Entertainment

Back in the spotlight

by Mahes Perera

One time popular singer and leader of the Moonstones, Lalith Fernando has shifted his music tracks to the Western Music scene and is steadily building up his future career and achieving success as well.

With a CD of Memorable Melodies behind him, Lalith with his powerful and unique style of singing will be in performance next Sunday at CR&FC singing the well loved swing and jazz favourites as well as songs not heard often these days.

"Singing for the audience at a Sinhala stage and for the audience at a Western musical performance are two different things altogether. It's easy to adjust. I know what the two different audiences want and experience has taught me how to tackle the situations.

I guess they call it versatility!" comments Lalith who made his appearance recently at the 'Back to the 70s' and Annesley Malawana's "Rewind" shows.

Along with pianist Hilary Christie, Lalith has been performing at weddings and corporate functions and private dinners singing a repertoire of evergreen swing songs, much to the delight of the seniors in the audience, who seldom get a chance to enjoy the not oft sung songs you hear at a sing-a-longs but songs like Brazil, Charade, As Time Goes By, Man and Woman, Moon Dance, I Love Paris, Speak Softly Love, Evergreen , to name a few.

Also he enjoys performing the lesser heard songs from the books of Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Perry Como and Andy Williams. A freelance singer, he has, he confesses leisure time, and intends entertaining music lovers with his selective repertoire of songs.

Pathiraja Film Festival at Dharmaraja

"Dharmasena Pathiraja Abhinandana Cinema Ulela - 2007", a felicitation film festival for the veteran and award winning film director Dharmasena Pathiraja, will be screened at the Auditorium of Dharmaraja College, Kandy, on March 4.

This film festival is organised by the Old Rajans Scout Association in aid of the Lake View Park International Scout Centre Development Fund, as the major fund raising project for the current year.

According to the Chairman of the organising committee, Suminda Vitanaarachchi, three best films from the veteran director, Ahas Gawwa , Mathuyam Davasa and Bambaru Avith will be screened at 10.30 a.m., 2.30 p.m. and 6.00 p.m. respectively on this day.

Dharmasena Pathiraja, a distinguished old boy of Dharmaraja College, will be the chief guest and will be honoured by the Old Rajans Scout Association at the film festival.

Holi - The Festival of Colours

Of all the festivals of India, a country abounding in culture and heritage, Holi the festival of colours is arguably the most vibrant and fun filled.

It is celebrated as a harvest festival as well as a welcome festival for the spring season and falls on the day after the full moon in early March every year. This exuberant festival is also associated with the immortal love of Krishna and Radha and finds its roots in Hindu mythology.

Holi has traditionally been celebrated in high spirits without any distinction of cast, creed, colour, race, status or sex. It is an occasion where sprinkling coloured powder or coloured water on each other engages people in harmonious camaraderie so that everyone looks the same and universal brotherhood is reaffirmed.

This year on March 4 Taj Samudra celebrates Holi in true cultural style at the South lawn with coloured powder and water galore and enchanting performances by the vibrant Bhangara Dance troop from the state of Punjab, India.