The first night
The birth of Sarasaviya Film Awards :
A group of Sinhala journalists, all lovers of the Fine Arts sat in
the Sarasaviya Editor’s room and began to talk about the Sinhala Cinema.
It was some where in the late 1960s. Editor of the Sarasaviya
poet-journalist Wimalasiri Perera who belonged to the Boralasgamuwa/Piliyandala
clan of Colombo era poets (Boralasgamuwe G.H. Perera, veteran poet of
that period was his father: I remember him in the 1940s dressed in the
white national dress of the teacher, he was one always carrying his
umbrella like a walking stick, reciting humorous verses, mind you,
mellifluously, author of Kavi Kathandara) was presiding.
There was Elmo Gooneratne, ace journalist, then Local Editor,
competent writer in both languages, a newspapermen to the hilt,
extraordinarily creative endowed with a puckish sense of honour, friend
of everybody: Siriwardena Subasinghe, Deputy Editor of Silumina who
later became the Editor of Silumina and also Dinamina (he and Elmo were
classmates at Ananda) Sube was a raconteur of jokes too, he had a wealth
of anecdotes that drove his listeners to spasms of
 laughter:
there was Nimal Perera, officially Lake House photographer with the
Trotsky beard but a creative artist, a silent, inward-looking
philosopher.
Recognition
They were people who loved the Sinhala cinema and its artistes. They
were dedicated to the mission of giving them recognition. They were
discussing the inaugural fiesta of the Sarasaviya Film Festival. It was
going to be a newspapermen’s show. And it was going to be held at ladies
College, Colombo, not as a glamorous and glittering spectacle as a
Hollywood Academy Awards night but a modest one yet rich in artistic
creativity.
Sisira Kumara Manikkarachi wrote some fine sonnets to be rendered
musically by actor Wijeratne Warakagoda.
The Daily News assigned me to cover it for the paper. As I entered
the Ladies College the first thing I saw was Maestro Sunil Shantha, in
his humble national dress, barefoot, inconspicuously seated on the
parapet wall of the Ladies College, chewing betel, his legs swinging (in
tune with one of his own classic melodies?). I was amazed to find the
obdurate musician who shunned publicity and musical shows perched on the
Ladies College boundary wall.
Later I learnt it was the result of relentless work of Subasinghe (Sube).
The maestro who refused to sing at the wedding of Lake House Chairman
Ranjith Wijewardena was gently persuaded by Sube who was a shrewd
diplomate in such affairs, to sing a few songs at the inaugural
Sarasaviya film ceremony. Reluctantly Sunil had agreed on the condition
that his wife and their brood (which was considerable) be permitted to
view the ceremony. The condition was accepted immediately with alacrity.
Extravaganza
It was unbelievable. Sube had scored the first victory for the Lake
House Sarasaviya and the Sarasaviya Film Awards extravaganza. Sunil and
his family jam-packed into the old Bug Fiat arrived at Ladies College.
While the family was settled inside the Ladies College Hall Sunil had
come out for a ‘chew’. After Sunil Shantha I was greeted by the sweet
strains of classic songster Amaradeva crooning over a tape “Saraswathie
Devie Vande” to the lilting lyrics of Sri Chandraratne Manawasinghe. It
blended and fitted magniciently with the occasion.
Regalia
As the curtain rose Warakagoda in the colourful regalia of a prince
walked down the foyer under dimmed flood lights and from an ola sheaf
sang Manikkarachi’s memorable verses paying homage to Goddess
Saraswathie and at the same time welcoming the guests.
In the background behind the rear curtain Master M.K. Rocksamy and
his troupe provided scintillating music. Finally to great applause
appeared Sunil Shantha, seated cross-legged on the stage to take
everybody by surprise.
The Maestro sang several melodies to English lyrics - it was totally
unconventional and the audience, amazed by the unexpected treat broke
into loud cheering. Sunil was at his best. Credit should go to Sube.
Sarasaviya Editor Wimalasiri Perera then brought on stage the famous
Hindi film star Meena Kumari who was the Chief Guest. She spoke a few
words commending the Sarasaviya journal for launching film awards to
film artistes in emulation of the Filmfare awards of the Bombay filmdom.
So the first night of the Sarasaviya Film Awards ended well and to
the satisfaction of the four Lake House Journalists involved. Truly it
was a newspapermen’s show. |
