminda Weerasinghe, I N Hewawasam, Chandana Silva, Bandula Padmakumara, Bermyn Lyle Fernando and many others entered the field through his guidance.

The seasoned artiste will be brining his newest creation to the screen at G d L Paryalokanaya.

It is a movie titled Lakshmi, Maya Saha Sugath will hold its premier amid celebrities and well wishers.

Tikiri Suwanda for Children’s Day

A special screening of Aruna Weerasiri’s debut cinematic creation Tikiri Suwanda will take place at Savoy, Wellawatta, to mark International Children’s Day on October 1. Tikiri Suwanda is based on a group of children and their ventures. It stars Joe Abeywickrama, Jayalal Rohana, Duleeka Marapana, Anula Karunatileke, Maleesha Samaratunge and many others.

The event is organized by EAP Films. Applications are entertained these days from school children who wish to see the movie. It will be screened for free.

The movie will begin screening at EAP theatres from November.

Floral tribute for Gamini Fonseka

Six years have passed since the demise of seasoned actor and filmmaker Gamini Fonseka.

A floral tribute will be made at his statue in front of Elphinstone theatre on September 30 at 5 p.m. Dubbed the Emperor of the local film industry Fonseka was the undisputed hero of the wide screen during the golden era of Sinhala cinema and had breathed life into many memorable roles.

The floral tribute is arranged by the Gamini Fonseka Foundation and the Gamini Fonseka Memorial foundation.

All are welcome.

Siddartha the Buddha on the web

Siddartha the Buddha, the movie which will be made to coincide with the 2600 Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi went global yesterday as www.siddharthathebuddha.com

The launch of the website was held at Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa’s residence. It is an Asia Aloka Foundation presentation.

From Waka Waka to Kaali

“Waka Waka Hey Hey! This Time For Our India!”

Yes you read it right! The entire world went crazy over her rubber-flexible hip, shaking on the number Whenerever, Wherever and then the international pop singer made everyone super excited with her thumping 2010 FIFA World Cup official song Waka Waka.

Now exclusively for her Indian audience Shakira will soon don the grease paint for a Hindi project titled Kaali- The Warrior Goddess. Shakira has shown interest on this film; however the makers are yet to get her confirmation.

Kaali- The Warrior Goddess which is going to be produced by Karan Arora, will be a 3D motion film shot on CG. According to the producer, it will be a full length two-hour Hindi movie and will be mostly shot in London or in an urban locale of Eastern Europe.

On asking by sources as to why they chose an international face when we have many pretty damsels in India, Karan Arora stated that they wanted someone dusky and an international star and Shakira had fitted the bill.

IndiaGlitz

Weisz comes full circle with 360

Rachel Weisz has reunited with The Constant Gardner helmer Fernando Meirelles for his latest project, 360.”

Peter Morgan is penning the script for the pic that follows pairs of characters and their sexual encounters. Project is based on the 1900 play Reigen that inspired French drama La Ronde and has provided the dramatic structure for scores of plays and films. The pic will be co-financed by Austrian broadcaster ORF and BBC Films. Andrew Eaton will produce, with David Linde exec producing. No start date has been set.

Weisz and Meirelles first worked together on 2005’s Constant Gardener, for which Weisz earned a supporting actress Oscar. Focus Features distribbed that pic at a time when Meirelles most recently directed Blindness with Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo. Weisz, whose latest feature The Whistleblower bowed at Toronto, will be seen next in Dream House with Daniel Craig.

Celebrity.uk

The Hobbit shoots in January

There’s finally some good news surrounding The Hobbit.

To this point, no one was quite sure if the film would ever make it to production. MGM’s financial troubles and Guillermo del Toro’s departure as director earlier this summer both continually delayed the movie.

Ian McKellen, whose set to reprise his role as Gandalf from the Lord of the Rings in the trilogy’s prequel, said that The Hobbit will start filming in January.

At this point, there’s no real doubt that Peter Jackson is directing. Rumors fluttered back in June that he talked with MGM and Warner Bros to sign on as director, but nothing official was ever announced.

However he co-wrote the screenplay. He’s the producer.

Production is only three months away.

Bolton News

Nikini Vessa falls in October

Co director of Dancing Star and maker of teledramas like Bandura Deshaya and Raja Kaduwa, Aruna Jayawardena held the muhurath ceremony of his solo debut Nikini Vessa recently.

Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa graced the occasion.

Daya Alwis, Lukshman Mendis, Chandani Seneviratne, Bimal Jayakody, Thumindu Dodanthenna, Sarath Kothalawala, Kumara Thirimadura, Jagath Manuharana, Thanuja Dilhani, Sulochana Weerasinghe and many others will be part of the cast. The movie will be produced by Dr Kusumsiri de Silva. Shooting will begin on October 11.

RJ

Warner Bros to distribute Ramayana - The Epic

Filmmaker Ketan Mehta’s full length feature animation film Ramayana - The Epic will be distributed by Hollywood studio Warner Bros Pictures India.

The movie, to be released in three languages - Hindi, Tamil and Telugu - across India on October 15, has been produced by filmmaker Mehta’s Maya Digital Media. It has been directed by debutant Chetan Desai.

“Chetan Desai’s version of this epic has taken animation films in India to the next level and one has to see it to believe it. Warner Bros Pictures is delighted to be associated with this project,” Warner Bros Pictures, India, deputy managing director Denzil Dias said.

Mehta says the movie is an attempt ‘to take the most popular Indian story to a global audience’.

IndiaGlitz

Udayakantha ponders over Senasuru Maruwa

Experienced filmmaker Udayakantha Warnasuriya had begun work in his 17th movie.

Titled Senasuru Maruwa the film is based on a script penned by the late Tissa Abeysekara.

The muturath Ceremony of the event took place at the director’s residence. Channa Perera, Lucky Dias, Sheshadri Priyasad, Veena Jayakody, Buddhika Jayaratne, Senaka Wijesinghe, Ajith Weerasinghe, Indika Ginige, Thanuja Dilhani and others will star in the project.

The movie will be produced by Ranjith Jayasooriya, Praveen Jayaratne, Ajith Priyantha and Warnasuriya on behalf of Newbian Films.