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Cliché
walauwe ethos and matrimony underline Rajjumala
Film Review
By Sirohmi Gunasekera
As in many Sinhala films, the walauwe is the setting
in Rajjumala, a film that explores the traditional marriage arranged
by the kapuwa or matchmaker. Dowry and the bride's beauty are the
key areas of concern and the film is perhaps a warning to those
who are anxious to marry off young people with little knowledge
of the partner.
There
is no homecoming party as the beautifully-dressed couple arrive
at the walauwe to be greeted only by the groom’s old mother
in a wheelchair. The mother-in-law obviously controls the son as
the new bride is soon to discover.
There
are shades of Hollywood filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock's famous film
"Psycho" where the mother pulls the strings and the son
has a love-hate relationship with the mother as his own sex drive
takes precedence.
The
ballet scenes and the sensuous sequences where the hero recreates
his sexual fantasies are attractive but somehow the whole film does
not hang together.
Undoubtedly
there is a Freudian interpretation of dreams as portraying psychological
reality and the hero hits the nail on the head when he tells his
sick wife that "Everybody is a patient. Who doesn't have problems?"
referring to mental problems affecting everyone.
If
the acting had been better, perhaps it could have conveyed more
through the film. But the film relies on exotic sets and the standard
walauwe characters of the cookwoman and the gardener.
The
hero and the heroine are invariably beautifully dressed in modern
and traditional clothes so that they are a pleasure to behold. But
the discerning Sri Lankan filmgoer now expects more from a film
than just superficial good looks.
The
film is disappointing particularly because there is so much a deep-thinking
filmmaker can do using psychological reality and problems within
families. The only two messages in the film are a warning to beware
of arranged marriages based on dowry and good looks and of the complex
relationship between a mother and an adult son.
Valour
and infidelity on stage
Maname and Sinhabahu
Two of Professor Ediriweera Sarachchandra's great
works, will be staged at the Elphinstone Theatre, Maradana, Maname
on Wednesday, December 1, and Sinhabahu on Friday, December 3 at
3.30 p.m. and 6.45 p.m. each day.
Dhawala
Bheeshana
Dhawala Bheeshana, Dharmasiri Bandaranayake's acclaimed
stage play will be staged at the Elphinstone Theatre on December
2, at 3.30 p.m. and 6.45 p.m.
Jackson
Anthony, Meena Kumari, Dharmasiri Bandaranayake, W. Jayasiri, Janaka
Kumbukage, Daya Alwis, Neil Alles, Vasantha Vittachchi, Victor Ramanayake,
Priyantha Prabhas, Nihal Ranasinghe, Shastri Mallawarachchi and
Sampath Jayaweera star in this production.
Gamini-
a nomiyena minisa
On centre stage, silver screen and in the national arena
You shone so brightly, patriotically, thespian par excellence...
For well nigh five full and constructive decades
Into the hearts of Lankans far and wide you rode
So gallantly like a knight in shining armour, so likeable too
How memorably you played the many versatile roles
May it be in Nidhanaya, Gamperaliya, Ranmuthuduwa, Welikathara
Or Rekhawa, Deewarayo, Rampage, Kotiwaligaya, Nomiyena Minissu
To add lasting lustre and depth to our Sinhala
cinema
Espoused you the highest global acting standards
Recognised highly by legions of your loyal fans
And by all the members of your Sinhala cinema family
You will always be etched in our hearts and minds
As the most talented and outstanding of Sri Lankan actors, nonpareil
Together with all your other jewel-like multi-faceted talents
As a leader, director, lyricist, singer, teacher and mentor
You were certainly the "doyen" of the Sinhala
cinema
Held you your own in many international film
forums
Brought you pride and honour always to our motherland...
How can we ever forget your handsome
expressive face?
Your striking attractive personality, sonorous memorable voice?
You were so articulate, charming, debonair,
sartorial, witty, suave
Ah! Your educated mega talent, you were blessed with all this and
more
Remember I will all the times I met you, among some talk of you
and me
You spoke, I listened, we discussed Marlon Brando, method acting
and the Stanislavsky School
The Actors Studio, your son Damith, mentor
Lester James and Sumithra Pieries
You spoke of your acting peers, Rukmani, Malini, Joe, Jothi
Tony, Vijaya, Ravindra, Jeeva, D.B. Nihalsingha and Wasantha Obeysekera
How you impressed and endeared yourself to one and all...
Failed you not to inspire the young actors and
directors too
But above all, popular favourite artiste of
thousands of your countrymen
You will always be remembered and admired for caring, so sincerely
For the common man, the needy, and helping them too, many times
For having walked with kings and yet retained the common touch
For having so proudly carried the national
standard of our cinema
Until you return to our midst and centre stage again...
Adieu Gamini, brilliant, so popular and outstanding actor supreme
Thanks for all the wonderful memories in life and on the silver
screen
In our artistic hearts you will always remain... Unique and unforgettable.
Ransirinie Anoma Senanayake |
