CPA felicitates reputed sculptor
 

by Kalabhooshanam Chelvatamby Maniccavasagar

A. V. Anandan, a founder member of Thirumarai Kalamandram (Centre for Performing Arts) and an internationally reputed sculptor and an artiste was felicitated for his tremendous service rendered in the sphere of art and culture for the past 40 years at a function held at the Open theatre of the CPA, Jaffna.

The function was presided over by the Jaffna CPA deputy director Johnson Rajakumar and Prof. Sanmugadas of the University of Jaffna was the chief guest on this occasion.

Members of the 20 centres both Sinhala and Tamils participated in a series of cultural programmes held for two days in this connection.

Mr. Anandan is a poet, actor, singer and an enterprising entrepreneur. He has completed 50 years service as an actor, and 30 years as a successful entrepreneurs.

Mr. Anandan was born at Kulamankai, a remote village in Mallakam, Jaffna in 1946. He hails from a family of artists that contributed to the promotion of art and culture in Sri Lanka. His father was a playwright, producer of plays and an acclaimed actor.

He had his early education at Kulamankai Roman Catholic School and later at St. Xavier's College, Trincomalee. His classmates remember him as one who was busy drawing figure and painting pictures during leisure hour.

On competition of his secondary education, he took to business and became an enterprising industrialist.

While he was in business, he got himself interested in creative art, drama and sculpture. He joined Thirumarai Kala Mandiram, which later became Centre for Performing Arts, as a founder member.

He had the rare honour of plying the part of Jesus Christ in the annual passion plays of the centre for more than 15 years and it was well-known that he fasted for 40 days before the event. His professional training in carpentry and masonry enabled him to construct multiple stages for the plays put on by the centre.

He has an exceptional insight into men and matters. He takes delight in using wood and creating a host of lyrical figures in different sizes and shapes.

Deviating more often than not from tradition, he depends more on his artistic imagination and everyday observation for his creations.

Despite all the setbacks tension and turmoil in the Jaffna peninsula Anandan has continued to carve hundreds of figures out of local wood.

A four day exhibition of Anandan's work was held in Jaffna a few years ago by the Centre for Performing Arts. Besides, another exhibition was held by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports of the North East Province in Trinco and he was presented with a Gold Medal by the Ministry.

Furthermore, his exhibition at the Vatican City was highly recognised and appreciated and even some of his sculptures are kept at the Vatican Museum. Undoubtedly, Anandan who completes his 60th year and 40 years with the Centre for Performing Arts is a multifaceted and multidimensional personality and we wish him well.

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