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| Wednesday, 17 November 2004 |
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Hima Ketayam A tale of incompatibility by S.A. Kularathne Hima Ketayam, a teleplay that entertained viewers while educating them about life had its final episode recently. Deegala. Somapala the director here deals with existing realities of society. One of the issues he examines here is marriage and related problems in countries like ours. Priyantha Rathnayake, the practising lawyer (Palitha Silva) who has been financially ruined due to his addiction to alcohol resorts to borrowing money to meet his requirements and this aggravates his economic problems. Damayanthi, a girl who hails from an affluent family is one of his clients. He proposes Damayanthi to one of his friends, Wickramasingha. The lawyer here is strategic in making the proposal. He being Damayanthi's lawyer is well aware of her undeclared assets. Priyantha's motive is to seek his friend's help to overcome his economic difficulties once the marriage takes place. Wickramsingha who is baffled by the strange behaviour of the girl rejects the proposal. The event has a strong bearing on the theme. Wealth is a decisive factor that determines marriage in our society but it has not been the case with all marriages, Wickramasingha is an exception. Beauty with feminine qualities is a luring factor for him. The director thus examines the relationship between individuality and marriage. The lawyer's economic problems meanwhile become acute. He is warned and threatened by moneylenders. There are two options, as he considers, before him to get out of his debts. One is to win a lottery. The other option is to marry a girl from a wealthy family. Priyantha proposes to Damayanthi and she gives her consent. The director cleverly makes use of the bond between the two to examine the institutionalized marriage in our country. For some, marriage is no longer a romantic affair. Marriage for people like Priyantha is a substitute to solve their economic problems. Economy of an individual or of a country can give new interpretations to the concept of marriage. Observing the relationship between economy and marriage is yet another dimension of the play. Economy can strongly influence the values and an attitude of individuals in a community is also an implication. It is not the theme that is most striking in the play. What impressed me most was its plot construction: each action of the characters in the play is justifiable and convincing. Circumstances, not the director's invisible hand, determine the behaviour of characters. Priyantha is a product of his economy. Damayanthi's arrogance is due to her upbringing. Parents have never been strict on her even when the situation demands, as the child is sick. Consequently she continues to be an arrogant and conceited woman who lacks adaptability. The playwright also does a vivid character portrayal of Priyantha. At the outset he is a drunkard, a weak male who takes refuge in a woman's wealth to get out of his debts. In him we find a man who has an immense capacity to grow. He remains faithful to his wife although she does not have faith in him. He has the moral courage to resist the advancement of the young female lawyer who works under him. His wife's death gives him a deep insight into life. He realizes the futility of pursuing wealth and fame. He decides to donate the property he inherits from his wife to build a ward in a hospital. Priyantha has the capacity to learn from experience. Duleeka Marapana with her brilliant performance does justice to Dmayanthi's character. Damayanthi is a character full of subtleties and intricacies. She tries to dominate her parents, adults and the husband at one level, a girl who laments over her inability to produce a child at another level. An avaricious woman she is stingy and selfish in managing her property. And then there is the woman who is highly suspicious of her husband. Duleeka successfully brings out all these characteristics in giving life to this character. This is a teleplay whose content and form are of a high quality. "School boys have masters to teach them, grown-ups have poets" says Aristophanes. Deegala Somapala, I presume is inspired by Aristophanes. **** Back **** |
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