People / Entertainment

Chandimal's It's all Calypso 2006

by Mahes Perera

Making original music waves in home showbiz scene is Chandimal and the 2nd Connection. This time around he is putting the finishing touches to his once a year concert a mega one which will take the stage at the BMICH on Saturday October 21.

Titled It's All Calypso 2006 - Chandimal and the 2nd Cconnection in concert, the concert's media sponsers are Sunday Observer and Daily News. The programme will contain thirty five golden oldies of Sri Lankan songs which will be sung or performed by the original artistes.

Joining Chandimal and his group on stage will be Keerthi Pasquel, Saman de Silva, Sohan and Yasmin, Christopher Paul, Dharmaratne Brothers, Susil Fernando, Nimal Jayamanne, Joe B. Perera and more. Adding visual attraction to the show will be dance acts by Anushan Perera and his sinuous Latin dancers, Chandana Wickramasinghe Dance Troupe and the La Trio Girls. Threading the show together will be Faizal Bongso.

Most of the songs selected are old hits, which audience enjoy and love to listen to. "Some of the songs are those not heard on stage before" quips Chandimal. The concert is organised by the Old Boys Union of Holy Cross College, Kalutara Branch.

Tickets for this mega event are on sale and Chandimal will be releasing a non stop CD at the concert. "I am releasing a non stop CD after five years and this one is something different. At the launch you get a fifty per cent discount, so make sure of your copy" concludes Chandimal.

Shani and Eric in Concert

Alliance Francaise and the French Embassy in Sri Lanka have invited the internationally acclaimed Sri Lankan pianist Shani Diluka Abeygoonaratne who lives in France and her French husband Eric Couturier one of the finest players of Cello to perform in Sri Lanka.

Yesterday, they gave a recital at the British School Auditorium. Today, the duo will give a recital in Kandy at the Engineering Faculty Auditorium (Peradeniya) at 7.00 p.m. and tomorrow in Matara at the Nupe Cultural Centre at 7.00 p.m.

"Shani Diluka is considered as one of the greatest talent of her generation" Piano Magazine. She was also selected for the third Cycle Masters which she has completed brilliantly.

She has won many international awards including Lauriate of the Natexis prize, the Prince Poloniac prize finalist of the prestigious Gina Bachhaur in Salt Lake City, and this month she was offered the Medal of the Villers Sur Mer as the public has voted her as the best Performer at the International Piano Festival held this year at the city of Ville Sur Mer.

Born in 1972, Eric-Maria Couturier studied Cello and chamber music at the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique de Paris and graduated with the jury's unanimous highest honours.

He has distinguished himself as prize winner at several international competitions (Rostropovitch, Trapani, Trieste, and Florence) and has been awarded scholarships by the Natexis and Pendleton Foundations. He was a member of the Orchestre de Paris and solo cellist at the Orchestre National de Bordeaux-Aquitaine, before joining the Ensemble intercontemporain in 2002.

Shaun - unique in its theme

Shaun a new teledrama directed by the award winning actor Lucky Dias begins telecast on ITN today at 7.30 pm.

The twenty six episode series is produced by Mohan Fernando and stars Lucky Dias, Ananda Wickramage, Sanoja Bibile, Nilanthi Dias, Susil Perera and Chameera Dharmakeerthi as Shaun the eleven-year-old boy whose sight is poor, unable to walk. He is confined to a wheel chair.

However, he has unique abilities such as high IT knowledge, power of forecasting predictions and is loved by all. According to the blurbs, the storyline brings a breath of fresh-air to our Sinhala tele drama scene.

Shaun's character is unique. From the beginning he portrays the be-spectated lovable child, highly intelligent yet handicapped, a hero and an individual who can pull the heartstrings of the viewers, because he makes a brave effort to re-unite his parents.

How would such a theme which is more urban reach out to the viewers in the rural areas?

Lucky Dias:"The theme of any film is universal, it is how you project it that matters in reaching out to the viewers. Today, the rural youth or adult are aspiring to be nice looking, and comfortable in their lifestyle. We film makers and actors are entertainers, we are dream merchants. We have to create a bigger than life role to stimulate interest," says Lucky Dias.

And Chameera the eleven year old where did you find him? Did you have auditions?

LD:"I was a chief guest at a function at Lalith Athulathmudali Vidyalaya Mt. Lavinia, sometime ago, and there I made a mental note of the young boy's capabilities. I must commend my knack for picking up child actors. I was lucky when Iratha Handana Mal and Siu Diya Dahara were made.

Did you draw any influences from the Harry Potter series?

LD:"Only as far as Harry Potters spectacles were concerned. I don't know whether Chameera in real life wears spectacles, but he did his part with realism."

In 45 days Dias tells us that he filmed 25 episodes. Working with his regular crew "everything worked out tickety boo."

Shaun is set in an urban dwelling in stylish houses and 5 star hotels to reflect the lifestyle of the rich and famous.

Gone are the usual thatched roof huts and the poverty-stricken, torn and tattered rag clad characters.

This is a different kettle of fish - make the date with ITN on Sundays at 7.30 pm.

MP