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| Sunday, 12 March 2006 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Arts Hapana, Berahanda roars the Wendt The Chitrasena Vajira Dance Foundation will present two famous ballets from the Chitrasena Kalayathanaya, Hapana, on March 16 and 17 at 7 p.m. and Berahanda on March 18 and 19 at 7 p.m. respectively, at the Lionel Wendt. The ballet festival is sponsored by Anchor, and media sponsorship is provided by Derana TV. Special school shows
To help bring these fascinating ballets to a younger generation of children, the foundation will also be presenting special school shows on March 16 and March 17, showcasing the ballet Hapana and associated dance items. The school shows begin at 10.30 a.m. These performances have been heavily subsidized to enable schoolchildren to participate and benefit from seeing our traditional dance forms on stage. The ballet festival is simply a celebration of Vajira's creativity. In 1979, Vajira created a ballet about a little fish called Hapana, who against all odds, teaches his fellow fish to unite and work together to defeat their common enemy, the shark. Set in an undersea world of colourful fish and other wonderful ocean creatures, Hapana went on to become a classic in Sri Lankan dance theatre. The ballet has provided an opportunity for talented young dancers from the Chitrasena Kalayathanaya to showcase their skills over the years.
In 2001, Vajira was inspired to create her latest masterpiece, based on a story by the late Bandula Jayawardene. Berahanda is a complex story that combines love with tragedy. The ballet begins with a love story between the god Sakra and a beautiful weaver girl on earth, but ends with the child from their union committing a sin - the slaying of an ox to make a drum - and being condemned to the netherworld by the god Sakra, who does not realize the boy is his own son. The ballet underscores the importance of parental guidance, and how children could go astray when left to their own devices. World of Sakra The festival comprises two programs on different days, headlined by each of the ballets above. The first half of each day's program will include dance items choreographed by Vajira, including Saraswathie Pooja, Ves, Pantheru, Ukusa and Snake Dance. Funds raised from the Ballet Festival will go towards the building fund of the Chitrasena Kalayathanaya, enabling us to take one more step towards the completion of our dream-the rebuilding of a national dance academy. Bye, Bye Birdie
The performance will be brought to you by OSC grade 6-12 students in the new OSC Auditorium. Performances begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the door and can be reserved by calling the school, 278-4920. Wasantha Kumara's Susanwedhi
"First of all let me explain why this exhibition is named "Susanwedhi". The members of Manama Kala Sansadaya admired my paintings and persuaded me to open them for the other members of the society without expecting any financial benefit, as they organised this exhibition so benevolently. It is brightened with the support of the Commissioner of Urban Council, Badulla. That is why this exhibition is named "Susanwedhi". All his paintings are based on the Pancha Padma", which according to Wasantha is "all sorts of methods that are taken so far to make people good, which have become unsuccessful". Movies: Ekamalaka Pethi (Petals of desire) A triangular love story By Ranga Chandrarathne
Mahela leaves home after quarrelling with his multi-millionaire businessman father, who opposes his love affair with Nirosha, a beauty from a poor family. Mahela comes to Colombo and forms a pop-music band and after an intense competition wins a contract to play at a five star hotel owned by a young businessman Arun Jayawardena (Roshan Pilapitiya) who later falls in love with Nirosha. Mahela's dream world shatters into pieces when Nirosha agrees to marry Arun. But tumultuous events end in winning over the love against other elements in the story. Love plays a major role in the plot, and it drives home the truth that the intrinsic value of love ultimately proved that it could not be bought for money. Roshan Pilapitiya, Nalin Perera, Ginger and Buddhika Jayarathne play their roles convincingly. Anarkhali Arkarsha, though she plays a minor role, does full justice to her role, and contributes to the plot. Roshan has showed that he could play serious roles and Nalin Perera and Ginger who have made their first appearance in the silver screen, have a long way to go in their career, and showed that they could also fit into any role. Palitha Galappaththi, Gamini Jayalath, Lakmal Fonseka, Ashoka de Zoysa, Rex Koddippili, Morin Charuni, Gnananga Gunawardena and Manel Wanaguru were also among the actors. Kasun Kalhara, Nelu Adhikari, Kushani Sandareka, Nalin Perera and Shanika Wanigasekara contributed in rendering their voices to the film. |
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| Produced by Lake House |
On March 30, 31 and April 1, The Overseas School of Colombo will proudly
present 'Bye Bye Birdie', a musical set in the late 1950s when teenagers
from across the United States are going crazy for the handsome rock star,
Conrad Birdie, an Elvis parody. Meanwhile, his manager, Albert Peterson, is
going into debt and has staked his financial future on Conrad's success.
Albert's Secretary, Rosie, is increasingly frustrated with waiting for a
wedding ring from Albert as well as the abusive treatment she received from
Albert's manipulative mother. Disaster strikes when Conrad receives a draft
notice to join the military. Thus, Albert attempts to stage a farewell party
for Conrad in which he is to kiss one lucky fan on the Ed Sullivan Show
before he leaves for the army. Kim MacAfee, from Sweet Apple, Ohio, is the
lucky girl chosen to be kissed. But conflict arises when her boyfriend, Hugo
Peabody, gets jealous, and Rosie becomes fed-up with Albert, his mother, and
his business. Excited girls, jealous boyfriends, confused producers,
controlling mothers and spoiled celebrities along with 50's song and dance
make this production fun for the entire family. 
Wasantha Kumara's 22nd exhibition of paintings sponsored by the
Commissioner of Urban Council, Badulla and "Manama Kala Sansadaya" will be
held from March 18-21, 2006 at the old library hall, Badulla. (Senarath
Paranavithana Library). Commenting about this exhibition he says, 
Ekamalaka Pethi, film script written and directed by Mohan Niasz and
produced by Jagath Wijenayaka on behalf of Silumina Films, is based on a
sentimental love story. The story revolves around a young couple who
scarified a lot for their love. Mahela (Nalin Perera) and Nirosha (Ginger)
are two lovers in their prime of youth, who share a common interest in
music. 
