China's Rise Driving Hollywood Interest in Asia
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12 Thursday 22nd March, 2012 The Island Features ay back, in 1994-1995, during the school 88 in 44 deliveries. As I mentioned earlier, ‘Mahela’s Paradise’ is cricket season, I went to witness a 2. Arjuna Ranatunga’s swashbuckling the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Grounds. Wmatch at Nalanda College grounds, innings of 88 at Sharjah against India. During the period 2006-2009, he scored 82, 374, Colombo. A young right hand batsman executed 3. Dilshan and Jayawardene’s opening stand 127, 195, 136 and 79 in consecutive Test innings. some brilliant on drives and covers drives with of 179, chasing Australia’s 271 at Adelaide in the Pakistan’s Danesh Kaneria spoiled the ‘Party’, grace and elegance. second of the three finals, where SL recorded an when he dismissed Mahela Jayawardana for 2 I inquired from a boy, “son, who is this eight wicket victory on Tuesday, March 6, 2012. runs. After this episode, he continued his good right hand batsman?” Promptly came the reply, As the captain, Jayawardene led from the front work, scoring 92, 96 and 194, in consecutive “sir, he is our captain, Mahela Jayawardane.” and Tillekaratne Dilshan, the leading run getter innings. A couple of weeks later at Ananda in the Commonwealth Bank Tournament and Mawatha, I saw another elegant right hand bats- Man of the Series, scored a power packed 106. Batting heroes man. He was Mahela’s rival, Ananda College Although Mahela Jayawardena (80) did not get Sri Lanka’s most consistent batting heroes, skipper, Thilan Samaraweera. into three figures, against the Aussies, the deli- Jayawardane (374), Sangakkara (287) created I was very impressed with these two boys. cacy of touch, the exquisite timing, his ability history by amassing 624 runs – the highest Test At that time, I was holding a senior position to pierce the field, running between the wickets; partnership. The same combination, in May at the Ceylinco Group of Companies. My it was simply amazing. He was the ‘Real Play 2010, put on 160 runs in the World Cup Deputy Chairman, the dynamic Daya Maker’, and a fine ‘Thinker of the Game’. Twenty-20 encounter. They fell short by four Senanayake, called me and said, “Epasinghe, during his fine batting display, Mahela runs of the record, which was held by the Sunil Gavaskar is interested in getting two Jayawardena was unruffled, calm, cool and col- South African pair of G. L. Smith and L. young school cricketers, with Test match poten- lected and showed the world, the art of batting. Bosman, against England at the Centurion tial, to join the Bombay Gymkhana Club on The main thing in Mahala’s innings was that he in South Africa in November 2009. their tour to South Africa. I thought you are the was leading from the front and put country Today, I sit back and enjoy the best person to select two schoolboy cricketers before self. ‘Heroics of Mahela’. I feel so happy from Sri Lanka.” when I recollect that I too, in a very The following day, I nominated Mahela and Pet hunting ground small way, helped Mahela by arranging Thilan. Thus, they had their early ‘cricket bap- The most number of the runs scored by an a cricket tour to South Africa with the tism’ on the ‘fast tracks of South Africa’ for a kind courtesy of Sunil Gavasker and period of six weeks. I presume that it was an Daya Senanayake, in 1995. auspicious start for them. Mahela Jayawardene was born Although no cricket authority or the Sports on May 27, 1977, in Colombo, Sri Ministry, has recognised my humble contribu- Lanka. His father, Senerath tion to Sri Lanka cricket, I am happy that at Jayawardene played for Christian least the International Cricket Council (ICC) College and Sri recognised my services to Sri Lanka cricket, Jayawardenepura Vidyalaya. when they celebrated their 100th year, by award- Today, he is considered as ing me a medal for my contribution to SL crick- the best cricket captain in et, as a coach and administrator. In 1968-1969, I the world. was a schools’ cricket selector. On principle, in When Mahela my life, I have never gone behind politicians. Premasara Jayawardena was lead- Captain’s role Epasinghe ing the Sri Lanka team, In 1998, when my son Bhagya was working as a cricket administra- as an Accountant in Botswana, we went to see tor attached to the the Sri Lanka-South Africa matches played at individual in Tests, in a single ground, belongs Interim Committee of Johannesburg, Cape Town and Bloemfontein. to Mahela Jayawardene. He created this unique SLC, I accompanied the Sri Sri Lanka was captained by Arjuna Ranatunga. record at his pet hunting ground, the SSC. Lanka National cricket team to Zimbabwe and Mahela probably learnt the