The red carpet rolled and swept upto the entrance of the National Film Corporation Cinema when Chandran and Nihara Rutnam released their new film "The Road to Elephant Pass" (Alimankada). This was the first ever Oscar Awards like event that Colombo has seen. It was a glittering and glitzy success, just as the film was. Attended by the glitterati of the film world and Colombo society which included dignitaries, stars of both the big and small screens, starlets and debutantes, they came in their carpet sweeping evening dresses, and sarees that would have put the red carpet glits in California in a dim light. The men were somewhat uncertain and made their presence felt in a range of styles from tuxedos and black ties, to lounge suit and smart and distinctive casuals.

The film has brought to the Sinhala cinema a new dimension and was a triumph of direction of the late Nihal de Silva’s Gratian Award winning book. The entire story is held together by just two characters, antgonist army captain, and this young woman terrorist who are forced by circumstances to go through many an ordeal, during the course of which they are drawn to each other. Portrayed by Ashan Dias as the captain and Suranga Ranawake as the LTTE activist they played with a confidence and prowess at acting which was very special indeed, for first-timers, in movies. To them, and to Chandran one has to acknowledge the fact that they have given the Sinhala movies a new dimension, which we hope will be the beginning of a new era, in the history of our cinema.

Sparkle and dazzle came from the many arc lights surrounding the walk up, and from the many paparazzi having a hey day, with the presence of so many imminent people. There were the media television to press and interviews after the show for impressions and evaluation of what they have seen, just as at premieres elsewhere. All this would have been mundane if not for the cavalcade of fashion, with Nihara who has the knack to make heads turn with her flair for style, for this big night wore a red dress, the bare shouldered top draped with a panel over one shoulder flowing into a stole. Red accessories and only long eardrops for ornaments completed the ensemble. With her was a youthful Miss in a black top she combined with a long skirt ruched in front with the dipping hemline featuring a ruffle. Shameena Laurent wore a smart black outfit with large hoop earrings and a wrist full of silver bangles. A black saree embroidered in white silk thread was the choice of Shirlene de Silva to wear with a dimond and onyz pendent and ear studs to match. Shirlene came with her two sons, and is the wife and children of the author of the book Nihal de Silva.

Suranga the star of the show had her white saree given a striking opulence with a red border and pallu worked in silver and gold. Dinushka Chandrasena who with Andre Estafan organised the event, which Roshan Ranawana said was just how such a happening should be. Dinushka was in a saree and Andre in a beau-brummel style in black and white.