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| Saturday, 14 August 2004 |
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Sihina Horu Aran comes to stage: Young dramatist infuses harsh reality to entertainment
He is undeterred by existing problems or challenges in the drama field. Young dramatist Rajitha Dissanayake is determined to present dramas with meaning and entertainment to attract more crowds to the local drama field. In line with this motive, Rajitha has made a comeback to the stage with his latest drama "Sihina Horu Aran" (Stolen Dreams) which revolves round contemporary lives. This is two years since he presented his last stage play. "My new drama is about men and women living in present society, engaged in all sorts of things including politics, business, love etc to find more satisfaction and enjoyment in the life," Rajitha says in an interview with Stage & Screen. The drama is woven around the lives of a Minister, a person arriving from Europe for a holiday, a member of a musical group, a police officer, NGO person and a soldier. All these characters meet together at a holiday resort and the drama unravels how their lives go on within a four-day period. "These people are willing to sacrifice anything to obtain what they are eagerly expecting to achieve in life and the drama is based on the conflict that arises in their struggle," he added. Rajitha says like his previous creations, this drama too has a contemporary value as it sheds lights on the day-to-day issues engulfing in society. Even in his previous dramas, Rajitha was critical about the consumer oriented society which we are experiencing right now. "Everyone has a dream to obtain a better life than what they are having at the moment and this consumer oriented society amply encourages them to go after those so called dreams regardless of whether they achieve it or not." Rajitha's preceding drama "Veeraya Marila" (Hero is Dead) staged two years back focused on how people are affected owing to the impact of the media. "My latest drama has gone beyond that. I have attempted to widen that scope in this drama. This time, I have taken up very broad issues confronting the society we are living in," he said. Like many artistes, Rajitha commenced his artistic career since his school days and he further sharpened his skills while attending university. A significant fact in Rajitha's drama career is that he had always focused on contemporary social issues. "Even in the past, my focus was on what was happening around us and we thought that we could express our opinion through drama." Rajitha's previous dramas have been very successful both winning critical acclaim and attracting large crowds. His previous dramas Sakwadawala (1994), Hansaintath Man Asai (1996) and Veeraya Marila (2002) were box office hits. Veeraya Marila (Hero is Dead) drew much response from both critics and drama fans. "There was a tremendous response for this drama and so far we have staged 75 times this drama around the country." Besides, the drama won a number of awards including the Best Drama, Best Director and Best Script at the 2002 State Drama Festival. "The public also extended a very positive response to this drama." While many others claim that the public enthusiasm had been reduced towards stage plays, Rajitha thinks otherwise. "If we produce good dramas, people will come to see them. I believe that such dramas should be based on contemporary social issues." Rajitha says there many people who prefer stage plays. "We must make an attempt to make dramas with a meaning and entertainment. Such dramas should be based on real issues which are close to the people. People like such dramas." ######## Damayanthi Jayasuriya's latest CD
Damayanthi who began her singing career in the 1960s in the cradle of Lama Pitiya, a popular children's radio program of Radio Ceylon, had come a long way in a silent manner. "I take a lot of time to present a cassette or CD as I pay more attention to the quality of the product. I carefully go through the lyrics before selecting and then give more thoughts to preserve the quality and taste of the song," Damayanthi added. She has earlier launched two CDs - Hirata Muwawen and Avaraye Pipi. Having entered the music field as a radio singer, she later took to the film industry where she earned fame as a playback singer on the local silver screen. In 1994, Damayanthi went on to win the year's best vocalist (female) award for her popular song Unmadavu Premadare in the film Sapta Kanya at the Presidential Film Awards ceremony. In the same year for the same song she earned the first place in Top Ten Song Competition conducted by Sirasa. For duet songs in the La Sanda Paya, Damayanthi has been supported by vocalists Kamal Addaraarachchi, Rohan Shantha Bulegoda and her son Nuwan Nayanajith Kumara who is also emerging as a singer. Music for the La Sanda Paya CD and cassette has been composed by Rohana Weerasinghe, Dr. Lionel Algama, H. M. Jayawardena, Nawaratne Gamage, Sarath Wickrema, Carlo Wijesiri, Mervyn Perera, Mahinda Bandara, Sangeeth Wickramasinghe and Sunil Jayasiri. The lyrics were written by Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne, Vasantha Kumara Kobawaka, Bandula Nanayakkarawasam, Ven. Thirikunamale Ananda Anunayake Thera, Ven. Rambukkana Siddhartha Thera, Major General Ananda Weerasekera, Preethi Randeniya, Dhammika Bandara, Sarath Gunaratne, Camillus Perera, Samudra Wettasinghe, Ravi Siriwardena, Swarna Kanthi Rajapakse, Chandrika Jayanetti and Shantha Desabandu. The music for the La Sanda Paya musical evening will be presented by the Army Oriental Musical Band under the direction of Major Wijesundera Weragoda. The stage decor will be by Edward Peterson. For the variety show which is organised by the Nugegoda Pansilu Kala Kendraya, the choreography is designed by Ariyaratne Kaluarachchi. The La Sanda Paya CD and the cassette is produced by ######### Special performance by a special child
Kosala Dullewa, a boy of 14 years afflicted with Down's Syndrome, for the first time in the history of this country staged a "one man show" of oriental dancing in January this year at the BMICH. Kosala displayed his inborn ability to perform Bharatha Natyam to the delight of all those present. The proceeds of the entire show was channelled to fund the setting up of the "Diri Daru Piyasa" a centre to assist special children. The primary goal of the centre is to help and encourage special children and also to unearth their hidden talents like singing, dancing and other artistic abilities. Diri Daru Piyasa which started in March soon after the show has 100 special students today who are trained under the loving care and guidance of veteran artist Miranda Hemalatha and her staff. Kosala's performance has ignited the imagination and the enthusiasm of many parents of special children. Though the response has been very encouraging the centre is run with the minimum of facilities for trainers as well as students. Diriya Narthana - 2 is repeated by popular request to uphold the special cause of Diri Daru Piyasa. |
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Produced by Lake House |
La Sanda Paya, a musical show to mark the launch of the newest CD and
cassette of vocalist Damayanthi Jayasuriya will be held at the John de
Silva Memorial Theatre at 6.30 p.m. August 23.
Diriya Narthana - 2, a special performance by a special child will be
held at the BMICH on August 20 at 6.00 pm.
