Portraying the heroes behind picture stories

Picture stories have been a craze among the masses, especially in the seventies when such publications sold like hot cakes and the artists behind those creations were heroes in the colourful world of the readers. We still remember popular stories like Ithin Eeta Passe, Raktha, Gaja Man, Batti, Anupama, Hulawali, Susima, Batakola Achchi, Pata Pata Heenayake, Aththika Mal and others that stole the hearts of the readers in the seventies and eighties in particular.

Among the big names in this field were heavyweights like G.S. Fernando, Susil Premaratne, Puravijaya Fonseka, Bandula Harischandra, Thalangama Jayasinghe, Daya Rajapksa, Anura Wijewardana, Cammillus Perera, G. Wickramanayake and several others. The late G.S. Fernando who worked for the Times of Ceylon as a cartoonist was the first to create the country's first picture story titled 'Neela' - apparently named after his daughter Nelum Wimalaratne who also took to journalism later on. Neela was Nelum's pet name. Susil Premaratne was the first to compile the first picture storybook 'Ran Dupatha'. Anura Wijewardana played the pioneering role behind the country's first Picture story publication 'Sathuta'.

Picture stories were so popular that film and tele drama makers converted them into movies and tele dramas too. Among them were creations serialized in daily and Sunday newspapers. The National Picture Stories Foundation (Jathika Chitra Katha Padanama) recently organized a significant event titled 'Siththaru Rathriya' to felicitate 12 leading artists who made tremendous contributions to this field during the past 55 years.

Among those honoured at the glittering ceremony were G.S. Fernando (Award accepted by daughter Nelum Wimalaratne), Susil Premaratne, Puravijaya Fonseka (Award accepted by his brother D.S. Fonseka), Bandula Harischandra, Thalangama Jayasinghe, Daya Rajapksa, Anura Wijewardana, Cammillus Perera, G. Wickramanayake, S.A Dissanayake, Janaka Rathnayake and Sarathmadhu.

Twelve of Sri Lanka's super artists who played colossal roles behind picture stories during the past few decades, were honoured with awards at a glittering ceremony held at the Galle Face Hotel recently. Among those who received awards were Susil Premaratne, Thalangama Jayasinghe, Bandula Harischandra, G. Wickremanayake, Daya Rajapaksa, Anura Wijewardana, Camillus Perera, S.A. Dissanayake, Janaka Rathnayake, Sarathmadu and the late G.S. Fernando and Puravijaya Fonseka.

The award presentations were made by Chief Guest Cultural Affairs Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, Wijeya Newspapers Director and Lankadeepa Chief Editor Siri Ranasinghe and Central Investment and Finance Chairman Shirley Perera. Visharada Nanda Malini brought back nostalgic memories by rendering a song she sang for 'Niliyakata Pem Kelemi' - a movie based on a picture story by Daya Rajapaksa.

Veteran actress Sriyani Amarasena added spice by performing live for the song. Siththaru - a magazine comprising colorful picture stories of 23 well-known artists - was launched at the ceremony together with another comprehensive book on the country's picture story history titled 'Chitra Kathawe Wansa Kathawa' compiled by Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne who also made the keynote address.

The Siththaru magazine, compiled by Daya Rajapaksa and Duminda Sanjeewa Balasuriya and published by Wijeya Newspapers Ltd, is now available at all newspaper stalls.