Entertainment
Sanath Nandasiri launches new CD

Prof. Sanath Nandasiri
Pic. - Marlan Karunarathna
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A leading light and virtuoso in the Sinhala music field Prof. Sanath
Nandasiri will launch his new CD Kala Mekulu at the New Town Hall Green
Path on June 14 at 5 p.m.
This new CD which comes after a hiatus of five years will be launched
with a concert performance arranged by Visharada Manoj Pieris. Professor
Sanath Nandasiri will sing a selection of the new songs from the CD.
The CD contains sixteen songs - thirteen of them are new, three of
them his popular hits. Thilak Gunarathne now residing in New Zealand is
the producer of the CD and was responsible for the lyrics of eight of
the songs.
The other lyricists are Rev. Rambukkana Sidhartha, Bandula
Nanayakkarawasam, Dr. Praneeth Abeysundera and Wasantha Rohana. The
music was composed by Rohana Weerasinghe, Manoj Pieris, Navarathna
Gamage, Mahinda Bandara and Deepthi Hapuarachchi.
Prof. Sanath Nandasiri is the Dean of the Music Faculty, University
of the Visual and Performing Arts.
Dalreen wins coveted award
by Mahes Perera

Dalreen with her Women on Top award.
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The celebration of Women's Day this year was significant to Dalreen
and her scintillating career in music and entertainment.
Equal Ground was proud to announce her as the winner of this year's
women of excellence award in the field of entertainment which was
presented to her at the Annual Women on Top celebration.
The Trustees of Equal Ground had a tough time short listing the
nominees for the awards. Besides Dalreen who won the award for Music and
Entertainment the other women recipients for 2007 were Anoma Wijewardena
for Art; Dr. Niloufer de Mel for Literature; Sunela Jayawardena for
Environment; Sangeetha Weeraratne for Cinema Actress and Deana
Jayasuriya for Dance.
To Dalreen the award is another feather in her cap. "Last year 2006
was a hectic year with many overseas tours. 31st night was in London,
then I went over to Kuwait, Oman, Auckland and Wellington in New Zealand
and also Melbourne and Perth. Came the Sinhala New Year celebrations and
I was in Melbourne, flew over to Sydney for the Dark Tan revival show
with Alston Koch.
Came next the Ananda College Dance and the Lions Club dance in
Melbourne and I was invited to perform for both these occasions at
Melbourne. Oh before I forget 2006 saw me also in Canada for shows in
Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary and at the dawn of 2007 I was performing
at the Taj Palace Hotel, Bombay".
Dalreen recounts with that characteristic smile of hers. This year
Dalreen confesses is somewhat hectic. She was featured at all the top
concerts including the successful Spitfires Reunion three concerts.
What's in store for the future? "There are overseas tours in the bag
and in between I will be putting the finishing touches to my new CD,
featuring my originals. I intend opening a music school to pass on my
singing knowledge to those who wish to benefit from a formal voice
training".
[email protected]
Aquarius moves to Orion

Back Row: Rafi, Gavin, Benjy, Shiran and Danusha. Centre: Joan, Bell
and May, Bottom: Husky.
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A short holiday back home and Aquarius will return to Doha Qatar this
week, to play at the new venue the Orion at the Ramada Hotel. Before
this break Aquarius were hotting it up at Ramada's disco Cube and
according to Benjy, the band was playing to groovers numbering two
thousand which kept them inspired and on their toes.
Aquarius alternated with a Philipino band called Mocha and the hours
of playing were long 8.00 p.m. to 2.30 p.m. but still they enjoyed
dishing out the Top 40 favourites.
"When we go back we will be playing at the Orion which is a new venue
in the hotel, a night club restaurant an upmarket one, where we have to
provide retro music of the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and this is something we
are looking forward to" expressed Benjy.
Aquarius has extended its personnel to include four Philipino girls -
singers/dancers, which gives the band a striking visual impact. Aquarius
will be back home for their annual vacation in September.
M.P.
Anura performs on French TV

Anura Jayasinghe
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A jubilant Anura Jayasinghe telephoned us the other day from Paris to
give us the happy news that he was featured on TV Tele-sud in a half-
hour programme of music performance and interview in English and French.
The broadcast date was June 01, Paris time 9.30 p.m. and the
programme was telecast live to Africa, Cuba and Brazil. His video clip
for Nidi Nethi Re Yama a track from his latest album Sri Lanka Sitting
Pretty in the Ocean was aired as well. He played solo on the programme
with no other accompaniment.
"Noel Ranasinghe of La Ceylonians and I play the guitar in a
particular style, that gives a full sound to the music" commented Anura
Jayasinghe. "The rhythm of the music has similarities with the music of
Cuba and Brazil and as a result the CD has become popular here in Paris.
It is recorded on my label the only Sri Lankan one registered in
Europe", informs Anura.
The CD contains fifteen tracks with two compositions in French Don't
Cry My Angel and Welcome to my Island composed by Marie-Lean Dardillac,
while the others were authored by Stanley Welgampola and Anura
Jayasinghe.
Anura was the first Sri Lankan musician to introduce Sinhala original
songs to French radio and television, and is the first Sri Lankan member
of SACEM, the French authors, composers and editors union.
The supporting musicians on the CD are Asoka Rathnapala and Nilantha
Ariyaratne - vocal and bass; Rohan Silva - vocal, mandolin and guitar,
Varuna Jayasinghe - percussion and Surangi and Buddhika - female
vocalists. The CD is now available at Barefoot.
M.P.
The new league of gentlemen
Much to the delight of egoists the Male Icons Award Presentation will
take place an June 14 at the Hilton Colombo - a gala event with a select
audience. The occasion will recognise the top male personalities of the
country a new league of gentlemen, with the objective of creating role
models for the youth to follow.
Basically all the participants will be from the corporate, sports,
art and the entertainment field from which the Top Ten will be selected.
Coupons for participation were published in the newspapers, 2000 entries
were received with 150 different names.
The judging criteria will be based on personality, dress sense,
achievements, contribution to society and social acceptance. The panel
of judges will comprise seven and the Chairman of the Jury will be Rosy
Senanayake - which is logical because a woman, according to the
organisers can assess the qualities of a man better!
The advisor to the panel will be Nimal Wirasekera, Executive Director
of the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing. Hameedia's is the exclusive
sponsor of the event. |