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Golden memories of grand old lady of the silver screen
Date: 25 April 1968
Venue: Ladies College Hall
Event: Sarasaviya Awards Night

As presenter Wijeratne Warakagoda announced her name, the hall exploded into non stop applause till she walked up to the stage, collected her award from Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake and walked back to her seat.

At 61, she had been adjudged the Best Character Actress of the Year for her role as the anxious mother in 'Sath Samudura', Dr. Siri Gunasinghe's maiden effort revolving round a fishing family. The panel of judges headed by Prof. Gunapala Malalasekera had unanimously decided that Denawaka Hamine was hard to beat when it came to character portrayal. Her elder son in the film, Edmund Wijesinghe (of 'Maname' fame) won the award for the best character actor.

Well known film critic of Filmfare, the popular Indian film magazine, Mrs Karanjia, who was a guest of Sarasaviya at the Awards Festival having seen Denawaka Hamine's first film, G.D. L. Perera's 'Sama asked whether "the old lady" could be sent to Bombay. "Our stars will have a lot to learn from her," she said.

Dr. Roger Manvell having seen 'Sath Samudura' insisted on meeting "the old lady". A car was sent to bring her. When she arrived, Dr. Manvell congratulated her warmly on her excellent performance.

Denawaka Hamine (Mrs. Dona Meraya Denawaka/ Denawaka Aunty to fellow artistes) proved that age was no barrier for acting. Until a few months before her death last week in the mid nineties, she was a much sought after actress. She was so natural be it on stage, big screen or the small screen. She did not act her roles - she just lived in them. And the audiences simply loved to see her.

It was quite by chance that Denawaka Hamine, a school teacher by profession, turned to acting. When G. D. L. Perera formed the Kala Pela with the intention of promoting theatre and other art forms, Denawaka Hamine accompanied a young girl for rehearsals in a play. One day, G. D. L. asked her to stand in to play the role of an elderly woman. Though it was her first appearance, she acted like a veteran. So much so that when the play was staged and she had to die, she did it so well that the audience was dumbfounded. They wondered whether she had actually died!

The break in 'Kandulu' was followed by other Kala Pela productions 'Manamalayo' and 'Sakkarawattang'. And when she played the role of Nonnohamy in 'Sama' she excelled as the dominating mother. In 'Totupola', her role as a kind-hearted village woman brought her a Merit Awards at the annual Arts Council Drama Festival.

Denawaka Hamine broke into films in the cinematic version of 'Sama' when, with her authentic acting, cinemagoers experienced something rare in Sinhala cinema at the time. Her performance in 'Sath Samudura' was on par with the best in any country. Her greatest gift was her ability to capture the audience even when she played a very minor role. In 'Parasathu Mal', for example, she was a perfect village gossip. In 'Sadol Kandulu' she played the role of a domestic in the walauwe.

Contracts simply flowed in when filmmakers realised she had the potential to turn any role into a memorable performance. Her tally of films is said to be around 300. "I have the confidence that I can portray any type of character. Even if they want me to play a romantic role, I will not hesitate. Of course, I wouldn't know how the audiences would react," she once said.

In the small screen, she appeared in 'Kopi Kade' and many other teledramas. Many are the awards she won during her career spanning three generations of filmmakers. The State recognised her talent conferring on her the 'Kalasuri' title in 1987.

The lovable lady of the silver screen is no more. Yet her portrayals will remain etched in our memories for a long time to come.
D. C. Ranatunga

Leopard watch
By Thiruni Kelegama
In Sri Lanka, we are spoilt for choice with
images of leopards. The island offers probably the best chance of seeing a leopard. For a photograph of a leopard to stand out, it has to be special. And special, this photograph was.

A watchful leopard was what Aruna Kirtisinghe, a professional photographer, captured during the wee hours of the morning, at Yala in June this year. When the photographs were developed, Aruna realised that he had a winner. And indeed the shot won him the prestigious Nature Photographer of the Year 2002 award.

"I think it was not afraid of us mainly because it was a juvenile leopard. It seemed to pose for me," he smiles.

