Swara (Seven Notes) nominated for Jaipur Film Festival 2013

Swara (“Seven Notes”) original title Journey of Hope, a film with a message will represent Sri Lanka at the 5th Jaipur International Film Festival -2013 –Green Rose Award for a film with a Global message .which will be held from January 30 – February 2 in Jaipur in India.

The film is woven around the character of Narmada, an internationally famed Sri Lankan professional music composer and a symphony conductor. Highly-sought after Narmada’s life is a success story from every conceivable perspective.

However, an accidental discovery of her being HIV positive has virtually re-configured her life for good, compelling her to embark on heroic journey against social stigma associated with HIV and AIDS.

To her utter disgust, she discovers that she has been cheated by her husband (Rohan). The journey leads Narmada to discover fellow travelers in a community of HIV positives who have overcome social stigma and who lead profitable lives.

Ultimately Narmada wins back her rights through a legal battle helped by her beautiful lawyer daughter, Nimanthi (Sachini Ayendra Mahipala) who defeats multimillionaire entrepreneur Justin Weerakoon.

Apart from spreading a vital message against social stigma associated with HIV/AIDS, the film Swara (“Seven Notes”) explores gray areas in contemporary Sri Lankan society through powerful characters such as super model Vihara (Anusha) who had a miserable childhood.

Vihara bears a child (Anjali) out of an extra-marital relationship with Narmada’s husband Rohan. Anjali who is blind but has prodigious talents in music, symbolises innocent generation of victims of the circumstances.

Padma (Damitha), a Migrant worker (House Maid) deceived by her Employment Agent and was sexually exploited in the Middle East, returns home with HIV/AIDs , to confront effectively the social stigma by becoming a community leader.

She helps out HIV Positives to lead a meaningful life through her Foundation. She educates the young men and women on HIV/AIDS and STD. Joe– Beach Boy - MSM and Transgender (Danu Innasitamby) reveals different aspects of city’s night life. The film effectively deals with myriad of socio-economic issues such as abject poverty, the sorry plight of Sri Lankan Migrant workers (particularly women), ignorance of HIV/AIDS and STD, child abuse and adverse impact of globalisation particularly on vulnerable sections of the population such as women and children.

The cast includes Nita Fernando, Sachini Ayendra Mahipala, Anusha Rajapakse, Danu Innasitamby, Damitha Abeyrathn, Diluni Mallawaarchi, W.Jayasiri, Buddika Jayaratne and Sriyantha Mendis. Nita Fernando, Actress / Producer / Activist, Director Living With Hope Foundation and Manohan Nanayakkara, Co-Producer, Asia Digital Entertainment. Yolanda Weerasinghe wrote the Story the screen play and he is also the executive producer and costume designer.

Hopalu Arana on Swarnavahini

Hopalu Arana is telecast on Swarnavahini on Sundays at 8.30 p.m. The story is centered on a well-to-do, high society family in close proximity to the Galle town which is undergoing rapid cultural damage with the advent of foreign influences.

The family hails from a generation that has been influenced by British imperialism. The story opens with a beautiful girl of the family who is exposed to taste the stark reality in society by sacrificing all the luxuries in life including parental affection and family property.

It depicts the tragedy triggered by poor relationships between children and parents, lack of mutual understanding and how much children are forced to face the grim reality in society. Like water taking the shape of the vessel in which it is placed, the fate of children inevitably depends on the influence of parents. It eventually decides the future path of the children.

Hopalu Arana is a forest which has been ruined by severe drought and now left with only the dried out skeletal remains of trees. Just like this forest yearning for a drop of rain, the young and old people here are longing for love and affection.

The romantic tale that flows in the story is indeed a gripping one underlining the spiritual bonds associated with it. The cast includes Roshan Ravindra, Tharuka Wanniarachchi, Uddika Premaratne, Rebecca Nirmalee, Damayanthi Fonseka, Janaka Kumbukage, Lucian Bulathsinhala, Chamila Peiris, Nilmini Buwaneka, Jagath Benaragama, Tissa Bandaranayake, Subath, Keerthi Wickremasinghe, Sudaara Randini, Harsha, Osanka, Kawya Sandamini, Lakma Weerasekara, Kumudu Adhikari, Sunil and Martin.

Screening of Malayalam Film Kutty Srank at Indian Cultural Centre

The Indian Cultural Centre will screen one of the most popular Malayalam Films “Kutty Srank” directed by Shaji N Karun at 5.30 pm on January 18 at its auditorium. The Sri Lankan actress Meena Kumari Perera, who plays a major role in the film, will be the guest of honour.

The film features the South Indian Superstar Mammootty, Padmapriya, Kamalini Mukherjee and Meena Kumari Perera.

In the 57th National Film Awards of India Kutty Srank emerged the biggest winner with five awards: for Best Film, for Best Screenplay for Best Cinematography for Best Costume Design and Special Jury Award for Editing. Premiered in the Montreal World Film Festival, 2009 the Kutty Srank was screened in major International Film Festivals such as Pusan International Film Festival 2009, Mumbai International Film Festival 2009, International Film Festival of India 2009, and Dubai International Film Festival 2009.

Kutty Srank (translated as junior boat captain in Malayalam) is a film about a mariner who operates a cargo vessel near the sea port of Kodungalloor near Kochi, once a roaring port town in Kerala. One day, the local police station discovers an unidentified body that has washed ashore. A Bhikkhuni, Revamma, comes forward to claim that she can identify the rotten body, and she recognises it as that of one Kutti Srank. Police enquire her relationship with Kutti Srank.

Another Latin Christian woman, Pemenna, too claims to recognise the dead man. Both women assure the investigators that the body is that of Kutti Srank. Finally a mute woman, Kali, joins them and seeks permission to see the corpse. She, however, rejects the claim made by the other women and argues that the body is not that of Kutti Srank. Pemmanna identifies Kali and tells Revamma that Kali is Kutti Srank’s wife. Eventually each woman shares her acquaintance and relation with Kutti Srank. Kutty Srank ultimately leaves behind a story of a man who convinced three very different women that he was a committed and faithful husband while successfully keeping his relation with the other two women a secret. Admission is free on a first come first served basis.

Unity prayer for Thai Pongal

As the milk boils in my humble home
on Thai Pongal day
For peace to prevail I must pray
Dear mothers, Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and Burghers
Join me in lighting this holy lamp today
Let it shine for ever like the sun's ray
To live together in harmony an gay
For peace prosperity and unity
among all our friends of different communities
Oh dear Mother Lanka bless our precious nation
Which was known as the pearl of the Indian Ocean
and save our future generation
From war, fear and destruction

Ambika Maharaja