TV Times

TV Times

Top short stories on mini screen
By Susitha R. Fernando
A fine collection of 20 short stories 'Vinivindimi representing different periods of the history of Sri Lankan short stories will be made into visual directions soon by seasoned miniplay director Christy Shelton Fernando to the production of Ranjith Perera.

The Muhurath ceremony was held at the Sudarshi Hall, Bullers Road with the participation of short story writers and actors and technical crew members recently.

Speaking at the Muhurath, veteran writer Dr. Gunadasa Amerasekara said that the teledrama series is a timely move as there is hardly anything worthwhile to see in today's teldrama scene.

"We took part in this endeavor with the fullest confidence in the director, as this would take Sri Lankan miniplays in to a different dimension," the well-known writer whose short story 'Gal Pilimaya Saha Bolpilimaya' was made in to a teledrama by the same producer and the director earlier mentioned.

Well-known writer and translator K. Jayathilake said "While we were writing these stories neither the television was introduced to the country nor did we think that they would made into miniscreen scenes,". "All these stories are about human emotions and it's a challenging task to bring them to visual images. However we wish all the best for this effort,".

Starting from the short story of prolific writer Martin Wickremasinghe, the stories of recent writers Eric Illayapparachchi and Liyanage Amarakeerthi will be made into one episode teledramas as a commendable effort to recreate Sri Lankan literature through visual images.

"Almost all the stories are in the Advanced Level examination, thus providing not only entertainment but also education," said Ranjth Perera, the producer.
"They recreate different stages in Sri Lankan short story and its development," he added. The short story collection will be divided into three main periods, from 1924-1944 as the first period, 1945-1956 as the second period and the rest as the third period of the development of the short story in Sri Lanka.

The twenty short stories are Martin Wickremasinghe's 'Narakwu Piti Banduna', W. A. Silva's 'Wairodiya', J. B. Senanayake's 'Kalahaya', Hemapala Munidasa's 'Ganudenuwa', Gunadasa Amerasekara's 'Apasu Gamana', K. Jayatilakke's 'Athiranaya', T. P. W. de Silva's 'Nambu Pissuwa', Madwala S. Ratnayake's 'Kuhumbuwo', Ajith Thilakasena's 'Atharamaga', Simon Navagaththegama's 'Papochcharanaya', Somaratne Balasuriya's 'Karaththaya', A. V. Suraweera's 'Bawathimira', , Miniwan P. Premathilake's 'Vikalpayak', Ranjith Dharmakeerthi's 'Ohu Enathuru', Piyasilee Wijemanne's 'Welegedara Gunawathi', Jayathilake Kammalweera's 'Thaththage Malagama', Dayasena Gunasinghe's 'Mawathe Daruwo', Arawwala Nandimithra's 'Raththaran Nelum Mala', Eric Ilayapparachchi's 'Giri Kula' and Liyanage Amarakeethi's 'Mora Adawiya'.
"We have tried to use locations in the original settings where the stories were written and this would be a rewarding task," the director Chrysty Shelton Fernando said.

The stellar casts employed for the main roles in the different teledrama's are Jayalath Manoratne, Cyril Wickremage, Suminda Sirisena, Palitha Silva, Chandani Seneviratne, Janak Premalal, Janak Kumbukge, Jagath Benaragama, Luxman Mendis, Wilson Gunaratne, Gamini Samarakoon, Gamini Hettiarachchi, Nimanthi Porage, Gayani Gyshanthika, Anton Jude, Sarath Chandrasiri, Sarath Kothalawela, Ananda Athukorale, Gamini Ambalangoda, Anula Wanigasuriya, Budhdhika Rambukwelle, Malkanthi Ranasinghe and Ramya Wanigasekara.
"Nearly 200 stars would take part in the total direction and a number of locations have to be used," the director said.

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