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Muwan Palassa:
A new frontier
Ishara JAYAWARDANE
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Rathnavali Kakunavala and Wijeratne Warakadoda |
Muwan Palassa Sri Lanka's longest running radio show will turn over a
new leaf when they launch a new series soon to be aired.
Muwan Palassa is one of the most eagerly anticipated and followed
programs of the week. It is one of SLBC's greatest triumphs as the
response from its loyal viewers is strong. It is a program that has
continued to evolve through the generations for 47 years.
It was first aired on March 12, 1964 with the original script written
by Mudalinayake Somarathna and original production by Nanda Jayamanne.
"Muwan Palassa is the only radio station drama that has spawned and
been the basis for a genre of dramas based on the same storyline. I am
the successor of previous scriptwriter Victor Migle who suddenly passed
away. For 16 years I have been writing the script for Muwan Palassa. On
21, Original writer, Somarathna's script will be reproduced with new
faces" said Sri Nimal Padmakumara.
The reason for its success is the massive following it has. On 1971
April 8 it was taken off the air and an indignant audience clamored for
its re emergence. With the new episodes to begin on the 21st of this
month the story will retain its originality and interest with new
voices/faces.
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Rathnavali Kakunavala, Wijeratne Warakagoda and Sri Nimal
Padmakumara. Pictures by Sulochana Gamage |
"Muwan Palassa became a highly popular program. It was set in a
village almost on the edge of a forest. The villagers were so poor, they
were just eking out a living from the forest. It was a very difficult
life for them living near the forest with no outside contact" said Nanda
Jayamanne
The show has memorable characters such as the village headman who was
a very prominent person
"He used to help out in the village in the sense I think he helped
not so much the villagers but himself and his family more than helping
the villagers" elaborated Jayamanne. Then there is the character of the
hunter who used to go out into the forest, kill animals and then sell
them or barter them.
"That is the story we started with and it has been going on all this
time in some form or other. Of course it has undergone changes where
production and directorship are concerned. We have now started with some
of the original team, some of the people who originally acted in the
drama are no more. With the new changes there will be new events. We
have now got some new people. It was an extremely popular program:"
explained Jayamanne. |
