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Getting the beat right

By Virgini Perera 

He is the tablist who has played with Dr. Amaradewa and all other artists in Sri Lanka and India.

When we reached his beautiful  house in Mirihana, he was waiting for us with a smile.

On April 9, 2000 he received a special award from the  Italians because he touched and thrilled them many times with his tabla. He has performed 12 times in Italy, 15 times in England and more than 16 times in Germany and France. He is Wijerathna Ranathunga by name. He is a tablist.

Born in Colombo he studied at Maradana Central College. In 1976 he completed a year long course in Lalitha Kalayathanaya as a tablist and vocalist. Dr. Premasiri Khemadasa was this talented boy's first teacher.

Sangeeth Nipun late  P. V. Nandasiri, late D. R. Peiris and A. D. Kodituwakku were his other gurus.

Pandit Amaradeva always claimed that one tablist who plays in harmony with Sinhala music is Wijerathna Ranathunga, even though the tabla is a widely used instrument in Indian Ragadari.

The book Using Of Thabla In Sri Lanka was written by Ranathunga and published in 1999. He is a tabla player, lecturer, lyricist, music director and a justice of peace.

Wijerathna Ranathunga is a silent man but he breaks the silence with  his tabla when necessary.

"I can play the tabla, dolky, bongo, and all other instruments of that type. I also received an award in 2001," he said.

"Since 1971, I have been working in the University of Kelaniya as a senior lecturer. I have been awarded professorship. Since 1978, I have been participating in shows  held in other countries. My life is unbelievable," he went on.

"I held a show in Germany with   Sangeeth Nipun Sanath Nanadasiri on tabla. On that occasion a German told me this was one of the best performances he had heard, even among the best of them."

"I have accompanied Producer, Jethendra Awasthi when he came to Sri Lanka. Even though I have  gone to many countries I have never been to India."

"I like to help beginners and I never forget people who have helped me."

"There are two types of tablist. Most of them are simply playing and some have not even studied classical music. They can take the Visharada from India. In Sri Lanka there are so many with Visharada. But I can challenge them at any time," he added.

I have accompanied H. K. Roksamy, Somadasa Elvitigala, T. K. Lateef, Premasiri Khemadasa, Pandith Amaradewa and many more. My wife Nirmala Ranathunga is a popular singer. Also my daughter Sewwandi and son Nuwan Chamara Ranathunga are in the  music field.

Wijerathna Ranathunga is today a content man. Among the special pieces of music he has created is, Sinaha Malgodak Para Depeththe. The speciality here is the use of awanadha - a different type of  instrument.

Asked what advice he had for up coming musicians he said: "Study your field well before launching into popular entertainment."

A poet, a romance and a miracle

By  Lakshman de Silva 

When emotions are roused, whether by something or someone, one tends to be unable to express one's ideas clearly. Yet the ability to express thoughts and feelings is most necessary.

On examining any piece of poetry or prose, it is a fact that it can be found that somehow or other it expresses its author's feelings and thoughts.

Robert Browning's poem Home Thoughts From Abroad derives much of its power and beauty from it being the medium by which he expresses his feelings and thoughts.

Oh to be he in England now that Arril's there,

And whoever works in England sees, some morning, unaware,

That the lowest boughs and the brushwood sheaf

Round the elm-tree bole are in tiny leaf,

While the chaffinch sings on the orchard bough

In England - now.

Robert Browning was one of the most famous of the Victorian poets. His work, with the exception of short poems such as The Pied Piper, Home Thoughts From Abroad, Herve Riel consist of long and difficult poems in which his appeal is to the intellect rather than to the imagination.

In 1846 he married Elizabeth Barrett, herself a poet and this marriage is one of the great romances in literature for Elizabeth Barrett was an invalid living the life of a recluse until Robert Browning made her acquaintance. He persuaded her to elope with him to Italy where she recovered her health and spent a happy married life.

