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Kala Korner - by Dee Cee

Tribute to a great master of art
Kalasauri Somabandu, the well-known name in the field of arts, is no more, just over six months after his erstwhile friend Chitrasena departed. They were inseparables - at least where Chitrasena productions went. The programme note to key productions always said: Produced and directed by Chitrasena, Composition and Direction of Music by Amaradeva, Décor, Costumes and Make-up by Somabandu.

The trio produced the best of ballets and it was a fine team effort. That's why we talk so much about 'Karadiya' and 'Nala Damayanthi' to this day. We have vivid memories of not only the brilliant performances but also the costumes, décor, stage-craft and of course, the music. The décor certainly helped to make them unforgettable creations.

I spotted Somabandu in his usual light-coloured safari kit at the Lionel Wendt the other night. He had come to pay tribute to his friend at 'The Art of Chitrasena' show. He looked weak and moved about cautiously. It was not long ago that he was seen on top of a ladder doing the new murals at Bellanwila temple. That was his last big assignment - a lifetime achievement. Just as we admire Soliyas Mendis' work at the Kelaniya temple and George Keyt's murals at Gotami Vihara depicting the Buddha's life story, Somabandu's effort in his own style will be discussed by generations to come.

The village boy from Pannipitiya belonging to a generation of temple and 'bali' painters, continued the tradition and showed his prowess as a painter from his early days when he was a student of St. Thomas' Kotte. He later joined Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya.

With Somabandu becoming famous as a painter, many may not remember that he was a student of Chitrasena. In fact, he was one of the guru's earliest pupils. As a teenager he learnt dancing from Chitrasena until he decided to give up dancing to study painting and sculpture. He went across to Santiniketan in the mid-1940s and learnt painting under the great guru Nandalal Bose, a pioneer of the national tradition of painting in modern India.
Commenting on his early line drawings, renowned painter Albert Dharmasiri wrote that they "brilliantly display his mastery of the treatment of line in classical oriental art".

Sombandu was introduced to costume and stage designing by Chitrasena's father-Seebert Dias during the Tower Hall era. He continued the relationship with the son and starting with 'Ravana', did the stage décor and costumes in Chitrasena's ballets 'Chandali' and 'Hima Kumariya' in the early period. Chitrasena classed him as "one of the most gifted and versatile artists of the day".

To quote from the 'Karadiya' programme note on Somabandu: "A born traditionalist, he has mastered the most advanced trends of contemporary painting. This rare gift synthesizing the traditional with the modern has made him a master of creating harmonious décor and tasteful costumes for the oriental ballet. He is today one of the most brilliant exponents of contemporary art".

Sombandu rarely used his surname Vidyapathy. He was plain and simple Somabandu. He was a simple individual who preferred to do his bit silently and do it well.

Somabandu saw his son Ravibandu blossoming out as a fine dancer and a master of the drums. I am sure he would have been more than pleased watching the son performing with Upeka and extending her all the support at the Lionel Wendt show, forming a strong link and continuing the tradition of the Chitrasena Kalayathanaya.

Somabandu would have celebrated his 83rd birthday on March 22. But he left a month earlier. We will miss a good man and talented artist.

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