Date:30/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/30/stories/2008123051980300.htm

Kerala - Thrissur

Sri Lankan theatre is not political: dramatist

Staff Reporter

Ediriweera Sarachchandra’s plays are a rage in Sri Lanka

Thrissur: Political issues have hardly been portrayed in Sri Lankan theatre despite the island nation being politically active, dramatist Lalitha Sarachchandra has said. She was interacting with delegates to the International Theatre Festival of Kerala here on Monday.

“Government controls over theatre are minimal in Sri Lanka. Nevertheless, mainstream theatre in the island nation is non-political, she said.

Wife of dramatist Ediriweera Sarachchandra, she has been directing and presenting his plays, which are a rage in Sri Lanka, since his death in 1996. His play, ‘Sinhabahu’, was staged at the festival on Sunday.

Sarachchandra, who studied Indian philosophy and learned to play sitar at Santiniketan, was greatly influenced by the dance-drama style conceived and popularised by Tagore. His plays use Hindustani and Carnatic music. Drumming, a part of the soundscape of the plays, is based on the traditional South Indian style.

At the same time, his plays were rooted in the Sri Lankan ethos. “He followed the ‘Natyadharmi’ style. The influence of Buddhism is obvious in ‘Sinhabahu’. Sarachachadra has skillfully woven the Buddhist concept of ‘Karuna Maithri’ into the play,” she said.