Kala Korner

A simple man who wished to remain behind the scenes for decades stole the limelight the other day at the BMICH. All these years he showed his strength through his pen. He was known by the many articles he wrote to Sinhala newspapers and journals, and a few award-winning novels.

Ever since television came, he became a household word through the teledramas he wrote. In the formative years when television was limited to just one or two channels, he set the standards for teledramas. "I thought about my children, my wife, my parents, my relations when I wrote. I was conscious of the values in our society. I have never penned a single word which aimed to harm anyone or hurt anyone," he confessed at the felicitation arranged by the Tele Makers Guild.

Somawira Senanayake, the typical 'gamaya' if one were to sum up his calm and quiet demeanour, had been a writer for 40 years. We were colleagues at Lake House. He had finished his first degree at Vidyodaya University (as Sri Jayawardenapura University was then known) and decided to make journalism his career.

He recalls how he was a vociferous reader from his young days. His father, an ayurvedic physician in the village (the Senanayakes hail from Ruwanwella) wanted the son to be a doctor. But he loved writing. From a trainee sub-editor at Sarasaviya, he rose to be the editor of Navayugaya, the literary journal. Once he moved out of Lake House, he decided to devote his time to writing and remains a prolific writer to this day.

Somawira's quiet but effective contribution to Sri Lanka's literary scene well deserved the recognition he was accorded. The Tele Makers Guild (of which he is immediate past president) used the audio visual medium most effectively to make it a night to remember. Four decades of Somawira's work was presented through a documentary using him as the main player, relating his progress with his former and present working colleagues chipping in to discuss his contribution in the many fields he has excelled. The snippets from the films and teledramas he has scripted not only added colour but also helped the full house at BMICH to recollect and appreciate the contribution he has made to build up meaningful cine and tele industries in Sri Lanka. (His last two efforts in writing the scripts and dialogues for Lester James Peries films 'Wekande Walauwwa' & 'Ammawarune' received high praise).

The dance items created by Ravibandu to depict selected episodes from several of Somawira's teledramas were a welcome departure from the many such items often seen where the accent is on the glamour rather than the content. Ravibandu had concentrated on capturing the right mood and presenting the items in a modest manner.

It was refreshing to see Iranganie Serasinghe making a rare appearance on stage (now we see her mostly on the small screen unlike the old days when she was more often seen on stage) with Nilmini to portray a scene from 'Doo Daruwo'. We missed Sudu Seeya, however. Janak Premal's portrayal of the arachchi in 'Utuwankande Saradiel', Somawira's latest effort was stunning.

The occasion also provided a platform to assess the present state of the medium of television. Addressing the audience on behalf of the Maha Sangha, the Chancellor of the Sri Jayawardenapura University, Ven. Professor Bellanwila Wimalaratana Thera was critical of most material seen on television.

He quoted examples of TV commercials which are against the values of Sri Lankan society and warned that it was time production houses paid more attention to the local culture and traditions in their productions.

Professor Sunil Ariyaratne wondered how no one has ever blamed Somawira, particularly because he has been a successful writer winning accolades and awards. "It's our tradition that when someone's work is recognised by way of a State literary award, the writer is criticised heavily. Somawira is an exception. No one utters a word about him," he said. "When a film or a teledrama is not of acceptable quality, the blame will be on the director. Somawira inevitably will be praised for the script!"