From Korea with Love
Korean serial drama ‘Saimdang, Memoir of Colors’ dubbed into Sinhala as ‘Mathaka Siththam’ is now being telecast at 8 pm on every weekday on Rupavahini channel.
Starring Lee Young-ae who was famed as ‘Changumi’ in the earlier series ‘Sujatha Dhiyani’ , the series is written by Park EunRyeong and directed by Yun SangHo
he series marks Lee’s television comeback 14 years after her pan-Asia hit drama Dae Jang Geum (2003).
A Korean university art history lecturer (Lee Young-ae) discovers the long-lost diary of a historical figure, unraveling the secret behind a recently uncovered, mysterious ancient painting as well as a look into the extraordinary life led by Shin Saimdang (also played by Lee), a renowned poet-artist in the Joseon era.
SeoJi-yoon, a lecturer in art history at Hankuk University, seems to have everything she wants. She is about to finish her PhD, supervised by renowned professor Min Jung-hak, which would ultimately lead to a faculty position at the university. She also has a good family life, with supportive husband Jung Minseok, a wealthy businessman, and mother-in-law Kim Jung-hae. For her PhD thesis, she is assigned to research a recently discovered painting Geumgangsando by An
Gyeon, scheduled to be displayed as national treasure under the auspices of Min Jung-hak. However, Ji-yoon’s discoveries seem to doubt the authenticity of the painting. At a conference, a student named Han Sang-hyun challenges her on the authenticity, which Ji-yoon deflected, citing she needs time to ensure its authenticity.
Ji-yoon’s answer casts doubt on the art world, humiliating Min Jung-hak, who opts to quickly sabotage her career path in retaliation. At a conference in Bologna, Italy, Prof. Min devises a scheme to cite her for disciplinary action, terminating her position at the university. As bad as Ji-yoon’s situation is, her life continues to crumble, when her husband goes into hiding, amassing unpaid debts as a result of a competitor’s illegal business maneuvers in a desperate measure for his business to survive. Reeling from her personal and professional life crises, serendipity comes into play on the roads of Italy when Ji-yoon stumbles upon a diary mentioning the Geumgangsando painting, leading her to discover the painting of Shin Saimdang by accident. The diary also sheds light about Saimdang, who not only strongly resembles Ji-yoon but seems to be intricately linked to her. Ji-yoon starts to fight an uphill battle to clear her name and prove her prowess by finding the real Geumgangsando painting, while also struggling with financial hardship and continual pressure from Min Jung-hak to prevent her from succeeding.
The dubbing by Amali Wijesekara, sound recording and mixing is by Asanka Kumarapeli assisted by Hashari Karunaratne.
With a number of dubbing artistes, ‘Mathaka Sinththam’ was dubbed by Sithara Pavithrani, Anushka Wijetillake, Rasadari Peiris, Jayanath Bandara, Sandya Rambukkanage, Kassapa Senarath, Shyamalee Livera, Geetha Kanthi Jayakody,
Firni Roshani, Nalani Piyasilee, Parami Ranasinghe, Thilini Athukorala, Ishara Wickremesinghe, Buddhika Bandujeewa, SHakthi Laknatha,Rajasinghe Loluwagoda, Udani Rathnayake, Ajith Krishantha, Kumara Karunananda, Chandana Irugal Bandara, Suranga Kuruppu arachchi, Ravindra Kodagoda, Somasiri Chandrasena, Lasanduni Jayawardena, Achini Nadeeshani, Ishini Thishara, Kushan Kalhari, Tharushi Heenthilaka, Minugi thisalitha and Minudi Wijesuriya.
In the Sri Lankan version, the theme song of ‘ Mathaka Siththam’ is penned by Nilar N. Cassim and music direction is by Nuwan Samarasinghe and vocal renditions are by Bachi Susan and Sashika Nisansala and recording and sound mixing are by Buddhika Fonseka and Charitha Ranasighe did the animation.