Suranga Lakmal Seneviratne’s second tele direction, ‘Anavaratha’, a story of two women who are on two different journeys from different destinations is now being telecast from Monday to Friday at 7.30 pm on Rupavahini.
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| Director Suranga Lakmal |
Having directed his debut teleplay ‘Angaani’, an artistic story which deals with the issue of how human values, culture and tradition have become commodities in the open market system, ‘Anavaratha’ takes a different format. Once again it deals with an emotional story but is presented in a more popular format with songs and dances.
“Though my first teledrama received highest hits in the ratings, the television channels did not like its format with its artistic presentation. I therefore had to undergo a severe hardship in finding a channel,” said Suranga unraveling some of the bitter truths behind the teledrama industry and television channels which are on a rat race to make profit by dishing out any trash rather than promoting arts.
“There was sufficient evidence to prove that there was a demand for my direction yet television channels were looking for light entertainment,”, the director said.
Played by a talented cast including Jayani Senanayake, Medha Jayaratne, Bimal Jayakody, Gamini Hettiarachchi, Seetha Kumari, Rebecca Nirmalee, Samanthi Lanerolle, Gunadasa Madurasinghe and Shan Bandu, ‘Anavarath’ marks the entrance of ‘Water’ famed internationally acclaimed Sri Lankan child actress Sarala Kariyawasam.
Others in the cast include Sampath Jayaweera, Tharushi Perera, Pubudu Gamage and child actor Ulindu Chankramana Seneviratne who is introduced to the small screen.
Set in three parallel settings in Anuradhapura, Mihinthale and Haputhale, the story revolves around Jeewani, a woman who makes a journey from remote agricultural Anuradhapura to cool Haputale to find a way to save her husband. She goes in search of Ishara, a widow on whose hands the life of her husband depends on. During her courageous journey she comes across Sumithra who plays multiple roles as a street singer and a pickpocket. With severe hardship, Jeewani finally meets Ishara but she cannot ask the help she wanted. This is due to the death of Ishara’s husband and both women come to know that Jeewani’s husband was responsible for the death.
Finally Jeewani sums up courage to ask for what she wants and Ishara is enraged by this. With this response Jeewani decides to give up her endeavour and return to her home town but Ishara who follows her joins in the journey.
‘The story has a touch of a popular Bollywood film. This I did as an experiment and also to avoid difficulties that I had to undergo in finding a channel,’ Suranga said.
However the young director says that he is fed up with the entire system and wants to completely give up making teledramas.
‘I am in a dilemma to decide whether to continue with the teledrama or change my medium. Hopefully my next direction will be for the big screen,’ he said.
Edited by Saman Samarawickrema, the art director is Asela Salgada, make up by Sunantha Ramasinghe and script, production and direction by Suranga Lakmal Seneviratne. |
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