Chillies 2009 to feature martial arts, drums fusion
This year's edition of the much talked about and highly anticipated Sri Lanka Advertising Awards, the Chillies 2009, will be taking entertainment to a whole new level with the goal of defying expectations. Using its theme, "You Can't Kill It", to maximum effect, this year's focus has all along been to ensure performances witnessed at the Chillies 2009 Main Event wow audiences with a dramatic mix of sights and sounds. Most stunning of these by far is the planned fusion of acrobatic martial arts skills by Sri Lanka's Wushu Federation paired with heady drum beats by famed Sri Lankan music maestro Ravi Bandu, both joining togther for the first time to create a performance never before seen on the Sri Lankan stage. This and much more awaits those attending the Chillies 2009 Main Event to be held on Saturday, May 2, from 6.00 p.m. onwards at SLECC.
The first Sri Lankan performance to feature Wushu, also popularly known as Kung Fu, a martial arts style that is over 3,000 years old, this performance which will premiere exclusively at the Chillies 2009 will pull no punches with its spectacular combination of acrobatic displays in tune with frenetic, rhythmic drum beats, all with the sole purpose of capturing and mesmerising the audience in as yet unfathomable ways. At the every least, the Chillies 2009 promises to be a treat for the senses with performances planned to be memorable in the extreme.
With origins in China, Wushu literally translates to mean “Martial" (Wu) and "Arts” (Shu), and is purportedly the first martial art in the world created by man using his scientific knowledge for defensive as well as offensive techniques. Wushu is at the same time highly visual and potentially lethal, with tournaments encompassing both performances and combat facets of Wushu. Counting Asian film star Jet Li as its international ambassador,
Wushu has most notably achieved significant success locally with the Sri Lankan delegation winning four gold medals at the South Asian Federation Games held here in 2002, while several Wushu clubs have also been established, even as far away as Kandy and Trincomalee.
Meanwhile, the formidable task of putting music to Wushu's potentially superhuman feats falls Sri Lankan musician extraordinaire Ravi Bandu. There being none better with him being acclaimed far and wide for his musical artistry and diversity. Whether known for his sensational percussive feats or his oriental dance skills, Ravi Bandu is an all around performance artiste in the truest sense. Well regarded for his significant contributions to local, as well as fusion, music, he is also the man behind the eclectic Ravi Bandu Ensemble, which combines the best of eastern and western music with the help of an acoustic guitarist, a saxophonist, a flautist, a sitarist, a tablist and a keyboard player.
The Chillies 2009 Main Event, on Saturday, May 2, from 6.00 p.m. onwards at SLECC follows Chillies Week 2009, which kicks off with a "Brief to a Grand Prix”, a workshop conducted by Cannes Lion Grand Prix winner Agnello Dias, on Monday, April 20, from 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m., at the Longdon Room. The week then continues with "Creativity in Two Worlds", a seminar conducted jointly by creative powerhouses, Dentsu Japan’s Masaka Okamura and JWT India’s Senthil Kumar, on Tuesday, April 21, from 6.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m., at the Upper Crystal Room. Next are the always popular Judges Forum - Print & TV on Wednesday, April 22, from 7.00 p.m. onwards and Judges Forum - Radio & Non Traditional Media on Thursday, April 23 from 7.00 p.m. onwards, both at the Upper Crystal Room. Final learning opportunities include "It doesn’t have to be an Ad", a workshop conducted by former ECD TBWA/ Tequila Singapore and Chief Integrator for Asia, Graham Kelly, on Friday, April 24, from 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m., at the Regency Room, and a seminar on "Creativity in tough times", also by Graham Kelly, on Friday, April 24, from 6.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m., at the Upper Crystal Room. Chillies Week 2009 will end with the 2009 Finalists Exhibition slated for Tuesday, April 28, to Thursday, April 30, from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m., at On Golden Pond. All events, except for the Chillies 2009 Main Event at SLECC, will be held at Taj Samudra Colombo, the official partner hotel for the Chillies 2009.