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Kala Korner - by Dee Cee

Tribute to a pioneer
The John de Silva Theatre was filled to capacity. A rare happening, particularly for a performance sans the usual loud music and dancing. They all turned up to pay tribute to a pioneer who had done so much in researching into folk music and leaving behind a wealth of invaluable indigenous music for future generations to enjoy.

The pioneer - Lionel Ranwala had planned to present these on his birthday on November 27,2002. But it was not to be. Death intervened ten days earlier. A determined son, Sahan, got the act together and was ready to present what his father planned, exactly a year later. And he did. What a success it was! Young and old, many with children, turned up to enjoy something genuine.

Even those who couldn't get in, waited outside and even though they could not see what was going on, they could hear the lovely folk songs, most recordings by Ranwala (Sr) himself.

Sahan, a second year student in Law College, gives leadership to the Lionel Ranwala Folk Music Troupe. He plans to take the troupe around the country whenever possible and present to the people what his father has collected.

He has already had a number of shows and is encouraged by the response. "Our effort is being greatly appreciated. We get a mixed audience. There is a lot of interest, especially among the youth, on traditional music. They come in large numbers and enjoy our shows," Sahan says.

Those who turned up at the John de Silva Theatre had something to take back home, in addition to the rich evening they enjoyed. A CD and an audio cassette were released.

Titled 'Gama Avulangngang', the collection has been introduced as 'new creations from folk music'. The songs are based on traditional Yaga Gi, Paru Gi, Patal Gi, Goyam Gi, Kamath Gi and Vannam. As the titles indicate, folk songs were a popular form of communication while working - whether you were harvesting, on the threshing floor, inside a mine, or canoeing. Most of the songs are sung by Ranwala (Sr) himself. This is Lionel Ranwala's second cassette. The first - 'Ahase Innavalu' was released on his birthday in 1998. Both are collectors' items and 'musts' in anyone's music library.

Another veteran is gone
To have acted in over thirty stage plays for over four and a half decades is no mean performance. In between, several films to his credit too. That was the record of Elson Diviturugama, who bade goodbye a few days ago.

I first saw him in the Kala Pela production, 'Sama' many, many years ago. Since then I had enjoyed many a role he played. His performance in 'Kelani Palama' or as Prince Kazbeki in 'Hunuwataye Kathawa' were among the ones I remember best. Acting came so naturally to him, whatever the role he had to play. And whenever we met, he would repeat a dialogue from a play and we would have a good laugh.

I never realised he had acted in so many plays till I glanced through the glossary of dramatists released by the Sinhala Drama Panel of the Arts Council about two years back when E M G Editisinghe was chairman of the panel. It mentions that Elson started his acting career in 1956. 'Kandulu', 'Manamalakama' and 'Sama' are mentioned as his first three plays. 'Macbeth' is the last. In the list are 31 plays with one -'Sakkarawattang'- being credited to him for producing as well.

Elson had won at least three awards, the first in the State Drama Festival in 1975 for his performance in R. R. Samarakoon's 'Idama'. His role in Samarakoon's 'Jailor Unnehe' won him two awards at the 1986 & 1987 Festivals. The last I saw him was in Lester James Peries' latest creation, 'Wekande Walauwe'.

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