Shining star among many amateurs

By Jayashika Padmasiri
Veena Jayakody is an actress we watched while growing up and we are still watching her perform brilliantly on screen. Talent has not abandoned her, for she is still a star among many newcomers as well as the experienced, who are standing the test of time. Her acting in the film ‘Sarungalaya’ and in the teledrama ‘Sura Asura’ earned her the respect as an actress.

“My mother was an actress, Rohini Jayakody, and I grew up with the silver screen. I walked and talked with the screen. It was never strange because I have always been familiar with it. I acted first as a child in one of my mother’s movies, ‘Hangi Hora’ and when I was 19, I started my career with the film ‘Apsara,’ where I got the chance to act with Gamini Fonseka. It was my mother’s wish and her dream to see me become an actress and I’m happy that I am one today. When she was pregnant she had seen a film and said that if I get a girl I want her to be an actress and this is her wish come true,” said Veena, reminiscing on her childhood and the entrée into local cinema.

Acting is many things for many people, but it always changes from one person to another. What is acting to Veena, how does she like being a performer? “I love acting. I’m very lucky that I have been able to play different roles of many kinds, portraying different characters. And being an actress gives me the opportunity to meet a lot of people.”
She has acted in almost 100 movies, at both national and international levels. Some of her international performances were in ‘Mother Theresa,’ ‘Carpet Weavers’ and ‘Road to India’. She has also acted in more than 50 teledramas. Speaking about the characters and roles she gave life to on the screen, she commented that, “I did it with faith and love. Whenever I act I want to act the best I can, not just to appear on the screen. I do not do it just for the sake of acting; I do it for me, because I love doing it.”

Who inspired her? “My mother is the reason why I am here today. I consider Gamini Fonseka as my guru; he helped me a lot and also Ramadawan, the photographer and Nita Fernando. Every time I face the camera I remember them for it is because of them that I am here today,” she said.

What are her hobbies? What else does she like to do other than acting? “I like cooking, sewing and listening to music. I love music and I also enjoy talking with my friends.”

What other hopes or dreams does she have? “I don’t have any big dreams or any hopes. I just try to face life as it comes and my only wish is to do good to everybody without harming or hurting any one.”

As an actress, her views regarding the present cinema industry are, “It is not doing so well, but I believe that for good productions to come out, the industry needs to have money. There was a time when people used to watch every movie that came to the town’s cinema hall, whether it was good or not was a different matter. But now, it is different, the situation in our country is also accountable for this, I guess. Anyway, good movies should be produced and in order to do this, good directors, good scripts, stories and suitable actresses and actors should be there. But most of all, luck should be there because it is all a gamble.”

Speaking about the newcomers she said, “They should know what they are doing, and have respect for this profession and for the elders that gave them this profession. They should learn to respect each and every person they work with. But most of all, they should learn to have a strong head, faith in what they are doing and love the cinema.” The last movie she acted in was ‘Nilambare,’ directed by Kalum Palitha. And she is working on a new teledrama this year called ‘Adareta Wess Banda’ directed by Sanath Abeysakara, where she will be playing the role of a mother.

What are her most memorable moments in life? “Well, there are so many. When I became an actress, when I first won the best actress award in 1982 for the performance I did in the movie ‘Ré Manamali’, the day that I got married, the first day I held my first child, the day that I first held my first grandchild and all the changes happened in my life, I consider as memorable moments. She has her own beauty clinic which she manages with her daughter, by the name of ‘Veena’s Beauty Clinic’ and said that she enjoys working there in her spare time. How does she see life? “I see life as something that is there for us to learn and to live. There are ups and downs in life and it is all about facing whatever that comes your way and learning from every experience. I believe in God and I try not to repeat the same mistake. Every time that I have fallen, God has been there and given me strength to carry on and to hold on and I am thankful for everything. I can’t live forever and for the little while I live, I try to live and to let live,” the vivacious actress said.

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Raja Bojun branches off at Welisara

Kandy and Polonnaruwa are next in line

The much-patronized Raja Bojun in Colombo run by Ceylinco Hotels Ltd. has big plans to become a chain hotel throughout the island.

Obviously, the best place to branch out initially is at Wattala, the pulsating suburb of Colombo. (All the main commercial banks and state banks and the major super markets have tasted success at Wattala).
Three days before Christmas, Raja Bojun opened its first branch at Welisara, right opposite the Lakspray factory, drawing large numbers.

