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Kumudhu Nilaweera
Cinematic spontaneous and unpredictable

Kumudhu Nilaweera being a talented actress very much aware of camera positions and cinematographic design. She is able to subtly choreograph her stances and movements so that her presence blends into the fabric of any scene being shown. She is an actress who is quite aware of specific cinematic constraints and this enables her to convincingly create for herself an appropriate space within the matrix of the film.

In whatever role she portrays she is able to effortlessly become part of it. This is because she is able to merge into the fabric of any film she chooses to take up.

In ‘Surayahana Gini Gani’ she was able to convey a plethora of complex emotions despite being able to grapple with the intricacies of the dialect. She is able to bring out the pain and suffering of a character rejected by society.

The role that really brought her instant recognition was of course the one she played in ‘Jaya Apatai’. Kumudhu is an instinctive actress. Added to the unique quality of being able to feel a role is the capability to be acutely perceptive in terms of assessing a situation or a complete script.

A good dancer and stunt woman, she has acted in number of teledramas.

She is utterly cinematic, spontaneous and delightfully unpredictable. There is this single shot in the film ‘Surayahana Gini Gani’ where she plays the role of a lesbian woman where she demonstrates her ability in communicating the most moving of emotions with subtlest of gestures and expressions.

‘Surayahana Gini Gani’ is a story revolving around the concept of lesbianism. Lesbianism is as common today as male homosexualism, though not as blatantly advertised. This film is a gripping drama of a lesbian relationship, delicately portrayed by that talented star of the silver screen Veena Jayakody and Kumudhu Nilaweera. It is a story about two women.

Princy Palihakkara is a rich middle aged woman but a spinster. She develops an unusual association with her servant girl call ‘Kumudhu’. Meanwhile, Kanthi gets friendly with another young servant who helps with gardening.

Veteran teledrama and film actress, Veena Jayakody plays the main role in the film ‘Surayahana Gini Gani’. Veena is called ‘Princy’ in the film.

Kanthi Nilaweera plays the role of the servant girl. When Princy comes to know about Kanthi’s affair with the servant boy called ‘Wije’, she sends him away in anger.

Meanwhile, a newly married couple has come to stay in an annex. Their film names are Nihal and Yamuna. Sanoja Bibile plays Yamuna’s role. Due to financial difficulties Nihal is compelled to do two jobs and as a result is often out of home. At this stage Princy and Yamuna develop a close friendship and gradually behave like husband and wife. The Princy-Yamuna relationship becomes an obsessive one to the point of their being unable to live without each other nearby. Nihal notices a difference in Yamuna’s behaviour towards him, in that her attitude to him is lukewarm.

Kanthi, too becomes revengeful because Princy no more shares her bed with her. Kanthi develops an affair with Nihal and this time they are helped by a village thug call ‘Gune’. One day Nihal catches his wife and Princy in a compromising situation and the film ends tragically.

‘Surayahana Ginigani’ is directed by Eranga Senaratne. Other leading roles are played by Sriyantha Mendis, Rangana Premaratne and Mahen Perera.

Youth
Too young to really be in love?

by Cecil V. Wikramanayake
I was in my late twenties when I took the plunge for the first time. We had six children and the marriage lasted more than forty years till I was left a widower and took the plunge once again becoming a father once more when I had several grand children !

And I never regretted anything I did.

But how about you. When did you get married or when are you ho-ping to change your civil status, as the registrar of marriages would say.

Many years ago, it was the accepted practice for a young man to enter into the holy bondage of matrimony shortly after he entered his twenties.

The reason ? In those days, a large family was considered an asset. The more children you had, the more there would be to look after you in your old age.

But times have changed, and today we live in a world where "Small is Beautiful", and a family is expected to have two children. Or three at the most.

In these hard times, feeding many mouths is not like what it used to be in the days when a pound of sugar was only eight cents, and a father would buy a bag of rice and a bag of dhall and enough provisions for the month on a salary of Rs.40/— a month, and still have something left to pay the rent and meet other sundry expenses.

Today the maintain that same level, a father would require at least twenty thousand rupees a month !

