What a display of talent
Displaying a nine foot long mural copied from a
Raja Maha Vihara off Galle, 24 year old Upul Chamila was waiting hopefully
that someone would make an offer. He had priced his work at Rs 45,000.
A few feet away Sameera Kalupahana was offering neat water colour drawings
of day to day characters we meet at Rs 3.000 each.
Both these talented young men were among over a hundred painters and
sculptors,from far and near, displaying their works of art at the Kala
Pola - Open Air Art Market held on the roadside along Ananda Coomaraswamy
Mawatha last Sunday. The George Keyt Foundation had organised the Kala
Pola for the sixth time sponsored by the John Keells Group.
Upul, a second year student reading for a degree in painting was at
the Pola for the second successive year. "I was able to sell some
of my paintings last year. That's why I came again," he said. While
there were a few newcomers, for most of them it was an annual happening.
One thing was clear. There is so much of talent around us. And high
quality at that.
Kala Pola provided a good outing on a Sunday. Enjoying a glimpse of
fresh talent among our upcoming artists, sitting for a self portrait (done
in less than half an hour), picking up an unusual piece of sculpture. The
participants were a happy lot. No fee was charged . No commissions to be
paid on sales. Just bring your stuff, display and sell.
Fearless critic
Seeing film critic Jayawilal Wilegoda's picture
on the cover of a book about to be released, brought back memories of the
days when we were colleagues on the Dinamina in the late fifties. He was
a fearless critic interested in improving the quality of the Sinhala film.
His mission was to promote better Sinhala films. Many misunderstood him
and made allegations that he was out to destroy the Sinhala film industry.
A pioneer in film criticism in Sinhala, he wrote a weekly column in
the Dinamina. This was the time Karunasena Jayalath wrote in the Lankadipa.
Although Jayawilal was not in the peak of his health even as a young man,
he carried on regardless and had a fine sense of humour always capable
of raising a good laugh among his colleagues. His was an untimely death.
Seasoned journalist Sunil Mihindukula has compiled a collection of Jayawilal's
reviews. Titled Jayawilal Wilegoda Thoragath Cinema Vichara, the book comes
out as a Dayawansa Jayakody publication on March 17. A well deserved tribute
to a pioneer.
Recognition
A dancer of repute, Basil Mihiripenne has been
recognised by the International Biographical Centre (IBC), England which
has selected him for 'The Twentieth Century Award for Achievement'.
IBC states in a letter to him that the award is offered to "a tightly
selected number of men and women in some 80 countries of the world."Kalasuri
Mihiripenne has been in the field of dance and ballet for the past 45 years
following his training in Kathakali dancing in Kerala. Peace had been his
pet theme and he produced two ballets on the theme, 'Apeksha' and ' Amma'.
He has also tried his hand at creative writing and has two publications
to his credit, 'Ektara Bodhiyak', a novel and 'Wurkayage Sadaya', a drama.
Mihiripenne is planning to hold a festival of dance next September.
Innovative & entertaining
Changing channels on the radio while driving one
day last week, I spotted noises ranging from bird sounds to infants crying.
Listening attentively, it was a single person's voice turning out all these
mysterious sounds. 'Lakhanda' was featuring this rather unusual individual,
D.D. Abeyratne well known for his mimicking talent.
Abeyratne described how he is able to capture a sound the moment he
hears it. These range from animal sounds to those made by human beings,
aeroplanes, cars, trains - you name it, he does it.
Imagine him presenting a full length show on stage featuring 350 different
sounds. Titled 'Nimnade', the programme is backed by music, dance and numerous
little tales. Abeyratne uses his throat, mouth, tongue and nose for the
presentation.
Bandara is no more
The sad news of the pass- ing away of a stalwart
of the Sarachchandra Era, H.H. Bandara, reached us last Sunday. Bandara
is best remembered for his music direction in 'Sinhabahu', acclaimed as
Dr. Sarachchandra's best effort. He also composed some melodies and played
the flute in the orchestra. After 'Sinhabahu' Bandara composd the melodies
in 'Mahasara'.
He was domiciled in UK for the past 27 years. Though he was away from
his motherland, his heart was in Sinhala culture. He did a lot to promote
Sinhala theatre and music over there.
His last project was the cultural festival he organised as part of the
Golden Jubilee of Independence celebrations in London. His friends wished
he would one day be back with them in Sri Lanka, but it was not to be.
Now a novelist
 Actress
and producer turned writer Sriyani Amarasena is ready to release her first
novel. Titled Petuma, the novel will be launched tomorrow as a Suriya publication.
Keen on creative writing from her school days, Sriyani's first attempt
as a novelist, Oba Pamanai Mage Pethuma was serialised in the Sarasaviya.
Later she moved over to writing film scripts.
New Book
Assessment of the novel
Professor Ediriweera Sarachchandra's 'Modern Sinhalese
Fiction: History & Review' had been accepted as an authoritative work
on the Sinhala novel ever since its appearance in 1951. Since then six
impressions have been published, the last being in 1968. The seventh has
just been put out by Sarasavi Bookshop.
Sarachchandra first traces the history of the revival of Sinhala literary
tradition in the 18th century by Ven Velivita Pindapathika Saranankara
Thera which continued uninterrupted until the 19th century.
After brief notes on the progress through debates, newspapers and magazines,
dramas, poetry, translations and biographies, the writer discusses the
work of Aluthgamage Simon de Silva (credited with the first Sinhala novel
'Meena'.) Piyadasa Sirisena, W. A. Silva and Martin Wickremesinghe. A chapter
is devoted to short story where he analyses the work of the pioneers.
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