Entertainment

Arundhati Roy wins PEN Pinter Prize for ‘powerful voice’

Published

12 months ago

June 28, 2024

editor

Indian author Arundhati Roy has said that she is “delighted” to have been awarded this year’s PEN Pinter Prize.

Set up in memory of playwright Harold Pinter, the award is for writers of “outstanding literary merit” who take an “unflinching” look at the world.

The announcement comes weeks after officials in India approved action against Roy under anti-terror laws for comments she made 14 years ago.

Roy is a Booker Prize-winning author and has written about human rights issues in India as well as war and capitalism globally.

English PEN chair Ruth Borthwick praised Roy for telling “urgent stories of injustice with wit and beauty”.

“While India remains an important focus, she is truly an internationalist thinker, and her powerful voice is not to be silenced,” Borthwick said.

Roy, 62, is an outspoken writer and activist and could face prosecution by the Narendra Modi government for comments she made in 2010 about Kashmir – a controversial topic in India.

She is a polarising figure and has often been targeted by right-wing groups for her speeches and writings.

Roy has been outspoken in her criticism about the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government’s alleged targeting of Muslims and has also spoken about India’s declining press freedoms during Mr Modi’s tenure.

She will receive the PEN Pinter Prize on 10 October in a ceremony co-hosted by the British Library.

The prize was set up in 2009 by English PEN, a charity that says it defends freedom of expression and celebrates literature.

Previous winners include Michael Rosen, Malorie Blackman, Margaret Atwood, Salman Rushdie, Tom Stoppard and Carol Ann Duffy.

On winning the prize, Roy said: “I wish Harold Pinter were with us today to write about the almost incomprehensible turn the world is taking. Since he isn’t, some of us must do our utmost to try to fill his shoes.”

Roy has written numerous books and non-fiction essays, but she is best known for her novel, The God of Small Things, which won the Booker Prize in 1997.

(BBC News)

Entertainment

South Indian actress Varalaxmi arrives in SL

Published

2 days ago

June 18, 2025

editor

Renowned South Indian actress Varalaxmi Sarathkumar arrived at Katunayake Airport yesterday (June 17) to play the lead role in the upcoming film “Cage Bird”.

The film is a Sri Lankan production directed by Chandran Ratnam, which is set for international release.

She arrived at the Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport at 11:04 a.m. via SriLankan Airlines flight UL-122 from Chennai, India.

She was welcomed by Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) officials, including Deputy Director Harendra Wijewardene and Assistant Director Chaminda Munasinghe.

Entertainment

Indian actor Mohanlal arrives in SL

Published

4 days ago

June 16, 2025

editor

Renowned Indian actor Mohanlal arrived in Sri Lanka on Saturday (June 14) for the second phase of shooting director Mahesh Narayanan’s big-budget film.

He landed at Bandaranaike International Airport at 11.20 a.m. via SriLankan Airlines flight UL-166 from Kochi and is expected to stay for 10 days.

Speaking to the media, Mohanlal praised Sri Lanka as a “beautiful destination with fresh cinematic backdrops” and expressed interest in filming more projects on the island in the future.

The film, produced by Antony Perumbavoor’s Aashirvaad Cinemas in collaboration with Anto Joseph Films, also features legendary actor Mammootty.

Key action scenes are set to be filmed during this schedule.

@Mohanlal is about to went to Sri Lanka to join the sets of #MMMN for a few days of shoot✌#Mohanlal pic.twitter.com/iUwjxOzD0p
— AKMFCWA Official (@AkmfcwaState) June 15, 2025

ലാലേട്ടൻ ❤️
Latest at Sri Lanka#MMMN Schedule @Mohanlal #Mohanlal pic.twitter.com/zj4L2Hm0sT
— AKMFCWA Official (@AkmfcwaState) June 15, 2025

Entertainment

Special award for renowned actress Iranganie Serasinghe

Published

6 days ago

June 15, 2025

editor

he 2025 Silver Screen Awards Ceremony held with the participation of the Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The 2025 Silver Screen Awards Ceremony was held on June 13 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), with the participation of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The aim of this year’s awards ceremony included appreciating artists who enriched the Sri Lankan cinema industry during the years 1970–1975. At the ceremony, renowned actress Iranganie Serasinghe was presented with the Sumith Bibile Memorial Gold Award by the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister also conferred awards to distinguished artists Padma Sri Kodikara, Dinesh Priyasad, and Indrani Perera.