So there is something to be said in favour of ‘small is beautiful’, isn’t there ?

But the cost of living aside, what about the cost of loving ? And, more importantly, what about the other things that go to make a marriage ?

Merely falling in love is not sufficient reason for stepping into holy wedlock. Which is perhaps why, today, the modern trend is to live together, or have a ‘relationship’, for some time before taking the plunge.

Judging from what I have seen in public places, couples today, particularly the girls, are not backward at coming forward when it comes to showing their preference for a partner of the opposite sex. Perhaps it is emancipation of women which has brought about this change. Whether it is a change for the better or not, is not for me to say.

But love, that ‘many splendoured thing’, is what makes the world go round. It is a wonderful emotion and greatly to be encouraged. But, as every good thing in this world can be abusesd, there has to be a limit, or a line drawn beyond which it would be unsafe to proceed.

This is perhaps why parents want to have a hand in the partnership-for-the-future of their children. They have had experience of life for a longer time, and so have the best intention towards their offspring.

In spite of this, the younger generation appears to feel that they should be left alone when it comes to marriage. I have often heard it said "You are not going to live with her, Mummy. I am! " Or something to that effect. The young man has a point there. What do you think ?

An adage said "Marry in haste. Repent at leisure". Of course in those days there was no trial marriage, no ‘relationship’ and divorce was something that carried a stigma attached to it.

Today there is no question of repenting. One goes to the divorce court and the matter ends there, with only questions of custody of children, alimony and other such mundane things to be sorted out.

But when you marry for ‘love’, as people say, you are undertaking something of a responsibility that you will have to carry all through your life. It is not a responsibility to be taken lightly, for if you really love your partner, you will not hesitate to put her/him before yourself. Her/His likes and dislikes, wants and needs will have to come first. Certainly before yours. And believe me that reaally is a great responsibility.

So, are you really too young to be in love ? Or are you ready for that responsibility that has kept the world going round and round ?

A question of piercing among teenagers

Piercing ears may be fine. It has been a tradition among many Easterners, particularly the Tamils, to pierce their ears. Now they pierce not only their ear-lobes, but other parts of the ear.

Ear-lobe piercing has also moved on to the males, and you find many men, grown up men, with pierced ear-lobes.

But when teenagers want to have other bits of their bodies pierced, how far should they be allowed to go?

Little Rachael was only seven years old when she wanted her ears bored. Her parents happily agreed. It was a painless operation, done with modern equipment. Everything was fine, till Rachael reached the age of 14. Then she wanted a stud in her tongue.

Her Dad went mad ! He was quite against any kind of facial adornment, and was forever complaining about certain pop stars.

Her Dad and Mum compromised and suggested that she have a tummy-ring instead. Rachael has not made up her mind yet, and her parents hope she will forget it all as time goes by.

They are worried about infection, and quite rightly so. They have spoken to doctors who have advised against it for several reasons. Like, for instance, piercing the ears above the ear-lobes can affect your sight, certain doctors say. The nerves of the ear are apparently connected to, or are close to nerves of the eyes.

And there is no one Rachael’s parents can go to for guidance on this matter.

Piercing ears, or any other part of the body, can be done by anyone who cares to set up business. Here in Sri Lanka, fortunately, most of the piercing, for the Tamil Hindus at any rate, is done by Poosaris, or by persons who have been doing so for generations, like the man in Punduloya who pierced the noses and ears of my wife, her daughter and her grand-draughter, with no adverse after-effects.

However, with the fad in the West now coming to Sri Lanka, and with the number of youngsters, both girls and boys, piercing not only their ears and noses, but also other parts of the body, it is time the Department of Health stepped in and did something about seeing that what was done was properly done, with regard to the safety and health of the person being pierced.

Piercing originated in the Orient. In Ancient Egypt, ear-rings were worn both by men and women and were used to adorn the statues of their gods.

The most popular piercings for teenage girls, apart from the ears, are the nose or navel. But most reputable places where they pierce ears, noses or even navels, refuse to do so on girls under the age of 18 unless one or both parents are present and have consented to it. Good for them!

