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Behind the scenes of 'Ideators' - episode 8:

Breathing life into history



Hemas Holdings group director Abbas Esufally briefs the contestants at Hotel Sigiriya

Be it a tourist or a traveler, no tour is complete if you have not visited the splendours of Sigiriya during your stay in Sri Lanka. Dubbed the eighth wonder of the world, this majestic rock standing tall in the wilderness reflects the island's rich history.

Therefore it is no wonder that the British Council decided to feature last week's 'Ideators' in this historic backdrop, Not only does it link local resources and talent with the United Kingdom (UK) but it also takes some of the island's inspiring cultural traditions and icons before the world.

"Sigiriya rock was incredible! You Sri Lankans kept this little treasure quiet! What made it so amazing was that it was completely unexpected. We had no idea where we were going. We were just told to pack our stuff and be prepared to do some walking and climbing. The place was full of history and fascinating stories, not to mention the technology that was so ahead of the time," an enthusiastic Adam unfurled his thoughts about his climb to Daily News 'Punch.'


The contestants climb the rock

Asked if he had visited a similar site before he notes, "I have previously visited Neuschwanstein castle in Germany, which I would consider to be the European equivalent. They were very similar in the sense that they made use of the landscape and also in the demise of the main figure, but also drastically different in the building types and style." Adam's strong competitor Udana says that the episode signifies the 'icon of Sri Lanka' as it is all about brining the elements of the legendary rock into the creation. Since the groups were handed the tasks of designing an eye-catching centre piece for Sigiriya hotel, some serious research and thinking had to be done.

Reflex chose Northumbria University's Multidisciplinary Design Innovation student Alex as their team leader. Fans might be able to recall that the team triumphed in the previous woodcarving related task under her leadership. Would she be able to steer her team to another win? Not if Lion Heart has anything to do with it. Take it from Uva Wellassa University's Udana who enjoyed spearheading the Lion Heart team.


Team Reflex's product in the making

Luke is inspired by the Sigiriya frescoes

Team Lion Heart's final product

A tour guide briefs Reflex about the importance of Sigirya

"He was a great leader and had his own way of leading a team. He did not pressurize us at any point. He maintained his cool attitude and gave us freedom and encouraged us to go ahead with designs. He was always alert, pointing out the loop holes that we made. One of his major strengths is effective communication," Nimanthie shared her thoughts about Udana's leadership skills. Anyone who had been following the 'Ideators' episodes would know by now that it is not all work and no play when Udana is around. He has the strategy to sound jovial and serious in on breath. One minute he is immersed in examining the pros and cons of the team's design and in the other instance he is gleefully showing Adam a design of a monkey and noting the similarities between them. No doubt the two's presence adds colour and drama to the show!

"It was a really good experience for me as a Lion Heart member as well as the 'first time' group leader. I knew which areas that Luke and Nimmie are strong in. I was really proud to lead the team in a land where the identity of Sri Lankan art, culture and heritage is embedded in. Walking with the guys up the eighth wonder of the world made me proud," Udana recollected.

Queried about the Adam-Udana rivalry he was quick to respond with a, "What else do I have to do! He is the only marketing competition for me!"

However he adds, "We speak the same language in and out of the competition so we tend to be so close and that leads us to make fun out of each other. Why I call 'Reflex' 'Cornflex' is because when Adam pronounces 'Reflex' it sounds exactly like 'Cornflex'!"

But when it comes to evaluating their handiwork and deciding on who should be eliminated, I bet that even this spirited duo gets cold feet.

Adam owns up that since he has a tendency to be outspoken, he runs the risk of being eliminated.

"I have often joked that I should reserve my seat in the boardroom, as it is usually the person that generates the idea who ends up there! However, I feel that it is a risky tactic for the judges to place blame on the person that comes up with the idea as this may create an atmosphere of not wanting to express your ideas. On the other hand, this really does make you question the feasibility of your creations and think through every aspect of the design," he said.

Though episode eight closed with yet another victory for Lion Heart, Reflex was able to let out a sigh of relief as head judge and British Council country director Tony Reilly announced that there will be no elimination. However he did warn the competitors to sharpen their skills as there will be a double elimination next week!

Moratuwa University's Nimanthie opines, "It surely is a scary thought but I suppose that is the way the competition is. Having only three members left in the team it would be disastrous to face a double elimination. It will be an extremely competitive task. We cannot afford to lose next week."

"I was quite relieved. It was a tough challenge, emotionally and physically draining, so to be given that lifeline was a real boost. Although, this begs the question - will there be a double elimination?" Adam said while cracking a joke saying that unfortunately he forgot to kiss the ground like cricketers do once they have wrapped up victory or scored a century! Maybe next week, Adam.

Despite the pressures of competition, this episode was the favourite for a majority of our contestants.

"This episode as a whole was an amazingly interesting one. I could say it is my favourite so far. The most exciting part of it was climbing Sigiriya. We had to take every little detail into our minds in spite of the very short time we had to climb up and down the rock. The highlight of the event was watching Luke. He was amazed at seeing the beauty and technology of the historical rock. Just seeing how enchanted they were made me so proud of being Sri Lankan," Nimanthie enthused.

Udana even managed to bond with the local craftsmen over a game of carom.

"It is an unforgettable experience, further enhanced by securing victory over Cornflex! I was enjoying the task so much because of the dedication of my team members. I knew that we need to keep our cool as well as the craftsmen," he smiled.

Next week's challenge is bank oriented. You can be sure that Adam and Udana will be spot on in this episode. Do not miss the action on Independence Television Network (ITN) next Saturday at 9 pm.

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