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Small Screen
‘Daekathi Muwahatha’
Portrays the life story of a school teacher

by Sulochana Ramiah
Punchi Ratota - seven km off Matale has a salubrious setting with a mountainous landscape, surrounded by untamed nature, a gushing Amban Ganga flowing under a sandy bridge. This was the exact location for a team of film makers gathered to shoot their last few episodes of the teledrama ‘Daekathi Muwahatha’ (Sharpen Sickle) a production by the Rupavahini Drama Unit.

Daekathi Muwahatha, is directed by the man who was highly praised for his teledramas like Raigam Yaluwo, Mahamerapamula, Eha Ivura, Dholos Mahe Api and Hirdaya Sakshiya by Dayaratne Ratagedara.

"This is my new teledrama and it’s completely different comparing to the ones I directed before’ expressed Dayaratne Ratagedara, seated on the rock at the site where the shooting was going on. "There’s politics along with a very common life story of a school teacher and that’s nothing new because politics has turned out to be part of"everybody’s life", the director tells sarcastically.

"I and the rest of the team including the actors and actresses" says the director , " have put all our efforts to make this teleseries a success shooting in different locations, under the heaty conditions and lack of sources in the villages.

It’s true! This particular shot was taken at the Amban Ganga riverbank where Sriyantha Mendis the main charactor meets his co-star Kusum Renu . The dialogue had a few simple sentences but number of ‘re-takes’ were shot by the cameramen due to the disturbances by the villagers and kids who were gathered there.

Sriyantha Mendis, the actor for all seasons seemed to enjoy the whole session chatting with villagers who didn’t know who he was. " I have no problem with these people, and they are all out to help us and I feel I am one among them" says Sriyantha.

Talking about his role in this teledrama, he said, " I am Jayasekara, a teacher working for the betterment of people, and so I rebel against the odd and ends of society. This is the first time I am portrayed as a teacher, which is actully my profession and that helped me a lot", he said.

He recalls an incident while shooting in a classroom. "Till the take was done I actually taught that class and I was happy that the children didn’t waste their time though the shooting was in progress" recalls the actor.

"Daekathi Muwahatha" was shot at different sites around Matatle. "Kivule, Pamunuwa School, and Matale Police gave their fullest support for filming the teledrama" the director added, "and the major outcome was the special performance by the Central Province Chief Minister Nandimithra Ekanayake and Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education Reginold Cooray who acted on a few scenes for the teledrama".

The director Dayarante said the total number of episodes will not cross 20, and the last few shots will be filmed around Sri Jayawardanepura Parliamentary complex. The budget of the teledrama is around 11/2 lakhs per episode.

The theme of the teledrama is about a man’s belief in socialist ideals and thus struggles to serve a society.

The Rupavahini Drama Unit functioning from 1982 was specially trained by Japanese professors. From studio production the unit went on in to experimental programmes and then to stage dramas and are now producing teledramas.

The Drama Unit of Rupavahini selected ‘Daekathi Muwahatha’ for the fine story depicting present day society in our country says the SLRC Drama Unit Assistant Director Tilak Gunawardane who was also at the site. "We are fully equipped and have produced programmes for the last 18 years" said the director

Sriyantha Mendis, Meena Kumari, Gnananga Gunawardane,Nilanthi Wijesinghe, Jaya Shri Chandrajith, Kusum Renu and Norman Palihawadana are some of the castes in this teledrama.

Daekathi Muwahatha is produced and directed by Dayaratne Ratagedara, tele story by Kapila Kumara Kalinga, Music by Ananda Gamage, Assistant director Ranga Bandaranayake, Thiraj Lester, Marvo Lakshitha, camera by Ashoka Jayasekara and Ranjith Jayasena, lighting by D.P. Wijesinghe and Palitha Chandrasiri, Art director Chitrasena de Silva and recording by Rohitha Wijesinghe and Mohommad Gasali.

Nannadunanni
Gripping story of a mysterious murder

by Zanita Careem
Is it a murder? If not, how did this death happen ? This is the doubt sown by Ananda Abeynaike in the minds of the viewers in his latest teledrama "Nannadunanni" to be telecast from August 12.

