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Maname in Jaffna

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

" Maname ", one of the most popular dramas of the late Prof.Ediriweera Sarathchandra will be staged at the Weerasingham Theatre, Jaffna on June 2 and 3 to mark the 88th birth anniversary of Prof.Sarathchandra which falls on June 3.

On the invitation of Jaffna Ranga Kala Kendraya, 30 members of Sarathchandra drama troupe will fly to Jaffna on May 31. Two shows of " Maname" will be staged on June 2 at 2.00pm and 6.00pm at the Weerasingham theatre. An alms giving will follow at the Naga Vihara, Jaffna on June 3 to invoke blessings on the late Prof.Sarathchandra. A Sarathchandra commemoration ceremony will be held at the Jaffna Ranga Kala Kendraya and one show of " Maname" will be staged later.

Prof.Sarathchandra wrote a book titled "The Folk Play" in English to focus global attention on Tamil drama traditions. The Jaffna Ranga Kala Kendraya has decided to stage one of his most famous stage plays in Jaffna to express their gratitude to the late dramatist for this gesture.

The book drew public attention to South Indian drama traditions such as Therikkuttu, Nattukkuthu and Natakam. He mixed these Indian drama traditions with Sinhala Nadagam traditions to produce "Maname" in 1956. Prof. Sarathchandra developed links with the Jaffna Ranga Kala Kendra to develop the Sinhala and Tamil drama traditions in Sri Lanka.

His dramas led to a revival of Tamil drama traditions. After Sarathchandra produced " Maname" and " Sinhabahu" , Prof.S. Vidyanandan of Peradeniya university produced two Tamil dramas " Kannanpor" and " Rawaneshan" and staged them at the Colombo university in the early 60s.

Prof.Sarathchandra was the only Sinhala professor who was awarded a honourary doctorate by the Jaffna university. 

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