RASA VINDANA

Let the head lines High!
Written by D.B. Warnasiri
Violins are wailing; trumpets sigh in sorrow! The demise of Dr. Premasiri Khemadasa has left a resounding silence in the aesthetics and performing arts scene in Sri Lanka. Film Music as well as “Khemedasa Symphony”, “Khemedasa Opera”, “Khemedasa Kantata”, became a house-hold name in the cities and suburbs of this Island because of Dr. PremasiriKhemadasa’s ability to adapt the Sri Lanka folk-music to be orchestrated blending western music with melodious Indian varieties; he topped this popularity by taking operatic music and opera in his astounding ground-breaking efforts in “Manasa Vila” , “Agni”, “Doramandalava” and “Pirinivan Mangalyaya” (Kantata) etc. The Maestro of Sri Lankan modern music, Dr Premasiri Kemadasa – adoringly called “Master” by the Sri Lankans in general – has a left an endowment of great aesthetics for posterity. With his demise, Mother Lanka had lost one of her most creative and innovative sons who wove his craft around his central philosophy – Arts for the purpose of up-lift of the spirit and the aspirations of the common man on the rise! He not only pleased, entertained and lifted the spirits of his listeners, Khemedasa Master familiarized and popularized the Symphonic and Operatic music format and styles among the Sri Lankan intelligentsia. Never forgetting or trying to camouflage his simple beginnings, never hiding his aspirations for greater heights, “Master” personified perseverance and dignity of the creative spirit inherent to Man – he never said never again; always exerted to accomplish and perfect his expression – leaving an indelible impression in the music scene regionally and internationally. What he achieved in his simple trip to Czech Republic high-lighted the fact that western mode of music is not confined to a few countries in the West! Music is Music in appealing to the mind, heart and soul via the ears! His craftsmanship and creative manipulations blending traditions and impulsive innovations were beams of light that penetrated the pall of darkness that threatened to surround and suffocate the Lankan music scene that was raising a heavy clouds of dust from the great tussle between the archaic tradition – obsessed school of gate-keepers and the imitators who were groping in the dark to find the right key to open the doors of good taste! Khemadasa took a calculated risk in leaving the orchestra he was heading at state-run Radio Ceylon – the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation – to set-up the “Sangeetha Manjari” in a tiny flat at bustling Maradana – the Northern Centre of Lower middle class social strata. Soon this small gathering of middle-aged musicians lead by Khema was joined by the enthusiastic young musicians who absorbed the inspirational spirit of free and independent creative functionality espoused by this “Leader” whom they began to adoringly call “Master”! Soon Symphony became a house-hold name in the mid-60’s and this symphonious music compelled the popular aesthetists of the time – the film-makers – to take notice: the expressive music “master” help enhance the visual narration of Sirisena Wimalaweera’s “Rodie Kelle” enticed film-maestro Lester James Peries to offer his “Nidhanaya” to Kehema! Instantly Khemedasa Master became the Ennio Moriconie and Elmer Bernstien and Henry Mancini and the Indian Music Maestros wrapped in-one in Sri Lankan Film Music. Khemadasa Master’s creative collaborations are indeed a Study in Spanning of Generation Gap: From the Pioneering Sirisena Wimalaweera to Modernising Master Lester James Peries to Avant Garde stylist Vasantha Obeysekera to populist T. Arjuna to the espouser of the Left Bank (Dr.) Dharmasena Pathirajah who ushered in metaphorically speaking the horizon widening Dharmasiri Bandaranayake, Jayantha Chandrasiri and a host of “New” and “Now” generation of cineastes. His affinity and penchant to work with any one creative augured well for our Sri Lankan disciplines of performing arts – not restricted to Cinema alone! In haven, the heavenly beings must be gathering now to listen to a higher spirit of rendering! May our “Master” attain the Bliss of Nibbana!


Malini wins Silver Peacock award
Written by Adabera karaya
Wednesday, 03 December 2008
Sri Lanka film legend Malini Fonseka said she was delighted to be awarded the Silver Peacock at the 39 International Film Festival of India (IFFI)."This is the biggest achievement in my forty years of film career," The award was presented for her outstanding performance in Akasa Kusum.
In the salutation, the IFFI has paid tributes to Malini Fonseka's "accomplishment" in cinema.
Ms. Malini Fonseka holds you from the first shot to the end of the film 'Akasa Kusum'. You know right away that she is a diva whether you know Sri Lankan cinema or not. As the film unfolds, it is magical to see her younger film clips as a major star," it said.
It added that the award was a "tribute to her accomplishment and a celebration to cinema".
Akasa Kusum (Flowers of the Sky) is directed by Prasanna Vithanage.
Ms. Fonseka was also awarded Indian Rs. 15,00,000.
'Tulpan', directed by Sergey Dvortsevoy, a Kazakhstan film produced along with Germany, Switzerland, Russia and Poland, won the Golden Peacock Award as the best film and a cash prize of four million Indian rupees.