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Kala Korner - by Dee Cee

Helping underprivileged youngsters
It was an unexpected call from an old friend - a man who was once very much involved with the arts. He called all the way from Karalliyadda in Meda Dumbara beyond Kandy. G.D.L. Perera, the livewire behind Kala Pela in the fifties and sixties (more about it later) told me he was spending his retirement quite actively helping underprivileged youngsters in this rural area to take an active part in the field of arts. Having spent 30 years in England, he felt it was time to get back and see how he could contribute towards the upliftment of cultural activity in a remote area.

His 'kalagaraya' in Karalliyadda completes two years this week. The youngsters whom GDL has guided in dance, drama and music will display their talents in a three-day festival titled 'Devas Varuna'. A musical show named 'Gee Sandella', a stylized drama titled 'Surasura' and episodes from a teledrama produced by GDL with their participation - 'Samanala Gamanak' are the main items to be presented at the festival beginning Friday, September 24.

"I do this work voluntarily," GDL says. He is quite thrilled with the 18-part teledrama he has produced with the assistance and participation of some of his friends and past pupils including the village youngsters both in front of the cameras and behind it. He is hopeful he will be able to find a sponsor to air it.

"It will be an encouragement to the amateurs who are looking forward to seeing themselves on the small screen," GDL says. I am sure he will not find it a difficult task particularly after its initial screening at the festival, which will be attended by the renowned filmmaker Tissa Abeysekera who is presently in charge of the Television Training Institute.

GDL has always been a man of ideas and action. His interest in drama goes back to his school days at Prince College, Kotahena where he met a patron of the arts, Edwin Hewakapuge who was a teacher in the school. For many decades Hewakapuge has rendered yeoman service promoting Sinhala drama, particularly in the field of publicity through his IPB Press in Maradana.

Kala Pela activities
GDL began his career as a clerk in the Labour Department and in the wake of the cultural resurgence following the victory of Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, took the initiative in forming the Kala Pela with Hewakapuge as the patron. Six others including the grand old lady in Sinhala theatre and cinema in later days, Denawaka Hamine joined GDL in the effort.

Three plays were produced but it was not until GDL's 'Sama' appeared on stage in 1960, that people took note. The ones, which followed - 'Sakkara Vattam' & 'Mehev Lokeka' (1962), 'Ratu Rosa' (1963), 'Totupola' (1964) and 'Andare' (1965) - were much talked about.

The State Drama Festival took a competitive turn in 1962 and Leonie Weerasinghe (she still appears in teledramas) became best actress in 'Mehev Lokeka'. 'Totupola' carried away the awards for the best production and best in stage décor (Gamini Wickremasuriya) in 1964 with Denawaka Hamine and Gamini Wickremasuriya winning merit awards for their acting. Most critics thought 'Totupola' was GDL's best creation. He was moved by certain incidents he witnessed during the 1958 language riots and presented the play to illustrate the need of a ferry to go from one side of the river to the other.

GDL moved over to the cinema adapting the highly successful drama 'Sama' to the screen followed by an interesting film, 'Dahasak Situvili' with Henry Jayasena and a newcomer, Nilanthi Wijesinghe (now a veteran actress) playing the lead roles. A Sinhala version of 'Romeo and Juliet' saw Sunil Shantha singing an English song and a number of new players making their debut.

Kala Pela became the training ground for a host of artistes. Regular classes were held on filmmaking and acting and many benefited. Among the musicians and singers who were given a break by GDL were Jayatissa Alahakoon and Devananda Waidyasekera whose compositions and songs of the early Kala Pela days remain popular to this day.

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