The old year was signed off in style with a grand buffet at Raja Bojun in Welisara. Some 50 families, away from the bustling and sometimes dangerous Capital, passed the closing hours of the old year here. Oriental and Asian cuisine dominated the buffet while local favourites like hoppers, strings, thosai, roti and you name it were all available. Sea food was a major attraction for some, while the special dessert corner was a treat for the kids and adults who didn’t mind an extra serving to end the old year on a sweet note.
Senior Manager J.L.S. Fernando said he handpicked Samantha Edirisinghe formerly from Airport Gardens as his Master Chef.

NirmoThambapillai, Managing Director assisted by Palitha Abegunaratne, Deputy General Manager, have been spearheading the move to branch out. And Fernando assured the same quality in Welisara and other branches that are to be opened shortly.

The lunch buffet, priced at Rs. 475/= will attract many travellers abroad on the way to the airport and those arriving in Sri Lanka. Fresh juices of several kinds are a major attraction for the more health conscious.
The dinner buffet priced at Rs. 575/= will ideally target families wanting to relax and eat out. The lunch and dinner buffets are inside the restaurant. On Saturday nights, with the Calypso band playing on, it will be an alfresco buffet enjoyed under the summer huts close to the snack bar. There is also inner dining for those who wish greater privacy. There is also the set menu, if that is your preference.
The spacious location has parking for 40 to 50 cars at a time and has entertainment for the whole family including a children’s park.

With Welisara under its belt, Ceylinco Hotels Ltd. plans to open another branch of Raja Bojun at Kandy, a bustling city before moving on to Polonnaruwa.
And the coastal belt is in for another treat, courtesy Ceylinco snacks, from Peliyagoda to Negombo to catch the office and school crowds in the mornings.

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Bollywood songs dance to Oscar

Hindi-language music in Acad mix for first time with ‘Water’

Partly inspired by the success of Jorge Drexler’s song from “The Motorcycle Diaries,” three songs by Indian composer A.R. Rahman have been submitted to the Academy for consideration, including the tune “Chanchan” from “Water.”
Considering that Bollywood is synonymous with musicals, it’s surprising that this is the first time Hindi-language tunes have been in the Academy song mix. Until recently there was only one Indian film submitted for foreign-language consideration, and that was it.

But with the recent infiltration of foreign-language filmmakers and composers into mainstream Oscar categories (think Drexler again, Pedro Almodovar, Roberto Begnini and “City of God”), Indian filmmakers were emboldened to try their hand in various categories, including music.

Indeed, although there have been other foreign tunes nominated (including some which have won) such as “Belleville Rendez-Vous” from “Triplets of Belleville” and “I Will Wait for You” from “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg,” these have been the exception.

But this year there have been a record number of foreign-language tunes the Acad has deemed eligible besides the Hindi songs, including ones from the films “Curse of the Golden Flower” (China) and “Paprika” (Japan).
“It’s a good thing,” Rahman says. “Music doesn’t have any boundaries.”

Rahman, who composed all eight songs and the score for 2001’s Oscar-nommed “Lagaan,” says ignorance about the Acad’s application process is one reason Bollywood composers have not submitted their works in the past.
But this year, Fox Searchlight has entered the tune from “Water,” Canada’s foreign-language candidate, while UTV has submitted “Khalbali” and “Luka chuppi” from “Rang De Basanti,” India’s foreign-language entry.
“After the Hollywood Bowl,” Rahman says, referring to his July concert, “I felt a little confident. People like the music.”

Helmer Deepa Mehta points out that “Water” is not a Bollywood film. “’Chanchan’ is not an item number, nor do they go off to Switzerland,” she says, referring to Bollywood’s penchant for nightclub songs and couples running around trees in scenic locations. “It’s a song of hope, a song that pushes the narrative along.”

Rakeysh Mehra, director of “Basanti,” says it was difficult to choose among the many songs in that film, but he went with Rahman’s choices. “Songs in ‘Basanti,’ are like the soul of the movie. They are pretty much juxtaposed and lateral rather than being situational. A.R.’s compositions and (lyricist) Prasoon (Joshi’s) poetry interpret the story in its own unique fashion.”
(google)

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Hollywood’s golden oldies creak back into action movies

LOS ANGELES, (AFP) - Rocky Balboa, John McClane and now Indiana Jones: Hollywood is going back to the future by resurrecting several much-loved characters despite the advancing years of the actors who made them legends.
A 60-year-old Sylvester Stallone clambered into the ring again last month for the latest movie in the “Rocky” franchise, while a 51-year-old Bruce Willis is getting ready to reprise McClane in the fourth “Die-Hard” film this summer.

