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Arts

Love, laughter and a Lankan touch
To define love is near impossible. The subject of endless poems and literary works, it spawns an unending stream of material about its power, its impact, much of it, however, contradictory.

Ashvin Gidwani's Funny Thing Called Love performed at the Ladies College Auditorium last weekend was a stunning melodrama from Bombay's leading theatre company Clowns 'R' Us dealing with the numerous complications surrounding love.

Although featuring a typically Indian family, the Desais and their complicated lives, when their children fall in love, displeasing their parents, the audience was able to identify with the characters and relate to some of the situations. It is clear that the funny thing called love keeps the family together despite all upheavals. The heart-warming play packed with it, a gentle reminder of the importance of family values.

An adaptation of Prof. Vasant Kanetkar's older Marathi version, Director Bharat Dabholkar who has to his credit a string of successful comedies that mirror everyday life handled this subject and its many facets well. Costumes and songs were in the truly Indian style.

Apparently known for bridging the regional and English theatre through a mixture of English and colloquial Hindi words, Director Dabholkar must be applauded for the references to eating string hoppers, Shakthi TV and other local terms in the dialogue to suit the Sri Lankan audience.

Funny Thing Called Love was presented by the Royal College Old Hostellers Association with all proceeds going towards a new hostel for Royal. -Esther Williams

Pradeep bytes into digital colours
By Priyanwada Ranawaka
"I can't walk, that's true, but I can do everything else," says Pradeep De Silva, the self-taught digital artist. Starting off with conventional painting he has now moved on to create his own style of digital art using basic computer software He also wants to experiment with 2D animated cartoons and web designing with his new- found skills.

In 1990, while a Sub Inspector of Police in the Kotahena Police Station, he was mistakenly fired at by one of his colleagues when trying to apprehend a suspect. The bullet that entered his body from the back injured his spine and at the age of 30, he had to face life in a wheelchair.

Although five years have passed since the untimely accident due to which he lost his job, Pradeep is still to receive compensation. "I survived thanks to my parents. They mortgaged most of our property to find money for my treatment," Pradeep says.

The appeal he forwarded to the Kotahena police station regarding compensation has taken over nine months to reach Police Headquarters. "Although I could not walk, I had to make several trips to the police stations to remind them of my appeal," sighs Pradeep.

He has been recently informed that the Police Welfare Authority has finally decided to make him a payment of Rs three lakhs as compensation. Pradeep feels this is insufficient for him to survive for the rest of his life.

During his service, Pradeep had worked in Jaffna and Mannar for over five years. "If I had been injured while on duty in a war stricken area, they would have been more concerned about me," Pradeep says.

Distressing as his situation may be, Pradeep is determined to overcome his physical difficulties. With sheer willpower, he has been able to recover from his injury, when even doctors were pessimistic. "I am not sad that I'm paralysed. I look at life positively," says Pradeep.

Pradeep held his first exhibition -'Images in Solitude' in 2002. "That is how I collected Rs. 27 lakhs, the money I needed for my surgery in Singapore," says Pradeep. Today he takes classes for the final year students of the Institute of Information Technology in Moratuwa. He also gives online lessons to four Jamaican students.

Since his talents in digital painting were revealed, Pradeep has been able to meet new friends and supporters. He speaks gratefully of Sir Arthur C. Clarke, the media and many of his friends abroad who have supported his efforts.

Working on his autobiography at the moment, Pradeep says he will publish it after he holds another exhibition of his digital artwork.

"The Prisoner's Song" once again
Due to popular demand, "The Prisoner's Song" - a musical of nostalgic melodies presented by the Inner Wheel Club of Colombo Mid Town will be held once again tomorrow November 22 at 7.30 p.m. at the Russian Cultural Centre. All time favourites like Delilah, Banks of the Ohio, Tom Dooley, Green Green Grass of Home, Tie A Yellow Ribbon, Jail House Rock and many more which have remained evergreens over the years will come alive on stage sung by well known singers Clifford Richards, Bosco Fonseka, Denzil Perera, Kevin Francke, Shenali Peris and Izhara Zubair.

The musical backing will be provided by Indrani Wijesundara (piano), Nihal De Silva (drums), Premila Perimpenayagam (violin), Mervyn Mendis (saxophone) and Prasaad Fernando (bass) of 'Friends in Harmony' - a group of professionals who have banded themselves together for the love of music.

The show is produced by Nazil Zuhyle and the proceeds are to be utilized to rehabilitate female prisoners.

Tissa to address ‘As I See It’ lecture series
Well-known personality Tissa Abeysekera will make the address this month in the 'As I See It' lecture series organised by the Trustees of the Lionel Wendt Theatre. The title of his talk is 'In the Beginning was the Word - then came the Image'.

He believes that 'the word either written or spoken has been man's primary instrument of communication, whether it is for exchange of ideas, expressing our feelings and storing, imparting or receiving knowledge.

However, with the birth of the moving image, the advent of television, the internet and transborder satellite communications, the hegemony of the word is being challenged'.

Tissa Abeysekera needs no introduction to the Sri Lankan audience. A distinguished writer, he won the prestigious Gratiaen Prize for his novel "Bringing Tony Home" in 1997, and recently published 'In my Kingdom of the Sun and the Holy Peak'. Tissa Abeysekera's talk will be held at the Harold Peiris Gallery, Lionel Wendt Theatre on Monday, November 22 at 6 p.m.

Entrance is free and seating will be on a first come first served basis.

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