| TV
Times
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| GDL
tradition marches on- Kala Pela to 'Kalagaraya' "Kalagaraya" is the name for the stage drama and film started by veteran film maker and play producer G. D. L. Perera, who has returned after thirty years abroad. He is presently
living in Karaliyadda which is 10 miles off Kandy. This new project
is set in a picturesque spot bordering the Victoria reservoir. GDL has over
10 stage plays and six movies to his credit. Sakkarawattan (1962),
Mehev Lokeka (1963) and Thotupala (1964) have won awards at stage
drama festivals while his films "Sama" and Dahasaksithuwili
represented Sri Lanka at International Film Festival. "Ratagiyaattho"
the first teledrama to be filmed in England was also a GDL production.
"Kalagaraya"
was started to help the young enthusiasts interested in drama and
film. The classes are provided free of charge Speaking to
the TV Times GDL said; "I wanted to share what I have learnt
with youngsters in this country and show their parents what they
can do in addition to the education they receive. In starting this
school GDL has concentrated in providing Kandy children with an
opportunity to develop their interest in fields other than formal
education. "Majority
of these children are poor but they are not poor in talent"
said GDL with much confidence in his pupils. His students
have not let him down for they have already done a play titled "Surasura"
based on Serivanija Jathakaya. GDL is no newcomer to train youngsters either. Many a talented actor and technician now performing in the world of theatre, television and the cinema have their roots in Kala Pela- a cultural training institute he started in 1956. The late Dhamma Jagoda, Denawaka Hamine, Nilanthi Munasinghe, Dougles Ranasinghe, Gnananga Gunawardena are just a few in the acting field and reputed cinema and telefilm makers- I. N. Hewawasam, Parakrama Niriella, Bermin Lyle Fernando, P. U. D. Perera are another handful of those who started to blossom out of Kalapela.
Here
the story is mainly woven around the happenings taking place among
the children of Udangawa family. The miniplay opens when Ranmali
a poor village damsel is sent as a servant to the second daughter's
house in Colombo. This contract is made by 'Lekam Nona' whose profession
is to find employment for young girls in the houses of town folk.
Even though this was her job she does not guarantee the safety of
the prospective employees. Alfred Udangawa living in retirement is the head of the family but does not command the respect of other family members due to many weaknesses. The eldest daughter
in this family Kamani is a widow and she lives with her grown up
son. She lives on from her husband's pension which is suplemented
by a meagre income from her small businesses. She also tries her
best to build unity in Udangawa family. Fat-headed Cryshanthi is
the second daughter in Udangawa family and she is married to an
executive officer. All her pride comes from her husband Jinadasa's
job and everybody respects him due to his superior status. It was
in this house that Ranmali finds the job. Nandana, Jinadasa's brother
is in jail but his brother pretends that he is a student in a foreign
country. Samanthi is
hot tempered and she is the third daughter in Udangawa family. But
she is married to a driver, Gnanapala working in the municipal council
and others in this family think that it was a disgrace to the family
status. But the fact is that Udangawa family cannot do anything
without Gnanapala. The fourth
in the family is Ramyalal working as a clerk and his wife is Kosala
who tries to get to the top class. Unable to provide the extravagances
expected by his wife the husband gets involved in anti-social activities
and ultimately becomes a drunkard. Gothami and
Duminda are the youngest in Udangawa family who live with their
lonely father. Duminda has fallen in love with a Burgher girl, Olga
and all in the family are opposed to this. The drama takes
an unexpected turn when Nandana believed to be living abroad, returns
home freed from jail. No sooner he
returns starts an affair with Ranmali, the servant girl who had
come from the village. But he abandons her on hearing she had got
pregnant by him. At the same time he starts another affair with
Gothami the youngest girl in the Udangawa family. This leads
to a break up in Cryshanthi and Jinadasa's family. The problems
begin to spread to the other households in Udangawa family throwing
the whole family into turmoil. But Alfred Udangawa the father in
the family tries his best to keep these as secrets and protect the
family respect. "Depath Nai" to be telecast on Swarnavahini has Sriyantha Mendis, Duleeka Marapana, Bandula Withanage, Maneke Ratnayake, Maureen Charuni, and Srinath Maddumage in the cast. In the technical crew are G. Nandasena as cameraman, Suneth Nandalal as art director, and screen play is by Sunanda Silva. Senanayake Weraliyadda had sung the theme song written by Sunil Ariyaratne and the music is directed by Tharupathy Munasinghe. 'Onna
Babo' on the way
Little 'Shanu',
played by Shanudri Priyasad is the only daughter of wealthy couple-Shan
and Shyama Senanayake. One day 'Ann' Shanu's aunt takes her to the
park. This journey was intended to meet Ann's fiance Malan. While
the couple make love to each other Shanu starts playing with a group
of children in another place. But the little girl becomes the victim
of an unexpected situation. A child kidnapper 'Bili" who sells
children to foreigners comes to the park and 'Shanu' becomes his
latest catch. Bili keeps
the kidnapped girl under three hilarious characters who works in
a bakery 'Lengwa', 'Mingwa' and 'Domingo'. But Shanu manages to
escape from them. Meanwhile Shanu's
parents offer a big prize to whoever finds their daughter. Not only
Ann, Malan and Bili but also the three comedians go in search of
the lost girl. But for Shanu
this is a completely new experience that is filled with fun and
excitement. The cast in
"Onna Babo" include Sangeeetha Weeraratne, Wimal Kumara
de Costa, Ronnie Leitch, Don Guy and Janaki Wijeyratne. The story was written and produced by Lalindra Wijewickrema and music was handled by Somapala Ratnayake. |
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