THOTUPALA THE PLACE WHERE HATRED CONFRONTS GRATITUDE
Veteran dramatist, author and filmmaker G. D. L. Perera was instrumental in introducing a large number of new faces to the Sri Lankan theatre, television and cinema through his ‘Kalapela’ academy in Kandy. His films, stage productions and tele dramas are still remembered by the people largely because the topics he touched upon in them are valid even in today’s context.
Today almost all his creations are available in the DVD format under the Torana Video Movies label.
The DVD versions of GDL’s cinema productions ‘Sama’, ‘Dahasak Sithuwili’ (Thousand Thoughts) and the children’s film ‘Ali Peter’ (Peter of the Elephant) were recently released by Torana Video Movies while the ‘Ratagiya Eththo’ tele series was also released on DVD.
The latest to join this prestigious list is the new production of GDL’s celebrated stage play ‘Thotupala’ which comes with the tagline – ‘the place where hatred confronts gratitude’.
Thotupala which was first staged in 1964, is based on ethnic tensions that existed in the fifties and how humanity and compassion had the power to overcome all other aspects that led to hatred.
Dingi Appu – the protagonist of the play, is a ferryman whose son is a soldier. He believes that all the good jobs had been taken by the Tamils and that they are responsible for the misfortune of his life. His daughter- inlaw Pemawathi is pregnant and Dingi is anxious to see his grandson to take forward his lineage.
He openly reveals his hatred towards Tamils and cannot be convinced to change his mindset. One day he receives a message that his son has been killed and a Tamil doctor is respon-
sible for it. His son had been providing security to a Tamil prisoner. Upon hearing this shocking news Pemawathi goes into premature labour. Ironically the Tamil doctor said to be responsible for the son’s killing makes his way to the village. Will he help Pemawathi deliver the baby and how would Dingi react when he identifies the doctor?
Why did GDL choose such a sensitive topic as the base for this produc- tion?
“The ethnic tensions between the two communities were not sounding good for the future of the country. I was a government clerk in the fifties and when the circular relating to the Sinhala official language issue came up in the late fifties, we had to face a proficiency test in Sinhala. Four of my seniors were Tamils. I being a Sinhala, managed to pass the proficiency test. The heart-broken chief clerk Benedict Fernandopulle died of a heart attack. The next in command Paramajothi got a transfer to the North. The third went to India with his family. Then came the high tension with the communal riots in 1958 when elements with racist instincts attacked minority members with whom they had worked and associated with for several decades. I could not simply suppress this injustice which I saw and experienced. I made Thotupala as a tribute to good people with compassionate hearts belonging to all communities. Why do we fail to realize that we all belong to one human race?,” asked GDL. Isn’t this question worth a repeat even after 50 years since he made Thotupala.
The new cast comprises Suranga Chamil Rathnayake, Malki Dileesha Silva, Kelum Tharanga Gunawardane, Ayesha Madushani Udukumbura, Raj Abeyratne and Channa Udayanga Ganegoda.