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| Sunday, 27 November 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Launch of website for Kirthi by Umangi de Mel They say good things come in small packages...of course, only all good things don't brag much and talk you to death till you actually have second thoughts about the 'good' part of them.
"That painting was done by Zarina Moosajee. She had a collection of portraits of all the famous people in Sri Lanka back then," says Kirthi pointing at his portrait as a youth which is undoubtedly admired by his visitors. Being the first ever designer the country has produced, Kirthi's talent was brought to the limelight by Sita Jayawardena of the Sunday Times back then. Obviously fascinated by the school goer's skills, she wrote an article about him. But his creative side wasn't given much prominence by his family or Ananda College his alma mater as he was studying for his pre-medical examination. Nevertheless, God had other plans for him... In 1954, Jeoffrey Deseynes, a representative from Dior House in Paris visited Sri Lanka. "He saw my designs which I'd just done for my mother and aunts and was very impressed. He asked if I'd like to work in Paris for them." Elated by the break, Kirthi had to try his level best to convince his parents to give up medical college for his one passion. Having succeeded at the end, he flew to Paris where more aptitude and experience were awaiting him. "I came back around 1956 and did a show with just one model called Rita Fernando who was the only trained fashion model at that time. The show was a tremendous success. I've done many things since. I've dressed the most famous people in Sri Lanka," he says gleaming with pride. Kirthi admits having dressed not only the locals but also foreigners who had their weddings in Sri Lanka. "I've done many shows and the last one which was held at the Hilton was a great show. It was organised by Padma Maharajah and the tickets were sold out two weeks before." Every individual in this world is gifted with at least one talent they say but a few minutes with Kirthi, you realise how wrong the saying could be. "I used to sing with Deva Sooriyasena as well as the philharmonic choir," says Kirthi beaming humbly and adds that he danced as well, "I have danced on stage and I love dancing, especially Spanish and ballet." He didn't stop there. Having starred in three movies such as Kolamba Sanniya, Nidhanaya and Kalu Diya Dahara, Kirthi also qualifies as an actor. "I did the costumes for many movies. And in the reviews of Nidhanaya and Rampage they'd said that the costumes added so much to the atmosphere of the movie". He also did a stage play called 'Street car named desire' by Lal Senaratne. Being the writer that he is, Kirthi still contributes to Explore, Daily Mirror, Sunday Island and Femina Sri Lanka, "I mainly write about arts, exhibitions, music, dance, fashion and social events. I'd love to do a teledrama if I get a good role," he says grinning hopefully. He says he doesn't do things, that he's not good at, "I really enjoyed doing everything I've done and I love designing still. It's nice to have dressed ladies whose daughters also come to me as brides now. Men I think are the world's best designers because a woman will always think of dressing herself first before she thinks she can put it on another, whereas men will always think of the one they're going to dress. That's the secret behind the best designers being men". As a designer Kirthi thinks differently about clothes, "I think clothes should be practical. When SriLankan Airlines were Air Ceylon, they organised a competition to select their uniform. I won it simply because I did practical clothes". Fifty-two years in the field, Kirthi has earned enough fame and name to last a life time, "I 've no regrets about anything. I'm quite satisfied with any life. I believe in living and let live." A website will be launched to celebrate his birthday on November 30, at the Colombo Plaza. The concept and design of the event is the brainchild of Emphasis and the website is also created and hosted by BT Options while it's co-ordinated by Thaptha Siriwardena and Glenda Parthipan. |
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| Produced by Lake House |
The great big small man smiles a very modest one. Small in size but great
in his work, Kirthi Sri Karunaratne sits in an illuminated corner of his
apartment looking handsome as ever.. 