This teledrama in 13 episodes consists of a star-studded cast led by Lucky Dias and Chandani Seneviratne.

Full of suspense, it is a gripping story of a family drama. Prod-uced by Ananda Abeynaike it revolves round a murder.

A group of young men and women are enjoying themselves on the beach. Suddenly they are disturbed by something they see. It is the corpse of a female with cuts and bruises. The body is brought ashore and taken to the mortuary. The story hits the headlines in the newspapers.

Surendra, an executive in a mercantile firm, identifies the body as that of his wife Nirmala. He tells the police that he suspects Suminda, a colleague at his wife’s place of work, of causing her death.

They look for Suminda who is hiding at a friend’s place in the hills. He is totally disturbed and disgusted about Nirmala’s death. He doesn’t tell the truth even to his friend.

The story of "Nannandunanni" develops thereafter as a mix of flashbacks and current happenings. Is it murder ? If so, who is responsible, or couldn’t it have been an accident ? Then with whom was the female ?

To find the answer or to form your own judgment, watch the teledrama every Thursday evening from August 12 over Rupavahini.

Lead roles are played by Lucky Dias (Surendra) Chandani Seneviratne (Nirmala) with Palitha Silva (Suminda) forming the trio. In the supporting cast are well known actors including Channa Perera, Sita Kumari, Audrey Fernando, Rahana Baddage, Padmini Diviturugama, Janak Premalal, Susantha Chandramali, Ravindra Yasas and child actor Chamikara Muthukarana.

The teledrama is the work of a talented team including Palitha Perera (Photography) Rohana Weerasinghe (Music), Daya Punchihewa (Editing) Milton Perera (Art Direction) and Samarasiri Kandanage (Make-up) The screenplay is a joint effort by Sarath Gunaratne and Ananda Abeynaike. The story, production and direction is by Ananda Abeynaike.

Full of suspense it is a gripping story of a family story. Produced by Ananda Abeynaike it revolves round a murder. Sponsored by keells ‘Nannadunanni’, keeps the audience in suspense. ‘I have attempted to create an interesting teledrama keeping the audience guessing the whole time’ says director Abeynaike.

Master behind delicious cocktails

When 22 year old Keith Pereira joined Hilton Colombo in 1995 as a trainee at the Thorana Lounge, he didn’t have even the wildest notion that soon he was going to be an all island winner! With a transfer to the Echelon Pub in 1997, he automatically surrounded with all types of beverages which was the insight to his cocktail creations. Flairing soon became a skill with Keith, and soon he was master behind the bar, mixing, concocting various delicious cocktails. Last year was his first attempt at the Marie Brizard Competition, where he emerged winner! This year too Keith proved himself again by winning the trophy which enables him to qualify to enter The Asia Pacific Cocktail Competition held annually in Singapore.

Presently, Keith works at the Emperors’ Wok, the most recently opened speciality restaurant at the Hilton, and here too, he works behind the bar.

His winning cocktail- " The Millennium " compromises a mix of Jimbeam (a Bourbon Whiskey) Triple sec (an orange peel liqueur), and fresh lime, the glass is garnished in a sugar rim and a spiral of orange. The criteria for this award is based on hygiene, the way you organise yourself, posture, overall presentation and taste. Keith says his ambition is to be a Bar Manager one day.

Notwithstanding this male dominated profession, Hilton’s Suramya Rupasinghe, a pioneer employee came second at the competition. Her career at the Hilton started off as a hostess in the Hotel’s Coffee Shop, after which she was transferred to The Echelon Pub when it opened. Though she was a hostess, on her own initiative she started making cocktails behind the bar. Last year she made an attempt at the Bartender Competition and bagged the 3rd place. This year she moved to 2nd place, even though she won the regional competition.

Priyanthi takes ‘Roots’ in beauty culture

"Roots’Beauty Salon in Colombo, opened at the Wijetunge Shopping Complex in Bambalapitiya. The force behind it, is Priyanthi Moonasinghe, who has fifteen years of experience in the beauty business, having worked for six of this with Sue at the Majestic City and at Anderson Road.

