Arts

Financial benefits is secondary - Sisil

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

Sisil Gunasekara, a popular dramatist and playwright always tries to depict social reality through his dramas that are mainly comedies.

Though his first drama was `Puduma Lampuwa’ he in fact became popular among Sri Lankans because of `Guwan Karanam’, `Wadamarachchi’, `Dehiwala Handiya’, `Ithaliye Kathawak’, `Prana Epakaruwa’, `Rella’, `Reliya’, `Mandella Mandella’ are some of his great creations.

Most of his dramas became famous and were shown in every nook and corner of the country. He proceeded to Australia and after a five year stay returned to Sri Lanka to do something novel in the drama field. “

According to Sisil there was a big change in drama field after he did Raliya. To stage his dramas he had to open up theatres which were closed down for several years. It was a big challenge to him and he had to face lot of difficulties to show his dramas”.

“In my view there is no support from the government and other authorities for dramatists. Because of the current situation in the country it is difficult for the government to pay more attention to this field.

But in the past too we didn’t have any support from them. We have only one hall of international level to hold rehearsals and that is Lionel Wendt. I never had a teacher to teach me drama.

Since I was living 100 meters away from the Ramakrishna hall, Wellawatta, I got the opportunity to see dramas of Henry Jayasena’s `Hunuwate’ for over 25 times. So `Hunuwate’ was my teacher. I am grateful to Henry Jayasena, Saiman Nawagattegama, Sugathapala de Silva and Dayananda Gunawardena because their criticism were always positive”.

He never chased after awards. “In Sri Lanka I was not expecting any awards. But I have a respect for international awards like the Oscars. Most of our judges are not good dramatists themselves. They don’t have even the basic knowledge of the field.

Today most of the Sri Lankan dramatists go after the awards. They never try to take the drama to the village. But we are not like that and we only want to do something for all the people in the country without thinking of financial benefits.”

“I hope to do new comedies with the help of our good Sri Lankan comedians.

I hope to select the best cast for my new drama taking into consideration their talents and loyalty” said Sisil Gunasekara.

Thyagaraja Aradana:

Masterly exposition of classical Carnatic music

Ranga CHANDRARATHNE

Sri Thyagaraja Aradana, concert of Carnatic classical music in homage to great Carnatic music legend sage Sri Thyagaraja was recently held at Indian Cultural Centre in Colombo.

Sri Thyagaraja Aradana is annually held in Thiruwayaru in South India where the Swami had his Samadhi (passing away of the great sage)

The versatile musicians from diverse parts of the country not only made the Sri Thyagaraja Aradana Day, one of best expositions of Carnatic music but also a memorable evening dedicated to the great sage of music.

The rich composition and lyrics of Swami Sri Thyagaraja pervaded the air as devotion filled musicians performed them to the finest notes with blend of instruments and voices.

It was the amalgam of talents, devotion and also the enthusiasm on the participants that made the evening a rich experience of cultural and music.

Indian Cultural Centre has been holding the concert since three years. This year’s devotional Arandana Day was attended by a repertoire of musicians from all parts of the country including from Jaffna, Colombo, up country and university lecturers from University of Batticaloa, final year students from the University of Jaffna, lecturers and students from the University of Visual and Performing Arts.

Special feature of the concert was the performance by three dancers who were qualified in Kalakshetra in Chennai, for the last composition set in Ragam Sri Raga. The dancers were Josita Peter, Sakitha Kugamoorthy and Luxmi Sharma.

This piece was, perhaps, the most colourful piece of the evening as the well-choreographed dance fused with intricate music score and the lyrics of the Ragam Sri Raga.

It should be mentioned here that Thyagaraja Aradana Day although not attended by thousands like in India, was second to none in terms of its rich blend of talents. Obviously, the formidable force behind the show was none other than Kalashuri Arunthathy Sri Ranganathan.

Since the repertoire was made up of best practitioners of Carnatic music in Sri Lanka, it was a memorable evening with authentic Carnatic music, reverberating the hallowed grounds of Indian Cultural Centre dedicated to the great legend of Carnatic music in that evening.

Local short film competition to celebrate Vesak

The Vesak 2009 Buddhist Film Festival was organised as a collaborative effort of the National Film Corporation, the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall and the Light of Asia Foundation.

The Festival will consist of a Local and International Short Film Competition, Feature Film Exhibition and Workshops. The main objectives are to encourage film makers globally to make films on Buddhist themes, as well as to enlighten viewers on the depth of Buddhism which is best delivered through audio visual media.

The competitions have generated much interest and the Foundation has already received 118 applications under the Local Short Film Competition category while 62 applications have been received under the International Short Film Competition.