Pictured here is a young man who has not only pierced his ears and his nose but also his lower lip. And in the smaller picture, from top left are Janet Jackson, who has gone further and have not only her nose and navel pierced, but also her nipples. Princess Ann’s daughter Zara has a stud in her tongue. Prodigy star Keith Flint has had his tongue, eyebrows, nose and nipples pierced, while Scary Spice, Mel B also sports a stud through her tongue. — (CVW)

Indian singers in Sri Lanka

Two well known South Indian playback singers T. M.S.Selvakumar and Minmini will perform at the opening ceremony of the Hindu Cultural Museum at Mayurapathi Sri Pathrakali Amman Temple, Colombo 6 on Sunday, July 11 at 5.30 pm.

Cultural Affairs Minister Lakshman Jayakody will be the chief guest. The 11th annual prize-giving of the Hindu religious school too will be held at the same venue at 6 pm.

Transport and Highways Minister A.H.M.Fowzie, Provincial Councils and Local Govt. Minister Seyd Alam Mowlana, Deputy Minister P. Chandrasekeran, Western Province Chief Minister Susil Premjayanth, Bharatha Laxman MP, P.P.Devaraj MP, Mauritius envoy T. Eeswaran will be guests of honour

Colombo Mayor Omar Kamil, Deputy Mayor Titus Perera, Former Mayor K. Ganeshlingam and Provincial Council member M. H. Manzil are special guests. P. Vallipuram, Chief trustee of the temple is in charge of the arrangements.

How to find time for YOU

by Cecil V. Wikramanayake
Are you a time-famished woman ? Families, friends, work — you want to pay attention to them all. But do you ever feel that life is so hectic that you never have a minute just for yourself ?

Well, here’s good news for some enterprising pioneer in the field of helping other women to find time for themselves, something few women in Sri Lanka seem to have, judging from the stray remarks made in my hearing.

The concept of a ‘life coach’ was introduced to the United Kingdom about four years ago, and was in existence in the United States for about ten years before that.

Just as a personal trainer keeps you motivated to re-sculpt your body, a ‘coach’ focuses on improving your professional and personal life. It is not a therapeutic reworking of changing things for the future.

Someone helps you to make your dreams a reality, by pinning you down to doing something about it. That is a ‘life-coach’.

On the average a UK coach charges between a hundred to two hundred pounds sterling a month. But newly qualified persons charge less.

Training is done virtually by correspondence and coaching is similarly flexible, usually carried out on the phone.

A coach I know conducted a workshop, and most of the women who attended it had jobs and children and partners, and all of them were overworked. When they were asked to list what gave them pleasure, the responses ranged from irritation to patronising compliance, to anger. There was, for them, no point in imagining what they would do if they had the time because they did not have the time.

But, you know, when you are really committed to making time for yourself, you can find it.

There was one woman who nearly threw a fit when she was asked to keep two nights a week and one weekend every fortnight just to do as she pleased. The request, as far as she was concerned, was a modest one, for she was single and had no children. But in the end she won out and is now quite happy with more time for herself.

It does seem difficult for women, and impossible for mothers, to put themselves anywhere but at the bottom of the list. Yet it is not only permissible, but essential that you are at the top.

Always remember, you cannot manage without "YOU". Time to do what you want makes you happier, more energetic and better able to cope.

Here are a few recommendations from a’coach’ who has succeeded.

Decide what you really want to do.

How would you use that extra hour a day, that extra night a week, or whole day to yourself?

First, imagine that you have got the time and what you would do with it.

Once you visualise how it is going to be spent, time can be found. It sounds simple, but there are often obstacles. It means changing habits and stopping caring about what others think, and what you SHOULD do. It is usually these ‘shoulds’ that make up most of the clutter in your life. Taking a fresh look at these can release your time!

Decide what you really want to do

To get a sense of where your time goes, draw up a calendar of a typical week. The biggest block is probably taken up from the time you leave for work, till the time you return.

Taking children to school, cooking, housework, shopping, committee meetings, visiting mother and so on. Is it really essential that you do them all ?

