Kalu Walasage Samprapthiya

The launch of Kalu Walasage Samprapthiya will be held on September 15 at the Mahaweli Centre, Ananda Kumaraswamy Mawatha Colombo 7 from 3.00 p.m to 6.00 p.m.

Veteran author and cultural critic Saman Wickramarachchi will launch his books Awichara Samaya, Sinhalese translation of Milan Kundera’s The Art of Novel , Meen Man, Fantasy Minisa Leonardo Davinci. Among the books reprinted are Adun Divi Hinava, Deviyange Niruvata hevath Grantavicharaya, Sillara Premaya, Nonimi Peravadana (Sahitya Vicharaya), Malagiya Atto Yali Upannemi (Re-reading/re-writing), Prakashana Nidahasa saha Sadachara Sevenalla and Sanskrutika Vahantarava.

The keynote address will be delivered by Prof. Desmond Malllikarachchi and critic and translator Gamini Viyangoda will also speak at the event.

Buddhadeb Dasgupta and screening of his film Lal Darja

A lecture by Indian filmmaker Buddhadeb Dasgupta will be held as a part of the programme Meet the Director by Indian Cultural Centre in Colombo, on September 14 at 6.00 p.m. at the ICC Auditorium.

Indian filmmaker Buddhadeb Dasgupta

A film “Lal Darja (Red Doors)” (Bengali with subtitles in English) by Dasgupta will be screened after the lecture.

Buddhadeb Dasgupta is a poet and prominent contemporary Indian filmmaker, most known for films like Bagh Bahadur, Tahader Katha, Charachar and Uttara. Five of his films have won the National Film Award for Best Film, Bagh Bahadur (1989), Charachar (1993), Lal Darja (1997), Mondo Meyer Upakhyan (2002) and Kaalpurush (2008), while

Dooratwa(1978) and Tahader Katha (1993) have won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Bengali. As a director he has won National Film Award for Best Directing twice, for Uttara (2000) and Swapner Din (2005). Over the years he has published several works of poetry includingGovir Araley, Coffin Kimba Suitcase, Himjog, Chhaata

Kahini, Roboter Gaan, Sreshtha Kabita, and Bhomboler Ascharya Kahini Ananya Kabita.

Lal Darja (Red Doors)

Dr. Nabin Datta is a prominent dentist in Calcutta, 47, disengaged, with little affect, and fearful that his hands and feet are turning to metal. His wife leaves him to live alone. His son, who is away at school, will not talk to him. He searches for meaning: he seeks the help of a jolly but dismissive physician; he talks to an underworld thug about having his wife murdered; he delves into the life of his driver, the happy-go-lucky Dinu, who has two wives and a mistress, all three of whom love Dinu, all three of whom Dinu cherishes; last, he returns in his mind to the magical possibilities of his childhood, when he could open doors using only a nursery rhyme.

Morning Melodies

An Indian Slide Guitar Recital by Amano Manish accompanied on Tabla by Uday Ramdas Deshpande, a disciple of Ud. Alla Rakha will be held tomorrow at 10.30 at the Indian Cultural Centre,16/2, Gregorys Road (opposite Australian High Commission) Colombo 07.

Saandhy Geet

Hindi Diwas celebrations titled Saandhy Geet organised by Indian Cultural Centre, Colombo in collaboration with the Department of Hindi, University of Kelaniya will be held on September 14 at 10.30 a.m. at Auditorium of Indian Cultural Centre , 16/2, Gregory’s Road opposite Australian High Commission) Colombo 07.

Musical Magic at LC Proms

LC Proms, a concert by the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka in aid of the Ladies’ College Old Girls’ Association (OGA) Trust Fund for Care and Support will be held on September 24 at the Ladies’ College Hall.

For this special concert, the SOSL will deviate from its usual strictly classical fare to bring you a sparkling program of light classical music, Latin American favourites and popular showtunes .

The program includes such well-loved classical works as “Voices of Spring,” one of Johann Strauss’ most famous waltzes, Pietro Mascagni’s “Intermezzo” --probably better known today as the music featured in the movies “Raging Bull” and “The Godfather III,” and Leroy Anderson’s quirky, yet delightful, “Syncopated clock.”

Also on the program are Latin, Jazz, Folk and Rock favourites. You may fight the urge to dance to the strains of the evergreen jewish folksong “Hava Nagila,” swing to Mancini’s classic “Pink Panther,” and samba down the aisles to “Latin Gold”-- a medley of popular Latin American dance tunes.

The SOSL will also perform a selection of well-known showtunes from musicals that we all know and love, and which promise to leave you feeling a little nostalgic.

The LC OGA Trust Fund for Care and Support is used to grant assistance, on a needs basis, to retired teachers, staff, support staff and old girls. The interest income generated from the investment of this fund supports payments to current beneficiaries.

However, the recent drastic decline in interest rates has resulted in a drop in income that makes it difficult for the Trust to keep its commitments towards the sick and elderly beneficiaries of this fund who have spent their lives in service to the school.

The Symphony Orchestra’s association with Ladies’ College has been a long one. It has for many years, with the cooperation of the school, made the Ladies’ College Hall its home, using it both for rehearsals and as a concert venue. The orchestra is happy to support the OGA in giving back to those who have given so much to their Alma Mater.

Competition for amateur novelists

Amateur Novelists' Competition 2011 organised by Dayawansa Jayakody Book Publisher, Colombo 10 to encourage nascent writers will be held shortly. The winner will be awarded a cash prize of Rs. 50,000 and a certificate.

The theme of the creation should relate to social progress.

The best creation will be released as a Dayawansa Jayakody publication.

All manuscripts should reach the organisers on or before December 31.

Pahasara Situvili

The launch of Pahasara Situvili ( K.Jayatilaka Nirmana Sarisara) by Kathleen Jayewardene will take place on September 17 at Mihilaka Madura at the Colombo International Book fair at BMIC at 5.30 p.m. The objective of the book is to encourage readers to re-read the large corpus of literary productions by K.Jayatilake.