basics of a Between 1997-2010, he scored 2646 runs in 23 Australia. I am proud to state that under ‘Fighting Captain’ under the astute leadership matches, in 35 innings. Mahela’s astute leadership, the entire team of Arjuna. Mahela was a thinking cricketer. I On July 29, 2006, batting at Number 4, turned out to be fine sporting ambassadors for always thought that this young boy was SL cap- Mahela Jayawardena scored 374 against South Sri Lanka. Their behavior on and off the field taincy material. I told this to Arjuna, at that Africa, in a total of 756 for 5 wickets. was exemplary. In fact, at a tea party accorded time. Further, an ODI record was established by to the Sri Lanka cricketers at Temple Trees The captain of a cricket team has more Mahela at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium. In 33 by President Rajapaksa, on their arrival, I diverse responsibilities than in any other game. matches, in 32 innings, Mahela collected 1076 told the sports loving President; ‘sir, you In a sense, he is a composer, first violinist and runs, with a highest score of 123. can be proud of them. They brought conductor all rolled into one. He has to have the credit and honour to your country: nerve of a gambler and the poise of a financier The many heroics of Mahela Their behavior was exemplary. They the understanding of a psychologist and 10 Another innings I remember was his styl- are your Ambassadors. year’s more cricket knowledge than he can pos- ish 72 against the West Indies at St. George’s sess and of course, the patience of a saint. Grounds. If my memory serves me right, with Angelo Mathews – Captaincy Chamara Silva (64), they established a record material Epic innings - 2011 World Cup partnership for the 4th wicket at the World Cup During the Zimbabwe tour, for I will always remember Mahela’s epic 2007. the first time I met all-rounder unbeaten century, at the Wankede Stadium on Not only in Sri Lanka, but also in India, Angelo Mathews. After the tour, April 2, 2011. Like Aravinda de Silva’s century Mahela Jayawardene created a record, when he I communicated to SLC that at Lahore, in 1996, Mahela’s innings was a ‘gem’. scored 276, the highest by a visiting player, at Angelo Mathews did possess They are both ‘Big Event Performers’. Delicate Ahmadabad, in November 2009. all the ingredients to be the cuts, cover drives and the pulls were all there. The youngest Sri Lankan to score a double future Sri Lanka cricket Aravinda de Silva was brutal at times. Mahela century is Mahela Jayawardena. At the age of captain. At the moment, he Jayawardena destroyed his opponents with a 21 years and 273 days, he scored 242 against is not far away from being smile. These two batting legends, remind me so India at his favourite grounds, the picturesque bestowed with that posi- much of ‘Maestro’ M. Sathasivam of the late SSC. tion. 1940s and 1950s, the best batting artist that Sri At the age of 29 years and 65 days, he Mahela is Sri Lanka’s Lanka produced, according to my opinion. became the youngest Sri Lankan to score 15 cen- ‘Kohinoor’ (Most Valuable turies. He achieved this landmark on July 31, Precious Diamond) in crick- Three best innings 2006. Further, he became the youngest player in et. 1. Against England, Sanath Jayasuriya SL to play 50 Test matches. He achieved this I wish him the best of luck. blasted the Englishmen. He scored a blistering landmark on July 31, 2006. China’s rise driving Hollywood interest in Asia China is a trendy theme now. in February it’s tying up with three “Hollywood needs to tell the same Chinese companies on a joint venture story in new and unusual ways and entertainment company that will make right now China is hot, it’s interesting Chinese animated and live action con- and most people in the West don’t know tent. Dreamworks will have a 45 percent very much about it,” Berger said. stake in the venture, which is expected “Kung Fu Panda 2,” about a cartoon to begin operations in Shanghai later panda named Po who battles a peacock this year. villain, raked in $665 million at the box Legendary Entertainment, producer office last year, although only $165 mil- of hits including “The Dark Knight,” lion of that was from U.S. moviegoers. ‘’Inception” and the two “Hangover” Trench and Berger spoke at a panel installments, partnered with leading at the Hong Kong International Film Chinese studio Huayi Brothers Media and Television Market, or Filmart. The Corp. in June to form Legendary East. entertainment industry trade show is The venture plans one or two big budg- one Asia’s biggest, with 640 exhibitors et movies a year starting in 2013 for — 10 percent more than last year — global audiences that are also commer- hoping to sell their films to 5,200 buyers cially viable in China.