The Rouse Hill Reading Cinema #2 was packed to its full capacity last Sunday the 12th Feb. The audience enjoyed a very unique experience of watching a special screening of ‘Mathaka Sulanga”’tele-drama series directed by Dr. Mahesh Bandara to honour one of its producers namely Mr Jayasiri Liyanapathirana who passed away recently.

Even though ‘Mathaka Sulanga’ is the maiden creation of Mahesh Bandara, it revealed his substantial talents in tele-drama direction. In fact this was a far better production than most of the current tele-dramas being telecasted in Sri Lanka. Before the screening, Mahesh broke the news that ‘Mathaka Sulanga’ has received highest classification with a prime time slot by the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and anticipate telecasting in the near future.

Cleverly plotted on a totally new story and intricately scripted ‘Mathaka Sulanga’ presented the audience with a sentimental storyline narrating the story of a young Aboriginal Origin University student (Mahinda) desiring to find his biological father with the help of his fellow university students. Well known script writer K B Herath has done a fabulous work in this regard.

Indrajith Mirihana’s music played a pivotal role in enhancing a wide range of sensitive situations in the plot. The cameraman Ayeshmantha had captured the situations, character emotions and Australian surroundings in a commendable way. Lyrics by Bandula Nanayakkarawasam and singing by Sunil Edirisinghe, Pradeepa Dharmadasa and Anuradha Nandasiri had added immense colour to the plot.

Mathaka Sulanga explores the conflict between generations and shows us the critical difficulty of understanding and up-bringing our children in the Australian social context and influencing our children to follow our traditional values. ‘Mathaka Sulanga’ tries to reveal us the way we are failing to meet our duties to our parents in Sri Lanka while expecting our children to fulfil our desires.

Mahesh had used well experienced Sri Lankan artists and also given a great opportunity to our Sydney actors to showcase their talents which had resulted in a well-balanced blend of skills. It was very encouraging to see the talents of Sydney artists who had made a valuable contribution to ‘Mathaka Sulanga’.

Director and Story: Dr. Mahesh K. Bandara

Produced by: Indrani Perera, Samapriya Sumanasekara, Lalith Amaraweera, Nalika Padmasena,
Jayasiri Liyanapathirana, Mahi Mahanama, Karu Katuwandeniya, Dr. Daya Amarasekara, Nishantha Jayakodi, and Rani Bandara for SLT Production group

Director of Lighting and Photography – Ayeshmantha Hettiarachchi
Screenplay – K. B. Herath
Editor – Isuru Sanjaya Thienudies
Music Director – Indrajith Mirihana
Make up: Wasantha Wittachchi

Starring: Sriyantha Mendis, Lakshman Wijesekera, Wasantha Wittachchi, Kanchana Kodithuwakku, Chathurika Pieris, Kusum Renu, Geetha Kanthi Jayakody, Sampath Kumarathunga, Chandra Kaluarachchi, Wimalendra Kumari, Chandrani Buddhipala, Indrajith Mirihana, Champa Buddhipala, Manohari Wimalathunga, Tissa Bandaranayake, Madhavi Ravipriya, Dinuki De Silva, Sunil De Silva, and Manjula Senanayake.

--- Reported by  S.M. Sisira Kantha ---