Arts

Rasoja:

In search of an illusive Eldorado

by Ranga Chandrarathne

Rasoja, a drama by young dramatist Janapriya Jayasinghe will go onboard on December 23 at 6.31 p.m at the Elphinstone theatre in Maradana. Jayasinghe's forte is his extraordinary perception of life and deep insight into the predicament of modern man in a materialistic world.

The drama is woven around a story of a family. They live in deprivation in a land of misery. A prolonged drought had robbed the land of vegetation and crops, leaving the population only to feed on porridge of rice.

Manula, Sneha and their son Jeevana stay behind because of their love for the motherland while thousands of men and women abandon the land of misery and leave for Shashrika Deshaya, an Eldorado. It is a land full of luxuries and those who migrate will have an easy and luxurious life free of trouble. Those who land there can live in palaces of their choice.

However, in order to enter the land of prosperity, one has to cross a long desert under the scorching sun. The road to prosperity is a difficult path. Tempted by the brighter prospects of leading a luxurious life and an equally bright future for their son Jeevana, Sneha wants to end the miserable life they lead in the land of misery and to join the men and women leaving for Shashrika Deshaya.

In the middle of the journey, they run out of foods and water, compelling them to consume one in order that others may reach the destination. However, attempts by Manula to kill his wife Snesha as well as parent trying to kill the child, Jeevan failed miserably.

However, Jeevan dies and parent eats his flesh and drinks the blood and reach Shashrika Deshaya. Though they reach the land of prosperity, now they can not enjoy the luxurious life and feel something is terribly missing. It is the child, the very purpose of their lives.

On route to prosperity, they have, though unwittingly, destroyed the very purpose of their lives and the purpose of the journey. Ultimately, the arduous journey though leads to the Shashrika Deshaya, land prosperity, end in a tragedy. The drama ends with a blank note of parent's turning back on to the desert as if to journey back into the land of misery.

Here the dramatis expresses the predicament of modern man who is tempted by the stiff competition in materialistic world to earn more and more to satisfy insatiable desires. Wittingly or unwittingly he/she become a part of the rate race in order to persue material gains.

Unbridle consumerism has led to extravagant life style and spending spree which knows no bounds. What often happened in this inhuman process is that those who pursue happiness and material gains conveniently forget the very purpose of the race which, on most of the occasions, is a better life and a high standard of education for the children.

Drama is based on Buddhist idea of futility of material gains and fulfilling fleshly desires. The process of wealth accumulation destroys the man. He/she soon becomes a part of the process, abandoning the purpose of being engaged in the process. The idea reinforces the old adage 'Wealth accumulates men decay'.

As the drama will go through diverse readings, it is poised to capture the attention of Sri Lankan theatre goers. One of the salient features of the drama is that its universal application that transcends synthetic barriers such as class, creed and nationality.

The story is also applicable to any country. Drama attempts to enlighten the audience. It is a drama which the entire family can watch. Dramatist has attempted to make a best out of the limited resources at his disposal.

Janapriya Jayasinghe should be commended for his sharp perception and insight into the milieu.

The dramatist has diagnosed the social menace that has, by now, cracked the very foundation of civilization. Rasoja is the third drama directed by Janapriya Jayasinghe.

The cast comprises Janaka Kubukage, Semini Iddamalgoda and Payoda Mallawaarachchi. Music for the drama is by veteran musician Nawaratne Gamage and lighting is by Chandana Aluthge.

For his production, 'Adasada Rathriya' (1999) Janapriya Jayasinghe won best Script-writer's award and Best Production (Second place) at the Yauwana Sammana Ullela organized by the National Youth Council. 'Varadi Welawede Hamu Una Hari Miniha', play won the Best Script at the State Drama Festival.

It should be mentioned here that all these productions were original work by Janapriya Jayasinghe. Janapriya is also a journalist, copy writer and author of several books including Amuthumama and Gemmba. Janapriya is firm believer of lighting a candle rather than cursing the darkness.

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A chance encounter with a surrealist

'Felicitation': An exhibition of lyrical paintings by Champani Devika:

by Indeewara Thilakarathne

Perhaps, the title 'Felicitation' of the recently concluded exhibition of paintings by Champani Devika would be the most appropriate term to paraphrase the concept-studded paintings hung on the walls of Lionel Wendt Art Gallery.

Paintings offered a panorama into the mind of the creator. From most of the paintings, it is obvious that she is greatly influenced by Buddhism. In fact, it is a recurrent feature omni-present in her paintings. One has to go beyond the superficial boundaries of the paintings in order to comprehend the subtle and sublime message imbedded in Champani's work.

The felicitation is for all beings in the universe. They are, according to Buddhism caught up in a vicious circle of Samsara; birth, existence and death.

"According to Dhamma journey

Admiring all of you

Initiative new era commemorate

Consolidate your mind with lyrical

Paintings offer "Felicitation",

Through the multi-layered paintings, Champani ventures into a realm of human activities ranging from politics to feminism. Her grammar of paintings is simple yet capable of turning a deep-philosophy of life into a set of brush strokes that make up a concept picture.

According to her, she owns the liberal use of yellow to her education in China. Almost all the paintings, yellow provide a tapestry on which she draws her vision out. Underneath her paintings, Champani has spelled out the concept that has turned into multi-layered paintings.

For instance, a painting on peace amply demonstrates Champani's ability to turn concepts into a graphical illustration. Here a against the yellow backdrop is a scantily clad disfigured woman whose bust is covered with a transparent blind.

She stands against a silhouette of Sri Lanka. A tiny creeper runs near the disfigured woman with blossomed flowers floating around her. Beneath the paintings runs the caption;

"Peace pearls like shower, let there be

And blossom the flower of freedom

Its fragrance shall calm minds

And bring the sense of bliss "

Champani Devika is a teacher of Art and held many exhibitions here and abroad.

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