The organizers now wish to announce that the deadline for the Local Short Film Category has been extended to April 02, 2009 upon popular demand.

To apply for the Local Short Film Competition Category, applicants must download the entry form by accessing the website www.lightofasiafoundation.com. Entry forms must be sent with a copy of the film on DVD and an affidavit, to the National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka at the following address: Vesak 2009 - Buddhist Film Festival, Local Short Film Competition, National Film Corporation, 303, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka.

Independent Sri Lankan film makers, members of Buddhist Temples and Organisations as well as students from local Universities and Film Institutions are encouraged to apply under this category.

The 7 best local and 7 best international short films are showcased on National Television from May 9-15, 2009, and the Audience Award for the Best Short Film will be based on SMS votes from the TV audience. Cash prizes for winners of Local Short Film Competition are as follows:

1st Prize: 60,000 LKR
2nd Prize: 40,000 LKR
3rd Prize: 25,000 LKR

The Competition and Workshops would lend a helping hand to up and coming Film Makers and has the added advantage of focusing on audiences - soothing their hearts and enriching their minds with insights from Buddhism through the Chitrapata Dansala (Free Exhibition of Films).

The e-Vesak card competition will be held through the “Nana Sala” network of ICTA (a network of 570 communications located in rural communities around the country). This competition will encourage rural youth to set up their own email addresses bringing Sri Lanka together on IT, and taking it to the world. Entries need to be emailed to [email protected].

Workshops to be held during the Vesak Festival week, are free for all entrants and will give them the opportunity to meet eminent personalities from the local and international film scene as well as foreign delegates. Interested entrants should register early as registration is on a first come first served basis.

This will be a must-see event for all Sri Lankans. As an event that has never been attempted before, Vesak 2009 will no doubt be a worthwhile, enriching experience for all.

Adyapana 2009

Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

We are looking at the North and East to develop educational activities in that part of the region with the conclusion of the war, said the Director Lanka Exhibitions and Conferences Services (Pvt) Ltd, H. Hassan in Colombo last week.

“We have been handling education exhibitions since 1997 and exhibitions are not something new to us. Our company has been awarded the Presidential Award for organising exhibitions this year,” he said.

He said the ‘Adyapana 2009’, education exhibition will be held for the 4th consecutive year from October 16-18, under the theme “Study today for a better tomorrow.”

The exhibition will be held at the Sirimavo Bandaranike International Hall..

Prof. Carlo Fonseka, the chief guest referring to education saidthat teaching methods are important. He said the education system has changed during the past two decades, but there were competent persons to teach those subjects.Others who spoke were Ajith Abeysekara, sponsors for ‘Adyapana 2009’, Arujun Dharmadasa, Managing Director for Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services Ltd.

‘Adyapana 2009’ provides an opportunity for educational institutions in the private sector both local and international and students to meet under one roof to discuss matters relating to education.A web site was also launched by MD Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services Ltd .

“Stitch Fantasy”

Indumathie in Negombo and Kurunegala:

A sole exhibition of handicraft, titled Stitch Fantasy by the veteran needle-craft artist Indumathie Paranawithana will be held on March 28, 29 from 9.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. at Rukmani Devi Theatre, Rukmani Devi Road, Negombo and also on 04 and 05 April at Y.M.B.A. Hall, Rajapilla Road, Kurunegala.

Indumathie states that the exhibition consists of Ribbon, Brazeelian, Hardanger, creations for wall decorations, and also Needle Lace, Stump Work, Black Work, Pergamano, Cross Stitch, Paper Toll and Paper Quelling.

She also says that in addition to the above there will be an exhibition of books composed and published by her on the topics of Hardanger, Ribbon, Hand and Brazeelian Embroidery, as well.

Film Festival in celebration of IWD

The Women and Media Collective is organising its 5th film festival in celebration of International Women’s Day 2009. The film schedule will be as follows: Show timings are at 3.00 p.m. and 6.00 p.m.

Brick Lane directed by Sarah Gavron will be screened on March 23.

Persepolis a French film directed by Marjan Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud on March 24 (with English subtitles).

Baz Luhrmana’s Australia on March 25.

The Secret Life of Bees (English) - 6.00 p.m. show only by Gina Prince-Bythewood on March 26.

All the films will be screened free of charge at the Russian Cultural Centre, No. 10, Independence Avenue, Colombo 7.

Moment by moment

Wasantha Namaskara’s forty sixth exhibitions of paintings titled “Moment by moment” will be held from March 25 to 26 at Namaskara Visual Art Lab.