Surely, there is someone who can take over these things, permanently or occasionally, like if you fell ill.

If you are prepared to be really radical, you could investigate changing your working hours. You cannot send anyone to sit on a committee for you. But you could resign from the committee !

To make time for yourself, you have to say "No" more often, particularly to anything you are doing out of a sense of duty ! Be a little selfish. It will help to warn people that you are going to say "no" more often.

Also learn to delegate household tasks without feeling guilty about it. A happy mother is more important than a house-proud one.

Make time by booking it and sticking to it

Whether it is time to do nothing, have a bath, read a book, listen to music uninterrupted, or pursue a hobby or sport, put it down in your diary. Make it an act of faith. It has to become as important to you as an appointment with your dentist or beautician.

You may not allow yourself "you time" because you are procrastinating over routine matters, like bill-paaying. Work on these tasks in a series of short bursts, until you have overcome the block. You have to be resourceful.

Find a support network

The secret of success is to enrol family and friends. Tell them you’re planning to make time for yourself and ask for help. Many women find this hard to do. But make the effort and you will be amazed at the co-operation you get.

Build your support team

Make a list of people you know who would like to help you.

Make a list of the people you help. Do they reciprocate ? If not, ask them to. Work out how you can help each other. There are many ways of saying "Thank-you for your help". Use them.

Remember that lack of time is often an attitude.

Making that extra hour, evening, or day is always possible if you think it is worth it. Are YOU worth it ?

HIGH FASHION
Colour makes a splash at the party
Loud and clear

The newly refurbished and air conditioned Palm Lounge which was once the way into the Coconut Grove, at the Galle Face Hotel, was the venue, when Mavis Gardiner entertained her many friends to dinner. Entering through the verandah outside, which was wind swept this evening, one walks into a glowing and welcome atmosphere exuding cosy charm which also makes an ideal background to fashion and style.

Mavis for the evening picked on an all black outfit. The long gossamer top cut on the bias, combined with black pants. The hemline of the top fell in handkerchief points finished in a silver bead and black tassel, with diamanthe buttons down the front. A fine single row of diamonds made her necklace and she wore diamond stud earrings, as ornaments. A corsage of orchids were pinned at her shoulder.

The fashion conscious women present wore a range of styles which included the saree which is hard to beat whatever the other styles maybe. Beautiful, was the border of Parsi embroidery in silver and gold that adorned the black saree Rhumba Karunaratne wore. A chunky necklace in silver with discs of coral and jade and tiny silver bells made to a traditional antique design, made a striking ornament.

The black saree Yoga Rodrigo wore was indeed a winner. The saree was worked in a pattern of large leaves in luminous pale green, on the shoulder in a spray and on the pallu. She wore a necklace and earstuds set in gold and her accessories were in light gold.

Sriyani Samarasinghe draped her saree of sapphire blue silk in the Gujerati style. The saree had a border and pallu in a thread weave in gold, orange and ecru and she wore gold jewellery.

A black saree of organza with a thread worked border and pallu in a shadow stitch in tawny orange and olive green was the choice of Srimani Dharmaraja.

Vijes Nagendran also wore black with a border in white embroidered in pink and green in a global design.

Of the salwar kameez outfits the most outstanding was the green ensemble worn by Ranjanie Wijewardene. The tastefully done embroidery was in straw toned gold kashmiri work in panels of ethnic design down the front and at the edge of the sleeves. A gold chocker necklace and little stud earrings made her jewellery.

Cocktails were served in the Coconut Grove, which was a good idea, as it provided an opportunity for friends to meet and fraternise before they sat down for dinner.

Jewellery

From the invitation which took the form of a bird cage, to the decor, a new concept and design was evident when Nikki Harrison and Dick Dumas held a cocktail gathering to open their outlet for jewellery ‘Manika’ in the Galle face Shopping Arcade. Present were some of the leading lights of the fashion scene in town and some of them made jewellery the focal point of their attire. Nikki herself wore a creation of their own, a brooch in the form of an elephant done in fine wire with a large central cabochon gem on it, to bring glamour to her simple suit style dress in a tomato red.