"Roots" will cater to the trendy set as well as to the working girl out for styles and will be doing everything from Hair cutting and Styling, to Perming, Tinting, Manicuring and Pedicures besides the dressing of Brides. Priyanthi is an enterprising woman, and her versatility runs into many fields. Her elegance and style is the best advertisement of her capabilities, and she handles each client as individuals and naturally gets the best results, making maximum use of the pluses they posses.

She specialise in short and long hair style.

‘I believe in practicability. Whatever the styles I do it should suit the personality of the individuals quips Priyanthi.

High Fashion
A sense of style

by Kirthi Sri Karunaratne
The Ceylon Golf Union held a cocktail cum dinner at the On Golden Pond of the Taj Samudra Hotel. The occasion was in celebration of the 108th National Golf Championships which was organised and presented by the Union. Explaining the purpose of the Union, which is akin to the Cricketing Board of Sri Lanka, Michael Perera Magala, said that the aim was to promote more people to take to playing golf, which he claimed is not as expensive a past time and sport, as many people believe, it to be. This time for the championships, teams from four other countries participated, even though invitations were extended to about ten.

Of course gracing the event this evening were many Golf enthusiasts and among them former Champion Evonne Abhayaratne, in a smart black dress that spelled sophistication. A black lace jacket brought cocktail elegance to the outfit. Black was also the choice of Vita Gye. Vita who wears her hair in a Cleopatra style was also the embodiment of sophistication. The below calf length slim skirted gown had a sweetheart neckline and wrist length sleeves. Black mesh stockings and black shoes completed the image.

Black combined with white in the salwar kameez Manthri Perera wore. Her kameez was patterned in a print of white in a narrow border design a few inches from the neckline, with scattered white dots all over it. The duppatta was in white, in reverse patterned in black. She wore her signature long pendulum eardrops in antique silver and black. Of the sarees worn by the women present, once again a black was arresting.

The black saree Severine de Mel wore was dotted in white leaving only a black border. Her blouse was in black, and she wore a strand of pearls and large pearl drop earrings. The colours on the saree Indrani Dias wore were distinctive. The shot champagne khaki hue was foil to a wide pallu in charcoal and pale rust in typical ethnic design. Once again pearls were her choice of ornament. Slinky and Marilyn Monroeish in style was the halter necked dress Ianthie de Silva wore in a shot gold gleaming satin. The figure hugging dress flowed into a flare at the hemline. Simple charm came from the dress of a lovely purple Shamara Perera wore. The dress was sleeveless and round necked, to enhance a gold necklace resting on the bare skin at the nape of her neck. The members from the foreign teams mingled with the guests further establishing their friendship and gamesmanship.

The Parfumerie

"The Parfumerie" invited mostly people from the field of hair dressing and beauty to a launch of L’Oreal, skin and hair care products which was presented to an eager audience by none other than Ramani Fernando, who is a household word in the hairdressing and beauty world today. Among the others from the field present were Vasantha de Silva, Lou Ching Wong, Ardhil Cader, Carmen Jayasinghe and Yohan Pieris, besides many assistants from popular salons. L’Orial itself needs no introduction, even though the daughter of The Hundlani’s did an excellent job of it. Reshmi Hundlani had her trouser suit tailored out of a velvet finished tea rose, to see to the smooth flowing of event. Smart and simple was the little black dress Mifthia Cader wore, with a three strand necklace of pearls. The colours on Charmanie Karunaratne’s saree and on Theresa Liyanage’s trouser suit was nearly identical. In a fusion, of olive green and amber the silk on the saree was in a smudge of a print. Charmaine had bright green and white stoned long eardrops to add more vibrant colour. The long top of Theresa’s outfit shaded from olive green to amber at the hemline. A long gold chain was her choice of ornament.

Birthday

The garden lit with flares was the backdrop to the celebrations on the birthday of Dr. Preethi Wijegunawardene. This garden lovingly tended by his wife Sunethra, is a living monument to her green fingers, which is but one of her many talents. Seated or standing, as per choice, were a host of friends and relations, among them many old friends one meets atleast once a year on this occasion.

