Arts

Glamour of pre-eminence

Launch of the biography of Latha Walpola:

By Ranga CHANDRARATHNE

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“Latha-Hela Gee Rajina”, the biography of one of the talented popular songstress Latha Walpola penned by first and only woman editor -in-Chief of any cinema publication Deepthi Fonseka, was held at BMICH recently in an star studded evening.

The glamour of the evening was intensified by the moving scene of senior actress Shanthi Lekha being taken into the venue on a wheel chair. Through mist of tears came flashback memories of many roles she played in the silver screen with all the glamour of femininity. It was a fact that in those golden days, cinema was dominated by her. She should be commended for the courage she still posses to face the audience.

The colourful event was attended by galaxy of film stars including Malini Fonseka, Nita Fernando, Jeevarani Kurukulasooriya, Sumana Amerasinghe, Anula Karunatilaka, Suvinitha Weerasinghe, Sonia Dissa, Geetha Kumarasinghe, Veena Jayakody, Menik Kurukulasooriya, Nadeeka Gunasekara, Sabeetha Perera, Dilhani Ekanayaka, Sangeetha Weerarathne and Chathurika Pieris.

Award wining talented actress Nita Fernando stole the show by demonstrating her mastery in dancing to the envy of the younger generation actresses. It was a stormy session of dancing. Neeta dressed in a white and red Saree which created a soothing ambience contrasting to some luminous costumes in gaudy colours.Sumana Amerasinghe who is famous for her hilarious roles in cheap fantasies, jumped on to the floor like a whale into the deep sea.

Her haphazard movements with expanded figure and incongruous hairstyle with gaudy attire added spice to a confusion in the midst of beauty.However, highly endowed Malini Fonseka’s attire with hairstyle were well matched through glitter under flood light. Sabeetha Perera, Shryani Amerasena and Geetha Kumarasinghe’s dance performances were mediocre and the attire too were invariance with their figures. Two great actresses Anula Karunatilaka and Nadeeka Gunasekara reminded us of their contribution to artistic films with charm attire. Veena Jayakody also made her share of contribution to beautify the event.

Malini Fonseka and Ravindra Randeniya were able to impress the autience with a dance item. Among the younger generation Dilhani Ekanayaka and Chathurika Pieris impressed the audience with their charming dance appealing to many and of course Sangeetha Weerarathne with her background as a classical dancer and with her unusually slim figure mesmerised the audience proving her fine movements mastered through formal training in the craft. Unfortunately three speeches by Senor Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne, Prof. Sanath Nandasiri and Ravindra Randeniya were out of tune due to technically and factually questionable statements.

They should bear in mind that it is inappropriate to compare and contrast a popular singer with dearth of training in the subject, with a highly educated singer who has a cultured voice which was tutored with immense effort. It was pathetic that they have forgotten the fact that teams of experts led by people like Pandit Rathnjankar rated our singers in auditions and enlightened our nation on recognising talents. The event was choreographed by Channa Wijewardana, music arrangements by Jagath Wickramasinghe and script by Wasantha Kumara Kobawaka and the stage managed by Bandara Eheliyagoda.

The EU-Film Festival Colombo

The EU-Film Festival Colombo organized by Goethe Institute of Colombo will be held from November 28 to December 7.

The gala opening will be held at Regal Cinema with the silent classic film “‘NOSFERATU” by F.W. Murnau (1922) in its latest restored version with the live accompaniment by the group “5 minute heroes” from Regensburg, Germany.

The main part of the Festival will take place at the BMICH from 29th November to 6th December (3 screening every day: 10:30 a.m.; 3:30 p.m. 06:30 p.m.) and entrance on first come first served basis.

The Gala event will close with the release of the latest Sri Lankan film at the new auditorium of the National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka.

‘Pencil ecstasy’ at Lionel Wendt

An exhibition of paintings by Desaman Samarasinghe will be held at Lionel Wendt Art Gallery on November 21, 22 and 23. The exhibits are drawings with pencil. De Saman is a self-educated artist who has learnt the craft by trail and error.

Since the pencil is exclusively used for the painting, it has given the paintings a surreal effort.

His paintings include landscapes and animals and interior of magnificent buildings.

Arts Diary

‘Boys own’ an exhibition of photography

‘Boys Own’, an exhibition of photography by Menika van der Poorten will be held from November 10 to November 26 at Red Dot Gallery at 36A, Beddegana Road, South Pitakotte.

It is a reading of an adolescent through the eyes of an artist, mother and a woman.

The exhibition contains a series of solo portraits of youth between 10 to 16 years.

‘Images of Bouzigues’

Exhibition of Digital Art by Senaka Abeyratne will be held at the Alliance Auditorium from November 15 to December.