Meanwhile, in June, Harrison Ford will blow the cobwebs off his fedora and bullwhip to begin filming the fourth instalment of the “Indiana Jones” movies, one month short of his 65th birthday and 26 years after the original “Raiders of the Lost Ark” was released.

“I don’t know if the pants still fit, but I know the hat will,” quipped Ford earlier this week as plans for the film were revealed.

Not content with bringing Rocky back to cinema screens, another Stallone character -- gung-ho Vietnam vet John Rambo -- is coming out of hibernation, 19 years after the third film in the series.

Although industry reports have indicated that the latest Indiana Jones film will acknowledge Ford’s age -- “Indiana Jones and the Ravages of Time” is one ironic working title -- some movie pundits are sceptical about the trend of reviving characters who have been inactive for so long. “Hollywood producers have become lazy and ageing actors have shown a lack of consciousness about themselves to an extraordinary point,” Lew Harris, editorial director of Movies.com, told AFP. “There’s a definite problem with Harrison Ford, who has shown in the past few years that’s he’s not really aware how old he is. “What they’re gonna have to do is give him a young sidekick, like Keanu Reeves. The fact that they waited so long, I don’t know who cares anymore.” Following the James Bond strategy, of trying to relaunch famous characters with different, younger actors, won’t work because so much time has elapsed since the last movies were on release, Harris said. “It’s not Indiana Jones without Harrison Ford, like Rocky isn’t Rocky without Stallone,” he said. Arnold Schwarzenegger decided to call time on his career as an action hero to pursue a career in politics after the last “Terminator” movie in 2003, aged 56. “Schwarzenegger had no choice, nobody was seeing his movies anymore. By the time he went to politics, he was dead as an actor,” Harris said.

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Cox plays paparazzi

Instead of paparazzi digging for dirt on Courtney Cox, it is the other way around now. Opting not to use her married name Cox-Arquette this time, one of television’s former “Friends” returns to series work by targeting the tabloids as star and an executive producer of the FX drama “Dirt,” premiering Tuesday, January 2. Her new alter ego, Lucy Spiller, is a ruthless and demanding celebrity-magazine editor determined to out-scoop her rivals. Frequent assistance comes from skilled but emotionally unstable photographer Don Konkey (Ian Hart, “Finding Neverland").

Their decisions have profound effects on a number of lives, including those of a top actress (Laura Allen), her not-as-successful actor boyfriend (Josh Stewart, “Third Watch”) and another starlet (Shannyn Sossamon, “A Knight’s Tale”). Jeffrey Nordling (Once and Again) appears as the publisher Lucy answers to. Among guest stars for the show’s initial run are Grant Show (Melrose Place), Mariette Hartley and Paul Reubens -- alias Pee-wee Herman. “I think the show just gets better and better,” Cox says while multitasking on her exercise bike. “It’s a great challenge. I can’t even believe what I’m reading, it gets so wild.” The actress consulted real paparazzi in preparation for the show, especially since she reports FX President and General Manager John Landgraf “felt very sure he wanted it to be much more in the workplace. He wanted my character to be pulling the strings, orchestrating all the stuff that goes on.” Indeed, it is clear to see right from the opening party scene what motivates Lucy. “Work is the most important thing to her,” Cox says. “She wants to find out the truth, then she wants to print it. At the same time, she’s got her own struggle. She’s learning what the truth is in her life, what drives her to get this information and why she has to be this way. That unfolds as the series goes along. People are obsessed with pop culture, and my character does what she can to report it, but some of what she does is questionable.”

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US TV network cancels OC

The American teenage soap opera The OC has been cancelled.
The final episode of the television drama, that saw its ratings plummet during the last series, will air on US screens on February 22.

The finale “will deliver real closure to the series, to the story we began telling four years ago”, series creator Josh Schwartz said in a statement. “It will be fun and emotional and I think really satisfying. It is the finale we always planned to do.”

Based in the affluent Orange County, California, city of Newport Beach, The OC caught fire in its first season, 2003-04, as the top-rated drama among young adults and with a total audience of nearly 10 million.
The show’s story lines revolved around Ryan (Benjamin McKenzie), an outsider thrust into a heady new world of money and sex, and rich high school kids including Seth Cohen (Adam Brody) and Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton) and their families.

But The OC did not sustain its momentum, dropping to about seven million weekly viewers during 2004-05 and then to fewer than six million last season.
This year, returning in November after Fox finished its postseason baseball coverage, The OC has only drawn about four million viewers.

The third-season finale’s high drama, which ended in a cliffhanger with Marissa and Ryan’s car crash, did not turn the series around in the US. (google)