In Focus
 

Mouse captures children

Mouse, the latest children's film has just been released with the aim of capturing the hearts of the young audiences in the country. And with Mouse ,the newest child star of the country, Thisal Thulnith Moragoda makes his grand entrance into the celluloid world.

The child actor performs the lead role of Sukiri in the film which depicts the difference between the haves and have nots in society. Young Thisal comes from an artistic background being the son of two prominent artists, Asantha Moragoda and Menaka Moragoda.

He had been influenced by different fields of art, such as drama, singing and dancing and now cinema . He says that he saw and heard , experienced, practised and even performed with his parents at home throughout his childhood. And now he has got this great opportunity to act alongside his father in the latest children's film, Mouse.

Thisal who hails from Kandy, is a student of Trinity College,Kandy. His favourite subjects are English, mathematics, dancing and music .He is the youngest artist in the school Kandyan dancing troupe. He has a younger brother named Lithmal Lokith.

He has been performing in concerts from his Montessori days and says that he was greatly encouraged to pursue his talents by both his parents.

Thisal says that he gets a lot of assistance from his father ,by way of cooperation, knowledge, education, encouragement and guidance while his mother helps him in the music and dancing field. Thisal is pleased with the responses he has received so far for his performance in the film and believes that he was fortunate to to play the lead role in a film of this nature .

He has already got the opportunity of acting in a commercial done by a local company after seeing his acting talents as 'Sukiri' in Mouse. Thisal says he gets all the appreciation, criticism and support he needs to make his mark in the cinematic world from his family first.

Talking about his experience in the cinematic world he has just entered into he says that he enjoyed the company of great Sinhala actors like Robin Fernando, Kaushalya Fernado, Awanthi Aponsu,Jayani Senanayaka, Roshan Ravindra, Wasantha Moragoda and Srimal Wedisinghe during the making of Mouse .

"I learnt many things about acting from these popular artistes, and firmly believe that I could use their experiences in the field to enhance my performance in the future," he says.

Guided by his parents young Thisal nurtures many hopes and dreams . After his education, he plans to pursue a career in the field of art, just like his parents. He wants to be a good dancer, musician and, talented actor - in fact, a well known artiste some day.

Mouse is a production of MDC Media.The Director Wasantha Moragoda is also responsible for the screenplay .The film is being promoted along the theme, "Daruwanta nidahasa denna" (Give freedom to children).

Rohana Jayalal

Too big to fly

When we think of birds we always associate them with flying. However, not all birds can fly. There are many species of birds that cannot fly. The world's largest and most unusual birds live on the open grassland and shrubs of the southern continent, but they cannot fly because their wings are too small and their bodies are too big and heavy. Even though these birds cannot fly high in the air they can take wing in short spans .

Cassowary

Emu

Do you know the names of the feathered friends that cannot fly? They are the ostrich of Africa, emu of Australia, the rhea of South America, the kiwi of New Zealand and the cassowary of New Guinea (and also Australia).

The ostrich is the tallest and heaviest flightless bird. It is about 2.5m in height and is about 150 kg in weight. Did you know that the ostrich is also the fastest-running bird reaching a speed of 40 kilo metres per hour? The female ostriches lay the largest egg of any bird but when compared to the mother bird's body size, they are the smallest eggs of any bird.

The kiwi's eggs are the largest compared to its body size.

The kiwi bird is the symbol of New Zealand. The bird is very popular but rarely seen. It has very thin and fine feathers that it looks very much like a ball of fur.

The emu is almost as large as the ostrich at nearly two metres in height. It is a big and tough bird found in many parts of Australia. It feeds mainly on grasses, fruits, flowers and seeds.

The rhea is smaller than the ostrich and emu, yet, it is the largest bird in the Americas. It roams the pampas (grassland) often gathering in large flocks of a hundred or more birds.

The cassowary is a bird with colourful turkey-like wattles (flap of skin) hanging from its head and neck. It is found in parts of northern Australia and New Guinea. Learn about the habitats and lifestyles of these feathered friends who are not able to take to the skies like the other members of the avian family.