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Kala Korner - by Dee Cee

A well deserved honour for the maestro
For Pandit W. D. Amaradeva, his 76th birthday on December 5 will be a memorable one. A stamp is being released on that day in recognition of the immense service he has rendered to Sinhala music.

This is the second occasion that a stamp is being issued to honour a living Sri Lankan artiste. The first was when a Rs 3.50 stamp was released in honour of the doyen of Sri Lankan cinema, Lester James Peries. The stamp was released on Lester's 85th birthday - on April 5, 2002. Amaradeva's will be a Rs 4.50 stamp since the ordinary postal letter rate has now gone up by a rupee.

It's good thinking on the part of the Postal Department to agree to the request made by Kalutara Vidyalaya, where Amaradeva had his early education, that a stamp would be a fitting tribute to the maestro. It is only hoped that the Philatelic Bureau will take extra care to see that there are no blunders in the Stamp Bulletin as it happened in Lester's case. Along with the first day cover, the bulletin is a collector's item and goes all over the world. It's best that it is checked carefully before going to final print.

There are several other 'greats' who deserve to be recognised. Artistes who have contributed much in the field of dancing like Chitrasena and Panibharata, or in theatre like Henry Jayasena, to name just a few are worthy of being the subject of stamps.
Meanwhile, Amaradeva's latest creation in the field of film music can be enjoyed when Sumitra Peries' 'Sakman Maluwa' is released later this month. It's after a fairly long break that Amaradeva has provided music for a film.

That landmark event
The 47th anniversary of a landmark event in theatre - the staging of 'Maname' -fell on November 3. On November 3, 1956, Dr Sarachchandra brought down the 'nadagama' to Colombo with a band of Peradeniya undergrads. Besides it being a drama based on traditional theatre, he took up the challenge of staging it at the Lionel Wendt Theatre, an exclusive preserve of English theatregoers at the time. The first night didn't attract many people but it picked up when critics raved over it in newspaper reviews, particularly in the English press.

"Maname is not only without question the finest thing I have seen on the Sinhalese stage; it is also one of the three or four most impressive dramatic performances in any language which I have been privileged to attend in Ceylon", wrote R.S. (everyone knew it was the authoritative critic Reggie Siriwardena) in the 'Daily News'.

When Chandraratne Manawasinghe devoted his highly read 'Vagathuga' column in the 'Lankadeepa' on November 6, 1956 to say what a great drama Dr. Sarachchandra had produced, the Sinhala theatregoers also took note because Manawasinghe was never a pro-Peradeniya type. He coined a word 'abhiranganaya' to describe 'Maname', which he said, was an extremely good production.

While we look back with happy memories on the early days of 'Maname', it is with sorrow that we remember the three accomplished players - Ben Sirimanne (Prince Maname), Trilicia Abeykoon (the princess) and Edmund Wijesinghe (Veddah king) - who are no more. Of course, we can't forget the creator, Dr. Sarachchandra and his partner, Charles Silva Gunasinghe Gurunnanse - both of whom paved the way to make Sinhala theatre a truly entertaining medium.

To repeat what R..S. wrote about the latter: "As for Charles Gunasinghe Gurunnanse, his artistry was not only to be felt in his drumming but also in the spirit of the whole production. He was so visibly moved by the end of the evening that he was joining in in the singing from his corner".

An appeal from the Wendt
A small advertisement appeared in the last page of the 'Maname' souvenir of 1956.It makes interesting reading: "The Lionel Wendt Theatre is available for dramatic, musical and other performances. Bookings may be made with the Secretary to the Lionel Wendt Memorial Fund, Mr. S. Mahalingam c/o Carson Cumberbatch & Co.Ltd. Chartered Bank Building, Colombo 1, from whom the schedule of rates and all other particulars can be obtained.

"The Lionel Wendt Theatre is only part of the Art Centre Project which, in addition to the Theatre-Concert Hall, will comprise an art gallery, studios for practices, painting and rehearsals, a photographic section, a library, music rooms and various other offices, including perhaps a small restaurant. "Please help to complete this project. Donations, however small or big, will be gratefully acknowledged by the Secretary".

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