Kusa-Paba love legend in Surrey

It is indeed, a great pleasure, to hear of Sri Lankans, living abroad who have not forgotten their mother country, and are playing the role of goodwill ambassadors, and doing an incredible service to add lustre to the motherland. Its with great appreciation that we express our sincere gratitude to those, who take an active interest into promote integration and harmony within our community abroad, and support initiatives, within the community to promote cultural diversity.

This is one such prominent personality, well-known in literary and social circles, a teacher and principal of schools who has confirmed her stature as a veteran dramatist, using such strategies, and making a significant contribution, to further illuminate the prestige of our country. She is Irangani Kalutanthri, an arts graduate of the University of Peradeniya, with a Post Graduate Course in Drama from the University of Colombo. She has been awarded honorary titles of Desha Kala Keerthie Kala Bhooshane, for her outstanding contribution to this field. She is also, an ardent disciple, a pupil of late Professor Ediriweera Sarathchandra and with her accomplishments, we can say, she has lived upto his expectations.

She is tremendously committed to youth activity, with a novel approach, with her innovative programmes, to encourage youth participation. Even abroad, with her great work ethic, she is a huge motivation, to those around her. An ardent lover of culture, heritage and history, her artistic creations, reflect her sincere devotion to it. She has a few outstanding dramas to her credit, such as Kuvanna, Le Nayo, Kusa Natakaya, Lama Donkaraya, Daskon Pramila, Dayaka Kandulu and Dutugemunu, her masterpiece. She produced Dutugemunu in 1979, laying emphasis on the importance of national unity and harmony.

Kusa-Paba, was yet another successful creation, based on the well-known Jataka story, produced in 1972, in Sri Lanka and at present, a popular creation abroad. Kusa Paba was last shown on May 29, 2011 in Surray in commemoration of our greatest national Buddhist festival Vesak. Abroad, she lives in Canada, she renders an exceptional service to the Sri Lankans, who live distanced from the cultural background of Sri Lanka, providing them with an opportunity, to display their talents and capabilities, on the public platform. She has produced a considerable number of Sinhala stage dramas, in some provinces in Canada. Vesak Kalum for Ottawa, Glimpse of Lanka for Vancouver 2002, Pride of Lanka, for Edmonton 2005, Kusa-Paba for Calgary 2007, Light of Asia, in English, for the International Buddhist Congress 2007, Abhimana Lanka for Toronto 2009. Shadows of Life for Surrey in 2010, Kusa-Paba for Surrey 2011.

Its sometimes, an entirely new experience for her to train youth, who are unable to read, write or talk the mother tongue-Sinhala, but she still enjoys working with them, getting the script written in English with training to get the correct pronunciation, no doubt with a heavy western accent, yet getting them to the required target. The most recent production was Kusa-Paba in Surrey 2011, based on the popular Love legend, in the Kusa-Jatakaya. A 2 1/2 hour play, which kept the audience spell bound, throughout, enjoying the lovely melodies, the beautiful costumes, and the episodes, unrolling on stage, in a beautiful setting.

The cast displayed their talents, extremely well. The best actor award was awarded to the role of Kusa, portrayed by Viraj Chanaka, and the Best Actress award was for the role of Pabavathie, portrayed by Amanda Fernando. Lalith Malalasekera as King Madhu, Anusha Wijemannaas Kudee, Chithra Fernando as Queen Seelavathie, Tilak Bandara, as Potheguru, displayed their acting ability well. Kusa Paba melodies were by Prem Atukorala, from Sri Lanka, photography by Sanka Dissanayake, music direction by Dr Sarath Jayawardene.

Melodies sung by Krishanthi Jayawardene, Dilani Kasturiarachchi. The script and direction by Desha Kala Keerthie, Kala Bhoooshane, Irangani Kalutanthri, and presented by the Can Lanka Theatre Company.