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 2nd May 1999 |
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To the beat of drums a princess walked in...From the enchanting princess in Maname to the 'hated woman' in Giraya, Trelicia captured the hearts of manySeven months ago we mourned the death of A.J. Last Tuesday, his wife Trelicia breathed her last. A great loss indeed. She gave so much life to Sinhala theatre, film and teledrama. My mind goes back to that epoch- making night at the Lionel Wendt - November 3, 1956. Professor Sarachchandra had brought 'Maname', a Nadagama to the city. It was a novel experience for us. Potheguru Shaymon announces the arrival of the daughter of the Raja Guru. The princess walks in, to the rhythmic beat of the drums. She introduces herself singing ' Lapa noma van sanda se somi gunena - Adara dinana sisu sevoma'. It was Trelicia (then Abeykoon). That night and many more nights were to be remembered for her entrancing performance, as she thrilled the audiences, young and old alike, as the leading lady in 'Maname.' Trelicia's performance contributed much towards the success of 'Maname' which gave a totally new dimension to Sinhala theatre. As Reggie Siriwardena wrote: "The performance ('Maname' as a whole) called for a most exacting combination of different talents - singing, timed movement and character-acting. It was astonishing that a student cast (the players were all Peradeniya undergraduates) should reach such a consistently high standard in all these aspects of the drama. Among the names picked for "a special namaskara" by him was Trelicia, who according to him: "in spite of a slight diffidence early in the evening, could scarcely have been better in the later episodes." That was the beginning in theatre. From Dr. Sarachchandra, master film-maker Lester James Peries took over. In 'Gamperaliya' (1963) she gave a polished performance as Anula, the tough elder sister of Nanda (Punya Heendeniya). Twenty years later, she continued her role in 'Kaliyugaya' which brought her three awards - President's, Sarasaviya, and OCIC as Best Supporting Actress. The roles she played in films were to be long remembered. Lester never missed an opportunity to cast her whenever he found an ideal role for her. She appeared in 'Nidhanaya' (1972), 'Madol Duwa' (1976) and 'Baddegama' (1987). When Sumitra Peiris decided to direct 'Gehenu Lamai', she picked Trelicia to play Vasanthi Chaturani's mother. She also played in Gamini Fonseka's 'Nomiyena Minissu' and more recently in Sudath Devapriya's 'Tharanaya'. After the advent of teledramas, producers were after her. But she selected the roles she played. Her unforgettable role in Lester James Peries' 'Giraya' made her a 'hated woman'. "I can't even get about now. I can't walk on the road. I can't go into a shop. They look hard at me and sometimes make remarks," she told me at the time 'Giraya' was being telecast. Viewers were glued to their TVs to see her in this dominant role carrying a 'giraya' and a bunch of keys all the time. She played that role to perfection. So too her performance in 'Baddegedera'. Recently she took to writing. 'Samskara', her translation of Anandamurtis Kannada novel was launched not so long ago. Trelicia's was not an age to die. "I feel terribly lonely now that A. J. is not around," she told me when I last met her in February at the German Cultural Institute. It was the evening performance by our drumming trio. The little girl who sang 'Surathal Nangiye Ape Amma' over the radio with Siri Aiya (U. A. S. Perera) when she was a tiny tot virtually six decades ago, gave us superlative entertainment for many years. We shall remember her for her contribution to the performing arts in our country. - Ranat
Remembering Trelicia"But will not be comforted -Prince Maname From Ediriweera Sarachchandra's play Maname Madhubhashini Ratnayake |
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