The necklace Ramani Fernando wore was of wood and large white stones. The three discs of bronze painted wood, framed the stones to make a striking ornament, against the simple lines of her deep charcoal outfit.

A chunky necklace in sliver with matching earrings brought cocktail time elegance to dungarees in a grey tartan check and black blouse Dulali Fernando wore.

Beautiful to say the least was the choker necklace of jet beads and metallic sliver Badra Wijesena wore, the glittering ornament set off by the simplicity of a salwar kameez which had a self check on the body and a stripe down the long sleeves.

Simple and youthful was the blue dress scattered with lighter blue daisy motifs Ishu Sobhraj wore with a white blouse under the pinafore style. The jewellery on display was original in design, exotic and elaborate, very beautiful, costly and outstanding.

The salon is worth more than a visit for its atmosphere and style which is most welcoming, quite apart from the work to be seen.

Simple wedding

A simple wedding with a lunch time reception after church service was the choice of Suresh, son of Lucky and Victorine Wickramanayake when he was married to Sujeewa, daughter of Solomon and Patricia Ranasinghe. The marriage was soleminsed at the Cinnamon Gardens Baptist Church and the reception was at the Colombo Hilton.

Close friends and relations admired the bride in her saree of ivory organza worked along the border and on the pallu in gold Zardosi and beads with gold flower motifs in relief at regular spaces on it. The veil flowed from behind and adorning her hair was a row of motifs coming to a point at the forehead. Her bouquet was of roses and babys breath and her jewellery was in gold.

For the going away Sujeewa changed into a saree in a lovely shade of pink also worked in gold on the borders, with motifs scattered on the pallu. The neckline and sleeves were worked to match. She carried a sheaf of pink flowers and gold grass flowers and wore flowers of the same hue in her hair. The necklace was in gold and completed a pretty picture.

SLAHAB conducts workshop

The Sri Lanka Association of Hairdressers and Beauticians (SLAHAB) headed by its President, Ramzi Rahaman will conduct a full day’s workshop on Basic and Advanced Hair Cuts.

The workshop will be held on Monday 12th July 1999, at the Bishop’s College Auditorium, Colombo 3, and eminent personalities in the Hair and Beauty Industry will be on hand to demonstrate and discuss the latest methods and trends.

Only a limited number of participants will be accommodated and registration will be on a first-come first-served basis as the Association intends to pay individual attention to the participants, in order to enhance their knowledge.

SLAHAB was formed three years ago with the objective of developing the Hair and Beauty Industry by way of education and training. It is with this in mind that the Association has organised this workshop.

All those in the Hair and Beauty Trade who are desirous of improving their knowledge and keeping abreast with the latest trends and skills are advised to attend this workshop. Those interested are requested to call 698932 for registration and further details, or call over at the office of the Association at No. 65/7A, D. S. Senanayake Mawatha, Colombo 8.

Style
She knows all about the language of cloths

Priyanthi Fernando or Preethi as popularly known among friends, knows all about the language of clothes and their power.

Clothes is her vocabulary and over the years she has learned to speak her mind to extraordinary effect.

A key to Priyanthi’s style was her versatility; ability to get it right at the right place at the right time in the right outfit.

Above all, she is the masterful judge of occasion and would dress to please the person or the people she was going to be with.

The building up of her wardrobe is a full time job. Whenever she travels she picks up a few exclusive ones.

She also experiments with colours, often dressing from head to toe in the same shade of canary yellow or red and mix unexpected colours such as green and blue, magenta and black. The beauty of it, is that she could carry off any colour. She is not afraid to wear black which she feels is chic and sophisticated and suited her. Her sense of style shot out at every occasion. Her clothes reflected a more realistic image of a working mother, a self-assured woman increasingly in control of her life.

She wears both Western and Eastern, with her slick hairstyles complementing her dress sense. ‘Prenita fashions’ epitomises her sense of style.

Owner of a exclusive saree boutique and crystalware Priyanthi keeps abreast with international trends in fashionwear .

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