TV Times

In an era when many global changes are taking place Sri Lankan people also seek to emulate them. It is no secret that in this ambience there rises a section who will seeks to fulfil the personal desires in the guise of following global precepts.

'Sandagira' miniplay directed by Sumitha Rohana Tittawelgala now telecast every Monday at 7.30 pm on ITN is an attempt at portraying this trend.

Sirinatha Dheerasekara and wife are a couple with traditional concepts. We find Amila, Irene as humane persons and Ureka, Nayomi in supporting roles. Anurudda and Vishaka are defeatists characters. Suresh and Dickson are playboys. These characters give life to the present generation of Dheerasekaras and Weerasekeras. These are the stereotypes of the society that live.

Dheerasekara and his wife are Weerasekara's servants. They are loyal to Weerasekara. Yet they make use of his failings their advantage. Weerasekera's daughter Irene is back home after an unsuccessful marriage. Now Dheerasekara plots and succeeds in making Irene his daughter-in-law. As a result Weerasekera becomes Dheerasekara a rich man in no time. The tragedy is that Weerasekara dies at the hand of Dheerasekara. Thus Irene and her two children have to live with her father's murderer. Yet Weerasekara has left his legacy to his grand daughter. This defeats the Dheerasekaras.

Now to overcome this obstacle they decide to get Parami, Weerasekara's granddaughter married to Sahan Dheerasekara. Now Amila joins the Dheerasekara Enterprises. Amila is the son of one Jayasekera, loyal employee of Weerasekara. Amila saves Sirinatha's life when he meets with an accident. In gratitude Sirinatha promotes Amila and takes him home. From the beginning Amila feels sorry for Parami; when he sees how Sirinatha treats her, this compassion turns into secret love between Parami and Amila. Suresh is Amila's friend. Sahan returns from England and Parami reluctantly agrees to the wedding preparations. Meanwhile Sirinatha's daughter Ureka starts an affair with Dickson, a crook. Parami objecting to the behaviour between Ureka and Dickson who are supposed to be in love faces allegations from Ureka.

Amila and Sahan don't work well together when Sahan takes charge of the factory. Irene Weeraskera's son Anurudhdha is facing an unhappy marriage. This marriage is arranged by Sirinatha. Dickson steals money from Sirinatha's safe with Ureka's help. Anuruddha on a visit to his mother is arrested for the robbery and is jailed. Irene and Parami return after a visit to the prison and they are shocked by what they see at Anuruddha's residence. They feel incensed at what they see there. Then Irene accuses Sirinatha and Sirinatha assaults Irene during the altercation. When Parami requests Sirinatha Rs. 15 lakhs needed for surgery that Irene has to face he refuses. Anuruddha sells his car and Parami her jewellery. Amila too contributes all he has saved, What happens next…

Speaking on 'Sandagira', the director Sumitha Rohana Tittawelgala stated that the miniplay revolving around an aristocratic family was based on a true incident that had taken place in his home town.

Sandagira stars Damitha Abeyratne, Jagath Chamila, Nilanthi Wijesinghe, Richard Weerakkody, Malee Jayaweerage, Srinath Maddumage, Priyantha Wijeykoon, Asela Jayakody, Hemasiri Liyanage and Anuradha Udayanganie.

In the technical crew Bandula Weerasekara is the art director, Asela Jayakody make up and music by Rohana Weerasinghe. Sandagira is produced by Chandra Jayanthi Weerakkody and Wijaya Ranjan.