‘Kele Handa’ glitters on mini-screen

Popular novel ‘Kele Handa’ written by W. A. Silva in 1933 has been made into cinema on several occasions and it was also named as the first novel to be made to a film in Sri Lanka. Twenty years after the novel was written, the first cinema version was made in 1953 by B. A. W. Jayamanna and it was under the same title. The main character of Malani was played by ever-popular Rukmani

Devi while John Jayapala was played by the then newcomer Stanley Perera. However Perera made a name as one the yesteryear film actor playing in few other films.

The first teledrama version of ‘Kele Handa’, directed by ‘Dekethi Muwahatha’ and ‘Bogala Soundaris’ famed director Dayaratne Ratagedara is now being telecast every weekendSaturday and Sunday at 8.30 pm on National Rupavahini.

The story revolves around Malani and Don Jayapala’s love and the social and political changes that had been taking during that period. Malani’s mother is Misilin and she works in Colombo. Her husband is Punchirala and they have met in the city. Misilin gives up her life in village and settles down in Colombo and her daughter Malini become city dweller from her birth.

Her life and way of thinking is changed according to the city and she also inherits a some wealth. She meets John Jayapala and decides to give up all she has received in order to start a new life with him. Played by Tharika Wanniarachchi, Veena Jayakody, Chandrasoma Binduhewa, Udayanthi Kulatunga, Aravinda Dombagahawatte, Jagath Benaragama, Wijayaratne Warakagoda, Chandana Irugal Bandara, Gamini Samarakone, Erdley Wedamuni, Sumith Mudannayaka, Kumara Wanduressa, Thamali Gunawardena, Sahana Maannage, Chinthaka Kulatunga, Udeni Nadeeka, Lalith Bandara, Sujith Gunaratne, Sinethi Akila, Udeni Chandrasiri Hemanthi Hewage and number of other actors and actresses.