Dr. Siri Gunasinghe has always tried to do something different whether it be writing a novel, drawing a book cover or directing a film. His earliest writings - Mas Le Nethi Eta (1956), a collection of blank verses and the novel Hevanella (1961) evoked much discussion. His book covers were "meaningless" to many. His cinematic creation, Sath Samudura was a landmark in Sinhala cinema.
Presenting a 15th Century classic to a 2Oth Century audience was the challenge he faced when he was invited by ITN to transform the well-known Guttila Kavya to a television presentation. It was to inaugurate what ITN hopes would be the beginning of a series introducing Sinhala classics to television audiences.
Dr Gunasinghe's approach was to present Guttila Ru Naluva (that's how the TV presentation was titled) using the verses in their original form as written by Venerable Vetteve. They are yet popular and remembered by both the young and old having studied Guttila Kavya as a school text.
When Guttilaya was telecast last Poya night, the viewers heard Amaradeva singing these verses in his inimitable style. Where appropriate, the actors themselves sang. There was Rohana Beddege (Guttila), Mangala Senanyake (Musila) and Quintus Weerakoon (King Brahmadatta).
Music was by Rohitha Wijesuriya with P.V. Nandasiri helping out with the classical pieces.
Filmed in Panduvasnuwara where the Raja Maha Vihara premises was transformed into the city of Udeni and Padeniya temple bana maduwa to the royal court in Benares, Guttilaya's photography was handled by Deepal Gunatilleka. Art director was Janak Jayasuriya.
Guttila Ru Naluva was a welcome departure from the host of meaningless teledramas dished out by most TV channels. ITN's experiment deserves support. It's a good start to do something different. Hope they will give us more.
The Buddhist Cultural Centre at Nedimala, Dehiwala launched 22 new Buddhist titles last week. This 'one-stop Buddhist Books Centre' started four years ago offers the best collection of Buddhist books in Sri Lanka. Its catalogue exceeds 4000 titles.
Last week's launch saw 11 books in Sinhala and 11 in English. The lot included the Sinhala version of the Majjima Nikaya comprising 152 Suttas. Last April, the Centre put out the Digha, Sanyutta and Anguttara Nikayas in Sinhala launching its programme of presenting the Tripitaka in simple Sinhala.
Saddharmalankaraya, the acclaimed literary work by Sangharaja Dharmakirti of Gadaladeniya consisting of 105 Buddhist tales, the Sinhala version of Upasakajanalankaraya by Moratota Dhammabhandu Thera (19th Century) and Vimanavastu Prakaranaya are among the reprints released last week.
The English titles include Yogavacara Rahula's One Night's Shelter and The Way to Peace and Happiness, Ven Balangoda Ananda Maitriya's Introducing Buddhism and Pali Made Easy, Ven Naradas' Buddhism for Beginners and Edgerton Baptist's 31 Planes of Existence.
The Centre runs its own press (Systematic Print) and is linked to the Internet.
I read Ayubowan.. Armour Veediya (Armour Street...Here I come) at one go. Possibly because it's written by a fellow journalist and (quite a raw one at the time I was fairly senior at Lake House), it's so well written and so easy to read. The writer is Merril Perera, Associate Editor of Divaina who has contributed a lot to its success since inception.
Calling it 'Experiences of a journalist', Merril confessses that scribes usually wait till retirement to reminisce on their past. "They turn their diaries full of vivid memories of an unforgettable past into autobiographies. But I have not maintained a diary. Hence this attempt before I forget my varied encounters and those events in the field of journalism that I wish to share with you".
Having known Merril for the past 30 years, I agree with his guru Edmund Ranasinghe that he is amiable and his outgoing personality makes him a friendly and warm person. A journalist and an artist, Merril is a superb page make-up man.
The occasional film review he writes is a gem.
Ayubowan... Armour Veediya talks about people and events at Lake House and Dawasa (where Merril worked after leaving the Janata) in the '60s and '70s. I wish Merril would write about his experiences at Upali Newspapers soon - before he retires.
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