(Colombo Lankapuvath April 19) Veteran film Director Tissa Abeysekara who was 69 years of age passed away last evening (18).

Tissa Abeysekara was admitted to the National Hospital in Colombo and was treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). He entered the film industry as a dubbing artist in the movie “Gamperaliya” which was directed by Dr Lester James Peries and later rendered a great service to the Sri Lankan film industry as a director, script writer and also as an actor.

Nidanaya, Ganga Addara, Podi Malli, Delowak Atara, Welikathara Sakman Maluwa, Uthpalawanna and many more films were written by Tissa while Karumakkarayo, Mahagedra and Viragaya were movies directed by him.

Tissa Abeysekara also won the Gratian Award in 1996 for the novel “BRINGING TONY HOME” which was written by him.

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“Akasa Kusum (Flowers of the Sky),” has been jointly awarded the NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film at the third Cines del Sur Festival in Granada. “Akasa Kusum” shares the award with “Before the Burial,” by Iranian director Behnam Behzadi. It beat out films from such countries as India, China, Korea, the Palestine, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Bangladesh and Iraq at an event which took place over the weekend in Granada, Spain.

The Jury at the festival said "Akasa Kusum" was recognized 'for its strong portrayal of female characters whose lives, regrets and new beginnings are depicted in a delicate yet convincing way.' Actress Nimmi Harasgama, who attended the film's screening along with her co-star Kaushalya Fernando, accepted the award on behalf of its producers.

The film, to be released in Sri Lanka in late July 2009, won Malini Fonseka the Silver Peacock Award at the
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Prasad

Vishwanath Buddhika Keerthisena (Boodie) has completed shooting his third Cinematic Creation Nimnayaka Hudakalawa (Solitude in a valley).

His previous two films Sihina Deshayen and Mille Soya won several awards including Best Film and Best Director at the Prestigious Sarasaviya, Presidential and Signis Film award ceremonies in addition to viewer accolades.

Nimnayaka Hudakalawa is expected to add another dimension to the local cinema. Boodie who paints a picture of several happenings and a chain of dreams within one nigh, tries several experiments regarding them in this film.

Boodie himself has created the story in this film and joined hands with Chinthana Dharmadasa of Guerilla Cinema Creations group to write its screenplay. Incidentally this is the first time that the Guerilla Creations group has pooled their talents with Boodie.

Nimnayaka Hudakalawa features Ravindra Randeniya, Sangeeth
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Daily News

The scene is set for a reel of hilarious incidents when Vijaya Nandasiri (Mago), Gamini Susiriwardena (Digo) and their furry, four-footed companion, front line police dog from Balukistan (Dai) team up the result is Magodi Godai (disorder)!
 

 
This is especially significant as Dai proves to be his own master. He scurries around town sniffing here and woofing there landing his unfortunate masters (uh-oh, or shouldn’t it be the other way round?) in more and more hot water. Cheers!

That is just a glimpse of what the audience can expect from Mago Digo Dai. The movie will begin shooting in Chilaw from February 16.

Mago Digo Dai will be the maiden film production of well-known film importer and film co- producer, Janitha Marasinghe. He had co-produced Ran Kewita and Le Kiri Kandulu while importing popular Bollywood movies like Krrissh, Koi Mil Gaya, Kal Ho N


Ruwini JAYAWARDANA