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TV Times

‘Ran Mehesi’:Lady Without a halo
‘Ran Mehesi’ is a faithful portrayal of Susan, a virtuous woman, who believes in the essential goodness of others. Though it may sound hackneyed, this tale ends in virtue triumphing over evil.

The play stars Neeta Fernando, Rangana Premaratne , Nalin Pradeep Udawela, Semini Iddamalgoda, Kumara Jayakantha, Surangi Ruwanmali, Prasanna Fonseka, Vishaka Siriwardane, Sanath Wimalasiri, Ranjith Wickramasinghe, Richard Manamudali and G R Perera.

For rich women, social work is a fashion. But with Susan, it was a passion. As a wife of a multi-millionaire, she was zealously devoted to ameliorate the lives of the poor and the down-trodden. Though she was a devout Christian, her charity and generosity transcended barriers of creed, caste and race.

Her husband Ronnie, was not only tolerant of his wife’s (Susan’s) charitable activities, but encouraged her too. Maybe Susan’s total immersion in charitable and welfare activities, made him feel neglected or as is the way with middle-aged rich men, he fell in love with a young girl called Kumari. Kumari was ambitious. She has hopes of ending up as Ronnie’s wife. When Kumari’s boyfriend Keerthi, realizes that she had jilted him for this middle-aged businessman, he thinks of revenge.

The underworld character, whom he contacts, advices him that killing Susan is the only way to get Kumari back. This is a ruse played on Keerthi, by the underworld character to fleece him. Keerthi agrees to this ploy. An attempt is made on Susan’s life while she comes out of church.

Ronnie is utterly disturbed. He stops visiting Kumari for sometime. Keerthi is disappointed that the so-called attempt on Susan failed. Kumari is worried by Ronnie’s absence.

Life goes on. Susan undeterred by the recent mishap goes on carrying out her good work to uplift the poor and downtrodden. A friend of hers informs Susan that her husband has a mistress. She dismisses the idea cursorily. Then her own brother who comes to know of this affair, informs her. At first, Susan is aghast. She cannot believe her husband will ever do such a thing. But if it is true, it must be stopped. She goes in search of Kumari.

Kumari is touched by the essential goodness of Susan, and decides to end her affair with Ronnie. On her way back, another attempt is made on Susan’s life. Kumari is highly perturbed, but she does not realize that these were the machinations of Keerthi. Ronnie is bewildered.

In the meantime, Keerthi is hell-bent on eliminating Susan. The police are puzzled and make themselves busy with investigations, but to no avail. Kumari, who ended her affair with Ronnie, goes back to live with her brother and decides to do social work with Susan. But Susan dissuades her…News of Kumari getting married to another young man makes Keerthi desperate.

He decides to eliminate Kumari himself. The wedding takes place in a church. The Police, in civil, surround the church. They anxiously await the arrival of Keerthi, the assassin. Yoland Weerasinghe and Neeta Fernando are co-producers to the direction of Tamara Bandaranayake.
On Swarnavahini at 9.00pm on Monday

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