Nedra’s music
Nedra Vittachi is a woman of many parts – playwright, director,
songwriter, journalist and poet. For decades she was prominent on
Colombo’s art scene with widely-acclaimed plays such as Smart Ass and
Knots, wry studies of middle-class love, sex and marriage and What a
Marriage, a lively and amusing ‘Singlish'-based social comedy.
Nedra Vittachchi |
Nedra’s musicals Pasteboard Crown, Whizz Kid and Poppy parodied
social issues in songs and lyrics that were her own compositions. She
was part of the start of a satiric trend in Sri Lankan drama that
continues to the present day.
Nedra is cited in the World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre, the
Journal of Commonwealth Literature and Modern Sri Lanka Drama as being
an original force in Sri Lanka’s theatre world.
As a journalist she worked as a writer and sub-editor at the Daily
News and was responsible for educating and entertaining children as
Aunty Vitta in the children’s page.
Not only a literary talent, Nedra, or Vitta as she is fondly known,
in her hey day was a stalwart at the Lionel Wendt’s Art Centre Club. She
could found there most nights, perched on her barstool with a glass of
beer, often surrounded by glamorous girls and somewhat envious men.
Early in the evening, she could be seen penning poetry at the bar
counter. As the night waned, she would delight friends and admirers with
her unique creations. In her early days she would deftly guide her
motorbike around Colombo, usually with one of her admirers on the
pillion. She then graduated to a car, which latterly had the uncanny
ability to find its own way home.
Unfortunately dogged by ill health now and not very mobile, Vitta
still attends the monthly poetry reading gatherings Poetry Pilau and
spends her time regaling old friends with anecdotes and gossip.
Determined to improve, she takes daily walks up and down the road and
does exercises to strengthen her limbs. She is devotedly looked after by
the domestic staff and nurses at her home in Colpetty.
Food is her main joy and she fights loud battles over the menu with
the guardians entrusted with keeping her ticking along. |