Uncommon tale of a Conductor
Teledrama ‘Issarahata Yanna’ (Go forward) directed by Nalin Mapitiya based on a comic story ‘Konda’ written and drawn by Anura Srinath for ‘Ada’ Sinhala newspaper published by Wijeya newspaper Limited–now being telecast on Rupavahini channel– has become immensely popular among teledrama viewers in the country.
Directed on a rare theme and story of a suspended medical student turned bus conductor, director Mapitiya says that the attractive comic story with a novel theme published in the newspaper inspired him to make the teledrama. “I came across the comic story published in ‘Ada’ newspaper while I was planning a teledrama based on another comic story by Anura himself. But I accidently came across this story and wanted to do a teledrama on it first,” Mapitiya said. An avid reader of comic stories from his childhood, Mapitiya’s interest in comic stories later took him to the school theatre.
“In any field there are good and bad. This is common to transport also. Just as there are unruly bus conductors there are even worse commuters. This is the reality which I wanted to highlight through this teledrama,” the director said speaking about the theme of ‘Issarahata Yanna’.
Mapitiya had to face another challenge when he directed the teledrama as more than 80 percent of the teldrama had to be shot in a moving bus with different passengers who are changing over and over again. “We had to concentrate on lighting and also the road and specially the driver Wilmon Sirimanna who had to drive the bus while acting,” Mapitiya described the practical difficulties he faced in presenting a novel story.
The hundred-episode tele-serial telecast everyday is played by Jagath Chamila, Janak Premalal, Wilmal Premalal, Mahendra Weeraratne, Wimal Kumara de Costa, Gihan Fernando, Jayasekara Aponsu, Dimuthi Chinthaka, Ruwan Wickremasinghe, Achala Walpola, Lalith Rajapaksa, Srimali Fonseka and Sulochana Weerasinghe in major roles while around 150 actors and actresses play in other minor roles.
According to the story Sapumal is a medical student who is suspended from classes. The job he finds as a bus conductor isf an accident. There on the story shows how this young medical student who aimed to be a doctor becomes a successful conductor.
In the technical department camera handled by Suminda Arunalu, story concept and script Anura Srinath, music Gayan Ganakadhara and Tharaka Dilruk Perera as editor worked in the teleplay.
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