In A Musical Instrument, Elizabeth Barrett Browning tells a story. She relates how Pan, in order to create sweet music, causes confusion and rain by the riverside. In a similar way, she adds, is a poet made from a man. By means of the story she expresses the thought that heavy is born of suffering. This expression of a thought, by means of a story that illustrates it, is the method used in fables, parables and allegories.

From Virginia Wolf's writing on the Brownings:

It was half past two; a rap sounded boldly on the front door. Miss Barrett turned Pale; she lay very still. Flush - Mrs Browning's Pet dog - lay still too. Upstairs came the dreaded footfall; upstairs. Now a hand was on the door. The handle spun. There he stood. "Mr Browning," said Wilson.

Flush, watching Miss Barret, saw the colour rush into her face; saw her eyes brighten and her lips open. "Mr. Browning!" she exclaimed.

Twisting his yellow gloves in his hands, blinking his eyes, well groomed, masterly, abrupt, Mr. Browning strode across the room. He seized Miss Barret's hand and sank into the chair by the sofa at her side. Instantly they began to talk. Even Miss Barret's family began to notice, as the weeks passed, a change in Miss Barret. She left her room and went down to sit in the drawing room.

Then she did what she had not done for many a long day  - she actually walked on her own feet as far as the gate with her sister. Her friends, her family were amazed at her improvement.

Punarjeewa on Rupana Vedaya

By Risidra Mendis 

To some being  an actor means money, prestige and recognition, to others it is a special art that needs to be practiced, mastered and taken to greater heights in the film world.

Dharmajith Punarjeewa like many others too wanted to be an actor. However, when he tried to find a school, to learn this art, he found that none existed. His attempt at trying to locate a book shop that could sell him a book on the art of acting failed miserably. It was at this point that Punarjeewa was struck with the idea that he should take the initiative to write a book on acting, especially for those amateurs who would like to read, learn and master the correct method of acting.

This was the result of his book Rupana Vedaya and today that is  one of the most important books sought by prominent and amateur film actors and actresses in the country.

Speaking to The Sunday Leader, Punarjeewa said he was initially sad when he saw the standard of the hundreds of teledramas aired on television. "If you were to switch on the TV channel and continue to watch even five teledramas for a day, you would realise that the characters in all these teledramas are basically acting a similar role. But for the audience who doesn't understand what acting is all about, watching a teledrama is a form of entertainment," said Punarjeewa.

For many amateur actors and actresses, earning money rather than trying to improve their knowledge of acting has become important today. "These actors and actresses prefer to live a comfortable life with the money they earn from teledramas rather than concentrate on winning an award," explained Punarjeewa.

According to Punarjeewa, in the US the sole aim of famous filmstars is to concentrate on winning an Oscar and bring up the standard of the film industry .

"I wanted to be an actor but I felt that I should first study and understand the art of acting before I really get involved in the practicals," explained Punarjeewa.

According to Punarjeewa, from his experience and research while gathering information for his book he has learnt that the best method for acting is the realistic form. The Sinhala theatre and cinema have completed 50 years. But what have the prominent film artistes done to uplift the standards of this important industry," says Punarjeewa.

Rupana Vedaya  is probably the only option left to uplift a dying film and teledrama industry. Punarjeewa's book deals with Konstantin Stanislavski's acting method. "This is the method used by popular film stars in the States. In Rupana Vedaya I have taken examples from Sinhala films and explained what an amateur needs to know when starting on a career in acting. An amateur can then watch the film and understand what I am trying to say," added Punarjeewa.

In Rupana Vedaya, Punarjeewa talks of the acting methods of Swarna Mallawarachchi, Anoja Weerasinghe, Malini Fonseka, Joe Abeywickrema, Vijaya Kumaratunga, Ravindra Randeniya and Gamini Fonseka. Part of the book also explains acting methods of prominent international film stars and directors like Marlon Brando, Sir Laurence Oliver, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Lauren.

According to Punarjeewa, Brando was one of the first actors to adopt Stanislavski's acting method and is today one of the most famous and successful actors in the world.

The launch of Rupana Vedaya on May 29 has had a good response with the first copy being bought by Ravindra Randeniya.