Category: Sri Lanka Teledramas

In the search for novel themes for telefilms industry, award winning director Thusitha de Silva has released a series of telefilms, ‘Therani Geethaya’ telecast every Poya day at 9.30 pm on ITN.

Director Thusitha Chathurika in yellow robe
Influenced by ‘Theree Gee’ that we come across in Buddhist literature, each episode revolves around different female characters who were enlightened by the teachings of Lord Buddha and attained Nibbana.

“The period of time the stories are set in is an era where there was a lot of suppression on women by the male-dominant society. Establishing the order of female monk itself was a revolution by the Lord Buddha,” said Thusitha de Silva who earlier directed a series of telefilm ‘Paramitha’ based on Jathaka stories.

“It is said that sometimes the women decided to become Bikkhuni as they wanted to get rid of the suppression and suffering they underwent specially from the males,” he said.

Some of these Bhikkhunis developed their mental status to reach the level of Arahathhood and the stories that come in ‘Theree Gee’ are tales narrated by these female monks in the form of flashback, the director said.

Award winning script writer Somaweera Senanayake has written the scripts originally from Pali and the main role of all the stories are played by a female who tells her story as a narrative.

“In the original stories, these female monks have openly spoken about problems they faced in their lives as layman and this included even problems related sex which are now considered taboo for media. It reflects how open and liberal our literature was. But today we cannot use them in today’s media and this is mainly because of false Victorian mentality introduced by our colonial rulers,” Thusitha explained.

The first episode of the series was telecast on last Poya day and it was played by Kanchana Mendis. “Kanchana being a Christian played the role with lot of dedication and enthusiasm,” Thusitha said. Kanchana had to undergo a four and half hour makeup session of Jayantha Ranawaka patiently to turn herself into a bald-headed Bikkhuni.

Talking about his search for variety of themes for his tele-production, Thusitha said, “Our audience is fed up of the present teledrama culture which has limited family problems. We need a diversion and novel theme before our audience gives up the small screen,”.

Thusitha’s team of technicians for ‘Therani Geethaya’ include Jayantha Ranawaka, experienced prosthetic artiste in handling make-up, Thisara Thulwan as camera director, Nalani Malkanthi as art director and Kamini Rajapaksa as production executive.

Thusitha was grateful to People’s Bank and its chairman W. Karunajeewa for sponsoring the teledrama series.

from: http://sundaytimes.lk

Link: http://www.smartlanka.net/blog

Every person in the world has a heart
Every heart has a place within
That wants only to love and be loved
Let us connect with that
Place of love in our own heart
And in the hearts of all around us
Let us take a moment now
To open to the heart connection
We share with all people through love

By Indika Hettige
, gives a great opportunity to experience love, that it will attract most young hearts with the theme of love, imagination, friendship and many more.
‘Hadawatha Mal Yayai’ is the latest movie directed by experienced filmmaker Ananda Wickramasinghe and The Nation spoke to him to know more about it.

“The story revolves around two main characters, Channa Perera as ‘Himal’ and Chathurika Peris as ‘Lihini’ and is based on a love affair”, said Wickramasinghe.

“Himal and Lihini are good friends earlier become lovers following a casual tryst”, explained Wickramasinghe.

Wickramasinghe further stated that in this movie there are no villains or heroes nor fights. All the characters are good and simple.
“Actually the story of this movie is very simple and interesting,” said Wickramasinghe.
“Today, people do not like to watch terrible movies with fights because of the war situation in our country”, Wickramasinghe continued.

The movie was shot in some areas around Colombo, Ingiriya and Kuruwita. Wickramasinghe further stated that they are hoping to release the movie at the end of the year or beginning of next year.
“We have not yet decided on the theaters to screen the movie in.”

Director Ananda Wickramasinghe’s previous movies were ‘Satana’, ‘Danaya’, ‘Yasasa’ and ‘Sergeant Nalla Tambhi’. ‘Hadawatha Mal Yayai’ is Wickramasinghe’s 10th.

The sub roles are by Sanath Gunatilaka, Tennyson Cooray, Mahinda Pathirage and Rathna Sumanapala along with many others.
“All the characters in my movie extended great support to me. Among them Chathurika and Sanath’s support is noteworthy”, said Ananda.