Fashions were striking but details hard to observe in this flare lit garden. Sunethra to keep her husband company picked on a brick toned ethnic outfit consisting of pants, long top and short jacket in silk. The top had below the elbow sleeves and the sleeveless jacket was embroidered in thread in tones of green, orange and yellow. Bronze combined with king coconut hues in the saree Lukshmi Ranasinghe wore. Coming from a wedding reception her saree was bordered and had a pallu of subdued gold. The border also edged her sleeves and she wore a "pattiya" of diamonds on gold and a long ‘pettimale’.

Vibrant colours made the Kandyan saree Nalini de Silva wore quite stunning. The green saree of a bright emerald tone had a border in Orissa style, in white, red and green. The ‘ihe’ was in a deep red. The blouse was in the green and she wore a ‘pettiya’ and ‘kudu’ earrings, which is part of the jewellery from the past, which never loses its appeal.

How Venus affects the females

by Sugathadasa Jayasekera

WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR YOU

Name (pseudonyms may be used): ................................

Address : .............................................................

Question : ..................................

Any one who views the evening sky these days will observe Venus, the brightest star of the Solar system. The closest heavenly neighbour of the earth is visible about 45 degrees above the western horizon till about 9.30 p.m.

Venus is considered the sister planet of the earth. Traditionally, the planet is identified as ‘Irabatu Tharuwa’ in the evening in the western sky and " Pahan Tharuwa’ when it appears in the early hours of the day in the east.

Astrologically, Venus is considered an auspicious planet belonging to the two houses in the zodiac, Taurus and Libra.

The incarnation of Venus is similar to beauty. Therefore, Venus mostly influences the female sector. In general Venus influences love, marriage and sensuality and is the planet indicating marriage (vivaha karaka or kalathra karaka) for all.

Venus will be in exaltation in Pisces and in debility in Virgo. When exalted it will bring comfort, easy living and fulfillment of aspirations and joy and happiness. Even when not in exaltation it will bestow good effects when occupied well in a favourable house for Venus. The houses, first, second, fourth, fifth, ninth, tenth and eleventh are the best places in one’s chart for Venus. Venus is in exaltation in Queen Elizabeth’s birth chart.

The weak disposition of Venus affects domestic life and marriage. So, a person born when Venus was in debility cannot expect peaceful family life as they are bound to suffer mentally as well as physically due to various deficiencies. They are much inclined to ethical violations with regard to family life and as such involve in various external troubles. They cannot have satisfaction in sex and as a result they practice immoral habits. Mr.Bill Clinton was born when Venus was in debility.

At the moment Venus is moving in Leo and will remain there till August 25. During this period Venus will be in the first house of Leo. Therefore they will have good effects in many spects during this period due to Venus.Those born in Virgo can enjoy neutral effects as the planet is in the twelfth while Librians will have best results in every aspect. Scorpians may suffer in their career. Favourable for Sagittarians. Although, certain difficulties are there, unexpected gains likely to Capricornians. Worries and pain over aggression for Aquarians while hostile acts and ill-health to those born in Pisces. Good for Arians as they could fulfil their aspirations. Taurians will have peace harmony and mental relief. Minor gains through short travelling to Geminians and career success and wealth gains for those born in Cancer.

Starting from next week our Astrologer will answer readers’ astrological questions. Therefore, readers are requested to send in their most important question and obtain an answer by sending the copy of birth chart along with the coupon appearing above.

``Take care’’ says veteran teacher

Speaking to the graduating class of the Asian International School, its Principal, Mrs. Goolbai Gunasekera, spoke on the theme "Take Care.’’

``Take care of your health, your minds, your bodies and your morals. Once physical health, mental health and reputation are gone they are lost forever.

``Take care that you do not follow false idols and foolish dreams. If you wish to copy people make sure that those you choose to emulate are men and women of nobility and admirable character.

``Take care to be good children to your parents, eventually good parents yourselves, good and loyal friends and finally good and loyal citizens.

Learn to obey the laws of your country. Perhaps some of you may be in a position to one day actually make them yourselves.

``Take care to be compassionate and understanding to all those with whom you come in contact. This will make ethnic chauvinism a thing of the past.

``Take care to bring your intelligence and common sense to bear on all problems. Be self reliant, well groomed and confident and above all have a sense of humour.’’

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