Thriving legacy of Sarachchandra

Amalshan GUNERATHNE

He reigned through an entire era of Sri Lankan theatre and composed theatrical masterpieces that have withstood the test of time. His lyrically composed musical dialogs, enthralling plot lines and narratives still have the magical touch that can fascinate your aesthetic taste strings. Even in the era of Facebook and high-tech modern gimmicks, Ediriweera Sarachchandra’s legacy continues to thrive and entertain the audience. The due credit should be given to his wife Lalitha Sarachchandra for taking the mantle from him after he passed away. She continued his good work by recreating his work for the modern audience and even after sixteen years since great maestro passed away, his works still remain to enthrall and entertain. Lalitha Saratchandra, the ardent wife of Professor Sarachchandra is Artscope’s Encounter of the Week.

Q: Can you recall some of your precious memories from the golden days of Sarachchandra era

Lalitha Sarachchandra. Picture by Saliya Rupasinghe

A: I first met Professor Sarachandra when I acted a role in his Pabavathi drama during 1964. Working with him was a wonderful experience and after a while he proposed to me and we got married. I worked closely with him on many of his productions. I played roles in many of his major plays such as ‘Raththaran, Wellawahum, Mahasara and Bavakadathurawa. Even after I got married I involved myself on his productions and continued to support him. I did costume designs for his dramas and also used my artistic talents to do paintings for his books. I also used to design his book covers. He was a wonderful person and was a father figure for me. Then he got sick, I treated him to the best of my ability while he was sick. He reigned an entire era in Sri Lankan theatre and I never thought that he would pass away that soon.

Q: What motivated you to take up the mantle from Sarachchandra after he passed away?

A: I thought, it was important to preserve Sarachchandra’s dramas for the next generation and I wanted to carry out his legacy. It was hard at first, because while he was there I only played a supporting role to him and taking the initiative to continue his good work was a challenge. The first thing I did was to complete my education. I got my external degree from Jayawardanapura University and did a MA as well. And it is only after I arm myself with necessary acumen that I decided to take up his dramas.

Q: Did you make any changes to Professor Sarachandra’s original scripts?

A: I haven’t changed the dialogs or added any new lines to his scripts, the script is like gold. But there were instances where I removed some lines because I felt those were repetitive. When Sarachchandra did his productions nobody dared to question him. But when I started to touch his plays, I begin to notice minor weaknesses and I continued to work on them and brush them up. I wanted to make those songs look more dramatic and real. And changes were done after consulting with senior professionals. I wanted to make everything look perfect. For instance, during professor’s times, those that are weak at singing solo were taken to perform in chorus. I thought that was wrong and I chose best singers even for chorus parts.

I also changed costume designed to a certain extent. I wanted to make the whole experience look more real. I also made the father-son relationship in Sinhabahu appear more close and intimate.

Q: How challenging was it to cater Sarachandra’s dramas to the modern audience?

A: The themes and narrative still have relevance for the modern times and that is why those both Sinhabahu and Manamey have survived more than fifty years. Songs that are there in those dramas are timeless and everlasting. We sung some of those songs at a recent function and those were received with warm applause.

But there were some instances where I felt that rhythm of some songs was slow and I had to uplift the tempo to suit the modern audience. Today people don’t like to watch dramas that get dragged on for too long; therefore I had to make those slight adjustments.

Q: What were the main challenges that you faced when you initially took the mantle from him?

A: There were instances where seniors that acted in Sarachchandra’s plays opposed what I was doing and said things to ridicule my efforts. They made statements for press and media those days to criticize my efforts. But I said to myself whatever that they say, I am going to do my best to make the dramas look good. Other than that I haven’t had many challenges and I have a very supportive crew working with me.

Q: As an artist who has lived through different eras of Sri Lankan theatre, what are your comments on contemporary theatre trends?

A: Doing theatre is not an easy task and if anyone is making a genuine effort to do theatre, it should be appreciated. But not everyone consider theatre art with high esteem these days. Some try to promote plays by using television soap actors and people go to theatre to watch those actors, not the play. Everything is done with mercenary intentions in mind which is not good. But not all are like that and there are those who do theatre with great dedication as well.

Q: Tell us a bit about the drama festival that you have being doing to commemorate his memory.

A: It has been sixteen years since Sarachchandra has passed away. Each year we do something to commemorate his memory. We decided to do this drama festival where we are showing seven of his dramas at Borella YMBA.

I felt that common people don’t get the chance to watch Sarachchandra’s dramas these days, because of extravagant ticket prices. Most times, someone buys our production from us and we don’t always have an authority over the ticket pricing and commoners can’t afford those tickets.

This is like an alms giving and we are doing it not to earn any profit. The tickets are priced at only hundred rupees and anyone can come and watch those dramas. The festival goes till August 27. Maname, Sinhabahu, Mahasara Kapuwa Kapothi, Hasthikantha Manthara, Rathnavali, Elova Gihin Melova Ava and Kada Valalu will be shown at the festival.

Q: How long do you think Sarachchandra’s legacy will continue to survive?

A: I have a very committed and dedicated crew working with me and I am sure that even after I passed away, they will continue with my hard work and make them survive for a long time.