“Art direction was by Gamini Bandara, camera direction by M.A. Gaffoor, make-up by G.D. Nandasena”, said Wickramasinghe.
Music direction was by Ranga Dasanayake and most of the songs were sung by superstar singers Gayani Madushika, Nalinda, Sanka Dineth and Manjula Nimanthi.
Assistant director is Leslie Siriwardena.

‘Hadawatha Mal Yayai’ is produced by Tilak Kodikara.
Finally, director Wickramasinghe said, “Let the people decide whether it is a good movie or not.”

from http://nation.lk

After her seven-year long undisputed reign in the television circles, small screen’s favourite bahu ‘Tulsi Virani’ died in a major road accident while she was trying to escape the clutches of her captors at a mental asylum where she was admitted by her so called beloved family.

Soap queen, Ekta Kapoor, finally decided to put an end to her most famous character ‘Tulsi’ which has now become a household name.

Actor Smriti Irani will no longer be part of one of the longest running serials in television history. Her role in “Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi” came to an end yesterday when ‘Tulsi’ died in an accident while trying to escape from the asylum.

Read More http://www.saharasamay.com/samayhtml/Articles.aspx?NewsId=77082

Ravindra Wijeratne’s ‘Jeewtjhaya Lassanai’ celebrated the screening of its 200th episode on September 3. The miniplay that occupies the 7.30 pm TV belt on Swarnavahini from Monday to Friday depicts a father who is a musician who has named his seven children after the seven notes of music.

The intention of Manuwansha, the father, a famous musician of the Island by naming his children after music notes was with the aim of taking them on a long journey in the music industry. While the father strives to make his children musicians, the seven children seek for independence. At the same time their caring mother who is caught in between, silently struggles to protect her family.

This is the first minplay produced in Sri Lankan tele-industry history which telecasts all five-days involving all Sri Lanakan artistes.

‘Jeewithaya Lassanai’ stars Irangani Serasinghe, Wijeratne Warakagoda, Somasiri Alakolange, Malani Weeramuni, Kusurn Perera, Jagath Chamila, Lahiru Mudalige, Gayan Wickramathilake, Niroshan Wijesinghe, Nadeesha Alahapperuma, Umayangana Wickemasinghe, Deepani Silva, Danushka Ratnayake, Janak Premalal, Sampath Shri Rohana, Alfred Perera and Ayomi Shanika.

Script Writing team includes Gayan Kavinda Malawiarachchi, Asanka Sayakkara, Anoma Wijayawardane, Chathura Adikaram, Suneth Warnasuriya and Lal Wasantha.

Others in the crew include Saman Ariyaratne for the editing, Deepthi Mangalasoma as art director, Pushpakumara Bandaragama as make-up director, Camera, Chandana Dharmapriya and Hema Nalin Karunaratne as executives. Music direction is by Rohana Weerasinghe. ‘Jeewithaya Lassanai’ is produced by Sandya Mendis for Susila Productions

Kindurangana, produced by Shoba Kapoor and Ekta Kapoor , is the story of three young sisters who live with their father in Nuwara Eliya. But the lives of the three girls take startling twists and turns after the sudden death of their father. Just before their father breathes his last, he requests his children to meet Prathap Gajasinghe – a multi-millionaire businessman in Colombo.

The three girls meet Prathap Gajasinghe, and the rest of the story takes exciting turns as it flows from this point onwards.

Chamisha Devmini Ratnaweera, Yureni Noshika and Niranjala Jayasinghe play the roles of the three sisters while the rest of the cast includes Ishan Gammudali, Akila Sandakelum, Thusitha Weerasinghe, Cyril Dharmawardana, Edna Sugathapala, Rohani Weerasinghe, Ananda Athukorale, Sanjeewa Illeperuma, Nimal Yatiwella, Ranil Suranga, Antonio Punchihewa, Poornima de Silva and Chamini Nisansala Pereira.

Asela Bandara has directed music with vocal contributions from Samitha Mudunkotuwa, Uresha Ravihari and Kithsiri Jayasekara.

Anil Gupta is the project’s Consultant Director while Fredrick Dissanayake is the Executive Producer.