Patavi : ballet - opera in Sinhala:

Fusion of talents with creativity

by Ranga CHANDRARATHNE

Gaya Ramya Alwis	Thanuja Priyanthi Bandula

Patavi, a ballet-opera by Thanuja Priyanthi Bandula and script written by Gaya Ramya Alwis will be held at Vishakha Vidyalaya on August 27 at 6.30 p.m. Music, costumes and choreography are also by Thanuja.

Patavi Ballet Opera is based on a Chinese folk tale which Thanuja Priyanthi Bandula has turned into a ballet opera. The novel feature of the latest production is that students who have mastered the ballet have also been added to the cast.

The construction of the wall was a tragedy as thousands who did not comply with the royal decree, were summarily executed by soldiers. Patavi lives in a remote hamlet with her husband. They were just married and soldiers took her husband to work at the wall. Patavi's husband died whilst shouldering a huge boulder. His body was laid on the bank of the river where the wall was being constructed. Patavi without knowing her husband's tragic death put final touches to a jacket for her lover. Upon failure to send the jacket through a messenger, Patavi herself embarked on a long journey in search of her husband, braving harsh winter.

She reaches the wall only to find her husband's body lying on the site while the workers were not paying any respect to dead. Patavi cursed the emperor and his Ministers, causing a stoppage of work. Since the Ministers found it difficult to deal with Patavi, the emperor cames to the construction site. The emperor ordered the Ministers to be jailed.

Enticed by the incomparable beauty of Patavi, the emperor wanted to win her heart. Patavi suddenly changes her mind and promises to marry the emperor only if he accorded a decent funeral for her husband. The emperor who now wants, somehow, to win the heart of Patavi accords a decent funeral for her husband. The legend ends with Patavi taking her life by jumping into the roaring waves of the river and disappearing among the waves.

Music for Patavi is by Thanuja Priyanthi Bandula. The music scores composed for Patavi are impressive. Ranara Academy which presents Patavi was established with the objective of creating a society sensitive to aesthetic pursuits.

Patavi is also marked for its excellent costume design and lighting. For instance, red has been predominantly used to make authentic Chinese ambience.