"Actually, the leopard was looking at a squirrel on a tree, who was making a lot of noise," explains Aruna. "I think the squirrel captured its attention and that's why it had that faraway look in its eyes."

The photograph was taken around six in the morning, and that is why there is an element of darkness in the picture. "The yellow background is the grass, but since I used a telephoto lens, the grass appears to be the sunlight. It was quite dark at that time, yet somehow the lighting conditions were perfect," he explains.

"Yes, it is rare, I suppose. But that is because leopards are shy, and since our jungles are thick, they can disappear into them anytime and we lose track of them."
Aruna had also entered another stunning photograph of a Green Whip snake swallowing a lizard alive for the competition.

"I was in Habarana at a relative's house, when this small boy summoned me to see a snake in the garden. I took a series of photographs of the snake eating the lizard. It was stunning to watch, and the snake did not seem to mind my presence because it was more concerned with its food."

There was also a photograph of Randenigala taken in 1996, during the drought. This shot of the parched, cracked land with the yellowish sky was also placed in the Landscapes section.

Giving advice to young nature photographers, Aruna says one must not look out for big majestic animals all the time but focus also on smaller objects, such as butterflies, lizards and frogs.

"They are all beautiful in their own way, and the best way to start is to notice what is beautiful about them. And of course, a love for nature is essential," he adds.

Kala Korner by Dee Cee
The days of the bridge of boats
At a time when meaningless songs are being dished out aplenty via audio cassettes and CDs, what a relief it is to hear some genuine renderings at least occasionally. Renowned singer Sunil Edirisinghe's highly popular 'Paru Palamen' is one such song, which in recent times has added some freshness and consolation for music lovers that they can still expect something good.

Sunil takes us back to the old days when the Kelani river had a bridge of boats - built in the time of British Governor Edward Barnes in the 1820s. It's a romantic number cleverly written by Ashoka Kovilage using the simplest of words set to music by Rohana Weerasinghe. It's a fine example to lyric writers who use harsh and cheap words just to create a sensation.

The vivid picture created by Ashoka portrays the thoughts of a young man who arrives in the city - at Gas Works Street in Pettah - with his fellow carters and is impatient to meet Selestina at Kayman's Gate, whom he invites for a boat trip at the San Sebastian canal and a tramcar ride to a poets' corner. It's so well rendered by Sunil.

'Paru Palamen' is one in a collection of 14 songs in a cassette by the same name - another quality Singlanka production - sung most exquisitely by Sunil. Among them are compositions by well known lyricists - Rambukana Siddhartha Thero (Senehasa Leba), Ratna Sri Wijesinghe (Ma Ithin Yanna Yanava), W. A. Abeysinghe (Pinthaliya), Sunil Sarath Perera (Amme Pembara) and Sunil Ariyaratne (Andara Waten)

Seldom heard

There are still a few singers like Sunil who are not swayed by big money to sing anything in the name of Sinhala music. The highly talented Somatilaka Jayamaha is another who has resisted such temptations and prefers to go slow (where sales are concerned) with Singlanka, who continue the policy of lending a hand to the talented singers who wish to do something good.

'Siri Yahane' is the title of Somatilaka Jayamaha's latest release containing 16 well-rendered songs. Here again, they are sober numbers when compared with the jazzy stuff we hear throughout the day on the numerous radio channels. Listeners seldom get a chance of hearing Somatilaka's voice over them. What the criterion is, in selecting numbers for broadcast, we do not know.

Spotlight on Amarasiri
The recent Khemadasa Felicitation musical evening also brought out the talent of Amarasiri Peiris - the quiet, unassuming musician, who conducted the orchestra whenever Khemadasa decided to stay out. Viola player in the Khemadasa orchestra in the early days, he was tried out as a singer when once the regular one failed to turn up for a show. The start he made singing 'Landune' was a lucky one.
Today he is a much sought after artiste and some of his numbers like 'Apple Malak Vage' are extremely popular. His rendering of several songs that evening including 'Minisa Bala Sitee' from Parakrama Niriella's film, 'Sirimedura' was a treat. Amarasiri has an extremely good voice, a fine style and of course, plenty of talent.

 


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